Race Amity Booklist

For Preschool - Kindergarten:

Juna’s Jar by Jane Bahk

Juna and her best friend, Hector, have many adventures together, and they love to collect things in empty kimchi jars. Then one day, Hector unexpectedly moves away without having a chance to say good-bye. Juna is heartbroken and left to wonder who will on go on adventures with her. Determined to find Hector, Juna turns to her special kimchi jar for help each night. She plunges into the depths of the ocean, swings on vines through the jungle, and flies through the night sky in search of her friend. What Juna finds is that adventure--and new friends--can be found in the most unexpected places.

A New Home by Tania de Regil
As a girl in Mexico City and a boy in New York City ponder moving to each other's locale, it

becomes clear that the two cities -- and the two children -- are more alike than they might think.

The Little Red Stroller by Joshua Furst

When Luna is born, her mommy gives her a little red stroller. It accompanies her and her mommy through all the activities of their day, until she outgrows it and is able to pass it down to a toddler in her neighborhood who now needs it. And so the stroller lives on, getting passed from one child to the next, highlighting the diversity of families.

Mustafa by Mary-Louise Gay

Mustafa and his family traveled a long way to reach their new home. Some nights Mustafa dreams about the country he used to live in, and he wakes up not knowing where he is. Then his mother takes him out to the balcony to see the moon -- the same moon as in their old country. In the park, Mustafa sees ants and caterpillars and bees -- they are the same, too. He encounters a "girl-with-a-cat," who says something in a language that he can't understand. He watches an old lady feeding birds and other children playing, but he is always looking in from the outside and he feels that he is invisible. But one day, the girl-with-the-cat beckons to him, and Mustafa begins to become part of his new world.

Jamaica and Brianna by Juanita Havill

It's wintertime again, and Jamaica has to wear her brother Ossie's hand-me-down boots. She finds herself envious of her friend Brianna's pink boots with the fuzzy cuffs, and Brianna teases her about her ugly, old boy" boots. Words and pictures show how jealousy and uncertainty make the friends mean to each other--until they see the hurt they've caused, and they make up.

Lovely by Jess Hong
Big, small, curly, straight, loud, quiet, smooth, wrinkly. Lovely explores a world of differences

that all add up to the same thing: we are all lovely!

I Walk With Vanessa by Kerascoët

This wordless picture book tells the story of a new girl, Vanessa, who is treated unkindly on her walk home, and of another girl who witnesses the unkind treatment and is bothered by it and decides to befriend Vanessa the next day. What happens next is unexpected and shows how a small act of kindness can unite a community.

Rulers of the Playground by Joseph Kuefler
A picture book about sharing, friendship, and kindness in a playground setting.

Wallpaper by Thao Lam

A wordless picture book that tells the story of a young girl whose family moves into a new house. Outside, she can hear other kids playing, but she's too shy to say hello. So she picks at the old wallpaper in her room--revealing an entryway to a fantastic imaginary adventure world behind the walls. There, she runs between the vibrant and varied environments as she finds herself chased by a monster. He is frightening at first, until it becomes clear he simply wants to be her friend. When it comes time to go back to reality, the girl feels inspired with the courage to approach the other kids and say hello.

The Sandcastle that Lola Built by Megan Maynor

Lola is building her dream sandcastle--one with a tall, tall tower and sea glass that sends signals to mermaids. But the beach is crowded, and soon enough, a boy steps on her castle. Not to worry! Lola recruits him to build a wall. When a toddler with a bulldozer starts digging too close the walls, Lola decides he can be in charge of digging the moat. As the sandcastle grows, so does Lola's friendly group of helpers. There's only one thing that Lola doesn't want near the sandcastle- a wave!

Lola’s Rules for Friendship by Jenna McCarthy

Lola knows a LOT about being a good friend. She knows friends have lots of things in common...but not everything (that would be boring). Friends are always ready to share...even something gross! Sometimes friends make mistakes...but they ALWAYS forgive each other.

The problem is Lola's family just moved, and the only person she knows in her new neighborhood is her big sister Charlotte. And Charlotte doesn't exactly count. Can Lola prove she knows how to MAKE friends, too?

Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddour

In an unforgettable story that subtly addresses the refugee crisis, a young girl must decide if friendship means giving up the one item that gives her comfort during a time of utter uncertainty. Lubna's best friend is a pebble. Pebble always listens to her stories. Pebble always smiles when she feels scared. But when a lost little boy arrives in the World of Tents, Lubna realizes that he needs Pebble even more than she does.

Be Kind by Pat Miller
When Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmate contemplates how to

make her feel better and what it means to be kind.

I’m New Here and Someone New by Anne Sibley O’Brien

Explore the immigrant experience through both "windows" and "mirrors." In I'm New Here, readers meet three recent immigrants trying to adjust to a new country and school. In Someone New, the same story is told from the perspective of the students who welcome the newcomers.

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold

Follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms. A school where kids in patkas, hijabs, and yarmulkes play side-by-side with friends in baseball caps. A school where students grow and learn from each other's traditions and the whole community gathers to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

A Church For All by Gayle E. Pittman

This simple, lyrical story celebrates a Sunday morning at an inclusive church that embraces all people regardless of age, class, race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. All are welcome at the church for all!

Do You Want To Play Trucks? by Ann Stott
Jack and Alex meet almost every morning in the sandbox at the playground. Jack likes trucks -- big ones, the kind that can wreck things. Alex likes dolls -- pink ones, with sparkles. And tutus. But Jack doesn't want to play dolls, and Alex doesn't want to play trucks. Luckily for Jack and Alex, the day is saved with a little bit of compromise.

Finding Kindness by Deborah Underwood

Kindness is sometimes a cup and a card, or a ladder, a truck, and a tree. A scritch and a cuddle. A rake and a yard.In this heartfelt picture book, kindness is celebrated in all its many forms.

Talk Peace by Sam Williams
A call for all people of the world, wherever they are and whatever they are doing, to talk peace.

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

Other students laugh when Rigoberto, an immigrant from Venezuela, introduces himself but later, he meets Angelina and discovers that he is not the only one who feels like an outsider.

For Grades K - 2

The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah

A celebration of friendship, tolerance and cultural differences, inspired by Queen Rania's own experience. Lilly and Salma are best friends. They play together and stick together through thick and thin. But who ever thought that such a simple thing as the difference between peanut butter and hummus could come between them? Lilly and Salma don't quite understand each other's tastes but does that mean that they shouldn't be friends? They understand far better than grown-ups that these things hardly matter - friendship is the most important thing of all.

My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay by Cari Best

Zulay and her three best friends, Maya, Nancy, Chyng, are all in the same first grade class and study the same things, even though Zulay is blind. When their teacher asks her students what activity they want to do on Field Day, Zulay surprises everyone when she says she wants to run a race. With the help of a special aide and the support of her friends, Zulay does just that.

Margaret and Margarita by Lynn Reiser

Margaret speaks English but not Spanish. Margarita speaks Spanish but not English. Can they still play? Of course they can! Join two robust girls who aren't about to let anything spoil their fun.