It wasn’t until I had my own children, that I began to notice the lack of diversity in children’s picture books. Even with my two older children, finding excellent stories with black lead characters or written by black author’s was incredibly difficult.

I have always believe that children will enjoy reading more, and become more engaged with a variety of books, if they see themselves in the stories. As a whole, the publishing industry has severely underestimated the impact that could occur when our “own voices” are given a chance to shine.

2019 was an amazing year for diverse books. There was an amazing explosion of books feature POC lead and written by POC authors in all genres. As an adult I love to read stories where I feel represented, and so it feels even better to know that my children get the same high quality stories as well.

Books are about striving to make the story relatable to the reader. Being relatable comes in a variety of forms, but culture, which is most important to many people is often left out.

I could recommend hundreds of books with diverse main characters, but here are some of Isla and Sarah’s favorites from 2019.

1. Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment
2. Little Leaders: Exceptional Men in Black History
3. The Day You Begin
4. Hair Love
5. Sulwe
6. Let ‘er Buck!: George Fletcher, the People’s Champion
7. Another
8. Going Down Home with Daddy
9. Hands Up!
10. Thinker: My Puppy Poet and Me
11. What Is Given from the Heart
12. Fresh Princess
13. How to Read a Book
14. We Are Water Protectors
15. I Can Write the World
16. The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist
17. Not Quite Snow White
18. Sing a Song: How “Lift Every Voice and Sing” Inspired Generations
19. The Night Is Yours
20. My Rainy Day Rocket Ship
21. The Undefeated
22. The Unstoppable Garrett Morgan: Inventor, Entrepreneur, Hero
23. Fearless Mary: The True Adventures of Mary Fields, American Stagecoach Driver
24. Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color
25. A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon
26. Meet Miss Fancy
27. Mama Mable’s All-Gal Big Band Jazz Extravaganza!
28. Beyoncé: Shine Your Light
29. The Proudest Blue
30. Serena: The Littlest Sister
31. Grandpa Cacao: A Tale of Chocolate, from Farm to Family
32. Look Up!
33. Like the Moon Loves the Sky
34. From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea
35. The Boy & The Bindi
36. Through Georgia’s Eyes
37. Malala’s Magic Pencil
38. The Name Jar
39. From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea
40. Freedom in Congo Square