Have you spent time at your library lately? I’m so grateful for our visits and storytimes this summer! The girls get too excited discovering new books every week!

Books are powerful tools to introduce new ideas and reinforce important values to your family. We aim to teach our children acceptance, compassion, and kindness towards themselves and others, and we’ve been fortunate to find amazing books that support these objectives. If you’re looking for awesome books to read with your littles, I recently put together a list for Columbia Moms Blog of some of our very favorites to buy or check out!

When it comes to how we choose books for our children, there are two main things we look for:

Characters and situations they can identify with. This is to increase their self-awareness and self-confidence. Children who see themselves reflected on the pages they read learn to value their traits and qualities and appreciate what makes them special.

Characters and situations they can learn from. There are so many different types of people in the world, most we will never have the opportunity to meet, and books allow us a small peek into their lives. The more we know about others, the more empathy and understanding we’ll possess.

Take a look at some of our favorite books that celebrate diversity and promote self-love!

The books on my list are filled with beautiful illustrations and scenarios that embrace and empower a range of cultures and abilities. Read my full article over at Columbia Mom’s Blog or head over to my Amazon store to shop the list! If any spark your interest, consider adding them to your cart or borrowing them from your library!

If you’re interested in free books, learn more about Imagination Library. And see what we’re doing to raise engaged readers in our home!

Talk to you soon!