From We Need Diverse Books: 15 Books to Gift, According to Author Rebecca Kim Wells

We asked Rebecca Kim Wells, author of the YA novel Shatter the Sky (which we interviewed her about for the WNDB blog), for her book recommendations that our readers can buy for themselves or gives as gifts this holiday season and beyond.

Here are the books she recommended:

15 Books to Gift, According to Author Rebecca Kim Wells WNDB blog we need diverse books

Picture Books

WHEN AIDAN BECAME A BROTHER, BY KYLE LUKOFF (AUTHOR), KAYLANI JUANITA (ILLUSTRATOR)

When Aidan was born, his parents thought that he was a girl. Once he realized that he wasn’t, his parents helped him to explore different ways of being a boy. But when Aidan learns that there is a new baby on the way, he doesn’t want to mess up his chance to be a big brother! This is a great story for kids with new siblings on the way.

FRY BREAD, BY KEVIN NOBLE MAILLARD (AUTHOR), JUANA MARTINEZ-NEAL (ILLUSTRATOR)

Fry bread is food, flour, salt, water. It is also a tradition that brings families together, connecting them through time and history. Fry Bread is a story of community perfect for sharing around your own family table.

SATURDAY, BY OGE MORA

(read WNDB’s interview with Oge Mora here)

During the week, Ava’s mother works very hard. But on Saturdays, Ava and her mother have adventures! They go to exciting places like the library and the park. But what will happen on a day when everything seems to go wrong? Together Ava and her mother have an unexpected day that reminds them of what’s most important: time together.

AMY WU AND THE PERFECT BAO, BY KAT ZHANG (AUTHOR), CHARLENE CHUA (ILLUSTRATOR)

Amy Wu loves to make bao with her family. But when she tries to make them on her own, they come out wrong! Together with her cat, she is determined to get them right. This picture book will make you hungry and make you laugh!

Middle Grade

MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM, BY RAJANI LAROCCA

Mimi Mackson comes from a big Indian-American family—two successful parents and three older siblings, all with their own talents. It’s easy for her to feel lost in such an accomplished family, so when Mimi discovers a competition at a new local bakery, she thinks she’s found something that will finally make her stand out. But when people in Mimi’s life start acting strangely, she begins to suspect there’s more to this competition than she realized. Midsummer’s Mayhem is a delicious middle-grade twist on A Midsummer Night’s Dream perfect for young bakers.

DEAR SWEET PEA, BY JULIE MURPHY

Patricia “Sweet Pea” DiMarco isn’t sure what to expect when her parents announce that they’re getting divorced, but she certainly doesn’t predict that her father will move into an identical house right down the street. Things don’t go as smoothly as she hoped, and an encounter with the town’s advice columnist lands her in a whole new kettle of fish. Can Sweet Pea set right all the messes she causes? Julie Murphy’s middle-grade debut brims with heart and humor.