Here is a selection of high quality books from our collection depicting multiracial families. 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 comprehensive collection. To see more, go to Search the Collection and use the “Content” filter on the left-hand menu for “Diverse Families/Family Dynamics.”
See also: Recommended Reads: Adoption & Recommended Reads: Diverse Families
The Arabic quilt
“Kanzi’s family has moved from Egypt to America, and on her first day in a new school, what she wants more than anything is to fit in. Maybe that’s why she forgets to take the kofta sandwich her mother has made for her lunch, but that backfires when Mama shows up at school with the sandwich. Mama wears a hijab and calls her daughter Habibti (dear one). When she leaves, the teasing starts.” — publisher
Bread lab!
Iris’s kitchen is transformed into a busy bread lab one Saturday thanks to her favorite aunt, a plant scientist who helps farmers grow grain. Together they make whole wheat sourdough bread with just four ingredients, beginning with a mysterious goo called a “starter” that’s teeming with invisible microbes. To Iris, bread making seems like magic, but it’s really science!–Provided by publisher
Cancer hates kisses
"As Mom goes through treatment for cancer, her family supports her with what cancer hates most: love"– |cProvided by publisher
Grandpa’s Stories
“A young girl reflects on a year of exploring and laughing with her beloved Grandpa, remembering many special moments as she seeks a way to honor him after his death.” — publisher
Hello goodbye dog
A student who uses a wheelchair finds a way to see her dog each day in school. Includes author’s note about therapy dogs.
Here and there
After Ivan’s parents separate, he has trouble finding joy at either of their homes until he discovers that the birds and music that he loves may be found in both places.
Life with my family
"A young girl, observing that life with her family is not easy, imagines the quintet as a pod of pelicans, a swarm of bees, or a herd of buffalo. Includes note about, and list of, collective nouns for animals." –|c(Source of summary not specified)
Lulu the One and Only
“Lulu loves her family, but people are always asking: What are you? Lulu hates that question. Her brother inspires her to come up with a “power phrase” so she can easily express who she is, not what she is. Includes a Note to Readers from the author, sharing her experience as a multiracial person.” — from the publisher
Maisie’s scrapbook
As the seasons turn, Maisie rides her bull in and out of Dada’s tall tales. Her Mama wears linen and plays the viola. Her Dada wears kente cloth and plays the marimba. They come from different places, but they hug her in the same way. And most of all, they love her just the same. A joyful celebration of a mixed-race family and the love that binds us all together.
Marisol McDonald and the monster
"A spunky, bilingual, multiracial girl finds her own way to conquer her fear of the nighttime monster that mysteriously appears in her home. Includes author’s note and glossary"–|cProvided by publisher
Marvelous Maravilloso
Marvelous Maravilloso Me and My Beautiful Family is a story from the point of view of a young interracial child about what color means within the dynamics of race, ethnicity, and culture. This sweet simple story blends the colors of the world and the color of the people her life and shares the experience of her culture in a complex multicultural world.–Provided by publisher
Pie is for sharing
You’re invited to a glorious Fourth of July picnic where you’ll learn all about sharing, the good things along with the bad.
Twenty Yawns
“Featuring lyrical text and beautiful illustrations, this bedtime tale from Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley and Caldecott Honor recipient Lauren Castillo evokes the splashy fun of the beach and the quietude of a moonlit night, with twenty yawns sprinkled in for children to discover and count. As her mom reads a bedtime story, Lucy drifts off. But later, she awakens in a dark, still room, and everything looks mysterious. How will she ever get back to sleep?” — publisher
Two problems for Sophia
When her family complains about her pet giraffe’s loud snoring and sloppy kisses, Sophia finds an engineering solution.
When Aidan became a brother
"Aidan, a transgender boy, experiences complicated emotions as he and his parents prepare for the arrival of a new baby"–|cProvided by publisher
When the cousins came
Even though Lila’s cousins do some things differently, Lila loves when they come to visit.
