In a recent post about the need for diversity in children’s books, I asked many of you to share your experiences, and boy, did you show up! The discussion in the comments of that article reaffirmed how vital it is that we have strong inclusivity and representation in the books our kids read. I did a call-out to see if some of you would be willing to share your experiences and I’m pleased to share the experiences of Taylor and Nathalie in their quest for books that represent their multiracial families.
is an ADHD coach and writer of the ADHD Unpacked newsletter. She lives in Southern California with her 2.5-year-old daughter and part of the time with her 8-year-old stepdaughter. Her husband is Arab-American with Syrian heritage. Taylor has struggled to find “books that feature biracial white and Arab families, and I’ve found very few toddler-aged books that relate to Syria, Syrian culture, or Syrian Americans.”Based in Portland, OR, Nathalie has similar struggles. She is a stay-at-home parent for her two children: a 2.5-year-old and a 10-month-old. While Nathalie is white, her husband is South Asian and, like Taylor, she too struggles to find books that represent her family: “While there seemed to be lots of books with diverse characters, very few seemed to be of South Asian heritage, and there was nothing I could find when it came to board books or books aimed at babies and toddlers.”
The reality is that while there’s been a notable improvement in diverse children’s books, it’s still hard to find books that perfectly mirror our situations (mirror books are children’s books that reflect us and our experiences; they help us feel less alone). In some cases, to be inclusive, there are “catch-all” characters—one bearing the sole responsibility of a diverse region. For example, a brown character is given no specificity but some random traits that could make them Arab or South Asian. The Disney movie Aladdin is a great example of this: it’s a mish-mash of lots of different cultures in an attempt to be relatable to nearly every brown kid out there. I don’t love books like this—I think they serve none of the people they hope to identify with—but understand that these types of books are part of the “growing pains” of getting more diversity.
The other big part to consider is that when you do find books that mirror your experiences, they may be hyper-focused on just one aspect of your identity. This has been especially true for Taylor: “Many of the children’s books I’ve encountered about Syria are focused on the context of war (like Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha’s exquisite, Caldecott-winning The Cat Man of Aleppo*). I think these books are important, and I plan to read them with my daughter when she is a little bit older. And yet, I also think it is vital to include children’s books that celebrate Syrian culture beyond the context of war.”
The Adventures of Laila and Ahmed in Syria
Written by Nushin Alloo and Illustrated by Shadia Kessem
A story that is a tribute to the rich and vast Syrian culture and what it was like pre-war. The two main characters are the grandchildren of a famous Moroccan explorer who use his travelogue to transport themselves to Syria and discover the cultural heritage and history of its ancient, pre-war cities. Together, the kids go on an adventure collecting and solving clues as they visit famous landmarks and cities. This book is a wonderful exposure to learning about pre-war Syria through an engaging adventure. As an adult, after you read it, the gravity of what has been lost because of the war will sink in. Kessem’s oil-painted illustrations are bold and lush—they will truly transport you. They’re especially moving since Kessem herself was a Syrian refugee and you can feel her loving homage to her homeland in her artwork.
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Similarly, there’s also a strong desire to show that even if you look different or have a different background, you’re still a kid who enjoys the same things as other kids. It’s not about diminishing your identity but acknowledging it’s just another piece of you. As Nathalie says, “I would be excited to see books with mixed-race or South Asian kids where the idea of ‘difference’ isn’t the point, where the kids are just having an adventure and there happens to be a grandma wearing a sari or a grandpa snacking on murukku in the background because it is normal and beautiful to have members of your family who aren’t the same as your neighbors… the baseline assumption shouldn’t be that every family in a storybook is the same.”
“The idea of ‘difference’ isn’t the point; the kids are just having an adventure and there happens to be a grandma wearing a sari or a grandpa snacking on murukku in the background because it is normal and beautiful to have members of your family who aren’t the same as your neighbors…” —Nathalie
Summer Is For Cousins
Written by Rajani LaRocca and Illustrated by Abhi Alwar
Ravi and his extended family rent a vacation home every summer and spend a week together. Between all the adults and kids, it’s a packed house! But Dhruv, the oldest of all the cousins and the only other boy is Ravi’s favorite. Traversing the classic scenes of summer—from choosing an ice cream flavor to building sandcastles—Ravi can’t help but be intimidated by the ways Dhruv has changed and how much older he seems. A gorgeously illustrated ode to childhood summers filled with family and fun, it’s the bright hazy colors and the warmth exuding from the page that pull you right in. A story about connecting with someone after a long time set against a quiet backdrop that seamlessly melds the reality of what it’s like being Indian and American.
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3 Tips To Find Your Mirror Books
Find the authors that represent your situation
There’s nothing like reading a book by an author who “gets it.” They convey the lived experience so well that it can form a strong connection with the reader. It’s an opportunity for kids to know their experience is worth talking about and sharing. Authors who have lived that experience are more likely to have written multiple books featuring characters with the same background. So if you find a book you enjoyed, check out the other books by the same author!
This is a great place to find a repository of diverse children’s book titles.
Adjust the narrative to make books age-appropriate
I’ve heard from many people that they will find books that are suited for older kids but have a difficult time finding books for younger kids. My recommendation for this is just to grab the older kid’s picture book and adapt your narration to suit a younger audience! You might want to read it in advance and see how you want to tell the story. It’s an easy tweak and the best part is you get a lot of longevity out of the book as the kid ages into the official story.
Look for books that are representation-adjacent
This isn’t the most satisfying tip—I’ll be the first to admit it reeks a little bit of giving up—but it’s an honest one. The unfortunate truth is we just aren’t there yet with representation of all sorts of backgrounds and identities in children’s books. When you’re not able to find what you’re looking for, consider broadening your search. If you’re looking for a specific culture, consider looking for books that are from similar cultures. For example, if you’re having a difficult time finding Nigerian children’s books, consider expanding your search to include Ghanaian children’s books as well. It’s not ideal but it does serve a teaching purpose: that many places may share cultural similarities with neighboring places; that empathy is recognizing that even if someone’s culture is entirely different from our own, they may also struggle with similar issues.
Additional Resources
Database to find diverse children’s books
List of Syrian children’s books
Let’s Talk…
Where have you found books that represent your background?
What are your biggest challenges with finding mirror books?
*Thank you for using (at no additional cost to you) the affiliate links in this post! :-)
Thank you so much! We are super excited to explore the book you have shared, and I totally agree with Sarah's comment; the advice to adapt books for older kids is a great thought that I plan to further implement with my kids as well :)
This is excellent, Sri. I especially like the advice to adjust the narrative to make books age-appropriate. Bravo, friend! 👏