Books about families for kindergarten: 25 Best Picture Books About Families of All Shapes & Sizes

25 Best Picture Books About Families of All Shapes & Sizes

Who is in your family? This is a common question explored in the classrooms and homes of preschool and kindergarten children the world over. Fortunately, there are books about families representing a diverse range of families available today and this list includes 25 best families books to enjoy with young children.

RELATED: 101 Books To Help Build Friendship, Communication and Social Skills

The Family Book by Todd Parr In Parr’s signature unique and colourful style, The Family Book celebrates the love we feel for our families and all the different varieties they come in. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Who’s In My Family? All About Our Families by Robie H. Harris Join Nellie and Gus and their family for a day at the zoo in this humorous, engaging story that makes it clear that whoever is in your family, it is perfectly normal — and totally wonderful. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Me and My Family Tree by Joan Sweeney In Me and My Family Tree a young girl, through simple text and diagrams, how the members of her family are related to each other and to her. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

The Great Big Book of Families by Mary Hoffman A celebration of all kinds of families and their lives together, each spread showcases the diverse customs and traditions of one aspect of home life-from houses and holidays, to schools and pets, to feelings and family trees, featuring families the world over. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Who’s In a Family? by Robert Skutch Family is important, but who’s in a family? Why, the people who love you the most! A great depiction of all different types of families. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Families, Families, Families! by Suzanne Lang Dozens of combinations, demonstrating all kinds of nontraditional families are depicted by fabulous animals in framed portraits. A warm celebration of family love. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Families by Shelley Rotner Celebrate diversity with a picture book for young children about the many faces of contemporary families. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

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One Family by George Shannon A playful, interactive book that shows how a family can be big or small and comprised of people of a range of genders and races. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

My Family, Your Family by Lisa Bullard Makayla is visiting friends in her neighborhood. She sees how each family is different. Some families have lots of children, but others have none. Some friends live with grandparents or have two dads or have parents who are divorced. How is her own family like the others? Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

All About Families by Felicity Brooks What do families look like? Who’s in your family? How can families change? A celebration of family diversity that shows children that families come in all shapes and sizes. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

We Are Family by Ryan Wheatcroft Celebrate the everyday differences of eight families, as well as the similarities they share. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Families Around the World by Margaret Ruurs Visit with fourteen children, each from a different country, to learn about their families. Based on real children, each one’s story fills a two-page spread and is told in the first person, beginning with a greeting in the child’s native language. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

A Family Is A Family Is A Family by Sara O’Leary When a teacher asks the children in her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different in many ways — but the same in the one way that matters most of all. One child is worried that her family is just too different to explain, but ultimately realises that as long as her family is full of caring people, her family is special. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

All Kids of Families by Mary Ann Hoberman In fabulous rhyme, Mary Ann Hoberman shows readers that families, large and small, are all around us. From celery stalks to bottle caps, buttons, and rings, the objects we group together form families, just like the ones we are a part of. And, as we grow up, our families grow, too. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

We Belong Together by Todd Parr We Belong Together is about sharing your home and sharing your heart to make a family that belongs together. With an understanding of how personal and unique each adoption is, and that not everyone comes to it in the same way, Parr’s colorful art explores the true meaning of family. Available:  The Book Depository

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Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis In asking her parents to tell her again about the night of her birth, a girl relives a tale she knows by heart. Focusing on the significance of family and love, this is a beautiful story about adoption and the importance of a loving family. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Yes, I’m Adopted! by Sharlie Zinger The adoption story from start to finish, told from the child’s point of view. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

I Wished for You: An Adoption Story by Marianne Richmond A beautiful conversation between a little bear and his mama as they talk about how they became a family. The little bear asks many of the questions adopted children have, and his mama lovingly answers them all. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

All About Adoption: How Families Are Made & How Kids Feel About It by Marc Nemiroff and Jane Annunziata For the child who already understands the concept of adoption, this book provides a deeper explanation of how the adoption process works and the feelings that many children have about being adopted. Available:  The Book Depository

Heather Has Two Mummies by Leslea Newman Heather’s favorite number is two. She has two arms, two legs, and two pets. And she also has two mummies. When Heather goes to school for the first time, someone asks her about her daddy, but Heather doesn’t have a daddy. Then something interesting happens. When Heather and her classmates all draw pictures of their families, not one drawing is the same. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Stella Brings the Family by Miriam Schiffer Stella’s class is having a Mother’s Day celebration, but what’s a girl with two daddies to do? Stella has her Papa and Daddy who take care of her, and a whole gaggle of other loved ones who make her feel special and supported every day. She just doesn’t have a mom to invite to the party. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Daddy, Papa and Me by Leslea Newman Rhythmic text and sweet illustrations describe a toddler spending the day with its daddies in this great first book about same-sex parents and their children. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

In Our Mother’s House by Patricia Polacco Marmee, Meema, and the kids are just like any other family on the block. They cook dinner together, laugh together and dance together. But some of the other families don’t accept them. How can a family have two moms and no dad? But Marmee and Meema’s house is full of love. And they teach their children that different doesn’t mean wrong. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

A Tale of Two Daddies by Vanita Oelschlager Following the playground conversation between two children, A Tale of Two Daddies helps young children understand that what children need most is adults who love and nurture them. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Two Homes by Claire Masurel At Mommy’s house, Alex has a soft chair. At Daddy’s house, Alex has a rocking chair. In each home, Alex also has a special bedroom and lots of friends to play with. But whether Alex is with his mother or his father, one thing always stays the same – Alex is loved. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

For more books to help talk with children about divorce and separation, check out our list of Helpful Picture Books about Divorce.

Do you have a book about families suggestion to add to our list?

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Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.

28 Loving Picture Books About Family

August 4, 2022 //  by Christina Swiontek

It is important for children to be exposed to many different types of families. Children should be aware that not all families look exactly like theirs. By having this awareness, they will be able to recognize, accept, respect, and celebrate the diversity of families.

This list will provide recommendations to help you narrow down the options of books available that are suitable for children. Hopefully, after reading these books, your children will embrace the celebration of family love for all.

1. Families

Families by Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly includes stunning photographs of all different kinds of families. It is a true celebration of family diversity.

Learn More: Amazon

2. A Handful of Buttons

A Handful of Buttons by Carmen Parets Luque is a beautiful story about celebrating family diversity. This book will teach your child how unique and special families can be.

Learn More: Amazon

3. Smooch!: A Sweet Picture Book about Unconditional Love

The book Smooch! by Karen Kilpatrick is a sweet story about diversity and family structures. It discusses the concept of unconditional love and the significance of family bonds.

Learn More: Amazon

4. A Crocodile in the Family

This is a great book for the entire family. A Crocodile in the Family by Kitty Black is particularly beneficial for blended families, foster families, and adoptive families to read together. This book contains colorful illustrations that will keep your child hanging on every word.

Learn More: Amazon

5. What Makes a Family?

What Makes a Family by Hannah Bruner is an exploration of the concept of family. What really makes a family? This story is a great reminder of the important things in life like family and loved ones.

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6. From the Start: A Book About Love and Making Families

This sweet story entitled From the Start by Stephanie Levich and Alana Weiss is perfect for children that are from adoptive families or born with the assistance of fertility treatments or surrogacy. This story explores themes of hope and gratitude.

Learn More: Amazon

7. The Family Tree

The Family Tree by Oakley Graham is a great family picture book that teaches the true meaning of family. Children will be able to apply what they learn to their own family tree and extended family.

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8. You’re the Biggest

This keepsake book by Lucy Tapper makes a great gift for an older child that will soon be welcoming a baby brother or baby sister into the family. It may also help them process the feelings they may feel during the transition of a new baby joining the family.

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9. Natumi Takes the Lead: The True Story of an Orphan Elephant Who Finds Family

Do you have an animal lover in your family? If so, they will love learning about animal families in the book Natumi Takes the Lead by Gerry Ellis. This is a beautiful family picture book that may surprise you when you realize how similar elephant families are to human families.

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10. Family Means

Family Means by Matthew Ralph is a celebration of family by recognizing the differences in families around the world. This book includes a wide range of families. It celebrates the biracial family, single-parent families, and more.

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11. Remixed: A Blended Family

What a catchy title! The book Remixed: A Blended Family by Arree Chung discusses the difficulties of change as blended families come together. It explores how families come in all shapes, colors, and sizes and how beautiful they are when they join together.

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12. All Kinds of Families

All Kinds of Families by Suzanne Lang is all about family representation. The theme of this book is educating children to be open-minded and positive to all types of families they may encounter in life.

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13. The Family Book

If you are looking for a great family book, look no further than The Family Book by Todd Parr. The theme of this book is that all families are special and unique. The bright illustrations are beautiful and engaging for the entire family.

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14. We Will Always Love You: A Children’s Story Explaining Divorce and Separation

We Will Always Love You by Ethan Arabov is a great story for children that are experiencing divorce in their family. The author does a great job of sharing the difficulties of divorce while reminding the reader of the positive aspects such as their parents’ unchanging love for them.

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15. Ohana Means Family

Aloha! Ohana Means Family by Ilima Loomis teaches your child about family and Hawaiian traditions and culture. This is a great way to teach your child about embracing diversity.

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16. Grandma Wishes

Children will learn all about grandparents through the book Grandma Wishes by Julia Lobo. This book would be a wonderful gift to a new grandmother or a special way to announce a pregnancy to a soon-to-be grandmother.

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17. God Gave Us Family

God Gave Us Family by Lisa Tawn Bergren is one of the books in the God Gave Us series. The theme of the book is to promote understanding that God selected families to mirror the unconditional love of God.

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18. I Love Us: A Book About Family

This is an activity book that even includes a mirror! I Love Us: A Book About Family by Clarion Books is unique because you get to personalize it to be about your unique and special family.

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19. My Family, Your Family

The book My Family, Your Family by Lisa Bullard takes the reader on a journey with Makayla to learn about all of the different families in her neighborhood. The theme of this book is inclusion, acceptance, and belonging.

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20. Cousins Forever

Cousins Forever by Elisavet Arkolaki highlights the important relationships with extended family. The two cousins in this story are separated by distance but find a way to bond and connect using technology. This shows that although families may not live close by, they can still have close relationships.

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21. Dragon Sibling Rivalry

All siblings have disagreements! The Book Dragon Sibling Rivalry by Steve Herman helps children understand sibling relationships and how to be more patient, kind, and loving toward brothers and sisters.

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22. The Auntie & Nephew Book

The Auntie & Nephew Book by C.L. David captures the special bond between an aunt and her nephew. This beautiful picture book would make a great gift to celebrate a new aunt or to share baby news with an auntie-to-be.

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23. Me and My Family Tree

Me and My Family Tree by Joan Sweeney shows children how a family tree works and where they can position themselves on their own family tree.

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24. Welcome Little One

Welcome Little One by Little Hippo Books is the perfect story to welcome your new little bundle of joy! This book depicts the love between parents and their new babies.

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25. Families Can Be Foxes and Fowls

Families Can Be Foxes and Fowls by Sophie Errante teaches children about families, diversity, and kindness. Melody is a fox that welcomes a duck named Daphne into her family. They demonstrate how different family members can be and how they are both valuable and special.

Learn More: Amazon

26. Families, Families, Families! 

Suzanne Lang delivers an amazing story about family in the book Families, Families, Families! This book is so funny and perfectly celebrates the love of all families, no matter how big or small they are.

Learn More: Amazon

27. A Family Looks Like Love

A Family Looks Like Love by Kaitlyn Wells is about a puppy who realizes she looks different from her siblings. She learns a valuable lesson about the power of family love and acceptance.

Learn More: Amazon

28. Love Makes a Family

What is the most important thing about a family? Love! Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer evokes the warm and fuzzy feeling that makes a family so special. Readers will explore events that take place within day-to-day family life, such as baking cakes and cleaning up messes.

Learn More: Amazon

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Category: Classroom Ideas

15 children’s books about family values ​​

Happiness starts with family! Each family is unique, each has its own traditions and rules, pains and joys. Whatever yours, it is important that love, mutual understanding and respect for each other reign in it. Building such a family is a real art that requires experience, wisdom and a good example before your eyes. The first and main teachers of the child in family relations are, of course, parents. Books from our selection will help to complete this image, raise the necessary topics for discussion and learn valuable lessons! nine0003

Funny stories of a little boy

“A knight of children’s literature, the sunniest writer of our days” – this is how critics spoke about Oleg Kurguzov (1959-2004). In 1997, a book by O. Kurguzov was published with a series of funny stories dedicated to the relationship between adults and children. In the same year, the book was nominated for an Honorary Diploma of the Council for Children’s Books of Russia, and a year later, the author was awarded the Janusz Korczak International Literary Prize. Today, all these stories are collected in the book “Funny Stories of a Little Boy”. The boy, on whose behalf the story is told, studies at school, and also loves his mom and dad very much. Every day they have a new game: the power of imagination will turn a domestic cat into a formidable tiger, a swing into an airstrip, and even help you travel in time!
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Moomin trolls and new Moomin stories

In Tove Jansson’s stories about the Moomin Valley, anything can happen: Moominpappa was once carried away by flood waves, electric hattifnatts suddenly ended up on a desert island, and a magic hat made a real mess. And at the center of all these adventures is a cozy house that looks like a tiled stove, where the Moomin family lives. This collection contains three amazing stories based on the plots of the original works of Tove Jansson and adapted for young readers: – “The Road to Moomin Valley” – “Moomin and the Magician’s Hat” – “Moomin on the Hattifnatt Island”. Meet the fairy-tale family: the caring Moominmamma, who always has a pair of warm socks in her bag, the dreamer and adventurer Moominpappa, the inquisitive Moomintroll and his mysterious friend Snufkin. ..

Uncle Fedor, dog and cat and other stories about Prostokvashino

Uncle Fyodor is a very independent “boy on his own”. At the age of four, he learned to read, and at the age of six he was already making his own soup, for which he received his nickname. But even such a boy needs mom and dad! In addition to the main story by E. Uspensky “Uncle Fyodor, the dog and the cat”, the book includes continuation stories about how they celebrated the New Year in Prostokvashino, saved Uncle Fyodor from falling in love with the girl Katya and how they coped with troubles when grandfather Kadushkin appeared in Prostokvashino Sil Nilych is the former owner of the house where the main characters live…

Children and these

Books from the “Children and These” series are not just stories about the relationship between children and adults, this is a new genre of psychological shifter. Children behave like adults, and adults behave worse than small children. And for some reason it immediately becomes obvious how selfish and inconsistent the behavior of parents can be and how wildly and unbridled children sometimes behave. “Children and These” G. Oster wrote specifically so that children and parents look at each other and at themselves, laugh and think. nine0003

How to raise a dinosaur?

Bright humorous story “How to grow a dinosaur?” from the editors of “Willy Winky” will tell the kids what it’s like to be an older brother or sister, prepare them for a meeting with the baby and help them realize the importance of their role in his upbringing. According to the plot, a baby dinosaur learns that he will soon become an older brother. He is very happy, but at the same time wary: what lies ahead for him? He pulls out his best baby toys. But alas, the baby is still too small to play. Too small to talk or even understand what others are saying to him. Why, all he can do so far is yell, eat, sleep and smell bad. And yet, his appearance in the house is a happy event. Why? Funny book “How to grow a dinosaur?” will help you figure it out. nine0003

Chuk and Gek

The story about two boys who, on New Year’s Eve, went far, far away with their mother, to the very edge of our vast country to meet their father, is filled with wonderful descriptions of winter nature, family warmth, as well as observations and adventures of the brothers Chuk and Gek. The work is included in the program for literary reading in elementary school. Drawings by Yu. Ustinova.

Manyunya

A bright, sun-soaked and amazingly funny story about childhood, about two girl friends Nara and Manyunya, about the formidable and kind Ba, grandmother Manyuni, and about a bunch of their relatives who constantly get into incidental situations. This is the warmest, mischievous and full of fun adventures childhood that makes a person happy for life. The book won the Manuscript of the Year award. nine0003

Nikita’s childhood

One of the brightest stories about childhood tells about the life and adventures of the ten-year-old son of a rural landowner. The book gives readers a unique opportunity to read this work with comments by a biologist, find answers to the most frequently asked questions and take a fresh look at the natural world around us!

The road goes far…

Alexandra Yakovlevna Brushtein finished writing her most famous book, dearly loved by many generations of readers, already in her old age, being almost deaf and blind. There, on her pages, she was again a ten-year-old girl, overflowing with a lust for life, youthful ardor and spontaneity. Sasha’s father is a brilliant doctor Yakov Vygodsky. The flower of the city intelligentsia gathered in his house. Despite the difficult pre-revolutionary times, Sasha’s childhood is happy, because there are always loving people nearby – dad, mom, nanny, teachers and friends…

Conduit and Shvambrania

Lev Kassil’s autobiographical story describes the life of two brothers in the small town of Pokrovsk before and after the revolution. Boys from an intelligent family, where mom is a music teacher and dad is a doctor. Conduit was the name given to the journals in the gymnasium, where the children’s faults were recorded, and Shvambrania is a mysterious country that is not on the map. The most courageous heroes live there, incredible adventures take place, there are diamond houses more than a thousand stories high, and huge steamships float on the deck of which you can ride in a cab. And there is also the Black Chess Queen. With the disappearance of this important figure, the story of Shvambrania began. The fact is that the Queen guards the Great Secret of Shvambrania. What is this secret? And what does the conduit have to do with it? nine0003

Big surprise for little rabbit

Good is always returned in kind! Such a lesson will be taught by Grandpa Rabbit to little Rabbit. On a sunny day, they go for a walk, but find that many forest animals need their help… The new picturebook from the editors of Willy Winky will tell a charming story about support and attention to loved ones. The kid learns that helping and coming to the rescue is not only right, but also very pleasant! This instructive book with cozy illustrations can be read aloud to children up to 3-5 years old. nine0003

Mom for a baby mammoth

“Let mother hear, let mother come, let mother find me!” The poignantly tender tale of Dina Nepomnyashchaya about how the brave Mammoth looked for his mother and found a foster child will help to form empathy for children who were left without parental care and an idea of ​​the family as the most important value in a person’s life.

Dinka. Dinka says goodbye to childhood

Valentina Oseeva’s stories “Dinka” and “Dinka Says Goodbye to Childhood” have become favorites of many generations of readers. The childhood of an ordinary girl Dinka coincided with the years that came after the first Russian revolution. Dinka, desperate, sincere and spontaneous, gets into unusual adventures, finds friends, learns parting, learns wise and difficult life lessons. nine0003

Bedtime stories

Reading bedtime stories is a wonderful ritual that a child will remember for a lifetime! Evening is the best time to be alone with a child and make up for your daily absence by reading fairy tales and confidential conversation. This book will give you as much as 300 minutes of fascinating reading and communication! And simple tips from an experienced psychologist and fairy tale therapist Irina Terentyeva will help you properly organize your sleep and wakefulness regimen and quickly get rid of night fears. nine0003

Feast of Disobedience

Wow! Now you can gorge yourself on sweets, go to bed and wake up whenever you want, and also walk around unhaired and draw on the walls… This time is the Feast of Disobedience, as the heroes of the fairy tale of the same name by Sergei Mikhalkov, who ended up in the city without adults, called it. No doctors, no teachers, no salesmen, no cooks… And most importantly, there are no parents who control their children from day to day. Is that childish happiness? It turned out quite the opposite…

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The best children’s books about the family

On July 8, a wonderful holiday awaits us – the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. What is family? For adults – a corner of love and tranquility, where you can find support and understanding, relax and gain strength. And for the baby – the whole world: kind, loving, open. Growing up, children discover complex experiences in themselves, build new relationships, but never forget their relatives, because they are connected with them by the strongest and most wonderful – family ties. nine0003

Many lines are devoted to the family: poems by Agnia Barto, Mikhail Plyatskovsky and Elena Blaginina; touching stories by Valentina Oseeva and funny stories by Viktor Dragunsky. You can follow the journey of the mischievous Chuk and Gek and their mother to visit their father – or feel the simple and bright story about the girl Tasya, her beloved teddy bear and friendly family; about big holidays and small joys, fleeting sorrows and important life lessons.

Barto, A.L. My grandmother had forty grandchildren / A.L. Barto, Author; Y. Molokanov, Artist. – AST: Astrel, 2015. – 80s. nine0116