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Our communities provide us with both practical support and emotional well-being. Photo: iStock
No one is an island. Belonging and social community are basic human needs no matter how old you are. Our communities provide us with both practical support and emotional well-being. As society becomes increasingly fragmented, it’s more important than ever to teach our kids that community is not about defining in-groups and out-groups; it’s about understanding that people are meant to care for each other. Here are a few new books that show the ways our communities make us stronger.
“I’m Always Loving You” by Kathy WolffThis book is about community on a scale very small children can understand, celebrating the unconditional love of a caregiver for a child in sweet rhymes. Recommended for ages 3–6.
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“Eli and the Uncles” by Jehan MadhaniSpend a magical day with Eli as he visits his eight uncles, each with an outsize personality and unique beard. At the end of the day, Eli bids each one good night in a warm, hairy, bedtime countdown. Recommended for ages 3–7.
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“Lily’s Dream: A Fairy Friendship” by Bea JacksonThis beautifully illustrated picture book is about a flightless fairy who finds her own special magic through friendship with a human child. Recommended for ages 4–8.
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“Alana’s Cupcake Garden” by Coco SimonThis is the fourth book in the Cupcake Diaries: The New Batch series. In this one, Alana Wilson wants to save her grandma’s flower shop, but she’ll have to rely on her own community, uniting her new friends with those from her old school to accomplish it together. Recommended for ages 5–9.
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“V. Malar: Greatest Host of All Time” by Suma SubramaniamThis book by a local author tell the story of farm girl Malar who has a chance to host her cousins from far-off Seattle for the festival of Pongal. But they get off on the wrong foot when her cousins aren’t impressed with farm life. Recommended for ages 7–10.
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“Black Girl Power: 15 Stories Celebrating Black Girlhood” edited by Leah JohnsonYou may recognize the editor of this book as the author of “You Should See Me in a Crown.” This time out, Johnson has found a collection of 15 stories and poems by Black women authors that celebrate the power and joy to be found in the everyday experience of Black girlhood. Recommended for ages 8–12.
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“Operation Sisterhood: Stealing the Show!” by Olugbemisola Rhuday-PerkovichIn the second book of this series about four sisters from a patchwork family, the girls overcome writer’s block and go exploring to learn about New York City communities past and present to stage an original musical. Recommended for ages 8–12.
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“Kareem Between” by Shifa Saltagi SafadiThis book is about a seventh-grade Syrian American boy figuring out where he belongs — with the football team or with the new Syrian refugee — and what it takes to stay true to himself. Recommended for ages 8–12.
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“The Ribbon Skirt” by Cameron MukwaThis debut graphic novel from an Indigenous cartoonist features Anang, a nonbinary, two-spirit 10-year-old member of the Anishinaabe whose family and friends help them make a ribbon skirt, traditional for girls, for a powwow ceremony. Recommended for ages 9–12.
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“Weirdo” by Tony Weaver Jr.Pick this one up if a graphic novel memoir about a geeky, awkward tween struggling to be comfortable in his own skin and find his community would resonate with your kid. Recommended for ages 10–14.
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“Oathbound” by Tracy DeonnThis is the third book in the young adult Legendborn Cycle series, which blends Southern Black girl magic with the legend of King Arthur. Bree Matthews has cut herself off from her community in an effort to keep them safe from her powers, but now she has to face the repercussions alone. Recommended for ages 14 and older.
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“We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships” by Kat VellosAlthough this may be a familiar book, it’s timely for adults who are seeking their own community. Vellos combines research and case studies to tackle the most common challenges of adult friendship in this handbook for making and maintaining friends as a grown-up.
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“Soul School: Taking Kids on a Joy-Filled Journey Through the Heart of Black American Culture” by Amber O’Neal JohnstonThis one is a must-read, no matter what community you belong to. Johnston has curated more than 100 essential books into lists sorted by age, providing context to teach families about literature that celebrates and explores the fullness of the African American cultural experience.
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More books for families to love: |
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on Jan. 27, 2025 and was updated on May 21, 2026 by ParentMap's managing editor, Allison Sutcliffe, who added new resources and checked that all books were available. The article contains affiliate links. If you purchase products through links on our site, ParentMap may earn an affiliate commission. All book cover images are from Amazon.
