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. Juna’s Jar by Jane Bahk and illustrated by Felicia Hoshino:
Winner of our New Voices Award, this is a heartwarming and whimsical celebration of Juna’s journey to find her best friend and say good-bye to him. See the Teacher’s Guide.
2. David’s Drawings written and illustrated by Catheryn Falwell:
David is in a new class and doesn’t know how he will make new friends, but when he starts to draw, he discovers that maybe meeting new people isn’t so hard after all. See the Teacher’s Guide.
3. I Know the River Loves Me/Yo sé que el río me ama written and illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez:
In this gentle story of love and respect for nature, a girl named Maya learns to appreciate the beauty of the river. See the Lesson Plan.
4. Quinito’s Neighborhood/El vecindario de Quinito by Ina Cumpiano and illustrated by José Ramírez:
Quinito explores his charming neighborhood and encourages readers to appreciate their own neighborhoods. See the Teacher’s Guide.
5. A Morning with Grandpa by Sylvia Liu and illustrated by Christina Forshay:
Mei Mei wants to learn tai chi when she sees her grandpa practicing it in the garden. Then she decides to teach grandpa some of the yoga moves she’s learned! See the Teacher’s Guide.
6. Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match/Marisol McDonald no combina by Monica Brown and illustrated by Sara Palacios:
Marisol McDonald doesn’t match. And that’s just fine with her! A celebration of individuality and staying true to yourself. See the Teacher’s Guide.
7. Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building written and illustrated by Christy Hale:
Here is a unique celebration of children’s playtime explorations and the surprising ways childhood experiences find expression in the dreams and works of innovative architects. See the Teacher’s Guide.
8. How Far Do You Love Me? written and illustrated by Lulu Delacre:
Based on a bedtime game author/illustrator Lulu Delacre played with her young daughters, this is an “I love you” book with a twist. See the Teacher’s Guide.
9. Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji by F. Zia and illustrated by Ken Min:
Aneel’s grandparents have come to stay, all the way from India. Aneel loves his grandfather, Dada-ji’s, stories, but first he has to figure out how to whip up a batch of hot, hot roti. See the Teacher’s Guide.
10. King For a Day by Rukhsana Khan and illustrated by Christiane Krömer:
The spring festival Basant is here and Malik is determined to master the sport of kite fighting and become “king for a day.” See the Teacher’s Guide.
Further Reading
Bebop Books: Guided Reading Book Sets for the Classroom
Building Classroom Community in Kindergarten
Also check out our amazing PreK-Kinder collections:
Diverse Background English Collection for PreK-2
Asian American English Collection for PreK-2
English Fiction Collection for PreK-2
Diversity Starter Pack Collection for PreK-2
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