Own Voices: Children's books
#OwnVoices is a term coined by the writer Corinne Duyvis, and refers to an author from a marginalized or under-represented group writing about their own experiences and from their own perspective, rather than someone from an outside perspective writing as a character from an underrepresented group.
Across the Bay by Carlos Aponte
Author-illustrator Carlos Aponte takes readers on a journey to the heart of Puerto Rico in this enchanting picture book set in Old San Juan.
American As Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar
An Indian American girl navigates prejudice in her small town and learns the power of her own voice in this brilliant gem of a middle grade novel full of humor and heart.
Amina's Voice by Hena Khan
A Pakistani-American Muslim girl struggles to stay true to her family's vibrant culture while simultaneously blending in at school after tragedy strikes her community.
Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang; Charlene Chua (Illustrator)
Meet the funny, fierce, and fearless Amy Wu, who is determined to make a perfect bao bun today. Can she rise to the occasion?
Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi; Ashley Lukashevsky (Illustrator)
Take your first steps with Antiracist Baby! Or rather, follow Antiracist Baby's nine easy steps for building a more equitable world.
Bee-Bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park; Ho Baek Lee (Illustrator)
A child, eager for a favorite meal, helps with the shopping, food preparation, and table setting.
Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Suspended unjustly from elite Middlefield Prep, Donte Ellison studies fencing with a former champion, hoping to put the racist fencing team captain in his place.
Black Is a Rainbow Color by Angela Joy; Ekua Holmes (Illustrator)
A child reflects on the meaning of being Black in this anthem about a people, a culture, a history, and a legacy that lives on.
¡Bravo! by Margarita Engle; illustrations by Rafael Lopez
Bold, graphic portraits and beautiful poems present famous and lesser-known Latinos from varied backgrounds who have faced life's challenges in creative ways.
In vivid poems, Woodson shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement.
Can I Touch Your Hair? by Charles Waters; Irene Latham; Selina Alko (Illustrator); Sean Qualls (Illustrator)
Irene Latham, who is white, and Charles Waters, who is black, present paired poems about topics including family dinners, sports, recess, and much more. This relatable collection explores different experiences of race in America.
Chickadee by Louise Erdrich (Illustrator)
In 1866, Omakayas's son Chickadee is kidnapped by two ne'er-do-well brothers from his own tribe and must make a daring escape, forge unlikely friendships, and set out on an exciting and dangerous journey to get back home.
Fourteen-year-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court as their father ignores his declining health.
Danbi Leads the School Parade by Anna Kim (Illustrator)
Thrilled to start at her new school in America before she renders her diverse class silent as the first Asian student most of them have ever seen, little Danbi uses the power of her imagination to make friends, learn the rules and lead everyone during a fun-filled parade.
Drawn Together by Dan Santat (Illustrator, Cover Design by); Minh Lê
A boy and his grandfather cross a language and cultural barrier using their shared love of art, storytelling, and fantasy.
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson; E. B. Lewis (Illustrator)
When Ms. Albert teaches a lesson on kindness, Chloe realizes that she and her friends have been wrong in making fun of new student Maya's shabby clothes and refusing to play with her.
In this funny, poignant graphic novel memoir, author/illustrator Cece Bell chronicles her hearing loss at a young age and her subsequent experiences with the Phonic Ear, a very powerful—and very awkward—hearing aid.
Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their life of wealth and privilege in Mexico to go work in the labor camps of Southern California, where they must adapt to the harsh circumstances facing Mexican farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression.
Festival of Colors by Surishtha Sehgal; Kabir Sehgal; Vashti Harrison (Illustrator)
Sibilings Chintoo and Mintoo collect flowers and press the petals into a fine powder as they prepare for Holi, the Indian springtime Festival of Colors.
The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez
Twelve-year-old María Luisa O'Neill-Morales reluctantly moves with her Mexican-American mother to Chicago and starts seventh grade with a bang--violating the dress code with her punk rock aesthetic and spurning the middle school's most popular girl in favor of starting a band with a group of like-minded weirdos.
Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry
When her mother breaks up with yet another boyfriend, Calliope meets Jinsong at her latest middle school, who becomes her friend despite her Tourette syndrome and the embarrassment it can cause.
Frederick Douglass: the Lion Who Wrote History by Walter Dean Myers; Floyd Cooper (Illustrator)
Frederick Douglass was a self-educated slave in the South who grew up to become an icon. He was a leader of the abolitionist movement, a celebrated writer, an esteemed speaker, and a social reformer, proving that, as he said, "Once you learn to read, you will be forever free."
A Friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey; Mika Song (Illustrator)
Henry would like to find a friend at school, but for a boy on the autism spectrum, making friends can be difficult, as his efforts are sometimes misinterpreted, or things just go wrong--but Henry keeps trying, and in the end he finds a friend he can play with.
Fry Bread by Juana Martinez-Neal (Illustrator); Kevin Noble Maillard
Told in lively and powerful verse, Fry Bread is an evocative depiction of a modern Native American family. Includes a recipe and an extensive author note that delves into the social ways, foodways, and politics of America's 573 recognized tribes.
Funny Bones by Duncan Tonatiuh
Funny Bones tells the story of how the amusing calaveras--skeletons performing various everyday or festive activities--came to be. They are the creation of Mexican artist José Guadalupe (Lupe) Posada (1852-1913).
When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl. George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever.
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
After seventh-grader Jerome is shot by a white police officer, he observes the aftermath of his death and meets the ghosts of other fallen black boys including historical figure Emmett Till"-- Provided by publisher.
Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns by Hena Khan; Mehrdokht Amini (Illustrator)
In simple rhyming text a young Muslim girl and her family guide the reader through the traditions and colors of Islam.
Good Enough by Jen Petro-Roy
In the hospital where she is receiving treatment for anorexia, twelve-year-old Riley records her days in her journal--going to therapy, rediscovering her love of art, dealing with her rule-breaking roommate, and worrying about relapse once she returns home.
Grandmother's Pigeon by Louise Erdrich; Jim LaMarche (Illustrator)
Passenger pigeon hatchlings, thought to be extinct, are discovered in Grandmother's room after she departs on a voyage to Greenland.
Heather Has Two Mommies by Lesléa Newman; Laura Cornell (Illustrator)
Heather's favorite number is two. She has two arms, two legs, two pets—and two mommies. When Heather goes to school for the first time, someone asks her about her daddy, but Heather doesn't have a daddy.
Here Is the World by Lesléa Newman; Susan Gal (Illustrator); Lesléa Newman
The year's range of Jewish holidays and celebrations are presented in this repeating, rhyming chant that features key succinct elements for each.
Honeysmoke by Monique Fields; Yesenia Moises (Illustrator)
A young biracial girl searches for the perfect color word to describe herself.
I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel; Jazz Jennings; Shelagh McNicholas (Illustrator)
Presents the story of a transgender child who traces her early awareness that she is a girl in spite of male anatomy and the acceptance she finds through a wise doctor who explains her natural transgender status.
I Can Make This Promise by Christine Day
When twelve-year-old Edie finds letters and photographs in her attic that change everything she thought she knew about her Native American mother's adoption, she realizes she has a lot to learn about her family's history and her own identity.
I Wonder by Doyin Richards
Doyin Richards is a dad whose mission is to celebrate "how fatherhood is the coolest and most rewarding gig a man will ever have in his lifetime.
In My Anaana's Amautik by Nadia Sammurtok; Lenny Lishchenko (Illustrator)
Nadia Sammurtok lovingly invites the reader into the amautik--the pouch in the back of a mother's parka.
Islandborn by Junot Díaz; Leo Espinosa (Illustrator)
Lola was just a baby when her family left the Island, so when she has to draw it for a school assignment, she asks her family, friends, and neighbors about their memories of her homeland ... and in the process, comes up with a new way of understanding her own heritage.
It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
The comedian traces his coming of age during the twilight of apartheid in South Africa and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed, offering insight into the farcical aspects of the political and social systems of today's world.
Jacob's New Dress by Sarah Hoffman; Ian Hoffman; Chris Case (Illustrator)
Jacob, who likes to wear dresses at home, convinces his parents to let him wear a dress to school too.
Jacob's Room to Choose by Ian Hoffman; Sarah Hoffman; Chris Case (Illustrator)
After kindergarteners Jacob and Sophie are prevented from using their school's bathrooms, their teacher helps her students write new rules about who can use which bathroom.
Juana and Lucas by Juana Medina (Illustrator)
A spunky young girl from Colombia loves playing with her canine best friend and resists boring school activities, especially learning English, until her family tells her that a special trip is planned to an English-speaking place.
The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
Eleven-year-old Corinne must call on her courage and an ancient magic to stop an evil spirit and save her island home.
King for a Day by Rukhsana Khan; Christiane Krömer (Illustrator)
Even though he is confined to a wheelchair, a Pakistani boy tries to capture the most kites during Basant, the annual spring kite festival, and become "king" for the day. Includes an afterword about the Basant festival.
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña; Christian Robinson (Illustrator)
A young boy rides the bus across town with his grandmother and learns to appreciate the beauty in everyday things.
Lulu the One and Only by Lynnette Mawhinney; Jennie Poh (Illustrator)
Lulu gets help from her brother, Zane, to respond to other people's confusion about her racial identity by using a "power phrase" to declare who she is, rather than what.
Magnificent Homespun Brown by Samara Cole Doyon; Kaylani Juanita (Illustrator)
Told by a succession of exuberant young narrators, Magnificent Homespun Brown is a story -- a song, a poem, a celebration -- about feeling at home in one's own beloved skin.
Malala's Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai; Kerascoët (Illustrator)
As a child in Pakistan, Malala made a wish for a magic pencil. She would use it to make everyone happy, to erase the smell of garbage from her city, to sleep an extra hour in the morning. But as she grew older, Malala saw that there were more important things to wish for. She saw a world that needed fixing.
Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina; Angela Dominguez (Illustrator)
When a little girl's far-away grandmother comes to stay, love and patience transcend language in this tender story.
Maybe Something Beautiful by F. Isabel Campoy; Theresa Howell; Rafael López (Illustrator)
Mira lives in a gray and hopeless urban community until a muralist arrives and, along with his paints and brushes, brings color, joy, and togetherness to Mira and her neighbors
Meena Meets Her Match by Karla Manternach; Rayner Alencar (Illustrator)
Third-grader Meena Zee navigates the triumphs and challenges of family, friendship, and school while being diagnosed with epilepsy.
Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqi; Hatem Aly (Illustrator)
Pakistani American second grader Yasmin learns to cope with the small problems of school and home, while gaining confidence in her own skills and creative abilities.
Mommy's Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow; Ebony Glenn (Illustrator)
A young Muslim girl puts on a head scarf and not only feels closer to her mother, she also imagines herself as a queen, the sun, a superhero, and more.
My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete; Ryan Elizabeth Peete; Shane Evans (Illustrator)
A girl tells what it is like living with her twin brother who has autism and sometimes finds it hard to communicate with words, but who, in most ways, is just like any other boy. Includes authors' note about autism.
My Grandma and Me by Mina Javaherbin; Lindsey Yankey (Illustrator)
In a true tale of a young girl in Iran and her grandmother, this beautiful ode to family celebrates small moments of love that become lifelong memories.
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi (Illustrator)
After Unhei moves from Korea to the United States, her new classmates help her decide what her name should be.
New Kid by Jerry Craft (Illustrator)
Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade.
Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin; Ebony Glenn (Illustrator)
Tameika is excited to audition for the school's Snow White musical, but when she overhears her classmates say she is too tall, chubby, and brown to play Snow White, she questions whether she is right for the part.
Not So Different by Shane Burcaw; Matt Carr (Illustrator)
A picture book answering the questions young children ask Shane Burcaw about his wheelchair and life with Spinal Muscular Atrophy with equal parts optimism, humor, and empathy.
Of Thee I Sing by Barack Obama; Loren Long (Illustrator)
In this tender, beautiful letter to his daughters, President Barack Obama has written a moving tribute to thirteen groundbreaking Americans and the ideals that have shaped our nation.
On the Edge of Gone by Corinne Duyvis
In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 2034, a comet is due to hit the Earth within the hour. Denise, who's sixteen years old and autistic, must try to find her missing sister and also help her neglectful, undependable mother safely aboard a spaceship.
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
In the summer of 1968, after traveling from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to spend a month with the mother they barely know, eleven-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters arrive to a cold welcome as they discover that their mother is resentful of the intrusion of their visit and wants them to attend a nearby Black Panther summer camp.
The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert
In a predominately white California beach town, the only two black seventh-graders, Alberta and Edie, find hidden journals that uncover family secrets and speak to race relations in the past.
Orange for the Sunsets by Tina Athaide
In alternating voices, friends Asha and Yesofu, one Indian and one African, find their world turned upside-down when Idi Amin decides to expel Asian Indians from Uganda in 1972.
The Other Half of Happy by Rebecca Balcárcel
A lovely, moving, and realistic view of the struggles and insecurities—as well as the beauty—that comes from being bicultural.
Papa, Daddy, and Riley by Seamus Kirst; Devon Holzwarth (Illustrator)
When a classmate insists a family must have a mother and a father, Riley fears she will have to choose between Papa and Daddy until her fathers assure her that love makes a family.
Paperboy by Vince Vawter
When an eleven-year-old boy takes over a friend's newspaper route in July, 1959, in Memphis, his debilitating stutter makes for a memorable month.
Parker Looks Up by Parker Curry; Jessica Curry; Brittany Jackson (Illustrator)
When Parker visits the museum with her mom and friend she is captivated by the portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama, a picture that inspires self-assurance and hope within herself.
Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani
Indian-American teen, Priyanka "Pri" Das, attempts to reconnect with her mother's homeland through a magical pashmina shawl. Presented in comic book format.
Peek! by Minfong Ho (Illustrator); Holly Meade (Illustrator)
A father and daughter play hide-and-seek in the midst of the animals near their house in Thailand.
In a near-future society that claims to have gotten rid of all monstrous people, a creature emerges from a painting seventeen-year-old Jam's mother created, a hunter from another world seeking a real-life monster.
Queen of Physics by Teresa Robeson; Rebecca Huang (Illustrator)
When Wu Chien Shiung was born in China 100 years ago, girls did not attend school. But her parents named their daughter "Courageous Hero" and encouraged her love of science. This biography follows Wu as she battles sexism at home and racism in the United States,
Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe
Javaka Steptoe's vivid text and bold artwork echoing Basquiat's own introduce young readers to the powerful message and art doesn't always have to be neat or clean--and definitely not inside the lines--to be beautiful.
Rescue and Jessica by Jessica Kensky; Patrick Downes; Scott Magoon (Illustrator)
When he is paired with a girl who has lost her legs, Rescue worries that he isn't up to the task of being her service dog.
Roll with It by Jamie Sumner
Twelve-year-old Ellie, who has cerebral palsy, finds her life transformed when she moves with her mother to small-town Oklahoma to help care for her grandfather, who has Alzheimer's Disease.
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe (a Sal and Gabi Novel, Book 1) by Carlos Hernandez
Sal Vidón is attending a new school, with new bullies and new teachers who don't understand the needs of a student with Type 1 diabetes. He also causes rips in time and space by transporting objects from other universes.
Salt in His Shoes by Deloris Jordan; Roslyn M. Jordan; Kadir Nelson (Illustrator)
Young Michael Jordan, who is smaller than the other players, learns that determination and hard work are more important than size when playing the game of basketball.
Separate Is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh
Years before the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling Brown v. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez, an eight-year-old girl of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, played an instrumental role in Mendez v. Westminster, the landmark desegregation case of 1946 in California.
Sit-In by Andrea Davis Pinkney; Brian Pinkney (Artist)
This picture book is a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the momentous Woolworth's lunch counter sit-in, when four college students staged a peaceful protest that became a defining moment in the struggle for racial equality and the growing civil rights movement.
Something Happened in Our Town by Marianne Celano; Marietta Collins; Ann Hazzard; Jennifer Zivoin (Illustrator)
After discussing the police shooting of a local Black man with their families, Emma and Josh know how to treat a new student who looks and speaks differently than his classmates.
Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton; Lauren McKenna (Editor); Sheryl Berk (As told to); Rick Bundschuh
Bethany Hamilton, a teenage surfer lost her arm in a shark attack off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii. Not even the loss of her arm keeps her from returning to surfing, the sport she loves.
Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres
Mexican-American Stef Soto is hoping to break free from her overprotective parents and embarrassing reputation from her family's taco truck business, but she soon learns that family, friendship, and the taco truck are important and wonderful parts of her life.
Stonewall Riots by Gayle E. Pitman
This book is about the Stonewall Riots, a series of spontaneous, often violent demonstrations by members of the gay (LGBTQ+) community in reaction to a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City.
The Story of Gilbert Baker and the Rainbow Flag by Gayle E. Pitman; Holly Clifton-Brown (Illustrator)
Sewing the Rainbow is the powerful story of Gilbert Baker and the creation of the rainbow flag. This book takes readers from Gilbert's childhood in a small town in Kansas where he didn't fit in, to his historic artistic career in San Francisco.
Sumo Joe by Mia Wenjen; Nat Iwata (Illustrator)
In this sweet and funny story, Sumo Joe and his friends enjoy pretending to be sumo wrestlers. But when his little sister wants to join their boy-only game, what should Sumo Joe do?
They Called Us Enemy by George Takei; Justin Eisinger; Steven Scott; Harmony Becker (Illustrator)
Presents a graphic memoir detailing the author's experiences as a child prisoner in the Japanese-American internment camps of World War II, reflecting on the choices his family made in the face of institutionalized racism.
This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman; Kristyna Litten (Illustrator)
A picture book illustrating a Pride parade. The endmatter serves as a primer on LGBT history and culture and explains the references made in the story.
Thunder Boy Jr by Sherman Alexie; Yuyi Morales (Illustrator)
Thunder Boy Jr. wants a normal name ... one that's all his own. Dad is known as Big Thunder, but Little Thunder doesn't want to share a name.
Trombone Shorty by Bryan Collier (Illustrator); Troy Andrews
Hailing from the Tremé neighborhood in New Orleans, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews got his nickname by wielding a trombone twice as long as he was high.
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander; Kadir Nelson (Illustrator)
Originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes.
Voice of Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford; Ekua Holmes (Illustrator)
Presents a collage-illustrated treasury of poems and spirituals inspired by the life and work of civil rights advocate Fannie Lou Hamer.
The Water Princess by Susan Verde; Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator)
The story of one young girl's quest to bring clean drinking water to her African village
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell; Frané Lessac (Illustrator)
Otsaliheliga is a Cherokee word that is used to express gratitude. Journey through the year with a Cherokee family and their tribal nation as they express thanks for celebrations big and small. A look at modern Native American life as told by a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
We Could Be Heroes by Margaret Finnegan
Fourth-graders Maisie and Hank, who has autism, become friends as they devise schemes to save a neighbor's dog, Booler, from being tied to a tree because of his epilepsy.
What's the Difference? by Doyin Richards
Photographs and simple text celebrate friendship, diversity, and acceptance.
When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff; Kaylani Juanita (Illustrator)
Aidan, a transgender boy, experiences complicated emotions as he and his parents prepare for the arrival of a new baby.
Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez; Jaime Kim (Illustrator)
When a girl is asked where she's from—where she's really from—none of her answers seems to be the right one. Unsure about how to reply, she turns to her loving abuelo for help.
The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani
After her father loses his job, Sonia Nadhamuni, half Indian and half Jewish American, finds herself yanked out of private school and thrown into the unfamiliar world of public education.
Woke by Mahogany L. Browne; Theodore Taylor (Illustrator); Jason Reynolds (Contribution by); Elizabeth Acevedo; Olivia Gatwood
This collection of poems by women of color covers topics relating to social justice, activism, discrimination and empathy, focusing on the need to speak out and inspiring a new generation of activists.
Woke Baby by Mahogany L. Browne; Theodore Taylor (Illustrator)
A lyrical and empowering book that celebrates both what it means to be a baby and what it means to be woke.
The Year I Didn't Eat by Samuel Pollen
Fourteen-year-old Max records his efforts to control his anorexia in a therapist-prescribed journal that also chronicles his parents' difficult relationship and his feelings for a new girl at school, Evie.
The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin
Frustrated at her seeming lack of talent for anything, a young Taiwanese American girl sets out to apply the lessons of the Chinese Year of the Dog, those of making best friends and finding oneself, to her own life.
You Matter by Christian Robinson (Illustrator)
In this full, bright, and beautiful picture book, many different perspectives around the world are deftly and empathetically explored.
Next: Teen Books >>
URL: https://westportlibrary.libguides.com/ownvoices
Subjects: Books, Literature & Reading, Education, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Local Interest, Recommended Reading