Reading books with preschool-age children not only helps them be better prepared for school, but it also opens their minds to new cultures and experiences. Exposing children early to both “mirror” and “window” books – that is, books in which they can see themselves, and books in which they can learn about others- is the best way to create engaged readers and support social and emotional growth.
Lee & Low Books offers hundreds of great books for preschoolers. Our books include English, Spanish, and bilingual titles; books about many different cultures; books that span a wide range of subjects and themes; and both fiction and nonfiction. Browse our preschool collections to see what we offer.
While we have hundreds of titles to choose from, here are 10 of our absolute favorite diverse books for preschoolers!
1. I Can Be…Me! by Leslea Newman and illustrated by Maya Gonzalez:
From bestselling author Lesléa Newman — a joyful picture book celebration of individuality, uniqueness, and children’s freedom to express themselves while engaging in whatever kinds of play they choose.
2. Juna and Appa by Jane Park and illustrated by Felicia Hoshino:
From the creators of the award-winning picture book Juna’s Jar, comes a new magical tale where Juna embarks on a journey to help her biggest hero–her Appa!
3. My Magic Wand: Growing with the Seasons by Pat Nora and illustrated by Amber Alvarez:
From bestselling Latina author Pat Mora comes a collection of poems celebrating a young child’s growth and everyday experiences throughout the seasons of a year.
4. Ten Blocks to the Big Wok by Ying-Hwa Hu:
This charming bilingual English/Mandarin counting book uses a stroll through Chinatown to introduce readers to the numbers one through ten in Chinese … and will leave you hungry besides!
5. Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building written and illustrated by Christy Hale:
A picture book that connects great works of architecture to the ways children build and play.
6. Quinito’s Neighborhood/El vecindario de Quinito by Ina Cumpiano and illustrated by José Ramírez:
Join Quinito in exploring his neighborhood as he finds out that it is made up of much more than buildings, streets, and shops. It is made up of the people he knows and loves.
7. A Space for Me by Cathryn Falwell:
Alex needs a break from his pesky little brother, Lucas, so he creates a space for himself, but soon realizes that he and Lucas need time together too.
8. A Morning with Grandpa by Sylvia Liu and illustrated by Christina Forshay:
In this sweet, slice-of-life story, a curious and active Asian American girl spends the day learning tai chi from her grandfather, and in turn tries to teach him how to do yoga.
9. Follow that Map! by Sheri Tan and illustrated by Shirley Ng-Benitez:
In this new early chapter book in the popular Confetti Kids series, Pablo is excited to help his friends find the best route to Coney Island by using different transportation maps.
10. Sunday Shopping by Sally Derby and illustrated by Shadra Strickland:
Every Sunday night a young girl and her grandmother go on an imaginary shopping trip in this delightful picture book.
3 thoughts on “Our 10 Favorite Multicultural Books for Preschool”
Comments are closed.