Our 8 Favorite Multicultural Books for Kindergarten

Reading books with children at a young age not only helps them be better prepared for school, but it also opens their minds to new cultures and experiences. Exposing children in kindergarten 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 kindergarteners! 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 all our books and collections for grades PreK – 2.

While we have hundreds of titles to choose from, here are eight of our absolute favorite diverse books for kindergarteners!

1. Quinito, Day and Night/Quinito, día y noche by Ina Cumpiano and illustrated by José Ramírez:

Author Ina Cumpiano teams up with José Ramírez to show young readers that everywhere they look, opposites abound. See the Lesson Plan.

2. Rainbow Stew written and illustrated by Catheryn Falwell:

Three young children help their Grandpa pick vegetables in his garden so they can make a great big pot of mouthwatering Rainbow Stew. See the Teacher’s Guide.

3. Gracias~Thanks written by Pat Mora and illustrated by John Parra:

Straight from the heart of a child flows this lighthearted bilingual celebration of family, friendship, and fun. Come share the joy, and think about all the things for which you can say, “¡Gracias! Thanks!”. See the Lesson Plan.

4. Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina Lazo Gilmore and illustrated by Kristi Valiant:

Cora loves being in the kitchen but she always gets stuck doing the kid jobs like licking the spoon. One day, however, when her older sisters and brother head out, Cora finally gets the chance to be Mama’s assistant chef! See the Teacher’s Guide.

5. Black All Around by Patricia Hubbell and illustrated by Don Tate:

In this delightful book, a young girl discovers all the wonderful things around her that are black. See the Teacher’s Guide.

6. Rainbow Joe and Me written and illustrated by Maria Diaz Strom:

Eloise and her friend Rainbow Joe both like colors. Rainbow Joe is blind, but little does Eloise know that he’s planning a surprise to show her a whole new way of seeing the world. See the Teacher’s Guide.

7. Sunday Shopping written by Sally Derby and illustrated by Shadra Strickland:

Every Sunday, Evie and her Grandma grab some newspaper advertisements and embark on their own shopping adventure. Overflowing with whimsy and a sweet grandmother-granddaughter relationship, Sunday Shopping is a fun-filled celebration of imagination and family love. See the Teacher’s Guide.

8. The Story I’ll Tell written by Nancy Tupper Ling and illustrated by Jessica Lanan:

A gentle and moving story of adoption and parental love that is sure to touch the hearts of readers everywhere, no matter how they came to be a family. See the The Story I’ll Tell Teacher’s Guide.