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Diverse baby and toddler books: themed booklists to explore

We started Inclusive Books for Children because we know from experience how hard it can be to find truly inclusive baby books and toddler books, that show all kids they belong. 

As parents and experts in children’s literature, we’ve carefully curated these 5 themed booklists to make it easy for families, teachers and librarians to discover the best diverse books for babies and toddlers.

Each list is packed with stories that reflect real lives and bring joy to our littlest readers.

1. 10 books for an instant diverse bookshelf

Start here. These 10 inclusive favourites for ages 1–3 cover a wide range of characters, cultures, and everyday joy.

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The covers of 5 of the best diverse books for babies and toddlers are shown within a purple and blue frame.

2. Brilliant baby books with Black and brown characters

Discover board books where Black and brown characters take the lead. Perfect for ages 1–3, and filled with joy, love, and everyday magic.

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The covers of 5 books for 1-3 year olds with Black and brown main characters are shown within a yellow and green frame.

3. Baby and toddler books with disabled characters

Books that reflect the real world — including disabled characters just being themselves. Bright, affirming stories for babies and toddlers.

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The covers of 5 books for babies and toddlers with disabled main characters are shown within a blue and coral coloured frame.

4. Snuggly, sleepytime stories and songs

A dreamy collection of lullabies, lyrical tales, and bedtime stories — perfect for calming little ones and building a soothing sleep-time routine.

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The covers of 5 of the best inclusive bedtime stories for babies and toddlers are shows within a blue and yellow frame.

5. LGBTQIA+ families in baby and toddler books

These baby and toddler books with two mums or two dads reflect real families with warmth, love, and everyday joy.

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The covers of 3 books for babies and toddlers with same sex parent representation are shown within a pink and yellow frame.

Why representation matters in early years literature

Children pick up on social cues from a very young age. Research shows that by the age of 5, children may exhibit the same racial attitudes as the adults around them.

The Birth to Five Matters guidance developed by the Early Years Coalition suggests sharing ‘books… that depict identities which actively challenge stereotypical representations and avoid tokenism.’

A story landscape as rich in diversity as our society makes a good starting point in providing children with a balanced perspective and letting them know they belong.

That’s where we come in. Our mission is to make it easy to find brilliant, diverse and inclusive books for children.