Encourage Kids to Be Themselves with Books

As children discover who they are, it is like watching a flower blossom or a story unfold. One way to support them on their journey is to find books that encourage kids to be themselves, whether they are exploring their unique blend of cultures or finding the costume that is just right for them.

This post is part of Read Your World Celebrates Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2024. Read more about it – including the upcoming virtual party – at the end!

Disclosure: I received complimentary copies of the books below for review purposes; however, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Encourage Kids to Be Themselves with Books

These wonderful books encourage kids to be themselves and embrace all aspects of their heritage and their personality.

I fell in love with this book and its author’s mission of raising culturally and linguistically curious and confident children, a mission so near and dear to my own heart. This Hindi-English bilingual board book can be enjoyed by children of varying ages. The sturdy pages were designed with little hands in mind, and even the youngest readers will be attracted to the bright, colorful illustrations of delicious Indian snacks. Slightly older children can practice counting (in two languages!), and they will delight in the idea of a bear dropping by for tea. Kids and adults will discover old and new snacks to love, as they come to appreciate just how delicious diversity can be!

The book comes with a engagement guide, with ideas on how to use the book with children of different ages and more detailed descriptions of the mouthwatering foods featured in the book. There is also a section focused specifically on how the book can help heritage learners explore this side of their culture and take pride in their roots. Most of all, I love how this book and its guide encourage kids to be themselves, whatever their particular blend of cultures and languages might be!

Buy My Heart Would Like Some More, Please on Brooklyn Biharn

As the mother to a child who plans out her Halloween costume in meticulous detail months in advance, I know how exciting but also how fraught the process of choosing a costume can be. But for a non-binary kid, it is even trickier. Charly wants to find the perfect Halloween costume, but each one they try on doesn’t feel just right. Most are either stereotypically male or female, making Charly feel like one side of themselves is being covered up.

But then Charly comes up with a creative solution that can show off their male and female sides, creating a costume just as unique and wonderful as Charly. And while some kids are confused or scornful, even more are delighted. But most importantly, Charly feels in harmony, in tune with all parts of themself. A Costume for Charly is a wonderful book that gives kids the space to listen to their inner voice and discover new ways to express themselves. Above all, it encourages kids to have the self-confidence to embrace their whole selves.

Buy A Costume for Charly on Amazon or Bookshop

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2024 (1/25/25) is in its 11th year! Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative; they are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural diverse books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

Read Your World’s mission is to raise awareness of the need to include kids’ books celebrating diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission and history HERE.

Read Your World celebrates Multicultural Children’s Book Day and is honored to be Supported by these Medallion and Ruby Sponsors!
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr (Audreypress.com)
🏅 Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media
🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Publisher Spotlight, Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages, Lerner Publishing Group
🏅 Gold Sponsors: Barefoot Books, Astra Books for Young Readers
🏅 Silver Sponsors: Red Comet Press, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Lee and Low Books, Cardinal Rule Press
🏅 Bronze Sponsors: CK Malone, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Anita Crawford Clark, Star Bright Books, Blue Dot Kids Press, Brunella Costagliola, Red Fin, Fabled Films
Ruby Sponsor: Crayola

Poster Artist: Rebecca Burgess

Classroom Kit Poster: Barefoot Books
MCBD 2024 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!
Authors: Gwen Jackson, Josh Funk, Eugenia Chu, Sivan Hong, Marta Magellan, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Angela H. Dale, Maritza M Mejia, Authors J.C. Kato and J.C.², Charnaie Gordon, Alva Sachs, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Lisa Chong, Diana Huang, Martha Seif Simpson, DARIA (WORLD MUSIC WITH DARIA) Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, Gea Meijering, Stephanie M. Wildman, Tracey Kyle, Afsaneh Moradian, Kim C. Lee, Rochelle Melander, Beth Ruffin, Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Alina Chau, Michael Genhart, Sally J. Pla, Ajuan Mance, Kimberly Marcus, Lindsey Rowe Parker
MCBD 2024 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!
MCBD 2023 is Honored to be Supported by our Partner Organizations!
Check out MCBD’s Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!
📌 FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day
MCBD 2024 Poster
Mental Health Support for Stressful Times Classroom Kit
Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents
Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Activism and Activists Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Empathy Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit
Gallery of Our Free Posters
FREE Diversity Book for Classrooms Program
📌 Register for the MCBD Read Your World Virtual Party
Join us on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 9 pm EST celebrating more than 10 years of Multicultural Children’s Book Day Read Your World Virtual Party! Register here.
This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.
We will be giving away a 10-Book Bundle during the virtual party plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **
Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, and connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. We look forward to seeing you all on January 25, 2024, at our virtual party!