Multicultural Books about Diverse Friends and Family
Guest post from Cardinal Rule Press, Read Your World’s 2024 Silver Sponsor.
Diverse friendships and family structures are important topics that represent today’s modern life. From early on, friendship and family become a cornerstone of our lives and we become dependent on them. As we create these relationships, we begin to incorporate more fun and adventure into our lives. We experience adventure when we try new things, which becomes much easier to complete with the support of friends and family. Whether that adventure is attempting to do a new trick on a skateboard or trying to fly, it’s always more fun to do with loved ones. When we are able to create these healthy friendships and family dynamics, we are not afraid to be our true selves. We are able to embrace each other’s differences and gain new perspectives about different topics. The book Cookie and Milk by Michelle Mcavoy is a great book to read to learn about diverse friendship and family structure. Below includes a list of multicultural books that emphasize these themes listed above.
Cookie and Milk by Michelle Mcavoy
Cookie and Milk details the friendship between Khloe and Mikaela. Follow their journey together as they combine STEM and sports to go on adventures. Although Khloe and Mikaela are opposites in many ways, they also complete each other and have a great bond despite their differences.
I Am Courage: A Book of Resilience by Susan Verde
Follow the journey of the main character as he and his friends go on many adventures. Through these adventures, he learns about courage, friendship, bravery, and resilience.
What if We Were All The Same by C.M. Harris
This book emphasizes the themes of diversity, courage, and friendship by showing readers stories of characters who are not afraid to be themselves. Although the characters are different from one another they are able to embrace each other’s differences.
The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be by Joanna Gaines
Follow the journey of the characters in this book as they work together to make hot air balloons. The story illustrates how we are all unique and how differences can be a beautiful thing. This book emphasizes the themes of friendship, courage, adventure, diversity, and STEM.
“You’re one of a kind, and it’s so clear to see: The world needs who you were made to be.”
A Family is a Family by Sara O’Leary
When a teacher asks her class to think about their families and what makes them special, the kids quickly realize how many of their families are different. They learn that although they are different, all of them are special in their own ways. This is a great read to learn about the themes of friendship, family, and diversity.
Dancing Hands by Joanna Que and Charina Marquez
Joanna Que and Charina Marquez bring us a story that follows the blooming friendship between Sam and Mai. When Mai moves in next door to Sam, Sam realizes that they are different from one another. Mai uses Filipino Sign Language, which immediately catches Sam’s attention. Despite their differences in modes of communication, they create a very strong friendship.
Carrie Scherer is a senior at Ohio State University majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing. In her free time she likes to read books, write fiction, and workout.
