2025 Global Reads for Birth-Kindergarten

Updated April 3, 2025
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Abuelo, the sea, and me
Williams, Ismée
Paper Book
Pura Belpré Honor Book for Children's Illustration Abuelo, the Sea, and Me is a tender, heartwarming picture book that vividly explores intergenerational connections, family history, and the immigrant experience. When this grandchild...
Amah faraway
Greanias, Margaret Chiu
Paper Book
Acclaim for Amah Faraway: A 2022 Caliba Golden Poppy Award Finalist for Mirrors & Windows: Excellence in Children's Literature | A 2023 Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year Selection | A Junior Library Guild Selection | A 2023 Crystal Kite Finalist (California) ...
An Asian American A to Z : a children's guide to our history
Che, Cathy Linh
Paper Book
A comprehensive and spirited exploration of Asian American history--its movements, cultures, and key figures--beautifully illustrated and compellingly told for readers of all ages. Co-authors Cathy Linh Che and Kyle Lucia Wu take us on a journey through stories of celebration and...
Babies around the world eating
Puck
Paper Book
Embark on a delectable world tour with Babies Around the World Eating! Join these tiny tots as they introduce your little one to a great variety of global flavors, from sushi to tacos, and corn on the cob to curry!   This multicultural adventure kicks off at a U.S. farmers...
Children of the world
Edwards, Nicola
Paper Book
Young readers can discover what life is like for children all around the world as they explore everything from food to family, and even learn how to say hello in many different languages. Young readers can discover what life is like for children all around the world as they...
Danbi's favorite day
Kim, Anna
Paper Book
The sequel to the Asian Pacific American Honor winner. Danbi's favorite day is here! Thrilled to invite her friends to celebrate Children's Day as she did in Korea, she promises kites, tigers, and magic train rides. But when the reality of a picnic behind her parents...
A dupatta is...
Abbas, Marzieh
Paper Book
A Dupatta Is..., written by Marzieh Abbas and vividly brought to life by the artwork of Anu Chouhan, is a loving and lyrical ode to the dupatta. A dupatta is so much more than a beautiful piece of fabric. A dupatta is sound--swooshing and swashing like a...
Fire and ashes : a boy and an African proverb
Hassan, Ahmed
Paper Book
Fire and Ashes, A Boy and an African Proverb, the debut story in a series of children's picture books, brings the relevance of African proverbs to our modern world. Warfa, a Somalian refugee, struggles to adapt to his new elementary school. Haunted by distressing memories, he turns to his...
The frog king : an African folktale
StJohn, Amanda
Paper Book
Some loud, disrespectful frogs need a king to teach them to be kind and courteous to others. After mistaking a rock as their ruler, they learn that the crocodile Mamba, with its sharp teeth and swishing tail, was their true king.
Ice cream everywhere : sweet stories from around the world
Campbell-Smith, Judy
Paper Book
Everywhere you go, all around the world people are eating ice cream! And while some folks spoon up sundaes and some savor Syrian bouza--one thing is always true: ice cream is joy! Travel the globe and discover a mouthwatering selection of cold, creamy treats. Which one is your favorite?! ...
Kailani's gift
Gilmore-Young, Dorina Lazo
Paper Book
A picture book celebration of family, Filipino heritage, and dance that showcases the value of patience, perseverance, and blessing others with your gifts and talents. As Kailani watches her siblings practice a traditional Filipino dance for their grandparents' anniversary party,...
Luli and the language of tea
Wang, Andrea
Paper Book
Though they may speak different languages, kids from all over the world come together to enjoy the shared pastime of tea in this delicious book for young readers. When five-year-old Luli joins her new English as a Second Language class, the playroom is quiet. Luli can't speak...
Many things at once
Hiranandani, Veera
Paper Book
In this poignant picture book about family and belonging, the child of a Jewish mother and a South Asian father hears stories about her family history. Sometimes she doesn't feel Jewish enough or South Asian enough, but comes to realize you can feel--and be--many things at once. ...
Maribel's year
Sterling, Michelle
Paper Book
Celebrate the special connection between father and daughter in this gorgeously evocative picture book, recounting the year a little girl and her mother spend in America while waiting for her father to join them from the Philippines. From acclaimed author Michelle Sterling and...
Mauntie and me
LaRocca, Rajani
Paper Book
What grows when you share it? A tender story of extended family, jealousy pangs, and above all love, from the Newbery Honor-winning author of I'll Go and Come Back. Every Saturday, when Priya's aunties and uncles and cousins come over, the other kids run off to play...
The most perfect persimmon
Chung, Hannah
Paper Book
In this charming author-illustrator debut, a Korean American girl harvests a perfectly ripe persimmon that she can't wait to share with Grandma. When Joo Hong harvests a beautiful persimmon from her mom's garden, she can't wait to give it to her grandma who is visiting from far...
My father's house
Javaherbin, Mina
Paper Book
In a warm, vibrantly illustrated story drawn from the author's childhood memories, the team behind My Grandma and Me follow a girl and her father as they explore the wondrous city of Isfahan, Iran--and his family home. My father and I are explorers . . . He teaches me...
My mother's tongues : a weaving of languages
Menon, Uma
Paper Book
In a sparkling debut authored by a sixteen-year-old daughter of immigrants, this ode to the power of multilingualism gives voice to the lasting benefits of speaking with more than one tongue. Sumi's mother can speak two languages, Malayalam and English. And she can switch between...
Nour's secret library
Tarnowska, Wafa'
Paper Book
★ "A beautiful and poignant coming-of-age book . . . Based on the author's and illustrator's personal experiences, this unique war story is full of hope and resilience that shines through even the worst of situations" - School Library Journal, starred review ...
One wish : Fatima al-Fihri and the world's oldest university
Yuksel, M. O.
Paper Book
A Horn Book selection for "Picture Book Biographies for Women's History Month 2022" Fatima had one wish . . . Fatima al-Fihri loved to learn. She wanted to know everything, like how birds flew, why the sky was blue, and how flowers grew. But more than anything, she...
Pedro's yo-yos : how a Filipino immigrant came to America and changed the world of toys
Peñas, Roberto
Paper Book
Discover the backstory of one of America's favorite toys, the yo-yo, in this colorful biography of businessman Pedro Flores. It can spin and roll, leap and twirl. You can stretch it between your hands or swing it between your legs. The tricks you can do with one are nearly endless....
Rivka's presents
Wallmark, Laurie
Paper Book
In this heartwarming story about the importance of community, a little Jewish girl living on the Lower East Side during the flu pandemic of 1918 can't start school because her father is sick, so she makes a trade with her neighbors- chores for lessons. It's 1918 on the Lower East...
The rock in my throat
Yang, Kao Kalia
Paper Book
Praise for The Rock in My Throat by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Jiemei Lin: Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature Picture Book Honor Booklist Editor's Choice The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon Award Heartland Booksellers Award Finalist...
A sea of gold : a Ukrainian family's story through the generations
Polacco, Patricia
Paper Book
"A visually stunning testimony to resilience and renewal." --Publishers Weekly "An empathetic, heartbreaking look at how warfare can tear families apart--and how traditions still endure." --Kirkus Reviews Beloved and bestselling storyteller Patricia...
I see color : an affirmation and celebration of our diverse world
Bolling, Valerie
Paper Book
For fans of The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander and Little Leaders by Vashti Harrison, I See Color is a picture book that affirms people of color--of all shades--by celebrating their achievements and contributions to society.  Highlighting people such as Madonna Thunder...
To my panik : to my daughter
Sammurtok, Nadia
Paper Book
"Panik, do you know how much I love you? When I look at the horizon, past the vast tundra, I see no end. That is how much I love you." In this lovingly told book, a mother recounts for her daughter all the things she loves about her, connecting each attribute to an element of the Arctic...
Vee in between
Wood, Valerie Kaiyang
Paper Book
Vee's favorite bedtime story is the night she met her parents. When Vee was nine months old, they flew to China to bring her home. But when she struggles to keep up in Chinese dance class and a woman at the grocery store makes Vee feel like she doesn't belong, her white parents don't always...
Visit Pakistan
Ali, Marzieh A.
Paper Book
Nadia and Nadir jet set across the world with their parents to visit family in Pakistan. They explore the bright, colorful country with their cousin. New foods and experiences await them at every turn. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.Calico Kid is an imprint of...
When I wrap my hair
Grant, Shauntay
Paper Book
In the vein of I Am Enough and Hold Them Close, this inspiring and beautiful picture book celebrates how hair wrapping ties together past and present. When I wrap, my roots run deep. As deep as an African marketplace or a city sidewalk or the...
When love is more than words
Chung, Jocelyn
Paper Book
A beautiful story about a family who shows their love in a multitude of ways There are so many ways to say "I love you" without saying a word! One little girl sees the love shown in her family by the way they nurture one another through stories, food, and spending time together....
Who are your people?
Sellers, Bakari
Paper Book
This inspiring picture book by New York Times bestselling author Bakari Sellers is a tribute to the family and community that help make us who we are. Perfect for sharing and gifting. When you meet someone for the first time, they might ask, "Who are your people" and "Where...
Wishes of the world
Stiveson, Melissa
Paper Book
One child feels a hope and a wish growing in their heart--and wonders: How do you make your wishes come true? Wishes of the World learns the answer to that question from children from the United States to Japan, from Thailand to Guatemala, showing readers that hope and wishes are universal even as...

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