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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My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life
Rachel Cohn
On her sixteenth birthday, Elle Zoellner leaves the foster care system to live with the father she never knew in Tokyo, Japan.
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My Beautiful Birds
Suzanne Del Rizzo
A moving story about one boy's refugee experience in the Syrian Civil War and the birds who help him on the road to emotional healing. Behind Sami, the Syrian skyline is full of smoke. The boy follows his family and all his neighbours in a long line, as they trudge through the sands and hills to escape the bombs that have destroyed their homes. But all Sami can think of is his pet pigeons - will they escape too? When they reach a refugee camp and are safe at last, everyone settles into the tent city. But though the children start to play and go to school again, Sami can't join in. When he is given paper and paint, all he can do is smear his painting with black. He can't forget his birds and what his family has left behind. One day a canary, a dove, and a rose finch fly into the camp. They flutter around Sami and settle on his outstretched arms. For Sami it is one step in a long healing process at last.
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My Best Buddy
YeShil Kim
Two students attend the same school and become friends. One is eighty-five years old, but he is committed to going to school and learning how to read, write, and study so that he can fulfill his dream of being a veterinarian. Kamau is a second grader, and learns from his older friend that if you put your mind to it, you can make your dreams come true.
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My Best Friend, Maybe
Caela Carter
Colette's life is near-perfect, if boring, so when her ex-best friend, Sadie, asks her to come on vacation to the Greek Islands for a family wedding, Colette agrees but is surprised to learn Sadie's true reason for the invitation.
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My Body Belongs to Me
Jill Starishevsky
Presented in story format and narrated by a young child in rhyming couplets, this short book encourages children who have been sexually abused to talk to someone they trust.
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My Brother Bernadette
Jacqueline Wilson
Sara tries to take care of her younger brother when he is teased and called Bernadette at summer camp, but he finds an activity that he enjoys and that gives him the chance to shed his new nickname for good.
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My Brother, Matthew
Mary Thompson
Though David knows frustration and resentment at times, he feels he understands his disabled little brother even better than his parents; and together the two boys experience a great deal of joy.
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My Brother’s Husband, Vol. 2
Gengoroh Tagame
As Mike continues his journey of discovery concerning Ryoji's past, Yaichi gradually comes to understand that being gay is just another way of being human. And that, in many ways, remains a radical concept in Japan even today. In the meantime, the bond between Mike and young Kana grows ever stronger, and yet he is going to have to return to Canada soon--a fact that fills them both with impending heartbreak.
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My Brother's Husband, Volume 1
Gengoroh Tagame
Yaichi is a work-at-home suburban dad in contemporary Tokyo; formerly married to Natsuki, father to their young daughter, Kana. Their lives suddenly change with the arrival at their doorstep of a hulking, affable Canadian named Mike Flanagan, who declares himself the widower of Yaichi's estranged gay twin, Ryoji. Mike is on a quest to explore Ryoji's past, and the family reluctantly but dutifully takes him in. What follows is an unprecedented and heartbreaking look at the state of a largely still-closeted Japanese gay culture: how it's been affected by the West, and how the next generation can change the preconceptions about it and prejudices against it.
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My Buddy
Audrey Osofsky
This easy-to-read, first-person narrative of an unusual friendship demonstrates the desires of the handicapped to be independent and to be treated like everyone else. Graceful watercolor illustrations that emphasize the closeness between boy and dog are a perfect accompaniment to this entertaining and informative book.
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My Chinatown: One Year in Poems
Kam Mak
My Chinatown explores a boy's first year in the United States—after emigrating from China—as he grows to love his new home in Chinatown through food, games, and the people surrounding him.
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My Dad and My Papa
David Escobedo
An adopted daughter muses on her origins and her relationship with her gay dads.
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My Dad is a Clown
Jose Carlos Andres
A young boy is proud of the work that both of his dad's do, one a doctor, the other a clown.
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My Dad Used to Be so Cool
Keith Negly
A young boy tries to imagine his dad as the cool guy who once played in a band, rode a motorcycle, and got tattoos before he became a father.
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My Family is Forever
Nancy Carlson
A young girl recounts how she came to be part of an adoptive family.
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My Family's Changing
Pat Thomas
This unusual picture book for younger children explores the issue of divorce. The author of this book is a psychotherapist and counselor and helps children to face their fears, worries and questions when their family is going through a break-up.
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My Father's Arms are a Boat
Stein Erik Lunde
Unable to sleep, a young boy climbs into his father's arms and asks about birds, foxes, and whether his mother will ever awaken, then under a starry sky, the father provides clear answers and assurances.
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My Father's Son
Terri Fields
Kevin's life of high school classes, crushes, basketball, and shuttling between his parents' homes falls apart when his father is arrested as a suspected serial killer, leading Kevin to a new understanding of his family and himself.
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My Favorite Color is Pink!
Nina Benedetto
A child, born into a male body, finds the strength and courage to claim her full and authentic gender identity. This book is an affirmation for all people who are longing to claim their birthright to be themselves. It goes to the heart of teaching compassion.
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My First-Generation Family
Claudia Harrington
My First-Generation Family is the story of a normal day in Manny's life. When classmate Lenny visits his home, he discovers Manny's family moved here from Mexico. Who picks up Manny from school in a taxi? Papa! Who brings home dinner from her restaurant job? Mama! Who reads Manny's bedtime story? Mama and Papa! Lenny realizes love makes a family.
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My Friend Has Autism
Amanda Doering Tourville
My friend Zack has a disability called autism. But that doesn’t matter to us. We talk about airplanes, build models, and enjoy hanging out at each other’s house. I’m glad Zack is my friend!
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My Friend Has Dyslexia
Amanda Doering Tourville
My friend Anna has a disability called Dyslexia. But that doesn't matter to us. We play catch, help each other with our homework, and collect food for our local food shelf. I'm glad Anna is my friend! Explains some of the challenges and rewards of having a friend with dyslexia using everyday kid-friendly examples.
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My Friend Isabelle
Eliza Woloson
Isabelle and Charlie are friends. They both like to draw, dance, read, and play at the park. They both like to eat Cheerios. They both cry if their feelings are hurt. And like most friends, they are also different from each other. Isabelle has Down syndrome. Charlie doesn't.
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My Friend Suhana
Shaila Abdullah
While volunteering with her mother at a community center, a seven-year-old girl befriends Suhana, also seven, whose cerebral palsy makes it difficult for her to communicate or control her movements. Includes facts about cerebral palsy.
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My House
Brenna Harding and Vicki Harding
My House is about a 5 year old girl, her pets and her home. She has two dogs, a cat and two mums. It has a happy, hopeful ending and colorful original illustrations by Chris Bray-Cotton. This book is the first in the Learn to Include easy-to-read series. Suitable for 5-7 year olds learning to read, or for reading to under 8's.