Cindy Yip and Alice Himsworth, two Google UK workers, realized a few years ago that in the bookstores they frequented it was not easy to find children’s books where their daughters and sons saw themselves represented. In order to remedy this situation, they began collecting book titles that promote diversity and invited colleagues from other offices to participate.
This is how Kids Read The World was born, a platform where adults can find children’s stories and books classified by language, age and categories such as disability, race, ethnicity, religionsLGTBI+ collective, neurodiversity and feminism, among others. With your help, we have selected some books that we can find in Spanish and that are ideal to give away this Book Day.
(Little) princesses also fartIlan Brenman
Age: 0-3 years
Theme: feminism
Little Laura has had a very important doubt after a long discussion in class about Cinderella. His friend Marcelo has confessed to them that the famous and delicate princess farted a lot. Fortunately, Laura’s father, who likes books and good stories, has the secret book of the princesses where Laura will find the answers to all her questions.
Little Princesses Fart Too: 26 (Cardboard)
ElmerDavid Mckee
Age: 0-3 years
Theme: celebration of differences
A children’s classic that has sold more than 8 million copies. In his pages, Elmer is not like the other elephants in his herd. Although it seems hard to believe, he is an elephant of a thousand colors and in the jungle there is no other like him. However, he doesn’t find it funny to be like that, rather he’s tired of being different, so one day he decides to run away from the herd and look for a remedy to be able to have the same skin color as the others…
My first Elmer (Elmer. Little hands)
Lucas has superpowersAnaluengo Palomino and Marisol Diaz
Age: 5-7 years
Theme: autism
An afternoon with a family whose 4-year-old son, Lucas, has autism. Through everyday and simple situations, without value judgments and with sweetnessmakes us aware of childhood autism.
Lucas has superpowers: a story about autism
What color do you see it?Laia Membrave
Age: 5-7 years
Theme: colour blindness
have i ever told you how much I like your pink eyes? Yes, I know, you say they are blue, but do you know? I am colorblind and I see colors differently. With this book you will know how many curious things can happen to me and how you can help me.
Color blindness-what color do you see?: Do you want to meet me? 6
nugget is specialFabiola Arroyo
Age: 5-7 years
Theme: Down’s Syndrome
This is the story of Pepita, a very special girl: “Pepita is special. Dad and mom have always explained it to us. But I think what happens is that she has something special. I’m not referring to that chromosome that you can’t see, but to his way of loving us and his way of making us smile. I wish everyone saw it as Juan and I see it: just like us, but with a special touch”.
Pepita is special (Emotions, values and habits)
Mimi and the blue giraffeCècile de Visscher
Age: 5-7 years
Theme: disability
Mimi is a story for young children who have or have just had a sibling with severe disabilities. Try to illustrate the situation of the birth of a child with disabilities from the perspective of the brother and aims to encourage them to express what they may feel and live in this difficult family situation: bewilderment, discomfort, shame and anger are some of the feelings that young children usually express when they talk about living with a sibling with a serious disability .
Mimi and the blue giraffe -td: Do you want to meet me? 3a
Lorenzo’s saucepanIsabelle Carrier
Age: from 6 years
Theme: neurodiversity
A metaphorical tale talk about the differences to the little ones. With simple words and cute and fun illustrations, the author recreates the daily life of a different child: his difficulties, his qualities, the obstacles he has to face… Lorenzo’s saucepan moves the reader, whatever their age. In addition to its history, what is striking is the simplicity of the drawing and the concept.
Lorenzo’s saucepan (Illustrated Albums)
The Rare Club, Jordi Sierra i Fabra
Age: 8-10 years
Theme: neurodiversity
Hugo has a stutter and Bernardo is dyslexic.. The class bully makes their lives miserable because he thinks they’re weird. That is why the two friends decide to found a club, where they feel less alone and safer. What a surprise they will have when they discover that they are not the only ones who want to be part of The Rare Club! “Normal” is being “weird.” We all are. Therefore, the most important thing is to learn to laugh at yourself.
The Freak Club: 231 (The Orange Steamboat)
The Curious Incident of the Dog at MidnightMark Haddon
Age: From 11 years
Theme: autism
At fifteen, Christopher knows the capitals of all the countries in the world, he can explain the theory of relativity and recite the prime numbers up to 7,507, but he has trouble relating to other human beings. He likes lists, schemes and the truth, but he hates yellow, brown and physical contact. Although he has never gone alone beyond the corner store, the night that a neighbor’s dog appears pierced by a pitchfork, Christopher decides to start the search for the culprit emulating his admired Sherlock Holmes. His investigations will lead him to question the common sense of the adults around him.
The Curious Incident of the Dog at Midnight (Pocket Salamander)
Note: Some of the links posted here are affiliate links. Despite this, none of the items mentioned have been proposed by either the brands or the stores, their introduction being a unique decision of the editorial team.
Cover photo | unsplash