Families
Books about families are some of my favorites! The titles below are some that I bring back again and again in my classroom and those that I enjoy reading with my own family. It’s so important for children to learn about families from all walks of life, and to see their own families represented in the pages of books.
I hope you enjoy the titles below. Although I earn from qualifying purchases as an Amazon associate, the opinions are my own.
Happy reading!
Board Books - Baby-2yrs
Pride Colors - a beautiful and engaging board book featuring photos of LGBTQ+ families of all kinds. I love the way Stevenson pairs sweet text & gorgeous photos to teach readers about love and colors. It’s so important for all children to see themselves and their families as important and represented, making this the perfect book for your home or school library.
I Belong - a gorgeous book, full of affirmations about the special places that we hold in our families and friendships. This book is great for toddlers, twos, and young pre-schoolers, because it helps promote their sense of belonging. Books like these are so important because they help children understand that they are safe and loved.
Kiss by Kiss/Ocêtôwina - this sweet rhyming book will warm your heart! Follow along and count kisses from 1-10 with beautiful photos of diverse families. My son loves it when I give him little kisses as we count the kisses on each page! Written in both Plains Cree and English, this story reflects the traditions of the First Nations Indigenous communities of Canada.
Love Makes a Family - a beautiful and inclusive book for baby about families of all shapes and sizes.
Alyssa Satin Capucilli, the author behind the iconic Biscuit books, has an adorable series of board books. The Illustrations, by Shahrzad Maydani, are beautiful & sweet. I love that they feature families of color and same-sex parent families. They’re also available in Spanish!
What is a Family? - All the way from A to Z, this colorful alphabet primer celebrates all kinds of diverse families, giving each animal family a name.
Picture Books - 3+
We Are Family and A Family is a Family is A Family are two fabulous books about families in every shape and size, including families with disabilities, divorced parents, same-sex parents, families with adopted and foster children, children who live with grandparents, and families of many different ethnic backgrounds. These books are so important for all children to read because it illustrates the beautiful diversity of the real world.
Bathe The Cat - Grandma Marge is coming and the house is a mess! There are dishes to clean, the floor to sweep, the lawn to mow, and the cat needs a bath. But don’t count on anything getting done, because this sly and sneaky cat is on a mission to confuse and distract the entire family. Will Dad, Papa, Bobby, Sarah, and the baby get it all done in time? Featuring a lively multiracial family with 2 dads and lots of laughs, this book is so much fun! Clever rhyming text paired with hilarious, vintage-style illustrations, make for a truly unique story!
One Family - this creative counting book celebrates families of all shapes and sizes. Take a peek into homes with single and same-sex parents, multigenerational families, single parent and, adoptive families, and see the universal thread of love that connects them all.
The Family Book and Families, Families, Families are 2 great books! Both tell the stories of families of all shapes and sizes. Each is different, but all of them are full of love.
So Much! and Full, Full,Full of Love are two books by Trish Cooke that I love! Both books beautifully capture the love and sweetness between parents, grandparents, kids, grandkids, aunts, uncles and cousins. The playful spirit of these books remind me so much of the excitement and energy that fills the house when my whole extended family gets together.
My Nana and Me - is a peek inside a fun-filled day at Nana’s house. Full of tea parties, stories, and all of the magical moments that make up the special bond between grandparents and grandkids. I love the way author, Irene Smalls, and illustrator, Cathy Ann Johnson, bring to life that warm and fuzzy feeling of being wrapped in grandma’s love.
Who’s Your Real Mom - Elvi has two moms and her friend wants to know which is her “real” mom. Elvi explains that her real mom is a pirate, who can cartwheel up mountains, the one who takes care of her, and the one who tucks her in at night. I love the sweet and whimsical way that Elvi describes both of her mothers.
Uncle Bobby’s Wedding - Uncle Bobby and Chloe are the best of friends. But when he announces that he will be getting married to Jamie, Chloe worries that her uncle will no longer have time for her. This sweet book will warm your heart, and remind readers that there’s always room for more love in our hearts.
Love is Love - a beautiful, thought-provoking book that touches on themes of acceptance, diversity, and the importance of love. When our main character is bullied, he confides in his friend and learns that his two dads are very much like her parents. I like the way this story addresses the issues that LGBTQ+ families face, such as being viewed as different and scary, which allows readers and their families to have their own discussions. Most importantly, this book brings readers into the lives of many different types of families and all the love they share.
My House, My Family - My kids love the colorful illustrations and the rhymes on each page. I loved the representation of so many different kinds of families, including those with adoptive kids, single-parent and blended families, and many more! We were absolutely thrilled to see the beautiful Shabbat scene toward the end of the story. As a Jewish mom, it’s so important to show my kids the representation of our family and traditions.
Picture Books - 5+
Papa, Daddy, & Riley - Riley’s dads love her in their own special ways. She’s daddy’s dragon and papa’s princess. When her friends in school ask her who her “real” dad is, she thinks that she has to choose. Her parents explain that she never has to choose because families come in all shapes, sizes and are filled with love in their own special ways.
Mr. Watson’s Chickens - This book is SO much fun to read! Mr. Watson and Mr. Nelson love chickens. But when their flock grows from 3 to 456 their “big honking house” becomes too much to manage. There are chickens in the bathtub, in the sink, and even on the roof. Full of loveable characters, rollicking rhymes, and lots of adventure, this book is a modern classic!
My Maddy!- This gorgeous book is so heartwarming and belongs on every bookshelf. Stories that celebrate non-binary parents are incredibly important for all children to read. At its core, this book is about the love between parent and child, an ode to loving each other and yourself just as you are.
Florence and Her Fantastic Family Tree - When Florence has to draw her family tree for school she’s overwhelmed. She has parents, step-parents, siblings, and half-siblings and is afraid they won’t all fit on one piece of paper. I love the way Florence talks about the members of her family and places herself at the center of her family tree, surrounded by so much love.
More books coming soon, check back!
Looking for more? Check out books about navigating divorce, big feelings, and love
Navigating Divorce
Books about separation, divorce, navigating two homes, blended families, step-parents and more.
Books About Big Feelings
From anger and frustration, to sadness and and mixed feelings, these books have got your back.
Books About Love
Titles that help you show your little reader how much you love them.
