Browse Items · Windows and Mirrors: Diversity in Books for Young Readers

Niki Nakayama: A Chef’s Tale in 13 Bites

This is a children’s picture book based on a true story about an American chef of Japanese descent. Niki Nakayama is a famous chef and the reader embarks on an adventure as she faces criticism and as she strives to learn about the culinary arts.

Tags: Asian (primary character); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; picture book; unspecified sexuality (primary character)

Made in Korea

Two entrepreneurial Korean American teens fall in love as they compete in sales at their respective Korean beauty businesses. Despite their blossoming relationship, the rivalry is strong and only one business can succeed!

Tags: Asian (primary character); Asian (secondary character); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; straight (primary character); straight (secondary characters)

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You

A reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's Stamped from the Beginningfor a younger/teen audience.This is a book about race to better help us understand today's climate. It also takes the time to discredit racist ideologies to help readers unlearn any…

Tags: Black/african (author); Black/African (primary character); Black/African (secondary characters); group (characters); language: English

Children of Blood and Bone

Zélie's mother is killed under the rule of an evil king. To avenge her, she must battle the crown prince and the royal family to bring magic back. Danger lurks as Zélie struggles to control her powers.

Tags: Black/african (author); Black/African (primary character); Black/African (secondary characters); boy/man (primary character); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; young adult fiction

Beatrice and Croc Harry

Beatrice is a young girl who wakes up in a treehouse in the magical forest of Argilia with no knowledge of who she is and how she got there. She wakes up alone with amnesia but quickly finds an ally in a crocodile... While working together to…

Tags: Black/African (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); cognitive/neurological disability/condition (primary character); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; middle grade book (ages 8-12); non-human (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Wonky Donkey's Big Surprise

A young donkey missing her mother is excited as her father sits her down to give her a surprise. With its funny rhyming words and its charming illustrations, this Children's Choice Award Wonky Donkey sequel tells the tale of a loving family and…

Tags: boy/man (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); language: English; non-human (primary character); non-human (secondary characters); picture book; straight (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

5-minute Marvel stories

This book has no specific author as it is a collection of twelve 5-minute long stories by Marvel Press Book Group, featuring all-time favourite superheroes such as Ms. Marvel, Captain Marvel, Kate Bishop, Jane Foster, and many more. This comic book…

Tags: boy/man (secondary characters); comic book; girl/woman (secondary characters); group (characters); language: English; unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

One Moment in Time: Children Around the World

This book teaches about time zones by telling the story of eleven different children from around the world, documenting what each of them are doing throughout the day at the same point in time.

Tags: group (characters); language: English; picture book; unspecified gender (primary character); unspecified sexuality (primary character)

We All Play

Animals and Indigenous children play side by side. Cree words are peppered throughout the book, and a glossary at the end provides the Cree names for all of the animals depicted. There is also a guide to Cree pronunciation for those not familiar with…

Tags: group (characters); human (secondary characters); language: Cree; language: English; non-human (primary character); picture book; unspecified gender (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Little Messy Marcy Su

Marcy Su sets out to clean up her room and herself before her grandparents arrive. By the time they get there, she and her room look great, but the rest of the house is a mess. The delightful picturebook contains elements of Chinese culture…

Tags: Asian (primary character); Asian (secondary character); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; picture book; unspecified gender (primary character); unspecified gender (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

The Paper Boat

A unique wordless picturebook that tells the story of a family's flight from Communist-ruled Vietnam. The images were created from paper craft, and ants are used to parallel the experience of the refugees.

Tags: Asian (secondary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); group (characters); human (secondary characters); language: English; picture book; unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

The Truck Book

Take a dive into the world of trucks, with over 50 different types of trucks to learn about. Full of colourful illustrations and tons of interesting truck facts, this picture book is an excellent read for any vehicle enthusiast.

Tags: language: English; no characters; picture book

The Night Before Playoffs

"The Night Before Playoffs" is a children's story about the woodland creatures who like to play hockey once the humans are fast asleep. With amazing illustrations, this picture book puts a Canadian twist on the holiday classic "A Visit from St.…

Tags: boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (secondary characters); group (characters); language: English; non-human (secondary characters); picture book; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Pinkalicious and the Babysitter

Based on the PBS Kids TV series Pinkalicious & Peterrific, Pinkalicious and the Babysitter is a tie-in that follows Maya as she babysits Peter and Pinkalicious. WhenPeter accidentally breaks his mother’s mug, Pinkalicious takes on the challenge…

Tags: boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; picture book; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters); white, assumed (primary character); white, assumed (secondary characters)

Richard Scarry's A Day at the Police Station

Follow Sergeant Murphy, Busytown's favourite police officer, as he helps Busytown citizens find their lost items, handle huge traffic jams, and teach the town about safety. Children of all ages will love this fun and exciting story from the one and…

Tags: boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (secondary characters); language: English; non-human (primary character); non-human (secondary characters); picture book; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Dinosaur Dig (The Berenstain Bears)

Based on the TV/Cartoon show, Dinosaur Dig is a tie-in that follows Nick Jr’s Berenstain Bears. In this book, Brother and Sister visit the Bearsonian Museum and find a real dinosaur dig taking place! What sort of fossils will they find?

Tags: boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); language: English; picture book; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Pete the Cat Talent Show Trouble

Pete the Cat's school is hosting a fun talent show! Pete knows just what to sign up for- playing the guitar. But, one of his friends has already signed up for that, will friendship get in the way of this talent show?

Tags: boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (secondary characters); language: English; non-human (primary character); non-human (secondary characters); picture book; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Quackenstein Hatches A Family

A spooky and kooky tale about a lonely duck and his unexpected new friend.

Tags: language: English; non-human (primary character); non-human (secondary characters); picture book; unspecified gender (primary character); unspecified gender (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

The Thing About Spring

An exciting story about a Mouse, Bird, Bear, and Rabbit that are all excited friends for Spring looking forward to warm days, lots of good food, blooming flowers, and pleasant surprises.

Tags: language: English; non-human (primary character); non-human (secondary characters); picture book; unspecified gender (primary character); unspecified gender (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Hopepunk

Hope Cassidy feels out of place in her conservative Christian family. She loves listening to rock, and her sister Faith has a boyfriend. When their little sister tells their parents about Faith's sin, she disappears, and Hope decides to rebel and…

Tags: boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; LGBTQ+ (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character); white, assumed (primary character); white, assumed (secondary characters); young adult fiction

Allegiant

This novel is the third in the Divergent trilogy. It is set in a dystopian future in Chicago, where people are organized into five different factions based on gene purity; the system is meant to prevent war or any other population threatening…

Tags: boy/man (primary character); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; multiracial (primary character); straight (primary character); white, assumed (primary character); young adult fiction

The Outsiders

This novel discusses the disparities between working-class and upper-class gangs who are divided because of their status. It is a novel focused on teenage boys getting caught in trouble and is a first person account from the main character, Ponyboy.…

Tags: boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; straight (primary character); straight (secondary characters); white, assumed (primary character); white, assumed (secondary characters); young adult fiction

Pride

This novel is an updated version of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It brings in themes of cultural identity, class, and gentrification in a romance setting. It discusses diversity and hardship in the teenage years and reimagines a classic story.

Tags: Black/African (primary character); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; Latinx (primary character); unspecified sexuality (primary character); young adult fiction

The Mary Shelley Club

This novel is about the main character, Rachel, and her recruitment into the Mary Shelley Club. It is a horror/thriller novel for YA audiences about a young girl in a sticky situation.

Tags: Asian (secondary characters); Black/African (secondary characters); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); language: English; Latinx (primary character); Latinx (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters); young adult fiction

The Highest Frontier

This is a science fiction novel focusing on the main character, Jennifer, and her first year in college. She faces many problems, addressing political, social, and environmental issues, making the novel appealing to readers both young and old.

Tags: girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; unspecified sexuality (primary character); young adult fiction

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