My Clothes: Books for Young Children

An African American boy’s family lovingly piles so much clothing on him that he quickly goes from feeling cold to feeling hot. Spanish version available.

Días y días/Days and Days introduces readers to basic seasonal concepts and vocabulary and is an excellent choice for classrooms, bilingual homes, language literacy, story times, and family sharing.

On the day of her big sister Eva's quinceañera, everyone is too busy to notice Lolo. The upbeat acrylics and liquid watercolor capture the excitement and gaiety of the family gathering and this special occasion.

Jenna wants to dance in the powwow as her grandmother and other women in her family have. But she wonders: will she have enough jingles to make her dress sing? As Jenna finds a way to collect the jingles she needs, she learns more about her family and the traditions they have upheld across generations. Traditional and contemporary activities come together in this appealing, clearly illustrated story of a modern girl and her background, based on the author's Muscogee (Creek) heritage.

Lady Hahn is a seamstress, and her seven friends are the tools she uses to sew―Mrs. Ruler, Newlywed Scissors, Young Bride Needle, Young Bride Red Thread, Old Lady Thimble, Young Lady Flatiron, and Little Miss Iron. When Lady Hahn's friends start boasting about how important they are, Lady Hahn turns her back on them. But it's not long before she realizes how much she needs her friends.

Two Navajo children help their mom do the weekly wash at the laundromat. Spanish version available.

Meet Marisol McDonald, a spunky young girl with fiery red hair and brown skin who wears green polka dots with purple stripes, mixes English and Spanish, and eats peanut butter and jelly burritos. Everyone tells her she doesn't match, until one day she tries matching — and discovers that it makes her miserable. At the end of the day, however, her teacher shares a special secret with her and lets her know she likes Marisol for who she is: a creative, bilingual Peruvian-Scottish-American!

Baby has fun with Mama as she folds the clean laundry and dresses the baby. A sock is missing! When found and Baby is dressed, it’s time to play outside. Little ones will love seeing Baby getting dressed and finding the sock. Throughout the story Mama talks with Baby about what she and Baby are doing.

In this happy, vibrant tribute to Rock Your Mocs Day, observed yearly on November 15, author Laurel Goodluck (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Tsimshian) and artist Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw) celebrate the joy and power of wearing moccasins — and the Native pride that comes with them.

Based on the author's life, this simple yet profound book is about the pair of moccasins that a child receives from his foster mother. Through the moccasins, the child's mother encourages him to take pride in his Ktunaxa (First Nations) heritage. Earl Einarson dedicates this book to "all foster parents who give of themselves and provide love when it is most needed."

Grandma wears it clasped under her chin. Aunty pins hers up with a beautiful brooch. Jenna puts it under a sun hat when she hikes. Zara styles hers to match her outfit. As a young girl observes six very different women in her life who each wear the hijab in a unique way, she also dreams of the rich possibilities of her own future, and how she will express her own personality through her hijab.

Product Description: In a playful celebration of a vibrant culture, a young girl and her family show all the things they do in their daily lives with a rebozo, a traditional Mexican woven shawl. Lively prose and rich illustrations honor a warm and colorful cultural icon.

It's circle time, and in answer to his classmates' questions about his moccasins, a child describes in detail how his grandmother made them: "By washing and scraping and pulling and smoking a deer hide, my Kookum made the leather. And from the leather she made my moccasins for me." A related lesson plan is featured on the American Indians in Children's Literature blog. — Oyate

Joining the Feelings & Firsts series: a toddler humorously asserts her independence while getting ready in the morning, only to be met with one frustration after another. When she finds an opportunity to help her big sister get dressed, she accepts that they can help each other. Adults and young children alike will delight in this young child's relatable drive for autonomy. Also available in bilingual Spanish.