When looking to fill your child's bookshelf with inspirational children's books, this is the list for you - after all, it's never too early to start talking to your children about race, diversity and acceptance. Tackling such important and complex subjects might feel overwhelming, but one of the best ways is through children's books celebrating diversity.
They're a digestible way to introduce these important topics and a great way of easing into conversations with your kids. There are now, thankfully, more and more diverse children's books covering race, religion, inclusivity, tolerance and empathy. Fill your child's bookshelf up with these brilliant kids' books.
How we chose the best books to teach kids about diversity
- Reviews: Most of the books in this list have been reviewed by the HELLO! team, while others have been included due to their top ratings.
- Popularity: Many of the books in the list have been a huge hit with parents.
Shop the best diverse children's books
I Am Able To Shine by Korey Watari and Mike Wu, £5.99/$6.99, Amazon
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Shine is a touching, heart-warming story encouraging readers to celebrate diversity and recognise how our differences make us special.
An affirmative, empowering story about embracing your identity and finding your voice, inspired in part by debut author Korey Watari’s experiences growing up Asian American, and illustrated by her husband, Mike Wu, Pixar artist and creator of the Ellie series.
Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer, £6.15/$8.09, Amazon
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An easy way to teach kids that there isn't a cookie cutter family - they're made of all types of set-ups, with one common theme: love.
© AmazonThe Adventures of The Vitiligo Man, from £9.19, Amazon
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As one five star review states: "It's so important for the children of today to be educated on skin conditions such as this which will enable them to create a supportive and diverse tomorrow!" This book revolves arounds Awais who's having his first day at a new school. He wants to make friends, but he is worried... He has a white patch around his eye because of a skin condition called vitiligo. Follow along to see how Awais discovers his everyday superpowers. When he meets Lola, a girl with freckles, he will soon discover a mighty secret about loving his skin.
I Like To Be Kind by Marie Paruit, £5.67/$10.23, Amazon
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This is perfect for kids who are starting to feel their emotions - without understanding them. It explores kindness, what it is and how we can be kinder.
Little Feminist Board Book Set by Emily Kleinman, £10.62/$12.82, Amazon
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Babies will love the colourful illustrations and short, fun words in this board book set, celebrating a diverse line-up of amazing women throughout history, including Rosa Parks, Indira Gandhi and Frida Khalo.
MORE: 6 plaques celebrating the most amazing women, from spies to suffragettes
All The Ways To Be Smart by Davina Bell, from £7.31/$10.31, Amazon
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A joyful celebration of all the qualities that make each child unique, we love the message of this book - that there are many ways for a kid to be smart. Cute!
Under The Love Umbrella by Davina Bell, £6.55,/$8.60 Amazon
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A stunning celebration of the joy and comfort that is always with us, wherever we roam in the big, wild world.
Chocolate Me by Taye Diggs, from £5.99/$7.90, Amazon
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From actor Taye Diggs and his best friend Shane Evans is this lovely book about a boy who is teased for being different - and his mother, who teaches him to see how beautiful he really is.
READ: 11 mindfulness tips for kids
This Love by Isabel Otter, from £6.42/$10.06, Amazon
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It doesn't matter who we are or what we look like - this book teaches that love is love, and personally, we couldn't love it more.
The Girls by Lauren Ace, £5.94/$8.14, Amazon
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With a focus on female friendships, empathy and acceptance, The Girls follows four diverse girls who become best friends, and the women they grow up to be.
An ABC of Equality by Chana Ginelle Ewing, £6.41/from $2.06, Amazon
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Children can learn their ABCs while learning about challenging concepts too with ABC of Equality.
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Martin Luther King Jr by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, £7.99/$4.63, Amazon
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If there's one person your children should know about, it's Martin Luther King Jr. This book tells his life story in a child-friendly way, and will leave them completely inspired.
My Hair by Hannah Lee, from £5.94/$6.15, Amazon
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We love this gorgeous book about a little girl deciding how to wear her hair for her birthday - will it be dreads, braids, a twist out or a high top fade?
The Same But Different Too by Karl Newson, £5.94/$14.32, Amazon
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One of the best books to teach children how to embrace their similarities and differences with its punchy prose and fun illustrations is The Same But Different Too.
Saturday by Oge Mora, £9.99/$15.07, Amazon
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A warm and tender tale of a mother and daughter rushing around on a Saturday, but nothing goes to plan – until the daughter reminds her mum that the most important thing about their day is sharing and spending time together.
Hats of Faith by Medeia Cohen, £6.65/$8.72, Amazon
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Hats of Faith will help to open up the discussion of faith and religion; this book celebrates the shared custom of head coverings.
Philly & Friends: Who Do I See In The Mirror? by Vese Aghoghovbia Aladewolu, £10/$14, Philly & Friends
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Philly & Friends: Who Do I See In The Mirror? gently empowers the reader, teaching kids to embrace their beauty and others, both inside and out.
Pink is for Boys by Robb Pearlman, £6.99/$11.80, Amazon
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A simple story packing a powerful punch, this education picture book proves colours are for everyone, whatever their gender.
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Whoever You Are By Mem Fox, £7.99/$4.99, Amazon
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Kids all over the world are laughing, crying, playing and learning - Whoever You Are celebrates that they might not all look the same, but they're alike in many ways.
The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad, £6.55/$6.57, Amazon
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Olympic medallist Ibtihaj Muhammad’s debut children's book is an uplifting, universal story of new experiences, the bond between siblings and of being strong and proud of who you are.
Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love, from £6.55/$9.89, Amazon
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This colourful celebration of individuality and gender fluidity is full of warmth and acceptance. You'll love the illustrations as much as your child, too.
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold, £5.94/$9.44, Amazon
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All Are Welcome follows a group of children at school, who are all welcomed with open arms and learn from each other and their differences.
The Boy At The Back Of The Class by Onjali Rauf, £4/$3.49, Amazon
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This book is a best seller on Amazon for teaching kids about multiculturalism, and has been described as a book that EVERYONE should read. Onjali Raúf's debut offers a child's eye view and an ambitious, adventure-filled plot. The Boy At The Back of The Class is about a Syrian refugee arriving in a class in the UK that shows us how children can sometimes get it so much better than adults.
HELLO!'s selection is editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items our editors love and approve of. HELLO! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. To find out more visit our FAQ page.
