41 Books in this collection
Books About Joy Booklist
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!
Themes & Categories
- African / African American / Black / Afro Caribbean
- Alaskan Native / Indigenous / First Nations / Native American
- Asian / South Asian / South East Asian
- Biracial / Multiracial
- Courage
- Empathy / Compassion
- Families
- Friendship
- Grandparents
- History & Civics
- Kindness / Caring
- Latine / Latino / Hispanic
- Muslim
- Sharing & Giving / Collaboration
- Siblings & Cousins
- English
- Must-Have Collections
- Spanish
Books in This Collection
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A Morning with Grandpa
By Sylvia Liu, Christina Barragan ForshayView DetailsIn this sweet, slice-of-life story, a curious and active Asian American girl spends the day learning tai chi from her grandfather, and in turn tries to teach him how to do yoga.
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A Space for Me
By Cathryn FalwellView Details
Black All Around
By Patricia Hubbell, Don TateView Details
Cat Girl's Day Off
By Kimberly PauleyView Details
Dreaming Up
A Celebration of BuildingBy Christy HaleView DetailsA picture book that connects great works of architecture to the ways children build and play.
Buy 1 copy of Dreaming Up, get 1 FREE copy of Kiyoshi's Walk! Discount will automatically appear in cart & only valid via credit card checkout at leeandlow.com. Limit 1 free copy.
Drum, Chavi, Drum! / ¡Toca, Chavi, Toca!
By Mayra Lazara Dole, TonelView DetailsWho says girls can't play drums? The beat of Chavi's congas livens up her entire neighborhood. When she's not picked to drum in Miami's Calle Ocho festival, she decides to do something about it!
Drummer Boy of John John
By Mark Greenwood, Frane LessacView Details
Family Poems for Every Day of the Week
Poemas familiares para cada día de la semanaBy Francisco X. Alarcón, Maya Gonzalez
Family Poems for Every Day of the Week
Poemas familiares para cada día de la semanaBy Francisco X. Alarcón, Maya GonzalezView DetailsUna colección bilingüe de poesía del difunto Francisco X. Alarcón, aclamado poeta chicano, que celebra los días de la semana y las experiencias cotidianas de la infancia.
Galápagos Girl / Galapagueña
By Marsha Diane Arnold, Angela DomínguezView Details
Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji
By Farhana Zia, Ken MinView Details
If I Were a Tree
By Andrea Zimmerman, Jing Jing TsongView Details
Julieta and the Diamond Enigma
By Luisana Duarte ArmendárizView DetailsFrom the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler meets Merci Suarez in this smart young middle-grade mystery about a diamond gone missing from the Louvre and the sweet and spunky girl who cracks the case.
Juna's Jar
By Jane Park, Felicia HoshinoView DetailsAfter Juna's best friend moves away, Juna, an imaginative Korean American girl, goes on magical adventures by way of her special kimchi jar.
King for a Day
By Rukhsana Khan, Christiane KrömerView Details
Kiyoshi's Walk
By Mark Karlins, Nicole WongView DetailsWhere do poems come from? This beautiful picture book about a young aspiring poet and his grandfather shows that the answer lies all around us--if we take the time to look.
Buy 1, Get 1! Discount will automatically appear in cart & only valid via credit card checkout at leeandlow.com. Limit 1 free copy.
Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems
Jitomates Risueños y otros poemas de primaveraBy Francisco X. Alarcón, Maya Gonzalez
Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems
Jitomates Risueños y otros poemas de primaveraBy Francisco X. Alarcón, Maya GonzalezView DetailsBilingual English/Spanish. From the imagination of poet Francisco X. Alarcón comes Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems, a playful and moving collection of twenty poems in English and Spanish.
Magic Like That
By Samara Cole Doyon, Geneva BowersView Details
Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match / Marisol McDonald no combina
By Monica Brown, Sara PalaciosView DetailsMismatched and fabulous Marisol McDonald celebrates her Peruvian and Scottish heritage.
Bilingual English/Spanish.Other editions:
Maya's Blanket
La manta de MayaBy Monica Brown, David DiazView DetailsBilingual English/Spanish. Based on a Yiddish folk song, a young girl's cherished baby blanket becomes old and worn over time and she finds new ways to use it as she grows up.
My Colors, My World / Mis colores, mi mundo
By Maya GonzalezView DetailsBoard Book reprint coming October 27, 2025
Hardcover reprint coming October 27, 2025Bilingual English/Spanish. An instant favorite, this beautiful bilingual board book follows Maya as she discovers all the colors in her world.
Nacho's Nachos
The Story Behind the World's Favorite SnackBy Sandra Nickel, Oliver DominguezView Details
On These Magic Shores
By Yamile Saied MéndezView DetailsMinerva must take care of her sisters after her mother's disappearance in this magical middle grade story that pairs perfectly with Peter Pan.
Other editions:
Rebel Seoul
By Axie Oh, Sebastien HueThis product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Rebel Seoul
By Axie Oh, Sebastien HueView DetailsPacific Rim meets Korean action dramas in this mind-blowing sci-fi novel set in New Seoul in the year 2199.
Other editions:
Summer of the Mariposas
By Guadalupe García McCallView Details
Summoning the Phoenix
Poems and Prose About Chinese Musical InstrumentsBy Emily Jiang, April ChuThis product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Summoning the Phoenix
Poems and Prose About Chinese Musical InstrumentsBy Emily Jiang, April ChuView DetailsA collection of original poems about children learning to play traditional Chinese instruments in preparation for a performance, accompanied by factual information about each instrument.
Sumo Joe
By Mia Wenjen, Nat IwataView Details
Sunday Shopping
By Sally Derby Miller, Shadra StricklandView Details
The Electric Slide and Kai
By Kelly J. Baptist, Darnell JohnsonView DetailsKai is the only member of his family who can't get the dance steps to the Electric Slide right. But Kai is determined to bust a move in this fun and sweet celebration of African American families.
The Happiest Tree
A Yoga StoryBy Uma Krishnaswami, Ruth JeyaveeranView DetailsMeena is excited about the class play, a new and improved version of Red Riding Hood.
The Hula-Hoopin' Queen
By Thelma Lynne Godin, Vanessa Brantley-NewtonView DetailsA spunky African American girl has a hula-hooping competition with her friends in Harlem, and soon everyone in the neighborhood--young and old alike--joins in on the fun.
The Monster in the Mudball
By S.P. GatesView Details
The Shadow Prince (The Shadow Prince #1)
By David Anthony DurhamView DetailsFIVE DEADLY TESTS, ONLY ONE SHADOW PRINCE
In this middle grade solarpunk novel set in an alternate Egyptian universe, twelve-year-old Ash must compete and survive to become the shadow--and protector--of the prince.
Other editions:
The Turtle Ship
By Helena Ku Rhee, Colleen Kong-SavageView DetailsThe Witch Owl Parliament
(Clockwork Curandera, Volume I)By David Bowles, Raúl the Third, Stacey Robinson, Damian Duffy
The Witch Owl Parliament
(Clockwork Curandera, Volume I)By David Bowles, Raúl the Third, Stacey Robinson, Damian DuffyView DetailsDiscounted pricing is only valid via credit card checkout at leeandlow.com. Discounts cannot be applied to any books under the Bebop Books® imprint, and may not be combined with other offers.
Discover a graphic novel unlike any other--a brilliant steampunk reimagining of Frankenstein set in colonial Mexico.
There's No Base Like Home
By Jessica Mendoza, Alana Mendoza Dusan, Ruth Mcnally BarshawView DetailsESPN Major League Baseball analyst and two-time Olympic medalist Jessica Mendoza teams up with her sister Alana Mendoza Dusan for their first highly-illustrated novel for young readers, a Dork Diaries for sporty kids.
Other editions:
Under My Hijab
By Hena Khan, Aaliya JaleelView DetailsThis lovely book from the author of Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns invites readers to understand and appreciate the hijab and the Muslim women who decide to wear it.
What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses?
By Richard Van Camp, George LittlechildThis product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses?
By Richard Van Camp, George LittlechildView Details
When Aidan Became a Brother
By Kyle Lukoff, Kaylani JuanitaView Details
When the Shadbush Blooms
By Carla Messinger, Susan R. Katz, David Kanietakeron FaddenView Details
Where Fireflies Dance / Ahi, donde bailan las luciérnagas
By Lucha Corpi, Mira ReisbergThis product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Where Fireflies Dance / Ahi, donde bailan las luciérnagas
By Lucha Corpi, Mira ReisbergView Details
Zombies Don't Eat Veggies!
By Jorge Lacera, Megan LaceraView DetailsIn this delightful debut by a talented husband-and-wife team, Mo Romero is a zombie with a deep, dark secret...
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