My daughters are slowly growing out of their ‘baby books’ so I am always on the lookout for new and interesting books to add to their collection. When selecting books for them, I look for something that is engaging, will keep them interested for years, and ties in some practical learning for the times they live in. 

HAIR LOVE

Over the past year, this book has become incredibly popular, but I actually picked up this book at a book fair in early 2020 and was instantly drawn to it. The story is really sweet – a young girl loves her magical hair and goes through several hairstyles to create the perfect one for a special occasion. I myself have grown up with an unhealthy complex with my curly hair so I love this book for celebrating natural curls and for empowering young kids to feel confident with who they are.

FINDING OM

Spirituality and meditation are very important to me. I am constantly searching for new ways to introduce meditation in my daughters’ lives and love that I now have a book with which to guide them. The book explores the relationship that Anu, an Indian-African girl, has with her grandfather as she discovers the meaning of “Om” and its power to help achieve stillness and mindfulness. The illustrations in the book are magical and my girls love just scrolling through the pages. They will discover more and more in this book as they grow older.

ISHI: SIMPLE TIPS FROM A SOLID FRIEND

Throughout this year, my daughters have experienced some ‘big’ feelings and they have struggled to understand their emotions or even just center themselves. This cute book introduces the wise rock, Ishi, who offers great pointers on how to react to strong emotions. Through the teachings of Ishi, the girls have started to talk more actively about their feelings and I have often reminded them of what Ishi has recommended as a solution to certain situations. We have become a “WWID” (What Would Ishi Do) household and I am totally here for it! 🙂

SULWE I am a HUGE Lupita Nyong’o fan and when I saw that she had written a book, I of course had to have it! I will admit I cried the first time I read this book because it’s truly emotional. This book is a story of a young girl finding beauty in her dark skin by likening it to the beauty of nighttime. South Asians everywhere can relate to the damaging effects of the ‘fair and lovely’ narrative, so books like these help us raise daughters who feel beautiful in their brown skin. 

ALL ARE WELCOME

This book showcases a classroom with kids from all walks of life sharing the same school space, interacting with each other, and celebrating each other’s differences. The characters in the book are very diverse – kids with two moms, kids who wear religious clothing, use a wheelchair, eat ethnic food, and more. Our older daughter starts kindergarten this year and will be meeting many new kids with different backgrounds and lifestyles. Through books like this, we hope to encourage her to be inclusive and accepting of others in her new environment.