As a mom of two young boys (ages 4 and 1), I spend a lot of time reading picture books. I also spend a lot of time thinking about how to foster acceptance, inclusivity, and open-mindedness as their worlds expand and they’re exposed to more and more diversity.
This is why I choose to stock our shelves with books that feature families who don’t look like our own.
Our empathy can increase when we read fiction that pulls us emotionally into the story, research has shown. And experts believe empathy is essential for the development of morality, emotional regulation, and prosocial behaviors in kids.
Books featuring diversity are essential for cultivating acceptance and instilling a love for all people.
Here’s a list of books we recommend for your family if you would also like to expose your kids to stories about diverse families — families with queer parents, families with a disabled member, families with one parent, families with adopted children, blended families, families with divorced parents, interracial families, and so on.
Because love is really what defines family.
About our recommendations: Our writers and editors choose products or services that we think might be helpful for our readers. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. Please note, the writer may not have tested these products personally. All recommendations in this article are based on research, personal experience, or both.
1. Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer
I love this book because it doesn’t use labels. Instead, it showcases loving actions family members might do for one another, picturing families of all sorts: queer, interracial, multigenerational, and so on. The images are bold and eye-catching, and my boys have reached for this book over and over again.
You can get this book on Amazon.com.
2. I Love Us: A Book About Family by Clarion Books
This book is another favorite in our family, sharing images of diverse families. I love that it doesn’t assume there’s a “normal” family unit. Family can look like anything, and is defined by love.
You can get I Love Us on Amazon.com.
3. Families Can by Dan Saks
This rhyming board book with beautiful illustrations is great for young kids. It lists the many ways families can be different and celebrates what makes each family unique.
Families Can is available on Amazon.com.
4. My Two Moms and Me by Michael Joosten
This book is about a family of two moms and their kids. The moms are busy, smart, and stylish, and you follow them through their hectic, love-filled day.
It’s a great book for kids who have never seen their family reflected on the page or those who want to learn about a family that looks different from theirs.
My Two Moms and Me is available on Amazon.com.
5. All Kinds of Families by Suzanne Lang
My kids love Suzanne Lang’s Grumpy Monkey, so we were excited about another book by the same author. All Kinds of Families is another cute, colorful board book that celebrates all kinds of families. It’s simple, straightforward, and fun.
You can find All Kinds of Families on Amazon.com.
6. The Family Book by Todd Parr
You likely have a Todd Parr book in your home library. He’s written dozens of bold and beautiful children’s books. The Family Book is our favorite because it celebrates diverse families and encourages families to “help each other be strong.”
You can buy The Family Book on Amazon.com.
7. Daddy, Papa, and Me by Leslie Newman
This book is perfect for kids in a family with two dads or for parents who want to show their kiddos that families who look different still do all the same things in their day. It’s a no-nonsense, rhythmic read with cute, colorful pictures.
You can get Daddy, Papa, and Me on Amazon.com.
8. Family Means . . . by Matthew Ralph
This book showcases nuclear families, adoption families, blended families, multiracial families, single-parent families, queer families, and stepfamilies with the message that love is the core value that defines a family.
It normalizes all types of families by showcasing everyday moments with beautiful hand-drawn illustrations.
Family Means is available on Amazon.com.
9. My Family, Your Family by Lisa Bullard
This book follows a girl as she visits families in her neighborhood and notices how they’re different and similar to her own family.
It’s a wonderful way to start a conversation with your little one about how your family compares to families in the book and families you know.
This book is available on Amazon.com.
10. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslie Newman
Heather Has Two Mommies is a cute story about a character named Heather who notices her family looks different from others.
Along the way, she learns that every family is unique in its own way. When her classmates draw pictures of their families, no two are the same. It’s a reassuring read for kids with same-sex parents and an enlightening read for all kiddos.
You can buy Heather Has Two Mommies on Amazon.com.
11. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
This book is an absolutely delightful read, and one that I’m so glad is in our family’s rotation. It’s a true story about two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo who want to have a family. With the help of a kind zookeeper, they eventually welcome a baby of their own.
It’s a matter-of-fact, heartwarming story with an underlying message about acceptance and love.
You can get And Tango Makes Three on Amazon.com.
12. What Makes a Family? by Hannah Bruner
This book teaches that a family doesn’t have to look a certain way. A family is made by choosing love. The beautiful illustrations and whimsical language keep my kids engaged.
You can buy What Makes a Family? on Amazon.com.
13. Two Homes by Claire Masurel
This book is about a young girl whose parents are divorced. It offers the perspective that there’s so much to be gained, not lost, when growing up in a split family.
Alex goes back and forth between two homes, and in each one, she completely belongs and is completely loved.
You can get Two Homes on Amazon.com.
14. A Family Is a Family Is a Family (Who We Are) by Sara O’Leary
While a class discusses all the ways their families are different from each other, one child worries that her family is still just too different to explain.
She soon realizes that her family cares for each other, which is what ultimately defines family. The illustrations in this sweet story are absolutely beautiful.
A Family Is a Family Is a Family (Who We Are) is available on Amazon.com.
15. A Handful of Buttons: Picture Book About Family Diversity by Carmen Parets Luque
This book featuring eye-catching button people teaches young children that each family is as unique as a handful of buttons, made up of different people in different ways and connected by a thread called “love.”
A Handful of Buttons is available on Amazon.com.
16. This Family That Family by Fallon Lee
I love that this book features families with disabled people, families with different cultural backgrounds, and families with caregivers from different generations (and more).
Its simple, bold pictures help to illustrate that families are as diverse as the global population, and there’s no one right way to be a family.
You can get This Family That Family on Amazon.com.
17. My Two Cool Moms by Kristine Ebona
My Two Cool Moms goes beyond teaching tolerance to really celebrating family differences.
The artwork is beautiful, and the characters are charming. It’s a great lesson for our kids that different-looking families also have a life filled with fun, adventure, joy, and love.
You can purchase My Two Cool Moms on Amazon.com.
The final word
Stocking your child’s bookshelf with picture books that showcase diverse families is an easy and effective way to teach them that families might not all look like their own.
I’m all about raising my kids to be open-minded and value inclusivity. One way to achieve this? Early exposure to diversity.
The books on this list are packed with important lessons and feature vibrant, colorful visuals. Perfect for making reading time memorable for you and your little ones.
