5 Best Books To Teach Children About Diversity

Imagine how boring your color palate would be if it had only one color. How it would have restricted us with choices. There is a special place for every color and that is what makes them unique. A blue has its own beauty and so does yellow.

Similarly, we humans too have different shades on our bodies and no matter what it is, it’s just unique and beautiful in their own way. It’s not only about the way we look, but also the variety we share in our language, culture, food, and other day-to-day things. The book mentioned below not only celebrates diversity but also teaches children because it is important and how one should welcome such differences without any biases.

These books are the gateway to introducing your child to the diversity they see and will be seeing in the future and how to face that without being discriminative.

5 Best Books To Teach Children About Diversity

Here are our top picks for books to teach children about diversity.

The Same but Different by Molly Potter, illustrations by Sarah Jennings

 This book by Molly Potter is perfect for kids above 5 years to learn about inclusions. It’s captivating illustrations and vivid examples that a child experiences on daily basis. What makes the book more interesting is that not only does it highlights the differences, but also the similarities we have in common. This delivers an impactful message to children. The fun activities are artfully designed so that children are able to introspect and figure out what makes them different and hence unique.

It’s OK to be Different: A Children’s Picture Book About Diversity and Kindness by Sharon Purtill, illustrated by Saha Sujata

The first step after understanding diversity is acceptance. Acceptance of one’s self with all the beauty and the flaws as well. Sharon Purtill brings out the exact thing through his picture book. The main aim of this book is to bring out the individuality and self-love in a child. The book touches on those aspects where children are usually bullied and then mentions how those small differences contribute to building our identity. Those differences could be that you have curly hair while your friends don’t, or that you wear spectacles and that makes you different from the crowd, and so on.

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold, illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman 

It’s beautiful how Alexandra Penfold beautifully sums up that all children are welcomed in a space free from any stereotypes through this book. The book is quite uplifting from the very beginning itself. It talks about how all the kids in school come together and play despite being from various backgrounds. This book instils a feeling of warmth and makes children feel that they are welcomed. I must admit that this book is my personal favorite.

No Difference Between Us: Teach Children Gender Equality, Respect, Choice, Self-Esteem, Empathy, Tolerance, and Acceptance by Amanda Gulliver Jayneen Sanders

Another great pick for your child is to teach them how to bridge gender biases, and develop respect and empathy for all irrespective of their differences. The book comprises conversations between a boy and girl who happen to be siblings and they talk about their individual choices. If you are searching for a light read that focuses on gender neutrality for kids, then this book won’t disappoint you.

All About Diversity by Felicity Brooks, illustrated by Mar Ferrero

As the title suggests, it covers all aspects of diversity. From physical attributions, age, gender, ethnicity, beliefs, culture, etc., the author Felicity Brooks tries to capture all. It’s a great resource to look at your child to cover a wide spectrum of what diversity is and how to embrace it. The book is packed with creative illustrations that will help the child to grasp the understanding of diversity in a better way.

Conclusion: Teach Children About Diversity

Sooner or later, children will be exposed to the outer world where they will experience multifariousness in terms of almost everything. These books are the first step towards preparing them for the same.

Before you go, you may also enjoy reading these posts:

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