14 Books That Teach Children About Acceptance

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“A Mighty Girl” is the world’s largest selection of toys, books, and movies for intelligent, confident, and fearless girls. In fact, the website and forum features a full range of literary works that span several topics and categories. One main constant are the books that teach pre-school kids to accept differences. This includes people of all races, creeds, national origins, and religions.

These books have been penned by award-winning children’s books authors. This includes Eve Bunting, Jacqueline Woodson, Karen Katz, and several others. With stunning illustrations and captivating story-lines, preschool students get to learn about the struggles of different people trying to assimilate in new countries. Students also get to learn about different cultures and traditions, along with the places and countries many new arrivals come from.

With a country and world that is becoming more divisive at every turn, it is imperative to teach our young that good ethics, morals, and respect for one and all still has a place in the world. After all, we are a global community that will forever be linked no matter how many bodies of water or continents separate us. Check out these 14 books below that we can use to help our younger generations learn how to accept and learn to love what both unites us and makes us different.

1. Whoever You Are by Mem Fox

A wonderful story to teach children to love every bit and piece of themselves, no matter how different they may seem from those around them.

2. Stephanie’s Ponytail by Robert Munsch

Meet Stephanie, a young girl who is always on the lookout to try something new and takes it upon herself to show up to school everyday with a new hair-do. A lighter take on acceptance of others’ differing appearances.

3. Accept and Value Each Person by Cheri J. Meiners

This children’s book teaches the right ways to treat our friends, family members, and classmates who may celebrate different holidays than us, dress differently than us, or speak different languages than us.

4. It’s Okay To Be Different by Todd Parr

It’s completely okay to be different! It’s so important to teach our kids to embrace their flaws, quirks, and the things that make them unique.

5. We Are Different and Alike: A Book About Diversity by Cynthia Geisen

More of a side-by-side comparison book,  We Are Different explores the components that make us different from each other, in addition to the ones that really, unite us all as a people.

6. Mixed Me! by Taye Diggs

Mixed Me! is about a young girl who is the product of one black parent and one white parent. Of course, there are other combinations, though author and talented actor, Taye Diggs, wrote this kid’s book to further inspire and let kids of all mixed races know that even though their skin color may appear different, and their parents may not be the same color, they remain beautiful and unconditionally loved.

7. I’m Like You, You’re Like Me by Cindy Gainer

Here is another lovely children’s story that encourages kids of all ages to appreciate one another exactly as they are.

8. Who’s In My Family? All About Our Families by Robie H. Harris

We all come from a wide canvas of varying backgrounds and cultures which means that our families will not all be identical in appearance, beliefs, etc. This is a great book that would be perfect for family reading time or classroom reading time as it gives children a platform to share with one another how each of their families are.

9. The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler

Children need to be motivated, empowered, and happily encouraged to know that they can aspire to anything they desire regardless of skin color, religious beliefs, etc. A wonderful self-appreciation book for kids.

10. What I Like About Me! A Book Celebrating Differences by Allia Zobel Nolan

Another inspiring and self-motivating book for the kiddos!

11. The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

The Name Jar follows a young Korean girl named Unhei who is worried that the kids at her new American school will not like her because her name is different from the ‘normal’ American names.

12. This Same Sky by Naomi Shihab Nye

A collection of all kinds of poems that provide a nice insight on how our differences have shaped our world.

13. We’re Different, We’re The Same by Bobbi Jane Kates

Along with the help of some beloved and familiar Seasame Street friends, this story will help guide children on how to view those who are different from them as well as how to present their different peers with the same respect and love they would want to receive.

14. A Shout in the Sunshine by Mara W. Cohen Ioannides

A touching story of an unlikely friendship between David, the son of a rich Greek Jewish merchant, and Miguel, a refugee from post-Inquisition Spain.

 

 

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