Story time is a favorite activity at our house. We have so many wonderful books to choose from it’s hard to know what to pick. I wanted to share a list of books I really love to read with the kids. Some are all-time favorites, some celebrate diversity and others are just a darn good story. If you have little ones in your home, I hope this list is useful and you find these books as enjoyable as we do. I will add more as we continue to grow our library.

• Hug Machine, by Scott Campbell – An adorable book of hugs
• It’s Not the Stork, by Robie Harris – A book about girls, boys, babies, bodies, family and friends
• We Belong Together, by Todd Parr – A book about adoption and families
• The Invisible String, By Patricia Karst – A story that reminds us…no one is ever alone
• Our Big Home, by Linda Glasier – An earth poem
• The Skin You Live In, by Michael Tyler – A skin poem
• Me…Jane, by Patrick McDonnell – A story that reminds us…each one of us can make a difference
• Grace for President, by Kelly DiPucchio – A book about the United States election process
• Happy Adoption Day, by John McCutcheon – A book celebrating adoption day
• Fifty Cents and a Dream, by Booker T Washington – A story about a boy with an incredible journey
• Grandfather Gandhi, by Arun Gandhi and Bethany Hegedus – Gandhi’s story through the eyes of a child
• How to Babysit a Grandpa, by Jean Reagan – A how-to guide for the littlest babysitter
• D is for Drinking Gourd, by Nancy I. Sanders – A tapestry of American history
• My Daddy and Me, by Tina Macnaughton (*cardboard book) – A picture book for the little ones, celebrating Daddy’s love
• Whoever You Are, by Mem Fox – A poem about people
• Different Just Like Me, by Lori Mitchell – A story about a little girl discovering what makes us different and what makes us the same.
• The Patchwork Path, by Bettye Stroud – A Quilt Map to Freedom
• Sonia Sotomayor, By Jonah Winter – A story about growing up in the Bronx
• The color of Us, by Karen Katz – A story that showcases the many shades of the skin we’re in
• Malala, by Jeanette Winter – A Brave Girl from Pakistan, An Inspiration to the World
• Iqbal, by Jeanette Winter – A Brave Boy from Pakistan, An Inspiration to the World
• Harlem’s Little Blackbird, by Renee Watson – The Story of Florence Mills
• Drum Dream Girl, by Margarita Engle – How one girl’s courage changed music
• Emmanuel’s Dream, by Laurie Ann Thompson – The true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yehoah
• A Lei of Dancers, by Marie Hara – A Hawaiian story of a mixed family
• And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson – A story about a baby penguin and his Dads
• Flashlight, by Lizi Boyd – Fun interactive book about light
• Always, by Emma Dodd – A love poem
• Maps, by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski – Am amazing book of maps.
• The Ultimate Book of Vehicles from Around the World, by Anne-Sophie and Didier Balicevic – Interactive and fun book of vehicles
• The Caboose Who Got Loose, by Bill Peet – A story about a caboose who dreamed “she could be anything but a caboose”.
• Cuddle, by Beth Shoshan and Jacqueline East – An adorable book about cuddling.
• If A Bus Could Talk, by Faith Ringgold – The story of Rosa Parks
• Listen to the Wind, by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth – The story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea
• Zach Gets Frustrated & Zach Apologizes, by William Mulcahy – A series about a boy named Zach who has to learn to use his words