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Teaching Materials Center

This guide is starting point for anyone seeking to learn about the resources available in the Teaching Materials Center. This includes: what general resources are available, how to find specific resources, and how to access materials.

Diversity in Children's Books

The example books on this page align with the definition of diversity provided by We Need Diverse Books:

"We recognize all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA, Native, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities*, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities.

*We subscribe to a broad definition of disability, which includes but is not limited to physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities, chronic conditions, and mental illnesses (this may also include addiction). Furthermore, we subscribe to a social model of disability, which presents disability as created by barriers in the social environment, due to lack of equal access, stereotyping, and other forms of marginalization."

One of the best tools to use to browse for and discover diverse children and young adult literature is NoveList Plus.

Among many other features, NoveList Plus allows you to filter for books with characters who are:

  • Culturally diverse
  • Religiously diverse
  • LGBTQIA diverse
  • Ability diverse 

For detailed instructions on how to use NoveList Plus to find diverse literature, visit the NoveList Plus page!

Examples of Children's Books

i am brown

I Am Brown

TMC Easy BAN

dancing with daddy

Dancing with Daddy

TMC Easy SCH

Crown

Crown

TMC Easy BAR

a grand day

A Grand Day

TMC Easy REI

book cover for  Laxmi's mooch by Shelly Anand

Laxmi's Mooch

TMC Easy ANA

how to wear a sari

How to Wear a Sari

TMC Easy KHI

Fry Bread

Fry Bread

TMC Easy MAI

grandpa grumps

Grandpa Grumps

TMC Easy MOO

Under the Same Sun

Under the Same Sun

TMC Easy ROB

hot pot night

Hot Pot Night

TMC Easy CHE

book cover for  Tomatoes for Neela by  Padma Lakshmi

Tomatoes for Neela

TMC Easy LAK

All My Stripes

All My Stripes

TMC Easy RUD

Ojiichan's gift

Ojiichan's gift

TMC Easy UEG

This Day in June

This Day in June

TMC Easy PIT

Jack (Not Jackie)

Jack (Not Jackie)

 TMC Easy SIL

Just Ask!

Just Ask!

TMC Easy SOT

A Different Pond

A Different Pond

 TMC Easy PHI

Still a Family

Still a Family

TMC Easy STU

Peekaboo Morning

Peekaboo Morning

TMC Easy ISA

All Are Welcome

All Are Welcome

TMC Easy PEN

book cover for Bright Star by Yuyi Morales

Bright Star

TMC Easy MOR

Zak's Safari

Zak's Safari

 TMC Easy TYN

Wild Berries

Wild Berries

TMC Easy FLE

Visiting Day

Visiting Day

TMC Easy WOO

Dreamers

Dreamers

TMC 921 MOR

The Day You Begin

The Day You Begin

TMC Easy WOO

Juana and Lucas

Juana and Lucas

TMC Fiction MED

Thank You, Omu!

Thank You, Omu!

TMC Easy MOR

Rescue and Jessica

Rescue and Jessica

TMC Easy KEN

Prince and Knight

Prince and Knight

TMC 398.2 HAA

A Friend for Henry

A Friend for Henry

TMC Easy BAI

Not Every Princess

Not Every Princess

TMC Easy BON

I Am Enough

I Am Enough

TMC Easy BYE

Honeysmoke

Honeysmoke

TMC Easy FIE

Hello Goodbye Dog

Hello Goodbye Dog

TMC Easy GIA

Yo Soy Muslim

Yo Soy Muslim

TMC Easy GON

Not So Different

Not So Different

TMC 921 BUR

Do You Sing Twinkle?

Do You Sing Twinkle?

 TMC Easy LEV

B Is for Baby

B Is for Baby

TMC Easy ATI

Nita's First Signs

Nita's First Signs

TMC Easy MAC

Sparkle Boy

Sparkle Boy

TMC Easy NEW

One

One

TMC Easy OTO

Pink Is for Boys

Pink Is for Boys

TMC Easy PEA

My Brother Charlie

My Brother Charlie

TMC Easy PEE

El Deafo

TMC 741.5 BEL

Examples of Young Adult Books

Felix Ever After

Felix Ever After

TMC Fiction CAL

Juliet Takes a Breath

Juliet Takes a Breath

TMC Fiction RIV

Pet

Pet

TMC Fiction EME

book cover for  Firekeeper's daughter by Angeline Boulley

Firekeeper's Daughter

TMC Fiction BOU

We Are Not Free

We Are Not Free

TMC Fiction CHE

faith taking flight

Faith: Taking Flight

TMC Fiction MUR

book cover for  The best at it by Maulik Pancholy

The Best At It

TMC Fiction PAN

book cover for  The last cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

The last Cuentista

TMC Fiction HIG

book cover for Hello universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

Hello Universe

TMC Fiction KEL

As Brave as You

As Brave as You

TMC Fiction REY

Lupe Wong Won't Dance

Lupe Wong Won't Dance

TMC Fiction HIG

the chosen one

The Chosen One

TMC Fiction BRO

A Thousand Questions

A Thousand Questions

TMC Fiction FAR

Legendborn

Legendborn

TMC Fiction DEO

book cover for Made in Korea by Sarah Suk

Made in Korea

TMC Fiction SUK

Every Body Looking

Every Body Looking

TMC Fiction ILO

Slay

Slay

TMC Fiction MOR

One Crazy Summer

One Crazy Summer

TMC Fiction WIL

I'm OK

I'm OK

TMC Fiction KIM

Piecing Me Together

Piecing Me Together

TMC Fiction WAT

Concrete Rose

Concrete Rose

TMC Fiction THO

Genesis Begins Again

Genesis Begins Again

TMC Fiction WIL

A Burning

A Burning

TMC Fiction MAJ

How It Went Down

How It Went Down

TMC Fiction MAG

Related Library Guides

Web Resources

There are also amazing web resources to browse and discover diverse books. Some of those resources are: