I Am Not A Girl

Lyons, M., & Verdi, J. (2020). I'm not a girl: A transgender story. Roaring Brook Press.

Genre: Picture Book Fiction

    The diversity discussed in this book is about gender identity. Hannah feels like no one understands him. On picture day, he had to wear a pink dress and his mom picks out a pink pirate costume for him for Halloween. He wishes to be a boy when he blows out his birthday candles and refuses to wear the pink jacket his mother buys for him in the winter. One day when swimming, Hannah talks to a couple of kids. When he tells them he's a boy but nobody believes him, they tell him they believe him and Hannah learns the word transgender. Later, he finally gets the courage to tell his parents and they start to believe him. At the end of the book, he gets a haircut and is finally excited for picture day. This book was actually autobiographical by a transgender boy, Maddox Lyons. Lyons wrote about his own journey with his gender identity and having his family believe him. His mother writes in his author's note that he wrote this book due to there not being a lot of books about transgender boys. 

Jaime is Jamie

Moradian, A. (2018). Jamie is Jamie: A book about being yourself and playing your way. Free Spirit Publishing.

Genre: Picture Book Fiction

    The main point of discussion in this book is that children should be able to play with toys, no matter what gender they identify as. The way the author, Afsaneh Moradian, shows it is with Jaime, a child who doesn't share their gender. Jaime is starting at a new school. When they go to play with other children they help fix toys, twirl around and dance, and help take care of a baby doll. When asked if they're a boy or a girl, Jaime simply responds with "I'm Jaime." After Jaime is picked up, their classmates wonder if Jaime is a boy or a girl but mostly they can't wait to play with them again. The next day Jaime notices his classmates are playing games not traditional to their assigned gender; and they were happy because all of the children played what they wanted to play. 

Sulwe

Nyong'o, L. (2019). Sulwe. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Genre: Picture Book Fiction

    This book doesn't discuss racism per se but rather it discusses colorism. Sulwe is the darkest person in her family and at school. She is called rude nicknames and she doesn't make a lot of friends like her lighter-skinned sister. She tries to make her skin lighter by erasing it, wearing her mother's lighter makeup, and even eating light foods. She confides in her mother one night and her mother tells her that she's beautiful and she has to find that beauty within herself. One night a shooting star came in her window and tells her the story of the night. Day and Night were sisters, but while Day was treated wonderfully, people hated Night. So Night went away and Day became too long and too hot. Day searched for Night and convinced her to return. When she did the people loved her and rejoiced. Sulwe woke up the next morning loving her dark skin, finding the beauty within herself. The author, Lupita Nyong'o writes this book from her own experiences and her own journey to find beauty in her dark skin. She wrote this book to show other children with dark skin to find their own inner beauty.

This Poison Heart

Bayron, K. (2021). This poison heart. Bloomsbury YA.

Genre: YA Fantasy

    The diversity seen in this book is racial diversity and sexuality. Briseis and her adoptive mothers lovingly referred to as Mom and Mo, are Black flower shop owners in New York City. Briseis has the magical ability to grow any plant she touches; any plant around her also has the tendency to grow towards her presence. Due to the gentrification of their neighborhood and skyrocketing rent prices, the family is faced with the threat of losing their flower shop. One day, Briseis inherits some property from her maternal aunt who has been presumed dead. She and her mothers decide to go to the property over the summer to see what the property is all about. While exploring the house, Brieseis finds an apothecary, a garden filled with poisonous plants, and a set of letters written to her by her aunt. Over the summer, Briseis uncovers the secrets of her ancestry, makes friends, and uncovers the mystery of the house. Later in the book, she begins to have feelings for a girl named Marie, a girl who became immortal due to a potion given to her by Briseis' family. 

Tales of the Shadow King

Haack, D. (2021). Prince and knight: Tale of the shadow king. Little Bee Books Inc.

Genre: Picture Book Fiction

    This book talks about diversity in sexuality. The prince and the knight are now married and living together when suddenly a fog of darkness looms over the kingdom. The prince and the knight decide to go and figure out what's causing the darkness before it's too late. They find out that the Shadow King is the cause and they go and fight his army. After a close and harrowing battle, they confront the Shadow King. The Shadow King doesn't want the world covered in darkness, but because of homophobia, he was shunned after falling in love with a squire. The love between the prince and the knight helps the Shadow King see that not all is lost and the darkness starts to dissipate. Afterward, the Shadow King is invited to the kingdom where he starts his own family. 

A Different Kind of Normal

Balfe, A. (2022). A different kind of normal: My real-life completely true story about being unique. Crown Books for Young Readers.

Genre: Middle Grade Narrative Nonfiction

    This book is partially a memoir and partially an Autism guidebook. Throughout the book, Abigail Balfe talks about her life being undiagnosed with autism and what she has learned about herself after getting diagnosed. Balke talks about the ins and outs of autism including sensory sensitivities, special interests, and social issues. With all of these topics, Balfe interlaces them all with her own personal life. She talks about how she will shut down in situations where her senses overwhelm her, about how she may react inappropriately in certain situations, and lists her own special interests. 

Binny's Diwali

Umrigar, T. N. (2020). Binny's Diwali. Scholastic Press.

Genre: Picture Book Fiction

    This book discusses the religious holiday of Diwali and its cultural significance. Binny is giving a presentation on the holiday Diwali in her class. She wears her new Indian outfit and her new blue suede shoes. She talks about how people will go shopping for gifts for loved ones during Diwali. In class, she starts out shy but remembers what her mother tells her about oil lamps called diyas. Binny tells her classmates about the traditions, lights, and fireworks during the holiday. In the author's note, Thrity Umrigar talks about his perspective of Diwali from India; saying that even though its a Hindu holiday, everyone of every religion celebrates it; including his Zoroastrian family. Umrigar talks about his own family's traditions during the holiday as well.