Award-Winning Kids’ Books That Promote Diversity

“¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat” by Raúl the Third 

2021 Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Winner 

In this sequel to "¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market," Little Lobo prepares for a wrestling match against El Toro by going on a tour of his favorite food trucks. Incorporating Spanish vocabulary, Raúl the Third takes the reader on a mouthwatering journey through Little Lobo’s town. 

“The Bear in My Family” by Maya Tatuskawa 

2021 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor, 2021 ASLC Notable Children’s Books List, Kirkus Best Children’s Book of 2020 

In this sweet book, a bear is used to depict a bossy sibling. Narrator Maya Tatuskawa learns that having a bear living with your family can sometimes be a struggle, but it can also be a blessing in disguise. 

“Brick by Brick” by Heidi Woodward Sheffield

2021 Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator Award Winner 

In this bilingual picture book, a little boy and his Papi work hard to reach their goals. As Papi works to build the city brick by brick, Luis learns book by book, and one day Papi has a surprise for Luis that he built brick by brick. 

“Me & Mama” by Cozbi A. Cabrera 

2021 Caldecott Honor and 2021 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Honoree 

Cozbi A. Cabrera introduces the reader to a beautiful mother-daughter relationship as we follow this duo on a rainy day. When the rest of the family is still asleep, the narrator wants to spend time with her Mama. 

“We Are Water Protectors” by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade 

2021 Caldecott Medal Winner 

This striking narrative about the importance of water and its sacred role in Indigenous movements of North America is a call to action. One special water protector stands up to protect the water from a black snake that threatens to destroy her planet. 

“See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog” by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka 

2021 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Winner 

In Max the Dog’s struggles to convince the reader that he is not a cat, he goes head to head with the narrator, who keeps telling the reader to “see the cat.” In this lighthearted and funny series of stories, Max the Dog tries desperately to show everyone he is a dog.