Every child deserves to see themselves represented in children's books. If you don't see your experiences in books, the message is, "you don't matter." In addition, reading about characters who may not share your race, religion, socio-economic status or abilities will teach kids empathy.
That's why these multicultural early chapter books with diverse characters and settings are so important to get in the hands of young readers.
Books are grouped by identity of the protagonist, not to limit readership, but to assist parents and educators who may be looking for something specific.
"Early chapter books" are good for kids who have moved beyond easy readers but are not yet ready for middle grade fiction. In general, they are books designed to appeal to ages 6-10, but of course reading levels at this age can differ widely.
Table of contents
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Latino and Hispanic Characters
Definitely Dominguita: Knight of the Cape (series) by Terry Catasus Jennings, illustrated by Fátima Anaya
This is a great chapter book series with an indomitable, book-loving heroine. In the first book of the series, Dominguita's abuela has just moved away and Dom loves reading Don Quixote, abuela's favorite book. It makes her feel closer to abuela. Dom attempt to set out on some knightly adventures of her own and prove to the class bully that girls can be knights.
Juana & Lucas (series) by Juana Medina
Juana is a charming and plucky girl who narrates her experience living in Bogotá, Colombia. She has to learn English at school and she doesn't like it! But then her grandparents tell her they are going on a trip where English will come in handy and Juana discovers that learning English gets easier the more you practice. I love the mingling of Spanish and English in this book and Juana's way of expressing herself is wonderfully dramatic and charming. This is also a good choice for advanced younger readers.
Zapato Power(series) by Jacqueline Jules, illustrated by Miguel Benitez
I have a great love for Freddy Ramos. After all, he and his mom love to read together. One day Freddy receives a mysterious pair of shoes which turn out to have magical powers and Freddy, being the kind of boy he is, uses their power for good.
Pedro's Big Goal (series) by Fran Manushkin, illustrated by Tammie Lyon
This is a good series for youngest readers, especially 1st and 2nd graders who are reading beginning chapter books. In this one, Pedro plays soccer and decides that his goal is to... well... make a goal!
MORE: Early chapter books about Sports
Sofia Martinez (series) by Jaqueline Jules, illustrated by Kim Smith
This early chapter book series with a spirited Latina heroine is very easy to read, with color illustrations, and large type with lots of white space. Some words are Spanish (there is a glossary, but their meaning is easily gleaned from the text). Sofia is an appealingly clever (and not annoyingly sassy) girl who enjoys life, likes to help others and make an impact on everyone she meets.
MORE: Early Chapter Book Series about Girls (but for everyone!)
Black, African and African-American Characters
No. 1 Car Spotter by Atinuke
Find it: Amazon | Your Library
This series from the author of the popular Anna Hibiscus series is set in Africa. Oluwalase Babatunde Benson has been nicknamed the "No. 1 Car Spotter" by his friends and family because he loves to watch cars as they drive by the village. He has other talents, too, though, including his quick thinking inventiveness which helps his neighbors and family in tricky situations. I really love this series and highly recommend it.
MORE: Best Chapter Book Box Sets
Too Small Tola by Atinuke, illustrated by Onyinye Iwu
Atinuke, author of the marvelous Anna Hibiscus series (notice how I've mentioned Anna Hibiscus twice - time for you to pick it up!), has created another winning character! Tola lives with her older siblings–a soccer-crazed brother and book-smart sister–and her grandmother in a run-down apartment building modern-day urban Nigeria. In three episodic chapters, Tola's wit and intelligence help her to solve problems that pop up in the loving family's daily life.
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Hockey Night in Kenya by Danson Mutinda and Eric Walters, illustrated by Claudia Dávila
Set in modern day Africa, this book about boys dreaming of playing ice hockey is an inspiring read for your sports-crazy kid. Two boys, Kitoo and Nigosi, learn about Canadian ice hockey from a book they check out from the library. They are determined to play this intriguing sport, despite the lack of snow and ice in their home country. It's a wonderful, positive story about friendship and perseverance.
MORE: Early Chapter Books about Friends and Family
Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel (series) by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Dyamonde is one of the most optimistic characters in early chapter books! She has a single mom, lives in a small apartment and is starting a new school. Yet through it all she is a go-getter, a can-do gal. This is the first book in the series and as the new kid in school, Dyamonde sets out to make friends with the other newbie, despite his grouchy attitude.
J. D. and the Great Barber Battle (series) by J. Dillard, illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts
This is a sweet and very funny series! J.D.'s mom has given him a terrible haircut, and when J.D. tries to remedy the situation he discovers that he is actually a hair-cutting genius! But when the town barber gets fed up with losing all his clients to J.D., it's time for a show-down!
Mia Mayhem is a Superhero! (series) by Kara West, illustrated by Leeza Hernandez
This is a very easy chapter book series with large text and lots of illustrations. Mia is an 8-year-old girl who finds out she is a superhero when she receives an invitation to attend an after school program for In-Training Superheroes. Now she must figure out a way to be both a regular girl AND a secret superhero.
MORE: Up, Up and Away! Chapter books about Superheroes!
Polly Diamond and the Magic Book (series) by Alice Kuipers, illustrated by Diana Toledano
Polly is a charming heroine and this is a relentlessly (in a good way!) cheerful book. One day, Polly gets a book and she is delighted to find out that whatever she writes comes true. But there is a catch, Polly must get the wording exactly right. Luckily Polly loves words and stories. As you can imagine, things get a little out of hand but all is well in the end!
Donovan's Word Jar by Monalisa DeGross, illustrated by Cheryl Hanna
Donovan loves words so much he keeps them on slips of paper in a jar. When he sees a new word, he drops it in his jar. He begins to worry about the jar filling up; does that mean he won't be able to learn any new words? I was enamored with the idea of the word jar and I loved the conclusion Donavan comes to about the benefits of sharing words with others.
MORE: Make Your Own Summer Word Jar
Clubhouse Mysteries(series) by Sharon Draper, illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson
A diverse group of four boys, who call themselves the "Black Dinosaurs," build a clubhouse, decode secret messages and solve mysteries. This is a solidly written series from Sharon Draper that kids will like. There's a bit of humor, appealing characters and, of course, some mystery.
MORE: The Game Is Afoot! Mystery Early Chapter Books
Dog Days: The Carver Chronicles (series) by Karen English
Third-grader Gavin, is starting a new school. When he and his friends get into trouble his punishment is to take care of his aunt's annoying little Pomeranian. The bow-bedecked dog is seriously interfering with his attempt to prove himself "cool"! I think a lot of kids will relate to Gavin.
MORE: Early Chapter Book Series about Boys (but for everyone!)
Asian and Asian-American Characters
Book Uncle and Me by Uma Krishnaswami, illustrated by Julianna Swaney
The Book Uncle is a friendly gentlemen who helps children in India find just the right book at the street corner lending library he runs. This is a terrific story about one girl's determination to stand up and protest against the corrupt politicians who threaten to put Book Uncle out of business. Yasmin's story will inspire your kids to work towards a goal and learn about the value of community involvement.
Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins
In Bangladesh, Naimi feels frustrated that she is constantly told she cannot work to earn money for her family because she is a girl. When she accidentally ruins her father’s rickshaw she disguises herself as a boy so she can work, and meets someone who will change her life. The book includes a glossary and an author’s note about micro-finance. There's also now a Rickshaw Girl movie!
Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business (series) by Lyla Lee
Mindy and her father have moved to Florida. Starting a new school is always tough and on the first day others tease her about her lunch, which includes kimchi and seaweed. However, a classmate tastes the seaweed and declares it delicious, prompting Mindy to start a seaweed business in pursuit of raising enough money to purchase a puppy to cheer up her newly widowed father. The early chapter book series is full of heart, thought-provoking themes, and engaging, well-rounded characters.
MORE: Books for Kids Who Love Junie B. Jones
Sherlock Sam and the Missing Heirloom in Katong (series) by A. J. Low
Sam is the Sherlock Holmes of Singapore. Only this time, Watson is his pet robot! Sam is a detective and mystery-loving Chinese Peranakan kid from Singapore who is a little obsessed with food. It's different enough from all the other detective series out there to make it worth reading, and the descriptions of Singapore set a colorful stage for a mystery.
Alivn Ho (series) by Leonore Look
Alvin suffers from anxiety over many things and this leads him to become mute at school. Nevertheless, his family life, antics and tales of how he navigates "scary things" never fail to charm. This series makes a great book set for readers who enjoy character driven stories with a lot of humor.
Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey (series) by Erin Entrada Kelly
Marisol Rainey is trying to be brave enough to climb the magnolia tree in her backyard but she has a fear of falling. Her friend, Jada, climbs the tree and Marisol hopes that this is the summer in which she will get over her fears. This is a lovely chapter book about friendship, courage and family relationships.
Jasmine Toguchi: Mochi Queen (series) by Debbi Michiko Florence
Each book in this fun series incorporates Jasmine’s Japanese-American heritage into the story line. Intrepid Jasmine tackles pounding muchi rice, Japanese Girls’ Day, Japanese drumming, and more.
Nina Soni: Former Best Friend (series) by Kashmira Sheth, illustrated by Jenn Kocsmiersky
Nina lives with her Indian-American family and is currently having trouble with her best friend, Jay. She hopes to fix their friendship while working on a school assignment, all the while trying to keep her sister out of trouble! This new series is perfect for kids who like contemporary stories about everyday kids.
Native American, Indigenous and First Nations
Indian Shoes by Cynthia Leitich Smith
This early chapter book is a collection of funny stories about a contemporary Seminole-Cherokee boy and his grandfather. I think this book with its charming tales of the loving intergenerational relationship also works very well as a read aloud.
JoJo Makoons (series) by Dawn Quigley, illustrated by Tara Audibert
JoJo is a clever, spunky heroine and she makes lots of mistakes–but she's learning! JoJo's narrative voice is irresistible, and Quigley includes wonderful word play and sly humor throughout. The story centers around JoJo's experiences at school and with her friend, Fern, with whom she's having some difficulties. A wonderful new series!
Jewish Characters
Sam and Charlie (and Sam Too!) (series) by Leslie Kimmelman
Find it: Your Library | Amazon
This series straddles the line between easy reader and early chapter book and is a lovely reading choice that reflects Jewish life. The book establishes a theme by opening with a verse from Leviticus - "Love your neighbor as yourself." Sam and Charlie are neighbors and each of the six short chapters shows the two friends working through issues like sharing, forgiveness and kindness.
Lola Levine is Not Mean! (series) by Monica Brown, illustrated by Angela Dominguez
Jewish-Peruvian Lola loves soccer, but when she accidentally hurts another player on the field, her classmates call her "mean!" Lola knows she has a big heart and wants others to know it too, so she uses her love of writing to change others' opinions. I love the way author Monica Brown integrates aspects of Lola's duel heritage throughout the book.
A Dreidel in Time by Marcia Berneger
This time traveling short novel is fun for kids who love fantasy and history. Siblings Devorah and Benjamin can't wait to open their Hanukkah presents. But when Bubbe and Zayde finally arrive for the festivities, the pair are disappointed to find that what they got was an odd, old dreidel. But when they spin the dreidel it transports them to the land of the ancient Maccabees. Devorah and Benjamin help their new Maccabee friends battle against Antiochus.
MORE: Books for Fans of Magic Tree House
Muslim Characters
Planet Omar: Trouble Magnet (series) by Zanib Mian
Omar is an appealing and relatable protagonist. His family is British-Pakistani and having just moved to London, Omar is feeling nervous about starting a new school and meeting new friends. In a funny-bone-tickling narrative, author Mian weaves in important issues about diversity, Islam and the power of standing up for yourself.
Meet Yasmin (series) by Saadia Faruqi
Meet Yasmin is a very early beginning chapter book series about a charming Pakistani-American girl. Each book is divided into four separate stories in which Yasmin uses her creative energy and high imagination to solve problems. Delightful and a good choice for very young readers. There are 12 books so far.
Badir and the Beaver by Shannon Stewart, illustrated by Christian Down
One day Badir, a recent Tunisian immigrant to Canada, spots a beaver. He is entranced by the animal, which he thinks is a large swimming rat. Badir soon learns that the beaver is the national animal of Canada and that some residents want the "pest" removed from the park because of damage to trees. Badir and his friends rally to learn all they can about beavers and help the animal. Stewart deftly weaves themes of belonging and cultural diversity into this marvelous story.
MORE: Beginning Chapter Books about Animals
Characters with Disabilities
Aven Green, Sleuthing Machine (series) by Dusti Bowling
I adored Bowling's middle grade novel, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, and its heroine, Aven Green, is now the star of her very own early chapter book series! Green is a third-grader born without arms, and has a penchant for solving mysteries. A funny series with a unique and tremendously likable protagonists.
Emma Every Day (series) by C. L. Reid, illustrated by Elena Aiello
Emma, the cheerful 8-year-old heroine of this series is deaf and wears a Cochlear implant. She lives with her parents and older brother. In each book, Emma experiences typical events in the life of a third grader, like going on a field trip, spending time with her family and making new friends. These books are the easiest of all the chapter books on this list. Each book includes an ASL manual alphabet chart, ASL fingerspelling in the text, glossary of ASL words and talking points relating to the story.
Neurodiverse Characters
Slug Days (series) by Sarah Leach
Lauren is on the spectrum and "slug days" is how she refers to her days when things seem slow and slimy. In other words, they are the days when things don't go well and others don't seem to understand why she does certain things. But Lauren has certain routines that help her get through slug days and today is special because she meets a new girl and her day might turn out to be a butterfly day after all.
West Meadows Detectives (series) by Liam O'Donnell, illustrated by Aurélie Grand
This series features two neurodiverse kids who bond over a mystery at school. Myron, who is autistic, is starting a new school. He earnestly narrates the story, describing his unique way of seeing the world, his need for structure and how his ability to focus on details makes him the perfect sleuth. His energetic friend, Hajrah, who has ADHD, becomes his partner in mystery-solving.
A Boy Called Bat by Elena K. Arnold
Third grader, Bixby Alexander Tam, goes by the nickname Bat and exhibits behaviors that place him on the autism spectrum. He flaps his hands and avoids eye contact, but the author never labels Bat "autistic." She simply allows us to see Bat, and all his friends, as unique individuals. Bat's divorced mom is a veterinarian and one day she brings home baby skunk. Bat wants to take care of it and must prove to his mom that he knows what he is doing. Full of wonderful characters and lots of interesting information about skunks, this is an absolutely delightful book series.
Mary @ Sprout's Bookshelf says
Love this list, Erica (and thanks for the shout-out)! So nice to see all the diversity here - what a great resource for parents, teachers & librarians! 🙂
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thank you for your book suggestions and help, Mary!
Catherine @ Story Snug says
We've just read Splash, Anna Hibiscus and enjoyed it so much that I've just ordered the chapter book.
Erica MomandKiddo says
I know you'll love it!
jeanninewaddleeahchaaj says
Thank you for such an amazing list!
I do volunteer work in Cambodia and have a book recommendation:
A Song for Cambodia by Michelle Lord
It isn't a chapter book; however, the topic is definitely not for young children. It is the first book I found suitable to share with children explaining what happened during The Killing Fields. I know it is a heavy topic but the author handles it very well! A Song for Cambodia is the inspirational true story of Arn Chorn-Pond.
Thanks for letting me share my love for the people of Cambodia!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thank you for the recommendation. A heavy topic, but an important one.
Deceptively Educational says
Wonderful list of books! I've already added a few to my list of library books to get on my next trip!! Thanks for sharing at the After School Linky!
PragmaticMom says
Thank you so much for including my link. I am humbled and honored to be included!
Erica MomandKiddo says
The pleasure is all mine!
Coral says
I love your list! Thank you for putting it together.
Patrice Smith says
Great list!
I also have a book series for children ages 9 to 13 entitled The Struggle Books.
#thestrugglebooks
Martha says
Not a chapter book, but we love “Boundless Grace” as well!
JPS says
I suggest taking a look at Norman's Architecture Adventure! It helps children explore their imagination, sense of adventure, and bravery.
Sp says
If you have to pick a few favorites which ones would they be? Trying to pick a few for our child’s 4th birthday wishlist. He loves frog and toad and trumpeter of the Swan. I want to buy only diverse character books when I can.
Sam says
I didn't know the Precious Ramotswe books were a series, we've just read the first one (and loved it! https://beyondthesnowyday.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-great-cake-mystery-by-alexander.html). Thank you for this amazing list, it can be so hard to find young fiction set elsewhere in the world!!
Erica says
Glad you loved the book!
Jennifer Nafziger says
Hello! How do I get a printable version of this list? I have been a subscriber for a while. Thanks!
Erica says
Hi Jennifer! If you plug your email into the "need a printable book list" box at the end of the post it will send it right to your inbox. You won't be subscribed twice despite what the box and email say, I promise! Sorry that is confusing.
Allison T. says
The Simply Sarah series of four books is a real treat. Well written, interesting, and a great lesson in how to problem-solve and be a good friend. We're also fans of Anna Hibiscus and No. 1 Car Spotter books by Atinuke.
I look forward to checking out more books on this list.