Skip to content
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Jane’s Books
    • BUNNY LOVES BEANS
    • BEAR HAS A BELLY
    • ANIMALS MOVE
    • ONLY THE TREES KNOW
    • WILD ABOUT CAMPING
    • QUEENIE QUAIL CAN’T KEEP UP
    • A GOOD DAY FOR DUCKS
    • WILD ONE
  • About Jane
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Jane Whittingham
  • Jane’s Books
    • BUNNY LOVES BEANS
    • BEAR HAS A BELLY
    • ANIMALS MOVE
    • ONLY THE TREES KNOW
    • WILD ABOUT CAMPING
    • QUEENIE QUAIL CAN’T KEEP UP
    • A GOOD DAY FOR DUCKS
    • WILD ONE
  • About Jane
Uncategorized

Diverse Kids Lit – Global Picture Books

May 20, 2017May 20, 2017 Jane the Raincity Librarian 11 comments

Our theme for this #DiverseKidLit is Global Books. Please share your favourite diverse books that take place in countries other than your own. (As always, the theme is only a suggestion. Diverse posts on alternate topics are always welcome).

Being Canadian, this topic is just a bit too easy, considering most of the books we read are set in a country other than our own, namely the good old USA. In fact, finding stories that are actually set in Canada can be even more of a challenge than finding books set overseas. Still, I’m going to look a bit further afield this time around, and share some fantastic picture books set in India.

Monsoon

It’s been a long, hot, dry summer in northern India, and everyone is watching and waiting with breathless anticipation. Follow along with a little girl as she awaits the return of the monsoon rains.

The Wheels on the Tuk-Tuk

This imaginative spin on a beloved children’s song replaces the traditional bus with the lively tuk-tuk, a three-wheeled Indian taxi. Come along on a rollicking ride through a bustling neighborhood filled with a busy cast of colourful characters!

Monsoon Afternoon

monsoon

A young boy and his Dadaji (grandfather) spend a happy afternoon dancing in the rain, picking mangos, swinging in the banyan tree, and celebrating the return of the monsoon in this loving inter-generational story.

Mama’s Saris

saris

A little girl can’t wait to wear a beautiful, richly coloured, embroidered sari, just like her mother. When her seventh birthday finally comes, her mother helps her dress in a beautiful sari just like a grown-up, even if just for a day.

What Is #DiverseKidLit?

Diverse Children’s Books is a book-sharing meme designed to promote the reading and writing of children’s books that feature diverse characters. This community embraces all kinds of diversity including (and certainly not limited to) diverse, inclusive, multicultural, and global books for children of all backgrounds.

We encourage everyone who shares to support this blogging community by visiting and leaving comments for at least three others. Please also consider following the hosts on at least one of their social media outlets. Spread the word using #diversekidlit and/or adding our button to your site and your diverse posts.

DiverseKidLit

We hope this community serves as a resource for parents, teachers, librarians, publishers, and authors! Our next linkup will be Saturday, June 3rd. We will only be hosting one linkup per month (on the first Saturday) for June, July, and August.

Upcoming Theme

Our theme for the current month is global books. Themes are a suggestion only; all diverse book posts are welcome. If you’re interested, you can start planning now …

  • Our theme for June (3rd) will be books featuring multi-ethnic families and/or biracial main characters. Sometimes a focus on diversity can feel like forcing people into boxes. Let’s celebrate the diversity that can be found within a single person or household!
  • Our theme for July (1st) will be series. Series books are great for hooking readers, because there’s another book after you finish the first one! Share your favorite book series featuring diverse characters?

Most Clicked Post from Last Time

The most-clicked post from the previous #diversekidlit was Books for Teaching about Russia from Our Unschooling Journey through Life. This post includes links to 9 different books about Russia as well as an overview of some learning games to play with kids.

#DiverseKidLit is Hosted by:

Katie @ The Logonauts
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / PinterestBecky @ Franticmommmy
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram

Carolina @ La Clase de Sra. DuFault
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Google+

Gauri @ Kitaab World
an online bookstore for South Asian children’s books, toys and games
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram

Gayle Swift, Author of ABC, Adoption & Me
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Google+

Jane @ Rain City Librarian
Blog / Twitter / Instagram

Marjorie @ Mirrors Windows Doors
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest

Mia @ Pragmatic Mom
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram

Myra @ Gathering Books
Blog / Twitter / Facebook

Shoumi Sen, Author of Toddler Diaries
Blog / Twitter / Facebook

Want to be notified when the next #diversekidlit linkup goes live? Click here to join the mailing list. Interested in joining as a host or an occasional co-host? Contact katie at thelogonauts.com.

(Never participated in a linkup before? Please click here for a more detailed step-by-step.)

Get #DiverseKidLit Recommendations on Pinterest!

Our Pinterest board highlights a wide range of amazing posts and resources for Diverse Children’s Books. Please consider following the board for even more great books!

Share Your Link Below

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
About Jane

About Jane

Jane is a tea-drinking Canadian picture book author with a rather sizeable cardigan collection.

Related Posts

Interview with Navjot Kaur
Interview with Navjot Kaur
Review: Grandma and the Great Gourd, A Bengali Folktale
Review: Grandma and the Great Gourd, A Bengali Folktale
Diverse Kids Lit – August 2017
Diverse Kids Lit – August 2017
Diverse Kids Lit – June 2017
Diverse Kids Lit – June 2017

Post navigation

Introducing Wild One!
Travel: Fantastic Fukuoka

11 comments

  1. robbiesinspiration says:
    May 20, 2017 at 5:20 pm

    This is such a great idea, Jane. I look forward to seeing what books you feature for Africa.

    Reply
  2. Patricia Tilton says:
    May 20, 2017 at 7:07 pm

    Thank you for some new books on India. Have read/reviewed The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk and gave a copy to my 2-year-old niece. I don’t know who liked it the most, my niece or her dad.

    Reply
  3. Rebekah Gienapp says:
    May 20, 2017 at 9:03 pm

    Mama’s Saris looks particularly lovely!

    Reply
  4. The Logonauts (@thelogonauts) says:
    May 20, 2017 at 10:50 pm

    I was curious where you would take this theme … 😉 What a shame that it’s hard to find quality Canadian books, hmm. Thanks for sharing these India books! My third graders loved Monsoon Afternoon (and Kashmira Sheth’s other books) as well as Mama’s Sari. #diversekidlit

    Reply
  5. Laura Taylor says:
    May 22, 2017 at 10:42 am

    I’m looking forward to exploring the books you have recommended. I haven’t yet reached India on my picture book adventure, but it’s only a matter of time!

    Reply
  6. Colours of Us says:
    May 22, 2017 at 6:04 pm

    Monsoon is such a gorgeous book! Thanks for sharing this list on #diversekidlit.

    Reply
  7. julieyeros says:
    May 23, 2017 at 7:54 pm

    Thank you for these great book suggestions. It’s too bad there aren’t more picture books with Canada as the setting!

    Reply
  8. Pingback: Need Summer Reading Ideas for kids? Check out the #DiverseKidLit Linky! - Franticmommy
  9. Pingback: Raincity Librarian - Diverse Kids Lit – June 2017
  10. Pingback: Diverse Children's Book Link-Up - 3 June ~
  11. Pingback: Multiethnic Families/Biracial Characters #DiverseKidLit

Leave a Reply to Laura TaylorCancel reply

Hey, there!

Hey, there!

Jane Whittingham


Welcome to my blog! Here you’ll find musings about writing, book reviews, program ideas and other bits and bobs from my life as a book-loving author-librarian-mum.

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Jane’s Books
    • BUNNY LOVES BEANS
    • BEAR HAS A BELLY
    • ANIMALS MOVE
    • ONLY THE TREES KNOW
    • WILD ABOUT CAMPING
    • QUEENIE QUAIL CAN’T KEEP UP
    • A GOOD DAY FOR DUCKS
    • WILD ONE
  • About Jane

Jane Whittingham

Copyright © 2025 | All Rights Reserved | Designed by Little Theme Shop
 

Loading Comments...