Award-Winning Kids’ Books That Promote Diversity

“Lupe Wong Won’t Dance” by Donna Barba Higuera 

2021 Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award Winner 

Lupe Wong needs straight As in school so she can meet her favorite baseball pitcher, Fu Li Hernandez. When square dancing in gym class threatens to get in her way, she simply won’t back down. "Lupe Wong Won’t Dance" is a remarkably witty account of Lupe’s struggles with dancing and her dream of the Major Leagues. 

“Efrén Divided” by Ernesto Cisneros 

2021 Pura Belpré Children’s Book Author Award Winner

Efrén is American-born, but his parents are not. When his mother is deported to Mexico, Efrén must channel his inner superhero to help care for his family and try to reunite with his mother. 

“Before the Ever After” by Jacqueline Woodson

2021 Coretta Scott King Author Award and NAACP Image Award

This novel, written in verse, depicts the toll professional sports takes on ZJ’s dad. Struggling with his father’s sustained injuries and new symptoms, ZJ tries to find a balance between the glory days of the past and the new experiences to come. 

“The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez” by Adrianna Cuevas 

2021 Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award Honoree

In this mysterious and psychedelic book, Nestor Lopez needs to save his town from a witch by using his secret power, which is the ability to communicate with animals. All he wants is to lie low in his new town, but the threat of a tulevieja (a ghost who wears a distinctive hat) and an impending solar eclipse force him to act. 

“King and the Dragonflies” by Kacen Callender 

2021 Coretta Scott King Author Award Honoree 

Kingston James is convinced his brother Khalid became a dragonfly after his unexpected passing. Grappling with the grief overtaking his family, the disappearance and subsequent reappearance of his friend Sandy, and rumors about Sandy being gay, Kingston is forced to deal with questions about his brother’s death and his friend’s sexuality.