children's books with brown children

Hi all! I hope you can help me find a gift for a friend of mine. She's pregnant and she had a sort of baby shower this weekend. She's Indian, and the process involved a bangle ceremony, where we exchanged bracelets, which was very nice. In any case, she had requested books, and I noticed that almost all children's books I could find were filled with white children. I think it's important that children encounter children in books that are like them as well as unlike. In the end I went with a book about a caterpillar, circumventing the problem. But I would like to be able to give her books brown children later.

So, do you have any suggestions? For now I'm looking for something that parents can read to young children, but other ideas are also welcome..

Hi. You might try books by Gyo Fujikawa or Annie Kubler - both show a range of kids who aren't all white.

Most of my kids' favorite early books were animals anyhow though.

There is also a list http://www.librarything.com/list/10894/all/Childrens-picture-books-with-kids-of-...

although it looks like most of those are specifically black children.

>1 zjakkelien:

Hi, I'm surprised you got so little feedback. I guess the group is dead.

I know little about what you're looking for, but I remembered this article about a black girl who wanted to collect 1000 books with black girls:

Where's The Color In Kids' Lit? Ask The Girl With 1,000 Books (And Counting)

It's a mix of picture and chapter books and I think there's a link somewhere with age breakdowns but I couldn't find it. Maybe try the related hashtag, #1000blackgirlbooks ?

Perhaps try some of these (the subset which are aimed at young children)? http://www.librarything.com/bookaward/Asian%252FPacific+American+Award+for+Liter...

And/or these?
http://www.librarything.com/bookaward/South+Asia+Book+Award

A few more prize lists that might be helpful:

http://www.librarything.com/bookaward/CSMCL+Best+Multicultural+Book

http://www.librarything.com/bookaward/IRA+Notable+Book+for+a+Global+Society

http://www.librarything.com/bookaward/USBBY+Outstanding+International+Book

http://www.librarything.com/bookaward/IBBY+Honour+Book

http://www.librarything.com/bookaward/The+White+Ravens

(On the last two, especially, browsing by covers might be helpful. Which reminds me that I need to get back to work on adding those covers at some point...)

Have a look at Tara Books; they are based in Chennai, India - their books are handmade and really beautiful. The website is being redesigned but you can find their page on facebook.

>2 merrystar: The animal books are a good way to avoid black/white issues, indeed. It might not be so easy to avoid the 'dogs and smurfs' issue as well, but it's a start!

>3 LolaWalser: I was surprised too, but then I got all the above suggestions! I like the article you mention, thanks!

>4 davidgn: I would never have thought of these lists, thanks!

>5 overthemoon: Wow, that sounds really good, books set in India.

I am definitely going to look at all this, thank you all very much!

>5 overthemoon: THANK YOU for this.

Corduroy is a classic, as is The Snowy Day.

If the child is a girl, Jane Ray's The Apple-pip Princess might be good as she gets older.