Welcome to the Army of Nannies Diversity Reading Room
A collection of the most engaging, entertaining and diversity-embracing children’s books out there. Click on the covers to find out more…
BOOK OF THE MONTH
Glitter boy
Author Recommendation “Poignant, defiantly fabulous story” – Guardian “Glitter Boy is a nuanced, heart-warming and character-led story of finding joy and love ” – Elle McNicoll, author of A Kind of Spark. A Polari-Prize-winning author presents an unforgettable story about a boy facing up to bullying – and his truths. James loves dancing, poetry, and Mariah Carey (not in that order, though, because Mariah would obviously be first!). James finds himself in a world where secrets and pressures are building up, and he’s starting to lose his characteristic spark. Can he find the strength to let the truth out?
Guest Recommendations
Incredible Creatures Alphabet Book (Hardback)
Army of Nannies Recommendation. Incredible Creatures is a book to be treasured. The Incredible Creatures Alphabet Book narrates the stories of real and imagined creatures while communicating valuable moral messages of kindness and acceptance. It stimulates the imagination through its vibrant illustrations of animals and the magical lands that they inhabit. The book is aimed at children of all ages. It is intended to be a treasured item that can be passed down among families and friends.
You Are A Champion: Unlock Your Potential, Find Your Voice and Be The BEST You Can Be
Recommended by Normand Croft Community School and Nursery: We are in awe of Marcus’s achievements. Marcus’s book is a guide to how every one of us can strive to be the best we can be – recognising that nothing comes easy but everything is possible. Be safe, be kind, and be the best you can be are the three things we want our children to take with them. This book gives readers practical ideas to achieve that. Thank you @MarcusRashford – your mum must be SO proud of you!
Marie Curie – Little People, BIG DREAMS 6 (Hardback)
Recommended by Elizabeth (aged 5). We have loved reading all about the life of Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. Elizabeth says: “She was very brave and helped lots of people. She reminds me of my Granny who was a Doctor. When I grow up, I want to have a job where I can discover things and help people”.
More Wonderful Books on Our Shelves
All Are Welcome
Waterstones says: The #1 New York Times bestselling picture book, celebrating diversity and inclusivity. No matter how you start your day, What you wear when you play, Or if you come from far away, All are welcome here. Follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcome.
Break the Mould
Waterstones says: A joyous celebration of inclusivity and individuality, Break the Mould encourages every child to embrace the special things that make them who they are.
Look Up!
Waterstones says: This prize-winning, joyous, life-affirming picture book introduces the lovable Rocket, a space-obsessed girl who wants everybody to be as excited as her about an impending meteor shower. Bursting with eye-popping, vivid illustrations, Look Up! is a book that all budding young astronauts will love.
Families Families Families
Waterstones says: If you love each other, then you’re a family . . . Do you have two dads? Or one step mum? Or what about the world’s biggest grandpa? Discover a whole host of silly animal families in this hilarious celebration of the love found in families big and small.
Mira's Curley Hair
Recommended by Nanny Sharz, Professional Nanny and Childcare Consultant. I love this book because it touches on topics such as self-image, identity and representation. It teaches children about different hair textures and types. As well as the beauty within accepting and loving yourself.
Kind
Waterstones says: Imagine a world where everyone is kind – how can we make that come true? With gorgeous pictures by a host of the world’s top illustrators, Kind is a timely, inspiring picture book about the many ways children can be kind, from sharing their toys and games to helping those from other countries feel welcome.
The Proudest Blue
Waterstones says: A ground-breaking picture book about religion, sisterhood and identity, The Proudest Blue features Faizah, who faces taunts and bullying when her older sister starts wearing hijab. It’s Faizah’s first day of school, and her older sister Asiya’s first day of wearing hijab – made of a beautiful blue fabric. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful. In the face of hurtful, confusing words, will Faizah find new ways to be strong?
The Littlest Yak
Waterstones say: Perfect for fans of Rachel Bright and Julia Donaldson, The Littlest Yak is a joyous, rhyming caper that teaches little ones to celebrate their own unique talents! Gertie is the littlest yak in her whole herd, and she’s feeling stuck in her smallness – she wants to grow UP and have bigness and tallness! But when it turns out that there are some things that only Gertie can do, might she come to see that she’s perfect, just the way she is? A rollicking, heartwarming and reassuring story.
I Am Perfectly Designed
Waterstones says: Heart-warming and inclusive, the debut picture book from Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown explores the bond between father and son and all the things they can enjoy together. A joyous affirmation of parental love and loving yourself for who you are, I Am Perfectly Designed enchants and moves profoundly. Walking through the city, they chat about all the ways in which they are perfectly designed for each other.
Young Heroes
Recommended by Helen McCarthy of UK Nanny. We love this book because it’s bursting with inspiring role models from all walks of life who are dedicated to enhancing their skills and being the best they can be.
Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls
Recommended by Isla (10): I love this book because it shows no matter who you are or how old you are, you can always make a difference to yourself and the people around you or the world, if you try. My favourite story was about Coy Mathis, who was a boy who wanted to be a girl. It shows that anyone can be who and what they want to be.
Kamala and Maya's Big Idea (Hardback)
Recommended by Annina and Georgia (1): I think it’s really important to get kids involved in the community from a young age. This book shows that young people can be empowered early on to make a difference. Based on a true story, it only makes it more impactful to look at what these two women have gone on to achieve in real life (including becoming the first female VP of the US!).
Little People, Big Ideas: Emmeline Pankhurst
Recommended by: Camilla Holmstroem and Misan Harriman – Loving Parents. Apart from the very important story and wonderful message of Emmeline, our daughter loves the details and colours of the drawings. It’s a book where you can easily use your own imagination and we spend hours dreaming and talking about what Emmeline’s life was like.
The Left-handed Champ (Paperback)
Recommended by Sophia Wilson, the book’s author. An inspiring heart-warming story about a boy named Callum who overcomes challenges and achieves his dreams by using his imagination and belief that he has a superpower. This book is a perfect blend of teaching self-belief and helping children to be familiar with the difference between their left hand and right hand while having a fun reading time. Callum has a superpower in this story, but most importantly there are superpowers within all children. This book is ideal for families, guardians and carers. The Left-handed Champ is used by teachers as a great resource to explore diversity and inclusion in the classroom.
How Does Chocolate Taste on Everest? (Hardback)
Recommended by AoN mum Rachel and her daughter. Explore Earth’s Most Extreme Places Through Sight, Sound, Smell, Touch and Taste. Waterstones say: Don’t get too comfortable. This isn’t the type of book you can snuggle up with under the covers. Not even close! You’re off on the expedition of a lifetime to experience the sights, sounds, smells, feelings and tastes of the world’s most extreme places. Have you ever wondered what the buzz of the rainforest sounds like on a trek through the Amazon? Or how it would feel to experience the biting cold as you voyage across Antarctica? Or how about how chocolate would taste on Mount Everest? From every heart-bursting sight to tummy-lurching bite, this is a truly immersive round-the-world adventure, where YOU are the explorer.
Kindness Makes Us Strong (Board book)
Recommended by the team at BAPN: We love this book. The illustrations are delightful and include people of all backgrounds and abilities. It’s excellent for parents and carers wanting to teach their children about kindness and how to spread kindness too! There are so many hidden gems for the children to discover and talk about. The characters are diverse, and the acts of kindness are all relatable to almost any child of any age.
Rosa Parks: My First Rosa Parks – Little People, BIG DREAMS 7 (Board book)
Recommended by Effie (aged 5): We love reading Rosa Parks from the Little People Big Dreams series! And the illustrations are beautiful. We hope you enjoy it as much as we have. Waterstones says: This board book version of Rosa Parks – an international bestseller from the highly acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series – introduces the youngest dreamers to the ‘Mother of the Freedom Movement.’
And Tango Makes Three (Paperback)
Recommended by the awesome Year 2 at Redriff Primary School. Aran, age 6 – I recommend this book because it makes me feel happy. At first, the penguins were not fathers but in the end, they were. It shows that with a little help (from the zookeeper) they could be the same as everyone else. Thomas, age 6 – When I read this book I was happy. The penguins thought they wouldn’t have a baby but they did. It is amazing that this book is really a true story! It shows that penguins can have any kind of family just like humans can too. Angel, age 7 – I really like that Roy and Silo could do the same thing as other penguins like swimming and seeing their baby grow. I like that the two boys stayed together forever.
Handa's Surprise (Board book)
Recommended by Debbie and the Surrey Nannies Café Facebook group. The children love to follow Handa on her journey and get so much excitement when the various animals along the way steal the fruit! The illustrations are colourful and grab the attention of the children Repetition is really important for early learners and this book is great for this. This book also is a great book to follow up within all areas of learning from healthy eating to different cultures.
What Happened to YOU?
A message from the author: Thanks for making my book standard issue for the Army of Nannies Reading Room. It needs an army behind it because we’re trying to battle a mistaken assumption around disability, that when it comes to disabled people, it’s always best to ‘just ask’. If your child has ever pointed, stared in wonder, and then yelled something indiscreet at a disabled person (like WHAT THE…????) and you’ve been unsure how to handle it, then fear not, the answer is here!
Clean Up!
Waterstones says: Once more featuring the lovable Rocket, Clean Up! teaches an important message about plastic pollution whilst providing a hugely entertaining and empowering story. Join lovable, passionate Rocket as she sets off on a mission to save a Caribbean island from plastic pollution. This is a heart-warming, timely and empowering picture book, showing how we ALL can make a difference.
Julián is a Mermaid
Josh, age 6 – I think the story is helpful to see that daydreaming is a good thing. Julián is happy because his dream came true and he could celebrate who he is on the inside and the outside. Nicholas, age 6 – This book teaches us that boys can love mermaids and other things that we might think are for girls. I never knew boys could like mermaids before I read this story. Israel, age 7 – I think you should read the book because it shows you that you can be whatever you want. It is really good and it teaches you that things we like are not just for girls or boys.
Sulwe
Recommended by the brilliant Kathryn Lord – the award-winning author of There’s More to Books than Reading and More to Organising. My book recommendation is Sulwe. A lovely immersive children’s book. I like the metaphor of night and day and the importance of Sulwe being herself, which makes her beautiful. I think that is the most important message.
Nen and the Lonely Fisherman
A lovely note from the author: I wrote Nen and the Lonely Fisherman at the beginning of March 2020, just as the first lockdown was happening. It felt very therapeutic – I remember sitting in the garden in the hazy sunshine and dreaming of mermen and underwater worlds, and it seemed like a lovely escape from the stress and worry of the pandemic. I LOVED mermaids and sunken underwater cities as a child – there’s something magical and mysterious about them. I feel that children at every age have a right to see same-sex couples represented in their books in an age-appropriate, joyous and celebratory way. So, I wrote this story for the children who never see themselves in fairy tales and for the LGBT+ teenagers who, like me, continue to grow up feeling excluded from the literary space.
You Are A Champion: Unlock Your Potential, Find Your Voice and Be The BEST You Can Be
We are in awe of Marcus’s achievements. Marcus’s book is a guide to how we can strive to be the best we can be – recognising that nothing comes easy, but everything is possible. Be safe, be kind, and be the best you can be are the three things we want our children to take with them. This book gives readers practical ideas to achieve that. Thank you @MarcusRashford – your mum must be SO proud of you!
Marie Curie – Little People, BIG DREAMS 6 (Hardback)
Recommended by Elizabeth (aged 5). We have loved reading all about the life of Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. Elizabeth says: “She was very brave and helped lots of people. She reminds me of my Granny, who was a Doctor. When I grow up, I want to have a job where I can discover things and help people”.
Glitter Boy
“Poignant, defiantly fabulous story” – Guardian “Glitter Boy is a nuanced, heart-warming and character-led story of finding joy and love ” – Elle McNicoll, author of A Kind of Spark. A Polari-Prize-winning author presents an unforgettable story about a boy facing up to bullying – and his truths. James loves dancing, poetry, and Mariah Carey (not in that order, though, because Mariah would obviously be first!). James finds himself in a world where secrets and pressures are building up, and he’s starting to lose his characteristic spark. Can he find the strength to let the truth out?
