Topic: Diverse & Inclusive Books for EYFS

Eyes that Speak to the Stars

Picturebook

A young Asian boy notices that his eyes look different from his peers’ after seeing his friend’s drawing of them. After talking to his father, the boy realizes that his eyes rise to the skies and speak to the stars, shine like sunlit rays, and glimpse trails of light from those who came before-in fact, his eyes are like his father’s, his agong’s, and his little brother’s, and they are visionary.

Inspired by the men in his family, he recognizes his own power and strength from within. This extraordinary picture book redefines what it means to be truly you.

I Love Me!

Diane Ewen & Marvyn Harrison

Picturebook

Author Marvyn Harrison (founder of Dope Black Dads) has a mission… ‘each and every child is special, and it is important to tell them so every day.’ And so begins this empowering picture book. The story follows the characters from Monday through to Sunday, to help with learning the days of the week and family routines. Each day, the characters look at themselves in the mirror and say positive affirmations to their reflections. A different affirmation each day, with examples of how to be that person. The book also encourages children to talk about themselves and express their thoughts and feelings. The colourful pages burst to life thanks to the illustrations of Diane Ewen who is able to show how to be brave, smart, strong, kind, happy, loving and beautiful. This book is vibrant and energetic, and sure to engage our youngest children. Harrison describes his philosophy on affirmations as ‘just as regular exercise and a balanced diet set up strong patterns for good physical health, so can practising affirmations lead to better mental health’. You can read more about affirmations, Black Dope Dads and tips for reading with your child, at the back of the book.

In My Mosque

Hatem Aly & M. O. Yuksel

Picturebook

A big-hearted global celebration of mosques and the diverse worshippers that they welcome every day!

My mosque feels safe like home.
In my mosque, we pray for peace, love and joy.
You are welcome in my mosque.

Picked by School Library Journal for the Best Picture Books of 2021.

Do you go regularly to a mosque? Or perhaps you’ve never been inside one? This joyful book invites everyone – worshippers and newcomers alike – to step inside and meet warm, welcoming mosque communities all across the world. Join young Muslim children, their families and friends, as they learn, pray, eat, help others … and play!

Joyful illustrations from award-winning illustrator Hatem Aly ( The Proudest Blue ) bring to life this simple and heartfelt introduction to life inside the mosque!

Jabari Tries

Gaia Cornwall

Picturebook

A gorgeous story book for younger children with themes of perseverance and learning not to give up, as well as STEM and engineering. Jabari wishes to make a flying machine that can really soar through the air in the garden. Just like many of the best inventions, it doesn’t work properly on the first attempt and a little trial and error is needed to tweak the design. Jabari is disappointed, but with a bit of encouragement from his family to keep on trying, he soon begins to see success.

Young children will be able to relate to the frustration of models and designs not working properly and the challenge of not giving up. Jabari’s father and sister offer fantastic encouragement and we also see familiar family dynamics as Jabari is not sure that he wants to include his sister in his game, but the teamwork pays off in the end. Jabari becomes a good role model when he adapts the attitude to keep trying to reach his goal, and readers celebrate with him when his success is the fruit of his tenacity.

The book could inspire some STEM-themed projects, research into some of the scientific figures mentioned to simply discussions on the topic of perseverance.

A Superpower Like Mine

Dr. Ranj Singh & Liam Darcy

Picturebook

An empowering story about seeing the best in others and yourself, from Dr Ranj, bestselling author and the nation’s favourite doctor.

Femi has SUPERPOWERS! But not the superhero kind – she can’t really fly or turn invisible. Femi’s dad says she has lots of superpowers on the inside that make her special.

From kindness to creativity, bravery to patience – join Femi as she discovers all the special powers that her, her friends, and the incredible people around her, bring out in one another every day.

Amanda Gorman (Little People, Big Dreams)

Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara & Queenbe Monyei

Non-fiction

In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the incredible life of Amanda Gorman, America’s astounding young poet and activist.

From an early age, Little Amanda read everything she could get her hands on , from books to cereal boxes. Growing up with an auditory processing disorder and a speech impediment, Amanda had to work hard, but ultimately she took great strength from her experiences .

After hearing her teacher read aloud to the class, she knew that she wanted to become a poet, and nothing would stand in her way. At the age of 19, she became America’s first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate. And, after performing her inspiring poem ‘The Hill We Climb’ at the Presidential Inauguration in January 2021 , she became an icon across the world .

This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back , including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the incredible young poet and activist’s life so far.

You Matter

Christian Robinson

Picturebook

For fans of Jon Klassen, this sensitive and impactful picture book from award-winning author-illustrator Christian Robinson is all about seeing the world from different points of view, and the perfect entry point for parents to help teach their little people about empathy and community.

The small stuff too small to see.
Those who swim with the tide and those who don’t.
The first to go and the last.
You matter.

In this bright and beautiful picture book, many different perspectives around the world are deftly and empathetically explored – from a pair of bird-watchers to the pigeons they’re feeding, from the hugest dinosaur to the tiniest fly.

Young readers will be drawn into the luminous illustrations inviting them to engage with the world in a new way and see how everyone is connected and that everyone matters.

Pablo’s Feelings

Pablo

Picturebook

Sometimes your face doesn’t show how you are feeling.

Pablo wants to go to his cousin Lorna’s house, but his mum sees the expression on his face and thinks that he doesn’t want to go!

Pablo is autistic and he sees the world in a different way. Together with his friends, the Book Animals, he comes up with a way to let people know what he is thinking!

So Much

Helen Oxenbury & Trish Cooke

Picturebook

Mum and baby are home alone when – DING DONG! – Auntie and then Uncle and Nannie and Gran-Gran and the cousins come to visit. And they all want to hug and kiss and squeeze and eat the baby right up … because everybody loves the baby SO MUCH!

A special 25th anniversary edition of a multiple award-winning story, So Much is a celebration of family life. Helen Oxenbury’s characteristically warm, funny illustrations, paired with Trish Cooke’s rhythmic, cumulative story capture the joy of being a baby in a large extended family – a baby who knows that he is absolutely, utterly adored.

With a foreword and gorgeous golden foil on the cover and spine, this edition is one to share and treasure.

Maisie’s Scrapbook

Jo Loring-Fisher & Samuel Narh

Picturebook

Maisie’s Scrapbook is a beautiful picture book for younger readers, reflecting the deep richness of belonging to a multiracial family. Maisie is exceptionally well-loved by both her mother and her father and they bring different cultural experiences to her life because of their different heritages. Maisie does not just get to eat risotto; she gets to eat jollof rice too. She does not just hear the marimba, but also the violin. She enjoys a childhood richly interspersed with imagination, affection and story-telling

Any young child will enjoy this warm portrayal of family life. For many children in multiracial families, it can be a rarer experience to see their lives reflected in the books available to them. There is an underlying theme of what unites us – mama and dada may have different backgrounds but they both hug, praise, nag and love Maisie. What an important lesson for our children to understand that whatever our background, we are loving, feeling, caring humans and our families are important to us.

This book would be lovely to use in schools at any time, but perhaps especially while working on any unit about families. Children may also enjoy recognising the instruments mentioned if they are working on instruments or sounds (and it would be a lucky school indeed that had access to a marimba and a violin to show them!).

The illustrations are rich, bright, clear and appealing. The drawings which are done as though they are Maisie’s own on the endpapers add a warm and quirky touch.

I would recommend this book for young families and lower primary school classrooms.

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