Parenting as Social Justice: My Favorite Books for Babies and Toddlers

I’m priming my son to fight for justice with me even at 18 months of age. Many people wonder what the heck that looks like for a kid so young. Mostly, it’s about exposure. For us, that means being intentional about the kind of literature we read with our children. We have specific favorite books that promote social justice.   

There are several things I look for when buying kids’ books. First, I look for books that feature non-white characters, especially books that feature diverse characters. The reality is that some absurdly high percentage of children’s literature highlights only the lives of white kids. Not only is this problematic in terms of representation and equity, but it’s also, frankly, boring.  

For the same reason, I love books that feature other versions of “difference,” whether kids with disabilities, families with same-sex parents, or children from different parts of the world. Second, I want books that are empowering and message to my kid that he matters, and so do other people. Lastly, I want books that normalize experiences that are often seen as “other” by our dominant culture. That means I’m always looking for books that highlight difference without centering around difference.  

There are tons of exhaustive lists of social justice books on the interwebs. This is by no means a total catalog of those books but rather a collection of my very favorite ones. These books serve as a jumping-off point for conversations with my toddler, and they are helping me lay the groundwork to help him develop a deep sense of fairness and empathy. 

Starring Kids and Characters of Color

1. More, More, More Said the Baby by Vera B. Williams. This is an adorable story featuring interracial families and kids of color.
2. Corduroy by Don Freeman. One of my personal favorites from my childhood. ‘
3. Subway by Anastasia Suen. This book features illustrations of a diverse set of subway riders in NYC.
4. Mama do you Love Me? by Barbara Joose. A sweet and empowering story of a Native American mama and child.  
5. Carry Me, Star Bright Books. This one’s especially special to us, as it celebrates babywearing moms and dads from all over the world.  
6. If I had a Gryphon by Vicki VanSickle. A cute tale about pet ownership.

Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion

1. A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara. A great alternative to boring ABC books, this one features social justice figures and concepts for all 26 letters.  
2. Counting on Community by Innosanto Nagara. The companion book to A is for Activist. Both of these books feature diverse characters, including individuals in wheelchairs.
3. Goodnight Daddy by Adam Gamble and Mark Jasper. I adore this one. The dads look different, but all love their kiddos. This is a series, and we have several others, but the Daddy version is my favorite.

In support of the LGBT Community and Diverse Families

1. One Family by George Sharron. A lovely counting book depicting all kinds of families – single parent, same-sex parent, grandparent, and blended families all have a place in this story.
2. The Family Book by  Todd Parr. Another story normalizes all kinds of family makeups, including adoptive, step, multi-generational, and same-sex. 
3. Red, a Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall. A wonderful tale of accepting and loving one’s unique identity and a great way to introduce transgender and non-binary gender expression. 

There are so many more wonderful books out there that can support parents in priming their kids to be strong advocates for justice. What are your favorite books?