Dive into the colorful world of diverse picture books hitting the shelves in May 2025! These fun stories and lively illustrations highlight different cultures and experiences, perfect for sparking a love for reading in kids. With characters that kids can relate to, these books bring joy and understanding to storytime. Grab a few and celebrate the magic of diversity in every page!
May 6, 2025
So Many Years: A Juneteenth Story
Written by Anne Wynter & Illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey
Oh, how you would dance! How you would sing! How you would celebrate!
With lyrical text from Anne Wynter and radiant artwork from Jerome Pumphrey, this poetic picture book explains the history behind Juneteenth celebrations. So Many Years simultaneously acknowledges the history of slavery in the US as well as the astonishing Black resilience that has led to an enduring legacy of Black joy.
O.K. is Gay: A Picture Book
Written & Illustrated by Vincent C. Kirsch
Olivio Kipling, known to his friends as O.K., has something to say: He loves George, and he can’t wait to share his feelings with his whole community.
O.K. rushes from friend to friend, excited to tell them his big news, but he’s having some trouble. Everyone assumes they know what he’s going to say, and he can’t quite get the words out.
O.K. tries again and again until, with a little help from someone special, he’s finally able to tell everyone what he wanted to say: O.K. is gay, and he and George belong together!
From author-illustrator Vincent X. Kirsch comes a sweet story of queer joy that explores how—even in loving and supportive communities—there is power in being able to name who you are, and in finding others who share your experience.
Written by Anne Sawan & Illustrated by Karen Obuhanych
Before you, there was a bath, a book, and a comfy bed.
Then you came and now the bath is sudsier, the book is sillier, and the bed is bouncier!
When a new child is introduced into a household—whether they are being fostered, adopted or being welcomed as a newborn—there is always a “before” and an “after.” Before they arrived, there was a cozy chair, a yummy meal, a frisky cat, a wiggly dog, and a jazzy song.
After they arrived? Well, it only gets better—the chair is cozier, the meal is yummier, the cat is friskier, the dog is wigglier, and the song is jazzier!
But the goldfish? It stays exactly the same.
This irresistible picture book celebrates all the small but impactful ways life changes when someone new joins a family.
Written by Antwan Eady & Illustrated by London Ladd
In my family,
there are traditions.
And my favorite—
happen around this table.
No matter the season, no matter the reason, the love that surrounds this boy’s family table is palpable and neverending. From a golden anniversary to Juneteenth, a special wedding to a new baby sister, here is a family that never forgets to come together and celebrate what it truly means to be there for each other.
Heartfelt illustrations complement the lyrical text in this poignant picture book that reveals how Gullah Geechee culture contributes to a family’s love, and reminds us the importance of building community one gathering at a time.
May 13, 2025
Written by Chris Ayala-Kronos & Illustrated by Sol Salinas
On Pride…
We celebrate each other,
just as we are…
…Together, under one rainbow sky
An exuberant celebration of Pride and LGBTQIA+ communities.
Join the dancing parade across pages of fabulous floats, rainbow garb, all-inclusive flags, and diverse people of all ages. Even an unexpected rainstorm can’t dampen the resilient spirits of the joyous neighborhood, because the sun will always break through the clouds and shine down on everyone under one rainbow.
Written by Gina Bellasario & Illustrated by Chloe Burgett
When Leo and Tessa stay overnight with their grandparents, it’s anything but the typical visit. This time, all of their activities have a camp theme―from a s’mores surprise on the balcony to bathtub fishing. But when they try to sleep in their bedroom tent, they hear a strange noise. Could it be an animal…or maybe it’s just Grandpa snoring?
Grandparents and grandkids alike will love this playful, warm-hearted story
Written by Matthew Burgess & Illustrated by Cátia Chien
POP!
As a hot day sizzles into evening, everyone on stoops and sidewalks looks skyward on this special summer night—the Fourth of July! Words and art blossom into flowers of fire across the sky, making this a perfect read for firework enthusiasts in cities and suburbs everywhere.
Dawn Patrol: A Father and Daughter Surfing Story
Written & Illustrated by Rob Sayegh Jr.
We are the Dawn Patrol when waves wrap around us,
like one of Dad’s giant bear hugs.
Waking with the first glimpse of sun, a father and daughter set out together for the shore, donning wetsuits and laughing as their giant shadows stretch out before them. For this duo, the cherished routine means watching with awe as surfers glide on waves like brushstrokes across canvas. It means just enough encouragement to turn nervousness into excitement; it means wiping out and trying again and again. But the Dawn Patrol is about more than spending time on the water. It’s about making memories out of the smallest moments; about always finding ways to be together, no matter how busy life gets or what the passing days and years may bring.
Written by Megan Wagner Lloyd & Illustrated by Jade Orlando
It’s bedtime! But what if you don’t feel ready to go to sleep? What can you do to catch your Zzzs?
Perfect for not-so-sleepyheads, this fun read-aloud shows kids simple steps (in delightful alphabetical order) to settle down, get ready for bed, and find their way to dreamland.
Written by Hena Khan & Illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat
Talia wants to be as graceful as the bhangra dancers at the mehndi: Bend! Twirl! Snap! But her feet drag and her arms freeze when she tries to dance in front of others.
Instead, she shrinks in her chair. But maybe with some help from her dadi, Talia will find the courage to take to the floor. Then, can she convince Dadi to join her?
Acclaimed author Hena Khan has crafted a sweetly authentic story about overcoming inhibitions through the joys of dance, community, and family. Her text is beautifully brought to life by Sandhya Prabhat’s stunning illustrations.
May 20, 2025
Written by Maryam Hassan & Illustrated by Anna Wilson
Tariq loves food, from delicious dinners with his big family to scrumptious surprises in his lunchbox at school.
But when he’s asked to bring in a special dish for his class picnic, Tariq begins to worry about how he’ll choose just one tasty favorite!
As his family inspire him with stories of their favorite foods, Tariq soon realizes that choosing the perfect dish is about more than just how it tastes.
What special story would Tariq like his food to tell?
Written by Maryam Hassan, inspired by her childhood enjoying delicious South Asian dishes, and the joy she finds sharing it with new friends! Brought to life with stunning artwork by Anna Wilson.
Minh and the Magic Grains of Rice
Written by Ðo Nguyet Hà & Illustrated by Lê Phuong Quynh
“I will not eat rice!” is Minh’s constant dinnertime refrain. But one fateful night, an unusual event unfolds. A trio of talking grains of rice leads Minh on an otherworldly adventure where he must complete a magic mission before he can return home. Will this fantastical journey help our picky-eating hero finally have a change of heart?
A modern reimagining of a Vietnamese folktale, this enchanting story overflows with delight and wisdom. Follow Minh on a spellbinding trek that beautifully illustrates the age-old process of growing and harvesting rice—and the limitless power of the ancient grain.
Music of the Mountains: A Story in Pakistan
Written by Sabrina Shah & Illustrated by Manal Mirza
“To play the music of the mountains, you must feel the rhythm, feel the beat of your people.”
Roohi’s most treasured time of the day is when she gets to listen to her grandfather play the rabab, the traditional stringed instrument of the Pashtun people. All she wants, more than anything in the world, is to be able to play songs full of rhythm like him. But even with lessons everyday, she sounds nothing like Neeka Baba’s clap-de-clap-clap rhythm and beautiful melodies.
With Eid celebrations coming up, Roohi is supposed to play the rabab at a school concert, but Neeka Baba has fallen ill, and she must perform without his help. He tells her, “Play with the courage of those who came before you.” Can Roohi draw on her ancestors’ strength and share the melody in her heart at the Eid concert?
May 27, 2025
Written by Sumana Seeboruth & Illustrated by Fotini Tikkou
Time to leave? No, no, no! I’m too busy. I can’t go!
When it’s time to leave for dance class, this stubborn tot doesn’t want to go. It can be hard to transition to a new part of the day! But she learns that as hard as it is to stop having fun… getting out the door leads to more adventures.
Written by Laekan Zea Kemp & Illustrated by Leo Espinosa
When a girl finds a horned toad among the rain-starved squash, tomatoes, and poblanos on her family’s Texas farm, her Pa tells her that, if she kisses it on the head — blech! — she gets to make one wish. What will she wish for?
Generations ago, when the girl’s ancestors lived on this land, it was lush and green — full of life. Now, because of a decades-long drought, their soil is parched and their crops are dying.
The girl sees the worry lines on Pa’s face getting deeper. She knows she has to do something to help. And so, thinking about the people who lived on this land before her, and all those who will live on it after her, she wishes for rain.
This poignant father-daughter story reminds us that, when it comes to healing our Earth, change often starts with a simple wish. With a dream for a world that could be.
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