Diverse Reading for Kids from Barefoot Books!

Barefoot Books is an indie publisher that is quickly becoming a favorite. Their tagline is "Step inside a Story" and the stories they have stepping into are delightful. I love the diverse cultures and identities represented in their children's books.

Here are a few I've recently added to our bookstore inventory and wanted to share with you. You can shop these titles in our Children's Add-Ons section or on Bookshop.org

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In Family Reunion by Chad and Dad Richardson and illustrated by Ashleigh Corrine, a young boy would rather stay home and play videogames instead of travel miles in a car for a family reunion. However, once he arrives, he soon finds himself having a blast. This book made me smile and portrayed all the aspects of Black family reunions, including food, activities, and love.

In Benita and the Night Creatures by Mariana Llanos, Benita loves to read in bed but keeps getting interrupted by a whistling Tunche, a scary Supay and other spooky creatures from Peruvian lore. To the creatures’ disbelief, Benita is so absorbed by her book that she’s not the least bit scared of them. This humorous celebration of bedtime reading puts a global twist on taking the “scary” out of monsters.

Let's Celebrate!: Special Days Around the World is a lyrical, sensory nonfiction text and vibrant illustrations invite readers to experience a child’s-eye view of 13 holidays around the world, such as the Spring Festival in China, Inti Raymi in Peru, Eid al-Fitr in Egypt, Día de Muertos in Mexico and the New Yam Festival in Nigeria. 

Fiesta Femenina: Celebrating Women of Mexican Folktale spotlights eight Mexican folk heroines come to vibrant life in this fascinating paperback anthology illustrated by Pura Belpré Award-winning artist, educator and activist Maya Gonzalez. Drawing on centuries of Mexican traditions, Fiesta Feminina celebrates brave young girls, clever mythological characters and ambitious historic women leaders. 

In La Frontera join a young boy and his father on a daring journey from Mexicoto Texas to find a new life. They’ll need all the resilience and courage they can muster to safely cross the border − la frontera − and to make a home for themselves in a new land. 

Innovative and inclusive, Barefoot Books Children of the World empowers young readers to learn about children around the globe and ponder their own place in it. Created with the guidance of diversity specialists, this groundbreaking work of narrative nonfiction addresses the need for children’s books that depict diversity, while demonstrating the interconnectedness and uniqueness of all people. 

Dinner on Domingos: "This magical home turns a normal Sunday into domingo: the best day of the week.” Warm memories wash over a first-generation Latinx American girl as she experiences a typical Sunday night dinner at her Abuelita’s house. Readers are immersed in the rich ways love is expressed within this home: the delicious smells of Ecuadorian home cooking, dancing, hugging and playing games with aunts, uncles and cousins. As Alejandra thinks about all the good times her family has had there, she decides that she wants to be brave and try speaking Spanish with Abuelita so that they can deepen their bond. Based on the author’s own life, this timely tale reflects the experience of many families. 

In Dumpling Day, savor a rhyming celebration of one of the world’s most universal foods! Readers follow ten diverse families as they cook dumplings inside their homes in preparation for a neighborhood potluck. Dumplings are added to plates one by one, encouraging children to count with each new addition. Authentic recipes for all the dumplings and a map showing their regions of origin are included in the endnotes.

In To Carnival! the sights, sounds and tastes of vibrant Saint Lucia come to life in this cumulative #OwnVoices tale of a girl’s journey to Carnival. When a series of unexpected delays disrupts her journey to the big parade, Melba must adjust both her expectations and her route to the festivities. Who will she meet and what will she learn along the way?

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All of these titles will make excellent addition to the libraries of little ones in your life! I also think educators will find many titles that will be perfect for their classroom as read-alouds or independent reading.