It’s so important to explore the wonderful diversity of humans with young children, as early as possible. Here is a selection of books to celebrate the arrival of a new baby, from our collection of picture books featuring characters who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Included are titles about birth and welcoming, and others perfect for reading to the littlest ones. We strive to include as much varied racial/cultural representation as possible, but these lists also reflect what is available on the market.
These titles are only a sample of what you can find in our full collection. To see more, go to Search the CollectionOpens in a new window and use the “Content” filter on the left-hand menu for “Diverse Families/Family Dynamics.”
See also: Recommended Reads: New Sibling & Recommended Reads: Adoption
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Antiracist Baby
Illustrations and rhyming text present nine steps Antiracist Baby can take to improve equity, such as opening our eyes to all skin colors and celebrating all our differences
B is for baby
Set in West Africa, one morning after breakfast, Baby’s big brother is getting ready to take the basket of bananas all the way to Baba’s bungalow in the next village. He’ll have to go along the bumpy road, past the baobab trees, birds, and butterflies, and all the way over the bridge. But what he doesn’t realize is that his very cute, very curious baby sibling has stowed away on his bicycle.
Babymoon
A couple celebrates their new roles as parents by spending the first days of their baby’s life alone in their home, where a new dynamic of cuddling, connecting, and learning unfolds.
Baby’s firsts
Told in rhyming text, the story traces the development of a baby from birth to the first birthday.
In my anaana’s amautik
"Nadia Sammurtok lovingly invites the reader into the amautik–the pouch in the back of a mother’s parka used to carry a child–to experience everything through the eyes of the baby nestled inside, from the cloudlike softness of the pouch to the glistening sound of Anaana’s laughter."–publisher
Lullaby (for a Black mother)
The poem by African American author of the Harlem Renaissance about a mother’s love for her child is paired with color illustrations. Its sweet, lulling rhythm celebrates a bedtime ritual and the bond between a mother and child
Sweetest Kulu
Describes the gifts given to a newborn baby by all the animals of the Arctic. Lyrically and tenderly told by a mother speaking to her own little "Kulu," an Inuktitut term of endearment often bestowed upon babies and young children, this visually stunning book is infused with the traditional Inuit values of love and respect for the land and its animal inhabitants."–publisher
Thanks to the animals
In 1900 during the Passamaquoddy winter migration in Maine, Baby Zoo Sap falls off the family bobsled and the forest animals hearing his cries, gather to protect him until his father returns to find him.
First laugh – Welcome Baby!
The First Laugh Ceremony is a celebration held to welcome a new member of the community. As everyone—from Baby’s nima (mom) to nadi (big sister) to cheii (grandfather)—tries to elicit the joyous sound from Baby, readers are introduced to details about Navajo life and the Navajo names for family members. –publisher
Up!
"Around the world, little ones are carried in many different ways: in slings, on shoulders, in backpacks, on hips, in baskets, and in loving arms. Up! depicts ten places around the world, from Afghanistan to northern Canada, Peru to West Africa. In each place, a mom, dad, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, or sibling lovingly carries a baby. –Publisher
We sang you home / Ka kîweh nikâmôstamâtinân
This dual-language book celebrates and welcomes baby into the world.
Woke baby
"For all the littlest progressives, waking up to seize a new day of justice and activism. Woke babies are up early. Woke babies raise their fists in the air. Woke babies cry out for justice. Woke babies grow up to change the world. This lyrical and empowering book is both a celebration of what it means to be a baby and what it means to be woke. With bright playful art, Woke Baby is an anthem of hope in a world where the only limit to a skyscrapper is more blue."–Publisher’s description
