Books About Joy Collection - BOOKSABOUTJOY

A disproportionate number of books about BIPOC protagonists focus on their marginalization. Though it is important for children to understand the history and complexity of oppression, racism, and discrimination, children—especially children of color—also deserve to see themselves thrive and to experience the joy of being part of a loving community. We've compiled a list of diverse books that reflect the daily lives of children and the joy of play, family and friends, and being themselves! For an even more extensive list of books about joy or to build out a collection for your school or library, please contact Katie Potter, Senior Literacy Specialist, at kpotter@leeandlow.com for more information.

To see the fully designed list in an interactive PDF form, click here

Books About Joy Collection (41 Books): $682.95

Booksaboutjoycollection
Themes

Siblings, Sharing & Giving, Native American Interest, Muslim/Muslim American Interest, Multiethnic interest, Latino/Hispanic/Mexican Interest, History, Grandparents, Friendship, Families, Cultural Diversity, African/African American Interest, Biracial/Multiracial Interest, Asian/Asian American Interest, Empathy/Compassion, Courage, Kindness/Caring

Included formats shown below in BOLD

Medium_large

Dreaming Up

By Hale

Illustrated by Hale

Teacher's Guide | Interviews

Guided Reading: I
Grade Level: 1
Interest Level: PreK - 5

Lexile Level: AD550L
DRA: 16

HC: $20.95
Medium_drum_chave_large

Drum, Chavi, Drum! / ¡Toca, Chavi, Toca!

By Dole

Illustrated by Tonel

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: N
Spanish Guided Reading: M
Grade Level: 2
Interest Level: K - 3

AR Level: 0.5 - 3.1
Lexile Level: N/A
DRA: 30

PB: $11.95
Medium_laughing_tomatoes_with_seal

Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems / Jitomates Risueños y otros poemas de primavera

By Alarcón

Illustrated by Gonzalez

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: O
Spanish Guided Reading: P
Grade Level: 3
Interest Level: 2 - 6

AR Level: 0.5 - 4.3
Lexile Level: NP
DRA: 34

PB: $11.95
Medium_ifiwereatree_lowres_spreads_1

If I Were a Tree

By Zimmerman

Illustrated by Tsong

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: M
Grade Level: PreK
Interest Level: PreK - 3

HC: $20.95
Medium_sunday_shopping_cover_small

Sunday Shopping

By Derby

Illustrated by Strickland

Teacher's Guide | Interviews

Guided Reading: M
Grade Level: 2
Interest Level: K - 3

AR Level: 0.5 - 3.4
Lexile Level: AD600L
SRC: 3.7
DRA: 28

PB: $10.95
Medium_large

My Colors, My World/ Mis colores, mi mundo

By Gonzalez

Illustrated by Gonzalez

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: I
Spanish Guided Reading: I
Grade Level: 1
Interest Level: K - 2

AR Level: 0.5 - 2.0
Lexile Level: AD460L
SRC: 3.2
DRA: 16

PB: $11.95
Medium_9781620148020_sumojoe_lowres_spreads_1

Sumo Joe

By Wenjen

Illustrated by Iwata

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: K
Grade Level: K
Interest Level: K - 3

DRA: 20

HC: $20.95
Medium_cover

Galápagos Girl/Galapagueña

By Arnold

Illustrated by Dominguez

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: P
Spanish Guided Reading: P
Grade Level: 3
Interest Level: PreK - 5

Lexile Level: AD700L
DRA: 38

PB: $12.95
Medium_large

King for a Day

By Khan

Illustrated by Krömer

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: N
Grade Level: 3
Interest Level: 1 - 5

AR Level: 0.5 - 3.9
Lexile Level: AD600L
SRC: 2.4
DRA: 30

PB: $10.95
Medium_theturtleship_cover1

The Turtle Ship

By Rhee

Illustrated by Kong-Savage

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: O
Grade Level: 3
Interest Level: K - 5

DRA: 34

HC: $19.95
Medium_large

Drummer Boy of John John

By Greenwood

Illustrated by Lessac

Teacher's Guide | Interviews

Guided Reading: M
Grade Level: 2
Interest Level: K - 5

AR Level: 0.5 - 4.1
Lexile Level: AD820L
DRA: 28

PB: $11.95
Medium_tnblh.frt.cvr

There's No Base Like Home

By Mendoza / Mendoza Dusan

Illustrated by McNally Barshaw

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: V
Grade Level: 3
Interest Level: 3 - 8

Lexile Level: 780L
DRA: 50

HC: $18.95
Medium_horses_cover

What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses?

By Van Camp

Illustrated by Littlechild

Guided Reading: O
Grade Level: 3
Interest Level: 3 - 5

AR Level: 0.5 - 3.5
Lexile Level: N/A
DRA: 34

PB: $12.95
Medium_summoning_the_phoenix_resized

Summoning the Phoenix

By Jiang

Illustrated by Chu

Guided Reading: T
Grade Level: 3
Interest Level: 3 - 6

AR Level: 0.5 - 5.9
Lexile Level: N/A
DRA: 44

HC: $19.95
Medium_whenaidanbecameabrother_coverwithseal_300dpi

When Aidan Became a Brother

By Lukoff

Illustrated by Juanita

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: N
Grade Level: 3
Interest Level: PreK - 3

DRA: 30

HC: $19.95
Medium_electric_slide_and_kai_cover

The Electric Slide and Kai

By Baptist

Illustrated by Johnson

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: O
Grade Level: K
Interest Level: K - 3

DRA: 34

HC: $20.95
Medium_maya_s_blanket_web

Maya's Blanket/ La manta de Maya

By Brown

Illustrated by Diaz

Teacher's Guide | Interviews

Guided Reading: M
Spanish Guided Reading: M
Grade Level: 2
Interest Level: K - 4

AR Level: 0.5 - 4.1
Lexile Level: AD780L
DRA: 28

HC: $19.95
Medium_space_for_me_cover

A Space for Me

By Falwell

Illustrated by Falwell

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: K
Grade Level: 2
Interest Level: PreK - 3

DRA: 20

HC: $19.95
Medium_morning_with_grandpa_fc_hi_res_2

A Morning with Grandpa

By Liu

Illustrated by Forshay

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: M
Grade Level: 2
Interest Level: K - 3

Lexile Level: AD570L
DRA: 28

PB: $11.95
Medium_juna_for_website

Juna's Jar

By Park

Illustrated by Hoshino

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: L
Grade Level: 2
Interest Level: K - 4

AR Level: 0.5 - 3.4
Lexile Level: AD540L
DRA: 24

PB: $11.95
Medium_family_poems_fc_hi_res

Family Poems for Every Day of the Week/Poemas familiares para cada día de la semana

By Alarcón

Illustrated by Gonzalez

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: M
Grade Level: 2
Interest Level: PreK - 5

Lexile Level: NP
DRA: 28

PB: $12.95
HC: $20.95
Medium_large

Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji

By Zia

Illustrated by Min

Teacher's Guide | Interviews

Guided Reading: O
Grade Level: 2
Interest Level: K - 5

AR Level: 0.5 - 3.0
Lexile Level: AD580L
SRC: 3.2
DRA: 34

PB: $11.95
Medium_where_fireflies_dance

Where Fireflies Dance / Ahi, donde bailan las luciérnagas

By Corpi

Illustrated by Reisberg

Guided Reading: O
Spanish Guided Reading: O
Grade Level: 3
Interest Level: K - 2

AR Level: 0.5 - 3.9
Lexile Level: 680L
SRC: 3.9
DRA: 34

PB: $12.95
Medium_when_the_shadbush_pbk_cvr

When the Shadbush Blooms

By Katz / Messinger

Illustrated by Fadden

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: O
Grade Level: 3
Interest Level: 1 - 6

AR Level: 0.5 - 4.8
Lexile Level: NC660L
DRA: 34

PB: $11.95
Medium_on_these_magic_shores_cover_final_hires

On These Magic Shores

By Méndez

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: Y
Grade Level: 5
Interest Level: 3 - 7

AR Level: 8.0 - 4.8
Lexile Level: 690L
DRA: 60

HC: $19.95
Medium_summer_of_the_mariposas_10th_anniversary_cover

Summer of the Mariposas

By McCall

Teacher's Guide | Interviews

Guided Reading: Z
Grade Level: 5
Interest Level: 6 - College

AR Level: 13.0 - 5.4
Lexile Level: 840L
SRC: 5.5
DRA: 80

Medium_large

Black All Around

By Hubbell

Illustrated by Tate

Teacher's Guide | Interviews

Guided Reading: I
Grade Level: 1
Interest Level: PreK - 3
Intervention: 17

AR Level: 0.5 - 1.9
Lexile Level: AD490L
SRC: 2.4
DRA: 16

PB: $10.95
Medium_large

Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match / Marisol McDonald no combina

By Brown

Illustrated by Palacios

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: L
Spanish Guided Reading: L
Grade Level: 2
Interest Level: K - 3

AR Level: 0.5 - 2.8
Lexile Level: AD580L
SRC: 2.3
DRA: 24

HC: $19.95
Medium_magic_like_that_cover

Magic Like That

By Doyon

Illustrated by Bowers

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: O
Grade Level: K
Interest Level: K - 3

DRA: 34

HC: $19.95
Medium_frontcover

Under My Hijab

By Khan

Illustrated by Jaleel

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: K
Grade Level: PreK
Interest Level: PreK - 3

Lexile Level: AD710L
DRA: 20

HC: $19.95
Medium_large

The Happiest Tree

By Krishnaswami

Illustrated by Jeyaveeran

Teacher's Guide | Interviews

Guided Reading: N
Grade Level: 2
Interest Level: K - 3

AR Level: 0.5 - 3.1
Lexile Level: AD510L
DRA: 30

PB: $11.95
Medium_kiyoshiswalk_lowres_spreads_1

Kiyoshi's Walk

By Karlins

Illustrated by Wong

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: O
Grade Level: 1
Interest Level: 1 - 3

DRA: 34

HC: $19.95
Medium_nacho_s_nachos_fc_hi_res

Nacho's Nachos

By Nickel

Illustrated by Dominguez

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: O
Grade Level: K
Interest Level: K - 5

DRA: 34

HC: $19.95
Medium_hhqueen_

The Hula-Hoopin' Queen

By Godin

by Brantley-Newton

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: P
Grade Level: 2
Interest Level: 1 - 5

AR Level: 0.5 - 3.4
Lexile Level: AD600L
SRC: 2.4
DRA: 38

PB: $12.95
Medium_large

The Monster in the Mudball

By Gates

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: V
Grade Level: 3
Interest Level: 2 - 6

AR Level: 5.0 - 4.8
Lexile Level: 670L
SRC: 4.2
DRA: 50

HC: $19.95
Medium_julieta_and_the_diamond_enigma_cover

Julieta and the Diamond Enigma

By Armendáriz

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: U
Grade Level: 4
Interest Level: 3 - 7

Lexile Level: 690L
DRA: 44

HC: $19.95
Medium_the_shadow_prince_cover_1

The Shadow Prince

By Durham

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: Y
Grade Level: 4
Interest Level: 4 - 9

Lexile Level: 650L
DRA: 60

HC: $21.95
Medium_clockworkcurandera_thewitchowlparliament_eng_cover

The Witch Owl Parliament (Clockwork Curandera #1)

By Bowles / Raúl the Third

Illustrated by Duffy / Robinson

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: Z+
Grade Level: 7
Interest Level: 7 - 12

PB: $18.95
Medium_rebelseoul_final_cover

Rebel Seoul

By Oh

Guided Reading: Z+
Grade Level: 7
Interest Level: 7 - 12

AR Level: 13.0 - 5.2
Lexile Level: HL730L
DRA: 80

PB: $15.95
Medium_cat_girls_day_off_

Cat Girl's Day Off

By Pauley

Teacher's Guide | Interviews

Guided Reading: Z
Grade Level: 5
Interest Level: 6 - 12

AR Level: 11.0 - 4.4
Lexile Level: 660L
SRC: 4.1
DRA: 80

PB: $13.95
Medium_zombies_english_cvr_des1

Zombies Don't Eat Veggies!

By Lacera / Lacera

Illustrated by Lacera

Teacher's Guide

Guided Reading: O
Grade Level: 2
Interest Level: PreK - 5

Lexile Level: AD460L
DRA: 34

HC: $20.95