Baby books for Woke Babies - Board Book Children's Must Read
Board Books for Woke Babies are designed to introduce young children to important social and cultural concepts in an age-appropriate and accessible manner. These books aim to foster inclusivity, diversity, and empathy from a very early age, promoting understanding and acceptance of differences in race, gender, and identity. These board books with simple text and colorful illustrations that are suitable for infants and toddlers.
The woke babies books use relatable and straightforward language to convey these ideas and often feature diverse characters and families to reflect the real-world diversity children may encounter.
Baby books for Woke Babies - Board Book Children's Must Read
Diverse books are great for small kids for several important reasons:
Reflecting the Real World: Diverse books portray characters and situations that more accurately reflect the real world. In a global and multicultural society, it's essential for children to see people from various backgrounds, races, ethnicities, genders, and abilities in their books. This helps them understand that diversity is a natural part of life.
Promoting Empathy and Understanding: Exposure to diverse books fosters empathy and understanding. When children read stories about characters who are different from themselves, they learn to empathize with those characters' experiences and feelings. This helps develop compassion and an appreciation for the perspectives of others.
Building Self-Identity: Diverse books can positively impact children's self-identity. When children see characters who look like them, share their cultural background, or have similar life experiences, it validates their own identities. It helps them feel valued and connected to the stories being told.
Breaking Stereotypes: Diverse books challenge stereotypes and biases. They counteract harmful stereotypes that children might encounter elsewhere and provide a more accurate and nuanced view of people and cultures.
Cultural Awareness: Diverse books introduce children to different cultures, traditions, and customs. This broadens their worldview and teaches them to respect and appreciate cultural differences.
Language Development: Exposure to diverse books can support language development. Children may encounter words and phrases from various languages, which can enhance their vocabulary and language skills.
Inclusivity: Diverse books send a message of inclusivity and equality. They reinforce the idea that everyone's voice and story matters, regardless of their background.
Preparation for a Diverse World: In an increasingly globalized world, it's crucial for children to be culturally competent and prepared to interact with people from diverse backgrounds. Diverse books help prepare them for this reality.
Critical Thinking: Reading diverse books encourages critical thinking. Children can ask questions, explore different perspectives, and learn to think critically about the world around them.
Positive Role Models: Diverse books provide positive role models from various backgrounds, allowing children to look up to and be inspired by a wide range of individuals. These books are such an anthem of hope for little dreamers.
Incorporating diverse books into a child's reading diet from an early age helps promote inclusivity, empathy, and an open-minded attitude. It lays a foundation for valuing diversity and respecting all individuals, which are essential qualities in today's multicultural and interconnected world.
Great Books for Littlest Progressives in your Life
Promoting diversity and inclusivity through books is a wonderful way to introduce young children to different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives. Here are some board book recommendations for diverse baby books:
"Global Babies" by The Global Fund for Children
This book features photographs and bright playful art of babies from various countries around the world, celebrating the beauty of diversity. Meet babies from around the world in this best-selling celebration of global heritage! First in the Global Babies series.
From Guatemala to Bhutan, seventeen vibrantly colored photographs embrace our global diversity and give glimpses into the daily life, traditions, and clothing of babies from around the world.
A perfect baby shower gift or first book for the toddler in your life. Babies love to look at babies and this bright collection of photos is a ticket to an around-the-world journey. Part of the proceeds from this book’s sales will be donated to the Global Fund for Children to support innovative community-based organizations that serve the world’s most vulnerable children and youth.
2. "Dream Big, Little One" by Vashti Harrison
This beautifully illustrated board book edition of instant bestseller Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History showcases women who changed the world and is the perfect goodnight book to inspire big dreams.
Featuring 18 trailblazing black women in American history, Dream Big, Little One is the irresistible board book adaptation of Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History. Among these women, you'll find heroes, role models, and everyday women who did extraordinary things - bold women whose actions and beliefs contributed to making the world better for generations of girls and women to come for a new day of justice. This book is amazing and shows black girl magic and needs a spot on every bookshelf and in every library!
3. "Baby's First Words" by Christiane Engel
This colorful board book introduces babies to common words in multiple languages, fostering an appreciation for different cultures in such a fun way. Learn over 100 early vocabulary words with a toothy toddler and her two dads! Cheerful acrylic illustrations and digital collage artwork will keep little eyes glued to the pages, searching for the silly woolly mammoth on each one. Designed to support babies' natural pattern of language development, this first word book for the modern world reflects the earliest nouns, verbs, prepositions, adjectives and interjections that children learn to say.
4. "All Are Welcome" by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman
A heartwarming story that celebrates diversity and inclusivity in a school setting. Join the call for a better world with this New York Times bestselling picture book about a school where diversity and inclusion are celebrated. The perfect back-to-school read for every kid, family and classroom! Readers will follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms. A school where students from all backgrounds learn from and celebrate each other's traditions. A school that shows the world as we will make it to be.
5. "Everywhere Babies" by Susan Meyers and Marla Frazee
This diverse board book celebrates the everyday moments and experiences of babies from all backgrounds. With an irresistible rhyming text and delightfully endearing illustrations, here is an exuberant celebration of playing, sleeping, crawling, and of course, very noisy babies doing all the wonderful things babies do best.
Every day, everywhere, babies are born. They're kissed and dressed and rocked and fed—and completely adored by the families who love them. Plus the book's art is really layered and thoughtful in representing all kinds of babies and parents.
6. "More More More," Said the Baby by Vera B. Williams
A delightful book showcasing the love and play between three diverse families and their babies. Here are Little Guy, Little Pumpkin, and Little Bird. Their grownups love them. So will you!
For lap time, classroom reading, or anytime, and for parents, teachers, grandparents, and anyone who enjoys chanting along "more more more" with babies. A good gift for a preschool library at home or school, and for baby showers.
7. "Baby Dance" by Ann Taylor and Marjorie van Heerden
This sweet and rhythmic board book captures the joy of dancing with your baby, featuring diverse families. This sweet and rhythmic board book captures the joy of dancing with your baby, featuring diverse families. Up and down, to and fro, coo and crow baby, there you go. Up to the ceiling, down to the ground, backward and forward, round and round ... All babies love to be lifted, twirled and held in loving arms. Now a rhythmic poem by nineteenth century poet Anne Taylor makes a delightful board book perfect for baby and parent to share. Marjorie van Heerden has captured the energy and joy of this playful text in vivid pastel illustrations full of the soft, gentle motion of dance.
8. No Matter What.. We All Belong by by Becky Davies and Illustrated by Fernando Martìn
A charming book that emphasizes the importance of belonging and the diversity of families. A charming book that emphasizes the importance of belonging and the diversity of families. This fresh and friendly book about diversity presents the message that every person belongs, no matter what our differences may be, and features padded, shiny fabric; peek-through pages; die cuts throughout; and a shiny cloth rainbow at the end that shows through the front cover.
Feeling accepted and included is incredibly important in a child’s social emotional development. This touching, accessible board book about diversity presents the message that we ALL belong, no matter what our differences are.
9. "Be Kind" by Pat Zietlow Miller and Jen Hill
While not specifically about diversity, this book teaches the value of kindness, which is an important lesson for children as they encounter diverse perspectives. When Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmate wants to make her feel better, wondering: What does it mean to be kind?
From asking the new girl to play to standing up for someone being bullied, this moving story explores what kindness is, and how any act, big or small, can make a difference―or at least help a friend.
With a gentle text from the award-winning author of Sophie's Squash, Pat Zietlow Miller, and irresistible art from Jen Hill, Be Kind is an unforgettable story about how two simple words can change the world.
10. "Every Little Thing" by Bob Marley and Cedella Marley
Inspired by the lyrics of Bob Marley's song, this board book spreads a message of love and unity Every family will relate to this universal story of a boy who won't let anything get him down, as long as he has the help of three special little birds. Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Every Little Thing contains beautiful, full-page designs that are as colorful and fun as the storyline.
Including all the lyrics of the original song "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley, along with exciting new song verses, this cheerful children's book will bring a smile to faces of all ages—because every little thing's gonna be alright. Filled with upbeat illustrations and lyrical text that celebrates diversity and unity, Every Little Thing makes a terrific read-aloud for families or classrooms with its uplifting message of love, peace, and harmony.
11. Woke Baby by mahogany l. Browne and Theodore Taylor iii
For all the littlest progressives, waking up to seize a new day of justice and activism. Woke babies are up early. Woke babies raise their fists in the air. Woke babies cry out for justice. Woke babies grow up to change the world.
This lyrical and empowering book is both a celebration of what it means to be a baby and what it means to be woke. With bright playful art, Woke Baby is an anthem of hope in a world where the only limit to a skyscrapper is more blue. Author Mahogany L Browne is author of several books
12. A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara
A is for Activist is an ABC board book written and illustrated for the next generation of progressives: families who want their kids to grow up in a space that is unapologetic about activism, environmental justice, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and everything else that activists believe in and fight for.
The alliteration, rhyming, and vibrant illustrations make the book exciting for children, while the issues it brings up resonate with their parents' values of community, equality, and justice. This engaging little book carries huge messages as it inspires hope for the future, and calls your own woke baby to action while teaching them a love for books.
13. Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi
A #1 New York Times Bestseller! From the National Book Award-winning author of Stamped from the Beginning and How to Be an Antiracist comes a fresh new board book that empowers parents and children to uproot racism in our society and in ourselves.
With bold art and thoughtful yet playful text, Antiracist Baby introduces the youngest readers and the grown-ups in their lives to the concept and power of antiracism. Providing the language necessary to begin critical conversations at the earliest age, Antiracist Baby is the perfect gift for readers of all ages dedicated to forming a just society.
Featured in its own episode in the Netflix original show Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices, Good Morning America, NPR's Morning Edition, CBS This Morning, and more!
14. Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer
This fun, inclusive board book celebrates the one thing that makes every family a family . . . and that's LOVE.
Love is baking a special cake. Love is lending a helping hand. Love is reading one more book. In this exuberant board book, many different families are shown in happy activity, from an early-morning wake-up to a kiss before bed. Whether a child has two moms, two dads, one parent, or one of each, this simple preschool read-aloud demonstrates that what's most important in each family's life is the love the family members share.
15. A is for Awesome by Eva Chen
Why stick with plain old A, B, C when you can have Amelia (Earhart), Malala, Tina (Turner), Ruth (Bader Ginsburg), all the way to eXtraordinary You―and the Zillion of adventures you will go on? This board book is for the feminist baby and those who want to support!
16. Brown Sugar Baby by Kevin Lewis
Brown sugar baby, dark eyes spark bright with glee...Pie of my eye, stay right here with me." This lyrical first book in the Brown Sugar Baby series is a celebration of the powerful love and protective, comforting instincts of a mother for her child. Its soothing rhythm and tender rhymes are highlighted by whimsical and charming illustrations that are perfect for story time.
17. Festival of Colors by Surishtha Sehgal and Kabir Sehgal
Holi, Hai! Holi, Hai! It’s time to prepare for the Indian springtime Festival of Colors in this delightful Classic Board Book!
It’s time for the Indian festival of Holi, a celebration of the start of spring, of new beginnings, and of good over evil. Friends, families, and neighbors wear white clothing and toss handfuls of brightly colored powders at one another until they’re all completely covered from head to toe!
Young readers will love following the young siblings gathering flowers to make the colorful powders for the big day until—poof!—it’s time for the fun to begin.
18. Curls by Ruth Forman
A joyfully poetic board book that delivers an ode to African American girls and the beauty of their curls. This simple, playful, and beautiful board book stars four friends who celebrate the joy of their hairstyles from bouncing curls to swinging braids.
19. Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats
When Whistle for Willie was first published in 1964, The New York Times wrote "Mr. Keats' illustrations boldly, colorfully capture the child, his city world. and the shimmering heat of a summer's day." Now the story of Peter, who longs to whistle for his dog, is accessible to even the youngest child in a durable board book edition, with reinforced pages, a handy trim size, and safe, rounded corners. Ezra Jack Keats, who died in 1983, was the award-winning author of such children's favorites as The Snowy Day, which won the Caldecott Medal, and Goggles, a Caldecott Honor Book.
20. Whoever You Are by Mem Fox
Little one, whoever you are, wherever you are, there are little ones just like you all over the world...
This rhythmic board book by bestselling author Mem Fox, with colorful and whimsical illustrations by Leslie Staub, celebrates the diversity in our world and the fact that, inside, we are all the same--wherever and whoever we are.
21. Mommy Mama and Me by Lesléa Newman
A great purchase for new parents and new babies alike, and the perfect gift to show your love for mommy, mama and more! Rhythmic text and illustrations with universal appeal show a toddler spending the day with its mommies. From hide-and-seek to dress-up, then bath time and a kiss goodnight, there's no limit to what a loving family can do together.
Share the loving bond between same-sex parents and their children in this hearttwearming story of family.
22. Bee Bim Bop by Linda Sue Park
A Korean American girl celebrates food and family in this cheerful board book about cooking a special meal by Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park.
In bouncy rhyming text, an excited and hungry child tells about helping her mother make bee-bim bop: shopping, preparing ingredients, setting the table, and finally sitting down with her family to enjoy a favorite meal.
The energy and enthusiasm of the young narrator are conveyed in the whimsical illustrations, which bring details from the artist’s childhood in Korea to his depiction of a modern Korean American family.
23. Wheels on the Tuktuk by by Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal
From the mother-son duo behind the New York Times bestselling A Bucket of Blessings comes a zany Classic Board Book about a wild ride on a tuk tuk taxi in India!
In this international twist to the beloved nursery rhyme, “The Wheels on the Bus,” anything can happen as the tuk tuk rolls through town—from an elephant encounter to a tasty treat to a grand fireworks display. And in the midst of all the action, one thing’s for sure: passengers young and old love every minute of their exciting ride as the wheels of the tuk tuk go round and round!
Reading diverse baby books can be an excellent way to start conversations about the world's rich tapestry of cultures and people. If you are looking for other diverse book recommendations check out my lists YA diverse books and must have diverse picture books.
