Diversity/Social Issues Books
Books about differences and/or how characters react to them
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/0/26104123/1016917.png?210)
And
Tango Makes Three
By: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Illustrated by: Henry Cole
The setting takes place at the Central Park Zoo in New York, where some penguins live. It discussed male and female penguins becoming couples. Not every couple consisted of a male and a female though; Silo and Roy were both male penguins. They loved each other, so they made nests like the other penguins were doing. The other penguins were having babies, and the two boys felt left out. They got a rock and put it in the nest. Mr. Gramzay was the penguin keeper, and he noticed that the males were upset because their “egg” wasn’t hatching. He put an egg, that needed a family, in their nest . They named their new baby girl Tango.
This story actually happened, as explained in the Author’s Note. This gives children a look at other types of family structures in a safe environment. This exposure can lead to possibly more acceptance and tolerance at an early age, while still educating them. It may help them realize that not everyone has the same one male and one female parents.
By: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Illustrated by: Henry Cole
The setting takes place at the Central Park Zoo in New York, where some penguins live. It discussed male and female penguins becoming couples. Not every couple consisted of a male and a female though; Silo and Roy were both male penguins. They loved each other, so they made nests like the other penguins were doing. The other penguins were having babies, and the two boys felt left out. They got a rock and put it in the nest. Mr. Gramzay was the penguin keeper, and he noticed that the males were upset because their “egg” wasn’t hatching. He put an egg, that needed a family, in their nest . They named their new baby girl Tango.
This story actually happened, as explained in the Author’s Note. This gives children a look at other types of family structures in a safe environment. This exposure can lead to possibly more acceptance and tolerance at an early age, while still educating them. It may help them realize that not everyone has the same one male and one female parents.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/0/26104123/4283753.png?175)
Bully
By: Patricia Polacco
Lyla Dean went to a new school and met a boy named Jamie Aldrich. Jamie told Lyla that she needed to convince her parents to get her a laptop and a cell phone because everyone else had one; she was successful and then got connected to social media. Along with Jamie, she took notice of three of the popular girls Gage, Maeve, and Kenyon. One of the activites Lyla joined at school was cheerleading. The three popular girls started noticing Lyla as well and later asked her to hang out with them. Lyla thought this meant that she couldn’t openly be friends with Jamie because they didn’t like him. Lyla found out that the girls liked to cyber bully, and Jamie was one of their targets. She realized that that’s not who she wanted to be and told Gage how she felt. Soon, it was time for the children to take their tests. It had gotten back to the principal that someone had stolen a test, and Lyla was the suspect, despite being innocent. People started to cyber bully Lyla, but Jamie saved her and told the principal that Gage had been the one to steal the test.
This is a strong piece about cyber bullying and how it can get out of control really fast if something’s not done about it. It also has a lesson about sticking up for people when they’re getting bullied.
By: Patricia Polacco
Lyla Dean went to a new school and met a boy named Jamie Aldrich. Jamie told Lyla that she needed to convince her parents to get her a laptop and a cell phone because everyone else had one; she was successful and then got connected to social media. Along with Jamie, she took notice of three of the popular girls Gage, Maeve, and Kenyon. One of the activites Lyla joined at school was cheerleading. The three popular girls started noticing Lyla as well and later asked her to hang out with them. Lyla thought this meant that she couldn’t openly be friends with Jamie because they didn’t like him. Lyla found out that the girls liked to cyber bully, and Jamie was one of their targets. She realized that that’s not who she wanted to be and told Gage how she felt. Soon, it was time for the children to take their tests. It had gotten back to the principal that someone had stolen a test, and Lyla was the suspect, despite being innocent. People started to cyber bully Lyla, but Jamie saved her and told the principal that Gage had been the one to steal the test.
This is a strong piece about cyber bullying and how it can get out of control really fast if something’s not done about it. It also has a lesson about sticking up for people when they’re getting bullied.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/0/26104123/5936416.png?174)
Day of the Dead
By: Tony Johnston
Illustrated by: Jeanette Winter
This book is centered around a tradition from Mexico called the Day of the Dead. Families get ready to go to where their family and friends have been laid to rest. They feast and have fun. Instead of thinking about loss, many people will instead focus on happier times with their family and friends. This book includes Spanish words.
By: Tony Johnston
Illustrated by: Jeanette Winter
This book is centered around a tradition from Mexico called the Day of the Dead. Families get ready to go to where their family and friends have been laid to rest. They feast and have fun. Instead of thinking about loss, many people will instead focus on happier times with their family and friends. This book includes Spanish words.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/0/26104123/6932749.jpg?179)
Elmer
By: David McKee
A herd of elephants lived together, and all but one of them was the same color. Elmer, an unusually brightly colored elephant was noticeably different from the rest of the herd. His outward appearance consisted of a multitude of different colors. Elmer wasn’t happy being different though, so he went into the jungle, where animals greeted him by name. He came across a bush with berries on it that he could use to make himself look like everyone else, which was a gray color. The animals in the jungle no longer called him by his name but by “elephant.” Elmer blended in perfectly with his herd, which didn’t recognize him. He eventually scared the other elephants by screaming “BOO.” Everyone laughed, including Elmer. As it rained, Elmer’s color washed off and revealed to the other elephants that it was indeed him. They all decided to have a day every year in which they would make themselves different colors, like Elmer, and Elmer would make himself elephant-color.
The book is very colorful. It shows that being different is special, and it should be embraced, not hidden; hiding who you are to make yourself blend in with the crowd makes you just another person or elephant. This teaches children that it what’s on the outside doesn’t matter as much as what lies on the inside.
By: David McKee
A herd of elephants lived together, and all but one of them was the same color. Elmer, an unusually brightly colored elephant was noticeably different from the rest of the herd. His outward appearance consisted of a multitude of different colors. Elmer wasn’t happy being different though, so he went into the jungle, where animals greeted him by name. He came across a bush with berries on it that he could use to make himself look like everyone else, which was a gray color. The animals in the jungle no longer called him by his name but by “elephant.” Elmer blended in perfectly with his herd, which didn’t recognize him. He eventually scared the other elephants by screaming “BOO.” Everyone laughed, including Elmer. As it rained, Elmer’s color washed off and revealed to the other elephants that it was indeed him. They all decided to have a day every year in which they would make themselves different colors, like Elmer, and Elmer would make himself elephant-color.
The book is very colorful. It shows that being different is special, and it should be embraced, not hidden; hiding who you are to make yourself blend in with the crowd makes you just another person or elephant. This teaches children that it what’s on the outside doesn’t matter as much as what lies on the inside.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/0/26104123/5722100.png?195)
In My Family/En Mi Familia
By: Carmen Lomas Garza
This book pulls the reader into the author's young life, the way she saw it. Garza describes the different aspects of her childhood and culture; she portrays it through her artwork. Garza talks about her many family members and things she did as a child. The book is in both English and Spanish.
By: Carmen Lomas Garza
This book pulls the reader into the author's young life, the way she saw it. Garza describes the different aspects of her childhood and culture; she portrays it through her artwork. Garza talks about her many family members and things she did as a child. The book is in both English and Spanish.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/0/26104123/4826962.jpg?166)
In
Jesse’s Shoes
By: Beverly Lewis
Jesse was an eleven year old boy who was always getting distracted and said things a little differently than other children. Other children would make fun of him, and his younger sister, Allie, didn’t like it. She didn’t really understand Jesse, so her dad told her she needed to feel what it was like to be Jesse. Jesse took his father’s words seriously about Allie wearing his shoes, and made her put them on. Allie put them on and did everything Jesse did from his point of view, which really did help her understand him. When someone tried to make fun of Jesse again, Allie stood up for him and told the offender that Jesse actually had a lot of similarities to them.
This book would work well for children who have siblings or know someone with disabilities. It may encourage them to try to see life from that person’s point of view, instead of just assuming that they’re weird of different.
By: Beverly Lewis
Jesse was an eleven year old boy who was always getting distracted and said things a little differently than other children. Other children would make fun of him, and his younger sister, Allie, didn’t like it. She didn’t really understand Jesse, so her dad told her she needed to feel what it was like to be Jesse. Jesse took his father’s words seriously about Allie wearing his shoes, and made her put them on. Allie put them on and did everything Jesse did from his point of view, which really did help her understand him. When someone tried to make fun of Jesse again, Allie stood up for him and told the offender that Jesse actually had a lot of similarities to them.
This book would work well for children who have siblings or know someone with disabilities. It may encourage them to try to see life from that person’s point of view, instead of just assuming that they’re weird of different.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/0/26104123/2397667.png)
Me I Am!
By: Jack Prelutsky
Illustrated by: Christine Davenier
This book includes kids who are comfortable with who they are, and know that they're unique. The words repeat for all of the children, but the pictures show their differences. At the end, a lot of children are shown, but none of them are exactly the same.
By: Jack Prelutsky
Illustrated by: Christine Davenier
This book includes kids who are comfortable with who they are, and know that they're unique. The words repeat for all of the children, but the pictures show their differences. At the end, a lot of children are shown, but none of them are exactly the same.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/0/26104123/2706516.png?167)
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale
By: John Steptoe
Manyara wasn't very nice to her sister, Nyasha. It was said that a king was looking for a woman to marry. Manyara was over-excited because she wanted nothing more than to be queen, so she rushed to find him. In the forest, she was less than pleasant to the people and nature around her. On the other hand, Nyasha was kind-hearted. Because of this, Nyasha was able to marry the king, who was a snake. He was also the many trials that Manyara had failed.
By: John Steptoe
Manyara wasn't very nice to her sister, Nyasha. It was said that a king was looking for a woman to marry. Manyara was over-excited because she wanted nothing more than to be queen, so she rushed to find him. In the forest, she was less than pleasant to the people and nature around her. On the other hand, Nyasha was kind-hearted. Because of this, Nyasha was able to marry the king, who was a snake. He was also the many trials that Manyara had failed.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/0/26104123/5224526.png)
Rules
By: Cynthia Lord
This book is written from the view of a girl named Catherine. She has a younger brother named David, who is eight, has autism, regularly attends occupational therapy (OT), and likes to have structure and rules. Catherine always keeps a list of rules for David for everyday situations, in hopes that he’ll act more “normal” because she gets embarrassed of the way he acts. Catherine goes to OT with David and their mother. This is where she meets a boy named Jason Morehouse. Jason uses a wheelchair and can’t verbally communicate to others; he has to use a special book to constructs words and sentences. Since Catherine has met Jason, she makes him words for his communication book. Meanwhile, next door to Catherine’s house, new neighbors move in. Catherine is extremely excited to finally have a friend her age live next to her, but she’s also worried that Kristi won’t like her because of the way David is. Kristi tells Catherine to bring Jason to the dance she’s helping to decorate, but Catherine thinks of excuses to get out of it. Eventually, Jason really builds up a connection with Catherine and tells her that he likes her; he also asks her to the dance, which she again makes up excuses not to go to. Jason becomes upset with her because he knows that she is embarrassed of him. Catherine struggles internally with this, how she feels about Kristi, David’s antics, and her parents giving more of their time to David. Catherine realizes that she wasn’t acting the right way and invites Jason to the dance. Miraculously, he show up, and she dances with him. She then later reflects on what's happened and lightens up about her brother and people having disabilities in general.
This book is a great way to show children that just because people have disabilities doesn’t mean that they aren’t worth getting to know or be friends with. It describes the internal struggle of a child, who isn’t completely sure what to make of her situation and is frustrated with the way her life is. It’s a way that children may be able to relate to Catherine and get over their fears or doubts.
By: Cynthia Lord
This book is written from the view of a girl named Catherine. She has a younger brother named David, who is eight, has autism, regularly attends occupational therapy (OT), and likes to have structure and rules. Catherine always keeps a list of rules for David for everyday situations, in hopes that he’ll act more “normal” because she gets embarrassed of the way he acts. Catherine goes to OT with David and their mother. This is where she meets a boy named Jason Morehouse. Jason uses a wheelchair and can’t verbally communicate to others; he has to use a special book to constructs words and sentences. Since Catherine has met Jason, she makes him words for his communication book. Meanwhile, next door to Catherine’s house, new neighbors move in. Catherine is extremely excited to finally have a friend her age live next to her, but she’s also worried that Kristi won’t like her because of the way David is. Kristi tells Catherine to bring Jason to the dance she’s helping to decorate, but Catherine thinks of excuses to get out of it. Eventually, Jason really builds up a connection with Catherine and tells her that he likes her; he also asks her to the dance, which she again makes up excuses not to go to. Jason becomes upset with her because he knows that she is embarrassed of him. Catherine struggles internally with this, how she feels about Kristi, David’s antics, and her parents giving more of their time to David. Catherine realizes that she wasn’t acting the right way and invites Jason to the dance. Miraculously, he show up, and she dances with him. She then later reflects on what's happened and lightens up about her brother and people having disabilities in general.
This book is a great way to show children that just because people have disabilities doesn’t mean that they aren’t worth getting to know or be friends with. It describes the internal struggle of a child, who isn’t completely sure what to make of her situation and is frustrated with the way her life is. It’s a way that children may be able to relate to Catherine and get over their fears or doubts.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/0/26104123/6526297.png?181)
Seasons of the Circle: A Native American Year
By: Joseph Bruchac
Illustrated by: Rober F. Goetzl
This book goes through January to December. It talks about what different Native American people can be found doing during these months. At the end, more information is given about the different groups of people, a map is shown where each group lives, and it gives information about how the seasons are
measured.
By: Joseph Bruchac
Illustrated by: Rober F. Goetzl
This book goes through January to December. It talks about what different Native American people can be found doing during these months. At the end, more information is given about the different groups of people, a map is shown where each group lives, and it gives information about how the seasons are
measured.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/0/26104123/8828907.png?161)
Songs in Sign
By: S. Harold Collins
The book starts with the American Sign Language (ASL) alphabet. The back shows different ASL numbers. In between, are common songs for children. Colored music notes and words are shown along with motions that go along with the song.
By: S. Harold Collins
The book starts with the American Sign Language (ASL) alphabet. The back shows different ASL numbers. In between, are common songs for children. Colored music notes and words are shown along with motions that go along with the song.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/0/26104123/6194394.gif?206)
The Lemonade Club
By: Patricia Polacco
Two friends, Marilyn and Tracy, were in the fifth grade together. One day, a group of girls started to make fun of Marilyn for being heavier than they were. After a while, she started to lose weight and didn't know why. Later, they found out that she had leukemia, and as a consequence, lost her hair. Soon, she was well enough to come back to school, and to her surprise, she wasn't the only one in the room without hair. Everyone had shaved their heads to make Marilyn feel better. The teacher, Miss Wichelman, also didn't have hair; the children noticed that their hair was growing back, but their teacher's wasn't; she had breast cancer. She had always used lemons when referencing that the children should pursue what they wanted to do.
This heartwarming story brings up real issues that are involved with traumatic situations. It may give encouragement to those who are diagnosed with cancer and those who are not but may know someone who is battling it. It puts a very serious situation into a child’s perspective.
By: Patricia Polacco
Two friends, Marilyn and Tracy, were in the fifth grade together. One day, a group of girls started to make fun of Marilyn for being heavier than they were. After a while, she started to lose weight and didn't know why. Later, they found out that she had leukemia, and as a consequence, lost her hair. Soon, she was well enough to come back to school, and to her surprise, she wasn't the only one in the room without hair. Everyone had shaved their heads to make Marilyn feel better. The teacher, Miss Wichelman, also didn't have hair; the children noticed that their hair was growing back, but their teacher's wasn't; she had breast cancer. She had always used lemons when referencing that the children should pursue what they wanted to do.
This heartwarming story brings up real issues that are involved with traumatic situations. It may give encouragement to those who are diagnosed with cancer and those who are not but may know someone who is battling it. It puts a very serious situation into a child’s perspective.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/0/26104123/7133677.jpg?99)
Too-Too Justin!
By: Lynea Bowdish
Illustrated by: Jack Lindstrom
There were some things Justin just didn’t like about himself. He thought his voice was too loud, his hair was too red, and he was too tall. He didn’t know that it was completely normal to be this way until some things happened to him. He had a voice loud enough to get the teacher’s attention, so she wouldn’t get hit with a ball, among other things. At the end, he realized that he was fine just the way he was.
By: Lynea Bowdish
Illustrated by: Jack Lindstrom
There were some things Justin just didn’t like about himself. He thought his voice was too loud, his hair was too red, and he was too tall. He didn’t know that it was completely normal to be this way until some things happened to him. He had a voice loud enough to get the teacher’s attention, so she wouldn’t get hit with a ball, among other things. At the end, he realized that he was fine just the way he was.