The Diverse Families bookshelf was created and funded through numerous grants. Due to lack of additional grants and the loss of key personnel, the project has come to an end. We have tremendously enjoyed creating this database and hope that it can help bring readers and books together.
This collection contains materials from the DIVerse Families bibliography organized by genre.
DIVerse Families is a comprehensive bibliography that demonstrates the growing diversity of families in the United States. This type of bibliography provides teachers, librarians, counselors, adoption agencies, children/young adults, and especially parents and grandparents needing to empower their children with materials that reflect their families.
Browse by Genre:
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Me And My Fear
Francesca Sanna
When a young girl has to move countries and start at a new school, her fear tells her to be alone and afraid. How can she hope to make friends if she doesn't understand anyone? Surely no one else feels the same way... From the award-winning author and illustrator of The Journey, this insightful and delicately told story shows that we can all find friendship and comfort when we share our fears.
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Me & Emma
Elizabeth Flock
Eight-year-old Carrie Parker and her little sister, tired of living in an abusive environment, concoct a plan to run away, but their escape is thwarted by a shocking revelation that will change their lives.
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Meeting my CASA: A Story with Activities
Adam D. Robe and Kim A. Robe
Designed to help foster children adjust better to changes in life, promote communication, and gain insight into a child's feelings and interpretation of the world around him.
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Meet Polkadot
Talcott Broadhead
Meet Polkadot, big sister Gladiola, and best friend Norma Alicia, as they introduce young readers to the challenges and beauty that are experienced by Polkadot as a non-binary, transgender kid. Readers learn that gender identity is found "between the ears, not between the legs" and that biological sex and gender identity are not always the same.
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Me, Frida and the Secret of the Peacock Ring
Angela Cervantes
Paloma Marquez is traveling to Mexico City, birthplace of her deceased father, for the very first time. She's hoping that spending time in Mexico will help her unlock memories of the too-brief time they spent together. While in Mexico, Paloma meets Lizzie and Gael, who present her with an irresistible challenge: The siblings want her to help them find a valuable ring that once belonged to beloved Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Finding the ring means a big reward -- and the thanks of all Mexico. What better way to honor her father than returning a priceless piece of jewelry that once belonged to his favorite artist! But the brother and sister have a secret. Do they really want to return the ring, or are they after something else entirely?
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Megan's Book of Divorce: A Kid's Book for Adults: As Told to Erica Jong
Erica Jong
Irrepressible, four-year-old Megan gives her own views on divorce.
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Mei-Mei's Lucky Birthday Noodles: A Loving Story of Adoption, Chinese Culture and a Special Birthday Treat
Shan-Shan Chen
On her sixth birthday, Mei Mei puts on a special new dress and helps her adoptive mother make a traditional birthday dish from Mei Mei's home country, China, to share with her loving family. Includes recipe for Lucky Birthday Noodles.
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Merci Suárez Changes Gears
Meg Medina
Merci Suárez begins the sixth grade and knows things will change, but she did not count on her grandfather acting strangely, not fitting in at her private school, and dealing with Edna Santos' jealousy.
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Mexican Whiteboy
Matt de la Peña
Sixteen-year-old Danny searches for his identity amidst the confusion of being half-Mexican and half-white while spending a summer with his cousin and new friends on the baseball fields and back alleys of San Diego County, California.
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Mi abuelita tiene ruedas
Silvia Molina
No todas las abuelitas resultan tan simpáticas y cariñosas como la de María. Hay algunas que gruñen como ogros, otras que no dicen ni "pío". La de María, además de ser alegre, tiene ruedas sin ser bicicleta ni patín. A young girl describes what makes her grandmother special to her.
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Mia's Family (All Kinds of Families)
Elliot Riley
Easy reader introduces a young girl and her two moms, highlighting their family dynamics, volunteer work, and celebrating diversity.
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Michael and Me
Margaret Baker-Street
Michael and Me was written for parents, educators and children to start the conversation early as to what is meant by a transgender person. It is written for those who have not had the benefit of knowing a transgender person, to explain why it is important for one to affirm ones identity. It uses easy to understand terms and concepts, a valuable tool to increase tolerance and decrease discrimination.
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Migrant
Jose Manuel Mateo
A Mexican boy tells of his journey to the U.S. with his family. They must face many dangers to cross the border, only to experience the uncertainty felt by all illegal immigrants. The narrative is accompanied by one long, beautifully vivid illustration reminiscent of pre-Hispanic codices, packaged as an accordion-style foldout frieze.
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Miguel's Family (All Kinds of Families)
Elliot Riley
There are many types of families. Miguel's family is very large and they do many activities together.
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Milly, Molly and Different Dads
Gill Pittar
Milly and Molly learn how different dads can be. The story teaches about the diversity and individual differences and to accept everyone inspite of it.
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Mini Mia and Her Darling Uncle
Pija Lindenbaum and Elisabeth Kallick Dyssegaard
Ella, whose nickname is "Mini Mia" because her favorite soccer player is Mia Ham, loves spending time with her eccentric uncle Tommy, but finds herself a bit put out when she has to share him with his new boyfriend Fergus.
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Mishka: An Adoption Tale
Adrienne Ehlert Bashista
Mo is a teddy bear in an airport gift shop, chosen to go on a journey to meet his new best friend, Yuri. Mo has lots of questions once he gets to his destination: Where is he? What's a mishka? And will he and Yuri finally have a real home and a family?
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Missing Sisters
Gregory Maguire
Twelve-year-old Alice, an orphan who has never been adopted because of her physical handicap and difficult personality, is shocked to discover she has an identical twin sister living nearby.
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Mitzi Tulane: What's That Smell?
Lauren MacLaughlin
Mitzi Tulane uses her detective skills to discover her own birthday cake.
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Mixed Blessing: A Children's Book About a Multi-Racial Family
Marsha Cosman
A young son discovers he does not have exactly the same skin colour as either parent. He questions this revelation and his parents explain using animals during a visit to the zoo. A candid look at children of mixed race and multiculturalism learning about their identity for the first time through a colourful illustrative story.
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Mixed Me!
Taye Diggs
Mom and Dad say I'm a blend of dark and light: "We mixed you perfectly, and got you just right." Mike has awesome hair. He has LOTS of energy! His parents love him. And Mike is a PERFECT blend of the two of them. Still, Mike has to answer LOTS of questions about being mixed. And he does, with LOTS of energy and joy in this charming story about a day in the life of a mixed-race child.
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Mixed Me: A Tale of a Girl Who is Both Black and White
Tiffany Catledge
Little Mixie wonders why everyone wants to know WHAT she is. Isn't it obvious? She is clearly a human being. And anyway, isn't WHO she is what matters most? Coming from a family with a black dad and a white mom makes her extra special, and maybe a little different too. But different is good. Mixie embraces her uniqueness and determines to be the best "Me" she can be.
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Molly's Family
Nancy Garden
The members of Ms. Marston's kindergarten class are cleaning and decorating their room for the upcoming Open School Night. Molly and Tommy work on drawing pictures to put on the walls. Molly draws her family: Mommy, Mama Lu, and her puppy, Sam. But when Tommy looks at her picture, he tells her it's not of a family. "You can't have a mommy and a mama," he says.
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Mom and Dad Don't Live Together Anymore
Kathy Stinson
As the daughter of divorced parents, twelve-year-old Al faces the heartrending decision of whether to live with her mother in western Canada or with her father in Toronto.
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Mom and Mum are Getting Married
Ken Setterington
When Rosie finds out that her two mothers are planning to get married, she has only one worry-- will she get to be a flower girl?