Children's Books that don't feature only white faces

[DaftApeth]

Does anyone have any recommendations for books - mainly for 2yr and 6yr olds (but any ages really, as they will get older!), that feature illustrations that are not all white people?

Is it just me, or is there a dreadful lack of nice books with black/asian faces?

So Much by Trish Cooke is a lovely depiction of a big Caribbean British family - I used to read it over and over again at bedtime even though I felt a bit self-conscious doing the accent. Full Full Full of Love by the same author is also said to be good.
And This House Belongs to Everyone by Michael Rosen is very good, if a bit preachy for some tastes.
I've never had a problem finding books of this type, but then I guess Lambeth libraries are particularly well stocked, likewise the reading books from the school. They're definitely out there.

Thankyou so much for all your brilliant suggestions.

It is good to know that there are quite a few multicultural books out there. I could be in Waterstones for hours looking through all the books and still not find anything and looking on Amazon is no good without knowing what you are looking for because you can't see the illustrations

Try anything published by Tamarind Books. They were founded to address the lack of different races in children's books. Anything they publish will contain diversity.

Wonder if you've come across Tamarind, which creates books for all children, showing all children experiencing every day activities. There's a story about the tooth fairy, Dave and the Tooth Fairy, for example, and then the beautiful picture book The Day the Rains Fell. There are board books for pre schoolers and babies too. Tamarind was founded over 20 years ago by Verna Wilkins who wanted to share books with her children which reflected all children. I have to own up to working for Random House, and Tamarind is one of our imprints. Do have a look at the website, and sign up to the newsletter if you're interested or follow us on twitter. You can buy from us directly online, and we go to lots of the education shows incl the TES at Olympia this week. www.tamarindbooks.co.uk/

Has anyone mentioned Barefoot Books? They do lots of very international and multicultural books, usually beautifully illustrated as well.

I'd also second (third?) the recommendation for the Anna Hibiscus books - DD loves them. They are stories about a little girl in Nigeria (I think, though in one book she goes to visit some relatives in Canada) who does lots of normal funny little girl things, they just happen to be in Africa. I've heard the author speak (she lives in Wales) and she is brilliant.

DS had a book out of the library called http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silver-Shoes-Caroline-Binch/dp/1845074718/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285753331&sr=1-1 Silver Shoes last week, and it was a totally gorgeous book, where it happened to be a mixed race family

Maybe obvious but Postman Pat, pat 'works' with Ajay who is Asian & has whole family in. Its not 'multicultural' as such but def has non-white characters. Little Red Tractor, the tv show, think there may be linked books, has black mechanic & his daughter (who is also mechanic-so not sexist either , women can be mechanics too!!)

DS loved these books aged about 4

lovely illustrations

CMOT, what sort of age do you think your book suggestion would work for?

Still have not bought anything but enjoying all these suggestions

There's a great book that has characters with orange, green, red, brown and many more coloured faces! Secret Seed Society has a range of books about vegetables and how to grow and eat them. This would be a good idea to take the focus off colour but educate your kids about vegetables and how to have fun with them. There are four titles to choose from right now, one of my kids favourites is 'What will i be?' Starring Carla Carrot. They are great reads check out the website for more tips and fun activities for you and your kids. www.secretseedsociety.com

Usborne books do a range of books, tessa the teacher, frank the farmer, daisy the doctor, fred the firefighter, and quite a few more that are all multicultural and put men and women in non-stereotypical roles as well as being educational and fun to read, they were my daughters favorites when she was littler. Brill for 2 years bit young for 6.
HTH

Well, DS is 4, but the children in it were about 6-7. The illustrations are beautiful and an unusual style

The Happy Families books by the Ahlbergs have people and families of all types

From the small pile of books my son currently has from library...

Dave and the tooth fairy. black, boy, granddad, and tooth fairy.www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/verna-wilkins-and-paul-hunt-dave-and-the-tooth-fairy/1176.html for a reading of full story

If we had a sail boat , Emmett and Reynolds.
, black girl, white boy playing a lets pretend game in back garden. www.amazon.co.uk/If-Had-Sailboat-Jonathan-Emmett/dp/0192725580/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1285787869&sr=8-1

Harry and the Dinosaurs go to school , Wybrow and reynolds. teacher is black, various race children and parents. www.amazon.co.uk/Harry-Dinosaurs-School-Bucket-Full/dp/0141500050/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285787909&sr=1-1

2nding Shirley Hughes books, very multicultural place trotter st.

Its is bit tricky, but I keep my eye open at the library and borrow any that look interesting. And this is rural mobile library.

I second So Much by Trish Cooke, we had it from the library this month, DS (6) loved it, it had a very relaxed feel to it.

oh yeah, Trich cooke. We had "so much" and "full full of love" a few times their great.

Another tamarind fav is "and me" by Karen King.
little girl and granddad do ordinary stuff together.

See if you can track down "The Runaways" by Ruth Thomas. Won the Guardian award in mid 90s. I found it in an Oxfam so I don't know if it is still in print. Anyway it is a great story about friendship and adventure for 10 - 12 year olds and the main characters are a little black boy called Nathan and a little white girl called something I can't now remember. Their colour is not relevant to the story. Neither "fit in" at school and they end up running away together. There's a satisfying happy ending and I found all the characters well drawn and believable.

Let's Take Over the Nursery!

and

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes

Both fab for 2 year olds