Book lovers with kids in their lives can’t help but be choosy about what books to place into the hands of young readers. We linger over fuzzy first memories of books, how they shaped our imaginations, how we thumbed through them time and time again, and how we lovingly and literally made our mark on them. I couldn’t wait to introduce my kids to books, and my husband and I got started right away reading aloud to our sleepy potatoes their very first days on Earth. One thing I knew for certain was that my babies would have access to a variety of BIPOC board books. Now, at two-and-a-half, they’re as vocal and opinionated about their home library as I am. It’s been fascinating and surprisingly freeing to let them take the wheel and see what lands.
From the cheerful and mouth-watering jingle of Vincent Chen’s Hot Pot Night! to the relatable (for kids and caregivers) subject matter of Please, Baby, Please by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee, here’s a brief selection of BIPOC board books my little librarians (and their book industry professional mom) recommend.
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Hot Pot Night! by Vincent Chen
“Hot pot! Hot pot!” my kids sing from their couch. We’ve read this book so many times that they anticipate and beat us to the sad refrain of “No more cabbage. No more tofu,” before we even turn the page to a pair of kids frowning over a pot of broth. But don’t worry, from start to finish this is a joyous book about coming together and pitching in as a community over a delicious shared meal. I believe deeply in the concept of food bringing people together and I love that this book is set in a city apartment, a relatable home for many kids. And who can resist the melodic, upbeat jingle of the text.
Whose Toes Are Those? by Jabari Asim, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
I’m pretty sure I have this book to thank for teaching my kids how to say one of their first and favorite words: “Toes.” I was initially the one who kept picking up this book because it’s so adorable, but the kids started requesting it again and again as soon as they found the gestures and words to do so. This is rhyming board book about a fun and funny body part invites interaction by incorporating the “This Little Piggy” nursery rhyme. It’s inspired squeals of laughter from my ticklish kids, and I love a book that celebrates brown skin. My kids love this book so much they tried to eat its spine…
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Glow by Ruth Forman, illustrated by Geneva Bowers
Glow is poetry made for the youngest readers and for bedtime. My girls get a serious case of the zoomies when they know it’s time to hit the hay, so I appreciate a bedtime story with a comforting, lulling quality. Even I feel swaddled and soothed by the alliteration and the vibrant, idyllic illustrations in this board book following a Black boy through his calming bedtime ritual after a fun and fulfilling day. This is another book that beautifully celebrates dark skin.
Please, Baby, Please by by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
I keep wanting to ask my kids, “Do you know who the authors of this book are?” But they don’t care, they just want to delight in the antics of a kindred spirit as she tests her mom’s patience and makes her plead for an ounce of cooperation. The sly, pixie-like expression gracing the cover captures the playfulness of the story so well. Kadir Nelson’s illustrations fill my heart with laughter from baby baring her butt as she prepares to throw her dirty diaper into the toy box to baby as the unstoppable force behind a bath time tidal wave. It’s probably obvious that this is one of my personal favorites.
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