Reading to children has vast benefits, including literacy and bonding, and when we're thoughtful in our book selection, there's an opportunity to read stories to our children that can open their eyes to the world around them, expose them to cultures, concepts, diversity that they may have not yet experienced.

As Nanny Miss Monique explains so well, books serve as either "mirrors" or "windows" for children. It's important for parents and caregivers to provide them with both. Children need books that are "mirrors" to see themselves represented in books, their race, their nationality, their religion, their gender, their family structure, etc. Children also need "windows" to observe that people around them may look different, have different beliefs, different traditions, etc; this awareness will build acceptance and openness. 

Rayz Kidz is proud to partner with Nanny Miss Monique to fill your children's book shelves with the best mirrors and windows to the world around them! We're featuring her top 10 recommended diverse and inclusive books, including her short summary of what makes each book special.

As you're planning your holiday gifts this year, we highly recommend these 10 diverse and inclusive stories. Each will be a deeper, more impactful gift than you will ever know!

Little Bakers: Cookie Truck
by Caroline Wright
If you’ve got a curious toddler who wants to help in the kitchen, “Cookie Truck” is an awesome place to start. Part 2 of the Little Bakers series, a collaboration between renowned food writer Caroline Wright and famed children’s book illustrator Alison Oliver, this cute board book contains everything you need for a fun and delicious time baking with your little one.

A recipe for sugar cookies comes to life as we watch little bakers create a truck made out of cookies. Whereas the first book of the series, “1,2,3,4 Cake” focuses more on numbers and colors, “Cookie Truck” has fun with basic shapes while showing you how easy it is to make these sugary treats. In fact, the absolute simplest cookie recipe can be found on the last page, a perfect introduction to baking and following directions.

We love board books because they are one of the easiest ways to introduce simple concepts to infants and toddlers. “Cookie Truck” and the Little Bakers series are very creative, colorful, and educational. What a sweet idea!














How to Change the World in 12 Easy Steps
by Peggy Porter Tierney
As parents and caregivers, we want the very best for our children, and know that someday they will grow up and change the world. In “How to Change the World in 12 Easy Steps”, first-time author Peggy Porter Tierney shows us that they don’t have to wait that long to make their mark on this planet. Beautifully illustrated by Marie Letourneau, each page gives us a little encouragement to be helpful, thoughtful, and kind. And as the title suggests, it shows children that it’s not at all difficult to do, especially when we open our hearts and remain considerate of others.

There is a small afterword about the book’s inspiration, a woman by the name of Eva Kor. Her message about forgiveness, even through great adversity, is truly felt throughout the story. There’s a page where we are reminded that not only is it not OK to be a bully, but we should forgive them and not bully them back. Reading children’s books is such a powerful and imaginative way to inspire our little ones, and “How to Change the World” has great lessons in them to encourage good behaviors in practicing kindness.



















Way Past Mad (Part of the "Way Past" Series)
by Hallee Adelman
This series of four picture books delves into different feeling children may have a hard time expressing and navigating. It's told from third person from the child who may experiencing hard feelings such as sad, mad, jealously, and worried.

Other books in the series include Way Past Worried, Way Past Sad, and Way Past Jealous



















Luna Loves Library Day
by Joseph Coelho
Along with stoking a child’s creativity and imagination, children’s books are great for helping them cope with difficult situations and emotions. “Luna Loves Library Day” (Kane Miller EDC Publishing) is an awesome, tear-jerking book-within-a-book that will get any kid excited about their next trip to the library, but also has a special message for kids dealing with divorce and separation.

Author Joseph Coelho, known just as much as a playwright & performance poet as he is as a children’s book writer, really captures the happiness of Luna when she is exploring the library with her father, but also the sadness and confusion she feels when he is not around. The book is one of 4 in a collaboration with brilliant artist and author Fiona Lumbers, forming a stellar duo with incredible literary results.




















Drawn to Friends: Georgie Dupree
by Ceece Kelley
When Georgie Dupree’s family moves from Louisiana to Washington, D.C., she experiences the sadness and loneliness of leaving behind friends and familiar surroundings, as well as the excitement and mystery of discovering a new place to call home. Inspired by her life in a military family and Southern roots, talented author and independent publisher Ceece Kelley introduces us to one amazing little girl in “Georgie Dupree: Drawn to Friends” (Soaring Kite Books).

She’s smart, funny, and ever so multi-talented! Her story helps kids learn to embrace family, cope with separation, and make new friends. Georgie and her family are adorably drawn by newcomer Chloe Guevara, along a colorful backdrop of local city life and landscapes. Georgie’s journey is just beginning in this incredible series, and it’s a solidly entertaining debut.















Happy Within
by Marisa J. Taylor
Celebrating our differences, acknowledging our similarities, and embracing who we are inside are the encouraging affirmations found throughout Marisa Taylor’s most recent children’s book “Happy Within: Just the Way He Is”. A colorful, fun-loving, and inclusive cast of diverse characters are cutely illustrated by Vanessa Balleza.

Taylor’s clear and direct proclamations remind children that it’s OK to act and think differently from our friends, and that sometimes we may not feel the same way. However, each page is committed to teaching kids that we are stronger together and we all individually and collectively have something valuable to share with the world. After reading more about the author’s family, which is part Jamaican, part German, part Canadian, and all love, you see why she is committed to highlighting multiculturalism and the importance of diversity.

“Happy Within” will inspire little ones from all over the world to be proud of the beautiful people they are within, and be accepting of all of our unique traits.

















Maia and the Very Tall Wall
by Brian Wray
Children’s minds are filled with curiosity and wonder, but as they grow older, the world can have a way of building up mental and emotional walls around the through doubt and uncertainty. A new book by the brilliant team of author Brian Wray and illustrator Shiloh Penfield called “Maia and the Very Tall Wall” has a great lesson about perseverance, overcoming obstacles, and learning from others
that can inspire children to tear those walls down to see the beauty that exists inside and out.

You may know Wray & Penfield from their critically acclaimed, mindful stories such as “Max’s Box” and “Unraveling Rose”. Their magic is on display once again, with great writing, intriguing mystery, and gorgeous, eye-popping color. As a little girl named Maia grows up year after year from an inquisitive, precocious child to a shy, unconfident adolescent, she notices that a wall behind her house grows with her. By the time the wall seems too high and insurmountable, she shuts down and stops using the power of her words. But sometimes, the world is just too big a place to not wonder what’s on the other side.

She decides not to give up, and once she finds her voice again, she learns that sometimes it takes a little bit of inner belief and the help of others to truly experience the greatness that the world and its many diverse people have to offer. The discoveries she makes throughout her journey make “Maia and the Very Tall Wall” a real page-turner and tear-jerker. If your child asks many questions but can be prone to shyness (and that’s sure to be the case), I definitely recommend this book for their library.


















Becoming Vanessa
by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Award winning and illustrious illustrator Vanessa Brantley-Newton has captured our hearts providing artwork for many of our favorite children's picture books over her incredible published career. When  She’s on double duty using pen and paintbrush, she shows us that her passion for children and her mastery of language, color, and mixed media makes her truly one of the once-in-a-century literary talents of our generation.

With “Becoming Vanessa”, loosely based on her own childhood, she offers a
glimpse to where her talent originates, while teaching children the value of individuality and self-worth. Vanessa is a creative, unique, and imaginative little girl, who’s parents know that she is very special. On her first day of school, however, Vanessa is not feeling so special. What can she do to stand out and show her new school the best version of herself? When she tries to glam up with an audacious outfit (think “Mary Had a Little Glam”, also illustrated by Brantley-Newton), it is received with mixed results. Once her mother encourages her to look a little deeper, and gives her some much needed insight about the significance of her distinctive name, she returns to school with the confidence
and inner peace she needs to find her voice and be proud of the wonderfully made little lady she really is, inside and out.

Brantley-Newton is no stranger to teaching children that being different is a super power and is something worth celebrating. “Becoming Vanessa” is a hardcover masterpiece in that same vein, and is artistically remarkable from cover to cover. It’s a dazzling mix of watercolor and patterned cut-outs, giving it a depth and richness that stands out just like the beautiful spirit of little Vanessa.














We Are All Under One Sky
by Deborah Wiles
Although thousands of miles separate the immensely talented author Deborah Wiles and illustrator Andrea Stegmaier, together they show us our big beautiful world of playful children, musical bumblebees, and endless adventure in “We Are All Under One Wide Sky.” This latest release by Sounds True Publishing joins a roster of kids’ stories that celebrate diversity and promote peace, friendship, and Earthly exploration.

By reading “We Are All”, your little ones will see that in every corner of our planet, large or small, fun, family, and love come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Even in the coldest, snowy climates or dry, hot deserts, living creatures are busy and happy. Wiles humorously details their activities, counting plants, insects, kisses, and laughs. Stegmaier’s fondness for architecture and landscapes are on full display from page to brilliant page, with whimsical detail and global appreciation.


















The Biggest Story
by Sarah Coyle
If you were trying to get your child to read “The Biggest Story”, it would be an easy sell--‘It has  dinosaurs! It has monkeys! It has sling-shotting cats and parachuting sheep!’ London native Sarah Coyle’s hardcover tale tells the story of Errol, whose imagination runs wild to create the biggest story ever!

Errol is bored and out of ideas one afternoon, but mom is busy and won’t be able to cure his blues with her usual amazing stories. When she challenges him to create his own story, he is visited by an unlikely cast of characters who help him realize that all he needs is an open mind. Dan Taylor’s mid century modern illustrations provide the perfect pops of color and pizazz for this fast-paced, exciting, and humorous adventure.

Kids who read “The Biggest Story” will learn how much fun they can have when they think outside the box. Suggested reading the next time your little one complains about not having anything to do!

Little Bakers: Cookie Truck
by Caroline Wright
If you’ve got a curious toddler who wants to help in the kitchen, “Cookie Truck” is an awesome place to start. Part 2 of the Little Bakers series, a collaboration between renowned food writer Caroline Wright and famed children’s book illustrator Alison Oliver, this cute board book contains everything you need for a fun and delicious time baking with your little one.

A recipe for sugar cookies comes to life as we watch little bakers create a truck made out of cookies. Whereas the first book of the series, “1,2,3,4 Cake” focuses more on numbers and colors, “Cookie Truck” has fun with basic shapes while showing you how easy it is to make these sugary treats. In fact, the absolute simplest cookie recipe can be found on the last page, a perfect introduction to baking and following directions.

We love board books because they are one of the easiest ways to introduce simple concepts to infants and toddlers. “Cookie Truck” and the Little Bakers series are very creative, colorful, and educational. What a sweet idea!


How to Change the World in 12 Easy Steps
by Peggy Porter Tierney
As parents and caregivers, we want the very best for our children, and know that someday they will grow up and change the world. In “How to Change the World in 12 Easy Steps”, first-time author Peggy Porter Tierney shows us that they don’t have to wait that long to make their mark on this planet. Beautifully illustrated by Marie Letourneau, each page gives us a little encouragement to be helpful, thoughtful, and kind. And as the title suggests, it shows children that it’s not at all difficult to do, especially when we open our hearts and remain considerate of others.

There is a small afterword about the book’s inspiration, a woman by the name of Eva Kor. Her message about forgiveness, even through great adversity, is truly felt throughout the story. There’s a page where we are reminded that not only is it not OK to be a bully, but we should forgive them and not bully them back. Reading children’s books is such a powerful and imaginative way to inspire our little ones, and “How to Change the World” has great lessons in them to encourage good behaviors in practicing kindness.


Way Past Mad (Part of the "Way Past" Series)
by Hallee Adelman
This series of four picture books delves into different feeling children may have a hard time expressing and navigating. It's told from third person from the child who may experiencing hard feelings such as sad, mad, jealously, and worried.

Other books in the series include Way Past Worried, Way Past Sad, and Way Past Jealous


Luna Loves Library Day
by Joseph Coelho
Along with stoking a child’s creativity and imagination, children’s books are great for helping them cope with difficult situations and emotions. “Luna Loves Library Day” (Kane Miller EDC Publishing) is an awesome, tear-jerking book-within-a-book that will get any kid excited about their next trip to the library, but also has a special message for kids dealing with divorce and separation.

Author Joseph Coelho, known just as much as a playwright & performance poet as he is as a children’s book writer, really captures the happiness of Luna when she is exploring the library with her father, but also the sadness and confusion she feels when he is not around. The book is one of 4 in a collaboration with brilliant artist and author Fiona Lumbers, forming a stellar duo with incredible literary results.


Drawn to Friends: Georgie Dupree
by Ceece Kelley
When Georgie Dupree’s family moves from Louisiana to Washington, D.C., she experiences the sadness and loneliness of leaving behind friends and familiar surroundings, as well as the excitement and mystery of discovering a new place to call home. Inspired by her life in a military family and Southern roots, talented author and independent publisher Ceece Kelley introduces us to one amazing little girl in “Georgie Dupree: Drawn to Friends” (Soaring Kite Books).

She’s smart, funny, and ever so multi-talented! Her story helps kids learn to embrace family, cope with separation, and make new friends. Georgie and her family are adorably drawn by newcomer Chloe Guevara, along a colorful backdrop of local city life and landscapes. Georgie’s journey is just beginning in this incredible series, and it’s a solidly entertaining debut.


Happy Within
by Marisa J. Taylor
Celebrating our differences, acknowledging our similarities, and embracing who we are inside are the encouraging affirmations found throughout Marisa Taylor’s most recent children’s book “Happy Within: Just the Way He Is”. A colorful, fun-loving, and inclusive cast of diverse characters are cutely illustrated by Vanessa Balleza.

Taylor’s clear and direct proclamations remind children that it’s OK to act and think differently from our friends, and that sometimes we may not feel the same way. However, each page is committed to teaching kids that we are stronger together and we all individually and collectively have something valuable to share with the world. After reading more about the author’s family, which is part Jamaican, part German, part Canadian, and all love, you see why she is committed to highlighting multiculturalism and the importance of diversity.

“Happy Within” will inspire little ones from all over the world to be proud of the beautiful people they are within, and be accepting of all of our unique traits.


Maia and the Very Tall Wall
by Brian Wray
Children’s minds are filled with curiosity and wonder, but as they grow older, the world can have a way of building up mental and emotional walls around the through doubt and uncertainty. A new book by the brilliant team of author Brian Wray and illustrator Shiloh Penfield called “Maia and the Very Tall Wall” has a great lesson about perseverance, overcoming obstacles, and learning from others
that can inspire children to tear those walls down to see the beauty that exists inside and out.

You may know Wray & Penfield from their critically acclaimed, mindful stories such as “Max’s Box” and “Unraveling Rose”. Their magic is on display once again, with great writing, intriguing mystery, and gorgeous, eye-popping color. As a little girl named Maia grows up year after year from an inquisitive, precocious child to a shy, unconfident adolescent, she notices that a wall behind her house grows with her. By the time the wall seems too high and insurmountable, she shuts down and stops using the power of her words. But sometimes, the world is just too big a place to not wonder what’s on the other side.

She decides not to give up, and once she finds her voice again, she learns that sometimes it takes a little bit of inner belief and the help of others to truly experience the greatness that the world and its many diverse people have to offer. The discoveries she makes throughout her journey make “Maia and the Very Tall Wall” a real page-turner and tear-jerker. If your child asks many questions but can be prone to shyness (and that’s sure to be the case), I definitely recommend this book for their library.


Becoming Vanessa
by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Award winning and illustrious illustrator Vanessa Brantley-Newton has captured our hearts providing artwork for many of our favorite children's picture books over her incredible published career. When  She’s on double duty using pen and paintbrush, she shows us that her passion for children and her mastery of language, color, and mixed media makes her truly one of the once-in-a-century literary talents of our generation.

With “Becoming Vanessa”, loosely based on her own childhood, she offers a
glimpse to where her talent originates, while teaching children the value of individuality and self-worth. Vanessa is a creative, unique, and imaginative little girl, who’s parents know that she is very special. On her first day of school, however, Vanessa is not feeling so special. What can she do to stand out and show her new school the best version of herself? When she tries to glam up with an audacious outfit (think “Mary Had a Little Glam”, also illustrated by Brantley-Newton), it is received with mixed results. Once her mother encourages her to look a little deeper, and gives her some much needed insight about the significance of her distinctive name, she returns to school with the confidence
and inner peace she needs to find her voice and be proud of the wonderfully made little lady she really is, inside and out.

Brantley-Newton is no stranger to teaching children that being different is a super power and is something worth celebrating. “Becoming Vanessa” is a hardcover masterpiece in that same vein, and is artistically remarkable from cover to cover. It’s a dazzling mix of watercolor and patterned cut-outs, giving it a depth and richness that stands out just like the beautiful spirit of little Vanessa.


We Are All Under One Sky
by Deborah Wiles
Although thousands of miles separate the immensely talented author Deborah Wiles and illustrator Andrea Stegmaier, together they show us our big beautiful world of playful children, musical bumblebees, and endless adventure in “We Are All Under One Wide Sky.” This latest release by Sounds True Publishing joins a roster of kids’ stories that celebrate diversity and promote peace, friendship, and Earthly exploration.

By reading “We Are All”, your little ones will see that in every corner of our planet, large or small, fun, family, and love come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Even in the coldest, snowy climates or dry, hot deserts, living creatures are busy and happy. Wiles humorously details their activities, counting plants, insects, kisses, and laughs. Stegmaier’s fondness for architecture and landscapes are on full display from page to brilliant page, with whimsical detail and global appreciation.


The Biggest Story
by Sarah Coyle
If you were trying to get your child to read “The Biggest Story”, it would be an easy sell--‘It has  dinosaurs! It has monkeys! It has sling-shotting cats and parachuting sheep!’ London native Sarah Coyle’s hardcover tale tells the story of Errol, whose imagination runs wild to create the biggest story ever!

Errol is bored and out of ideas one afternoon, but mom is busy and won’t be able to cure his blues with her usual amazing stories. When she challenges him to create his own story, he is visited by an unlikely cast of characters who help him realize that all he needs is an open mind. Dan Taylor’s mid century modern illustrations provide the perfect pops of color and pizazz for this fast-paced, exciting, and humorous adventure.

Kids who read “The Biggest Story” will learn how much fun they can have when they think outside the box. Suggested reading the next time your little one complains about not having anything to do!

Top 10 Diverse & Inclusive books

In partnership with Nanny Miss Monique

child development

Nanny Miss Monique is an early literacy advocate and childcare industry influencer. She is passionate about sharing diverse and inclusive children's books.  Her Instagram account, @nannymissmonique, is a favorite of parents and caregivers. Join her weekly, live on Instagram, every Wednesday & Friday as she captivates young audiences with dramatic storytelling, easy sing-a-longs, and finger play. 

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