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10 Picture Books You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of by

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In all seriousness, creators of color need and deserve our support

The publishing industry is challenging to break into, and that difficulty is compounded for authors and illustrators

Furthermore, authors of color are often paid less than their white counterparts

Children from diverse racial backgrounds need to see themselves reflected in books

Unfortunately, books about and especially written by people of color still do not reflect our population

I am proud to write for an organization that is intentional about highlighting marginalized writers

All people deserve to tell their own stories and have those stories heard

I’m hopeful that our efforts at Book Riot are helping to right that wrong

Often, I receive under-the-radar gems that I would never have found on my own

Thus, I figured readers might appreciate the opportunity to check out some of these lesser known titles

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I discovered this book when I was planning a teaching unit about names and I’ve loved

With a name like Mikkaka, I empathize with characters like Anjali

While Christopher changes his name because it’s too common, Anjali has the opposite problem

When she gets a new bike, she can’t find her name among the novelty license plates

This picture book biography is a beautifully illustrated account of congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez’s journey to

Rich with references to her Puerto Rican heritage, this book is an inspirational look at the life

Three human sisters under the age of 13 wrote this cute story to inspire others

With an impressive resumé of charity work, the Duggal sisters are all about giving back

What are you? Where are you from? Most children of immigrants hear questions like this daily

However, rather than letting other people define her, she proclaims that she is 100% herself

Similarly, the creature at the center of this picture book is one-of-a-kind

She searches the world for answers, finding adventure along the way

If you enjoy this one, you may also like López Ávila’s With a Butterfly’s

However, when she has to face a day without her super apparel, she is worried it won’

This is an adorable story about facing your fears and being your true self

When Vega’s classmate asks to borrow her “skin-colored” colored pencil, Vega wonders whose skin he means

This is a very cute exploration of racism in everyday language and it’s handle beautifully and

As a civil rights icon, young Ruby was the first Black child to attend her local all-white

Now, Ruby Bridges tells that story in her own words, through the eyes of her 6-year-old self

The young author, Lana Bailey, composed five stories within the book’s pages, leaving space for readers

However, Lana learned that Laila enjoyed interacting with her through art and storytelling

If you are looking for more diverse children’s book recommendations and helpful info, try these other