A Kid’s Booklist-Books with Diverse characters in Nature

25 Children’s Books That Celebrate Diversity in the Outdoors

“When children cannot find themselves reflected in the books they read or when the images they see are distorted, negative, or laughable, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in the society in which they are a part of”

I am an advocate of reading, children’s development, diversity and inclusion, and the value of nature and the outdoors for everyone. The outdoor scene, and subsequently books (including children’s books) are notoriously lacking diversity. Here’s a selection of nature books for kids that build respect for nature, talk about diversity, and feature main characters of diverse backgrounds. These books have characters and are written by people from many different cultural backgrounds and highlight many cultural practices.

Also please note-that while representation is essential, it in no way replaces the need to speak to children explicitly (and have conversations in our everyday lives) about racism and racist practices and teach them, show them by living them ourselves-anti-racist practices

  1. Adventure Day- by Dineo Dowd (such a great story, and the author is a gem of a human too!) https://dineodowd.com/
A Black woman is hiking carrying a child on her back. This book talks about a family adventure day and has BIPOC characters

2. Snow Day-by Ezra Keats

3. Rain! by Linda Ashman , Christian Robinson (Illustrator)

4. Hike- by Pete Oslwald

5. Gator Gator Gator-by Daniel Bernstrom and Frann Preston-Gannon

6. Hiking Day-by by Anne Rockwell and Lizzy Rockwell

7. The Hike by Alison Farrell

A story about children playing in nature, kids going for a hike, with children of diverse backgrounds.

8. Water is Water -by Miranda Paul (Author), Jason Chin (Illustrator)

9. Who Likes Rain- by Wong Herbert Yee

10. Hank’s Big Day- by Evan Kuhlman and Chuck Groenink

11. All Aboard Pacific Northwest: A Recreation Primer-by Haily Meyers, Kevin Meyers

12. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn Kenard Pak

13. Daniel Finds A Poem- by Micha Archer

14. The Not So Great Outdoors- by Madeline Kloepper

15. Fish for Supper -by Terri Mack

16. Bowhead Whale -by Joanasie Karpik & Sho Uehara

17. Elisapee and her Baby Seagull- by Nancy Mike

18. Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox by Danielle Daniel

19. Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner

20. Trout are Made of Trees by April Pulley Sayle

21. The Water Princess

22. Sunset Hike by Dineo Dowd.

23. Go Bikes Go-by Addie Boswell

24. You Belong Here- by MH Clark

25. Run Wild- by David Covell

Do you have any books to add to the list? Would love to hear your recommendations.

Good spots to find these and other books online and support BIPOC business owners in Canada and the USA:

www.strongnations.com (Indigenous owned bookstore)

https://www.adifferentbooklist.com/ Black owned bookstore based in Toronto and online

https://www.booksandcranniesva.com/browse/book Black owned bookstore in Virginia and online.