Books that Teach Acceptance: Ages 2-8

With everything going on lately, I am constantly wondering what I can do in my world to help, spread positivity, or simply share understanding . It is so difficult to see our world in such pain & feel helpless or confused in the process. BUT, I do have this platform and a small group of individuals that will listen to me! THANK YOU!!

I am committed to sharing & growing
in this together. My first attempts at
change will begin within our home.

Everyone has their own sphere of
influence which typically begins within
the home. My husband & children are
my immediate group. Beyond them,
the family outside my home &
friends. Then you! If each of us
simply strives to begin in small ways in our own homes & within our
sphere of influence real change can occur over time. 

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One way I can promote acceptance is continuing to incorporate books that teach diversity in our home. Books are truly a way of speaking into someone's mind & transforming their thoughts. Picture books can be extremely powerful for young children. Within a story they are exposed to different worlds, people, & ways of thinking.

Below are some of my favorites from my days of teaching and some new titles that I have recently added to our shelves at home. All books are appropriate for children preschool - grade school age. The books present varying degrees of complexity, children of all ages will be able to pull their own understanding from them regardless of this.

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1. Because I'm You're Dad- Explores the relationship between son & father. This monster is one cool dad! Sweet bedtime story or Father's Day gift. Promotes different family structures, traditions, & lifestyles. 

​2. The Umbrella- A spin off of Jan Brett's story "The Mitten." The story follows a boy through the Costa Rican cloud forest as he searches for animals among the lush forest. Readers are introduced to various animals native to the cloud forest & are exposed to Spanish throughout the story. 

​3. Kalamata's Kitchen- An adventure in food that is playful & imaginative. Kalamata learns the traditions of her family while trying new things. Children will learn to become adventurous eaters & notice variations in food across cultures.

4. Marisole McDonald Doesn't Match- A story about what it means to come from a mixed ethnic background. Marisol is like any other kid but her family makeup makes her extra unique. She learns to embrace her uniqueness in the end with the help from her teacher!

5. A Tiger Tail- What if you woke up with a tiger tail on the first day of school? This cute story follows Anya as she begins school. She is seemingly different looking than the other students in her class. Readers can understand the importance of embracing differences among one another.

6. The Doorbell Rang- A classic story of a family that loves to share their cookies with the whole neighborhood. Children love the suspense of the dwindling cookies each time the doorbell rings. The illustrations promote a diverse community. 

7. Strictly No Elephants- Have you ever felt unwanted somewhere? This story follows a young boy & his pet elephant. They can never seem to fit in among a certain group of friends. They find a new friend & set out to create a place that welcomes all children and their unusual pets. This creates a great conversation about inclusion in any sense.

8. The Snowy Day - A fun story about a boy named Peter and how he spends his snowy day. This classic includes varied family structure, home, & time period. Children love this simple story because they can easily relate to it!

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One Love - A simple book based on the Bob Marley song. Comes in board book format perfect for little hands.

​The Name Jar- Why do some people have different names? Explores the cultural importance of names. 

​Just Ask- Why are some kids different? Focuses on the differences among children with disabilities. 

​Fry Bread- A Native American (poem style) story about a favorite staple... fry bread. Recipe in the back! Beautiful watercolor & pencil illustrations.

Think Big, Little One- A collection of famous women around the world known for their achievements. Visually stunning!

Hair Love- What happens when daddy is in charge of styling princess like hair?


If you have any other favorites you want to share comment on my latest Instagram post. I am always adding new books to our growing shelves! I will be sure to share them with others.    @JenkinsHouseOnTheHill