Teaching Togetherness
Perspective-Taking Through Storytelling
"As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has or ever will have something inside that is unique to all time. It's our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression."
-Fred Rogers, You Are Special: Neighborly Wit and Wisdom from Mister Rogers
Perspective-taking takes practice, but it is essential for helping kids develop empathy, emotional intelligence, and prosocial skills. The value of being able to decode the motives of others is the ability lead with compassion, resilience, and logical reasoning.
Ways to practice perspective-taking:
Scenario Prompts can help kids feel prepared for and supported through social challenges. By presenting realistic situations for their consideration, our free printable scenario prompts encourage kids to problem-solve, explore emotions, and examine different perspectives.
Traveling near or far can help kids see and experience life from different perspectives. A trip to the local farmer’s market or an international destination—it doesn’t matter how far, it’s the exposure that fosters empathy, adaptability, and curiosity.
Community programming emphasizes outreach and engagement, and it encourages active participation rather than just passive observation. This is a great way to broaden perspectives and nurture a sense of responsibility and belonging.
Books can help us make sense of the world and the act of simply reading a story with a child has immense value. Thoughtful stories can offer a window into various cultures and showcase a vibrant array of traditions, languages, and customs.
Books About Culture:
A book that highlights: inclusion, advocacy, change, & community.
“When Bellen Woodard’s classmates referred to "the skin-color” crayon, in a school and classroom she had always loved, she knew just how important it was that everyone understood that “skin can be any number of beautiful colors.” This stunning picture book spreads Bellen’s message of inclusivity, empowerment, and the importance of inspiring the next generation of leaders. Bellen created the More Than Peach Project and crayons with every single kid in mind to transform the crayon industry and grow the way we see our world.”
A book that highlights: Hmong refugees, empathy, hope, & resilience.
“A poignant picture book about a young Hmong girl born and raised in a refugee camp who imagines what lies beyond the bounds of its borders.
A young Hmong girl has never been outside the camp she lives in with her parents and thousands of other families. Most days, she spends her time playing with her cousins and pretending they can fly above the clouds and far away from here.
When her family’s papers are finally approved, she’s uncertain if she’s ready to leave everything—and everyone—she’s ever known behind. But on the day she leaves, her favorite aunt, Golden Flower, sees her off with the words, Your wings have arrived.
With poetic text by Kalia Kao Yang and stunning art by Khou Vue, Caged is about the power of imagination, resilience, and dreaming of freedom.”
A book that highlights: family, transition, loneliness, resilience, & Filipino culture.
“Celebrate the special connection between father and daughter in this gorgeously evocative picture book, recounting the year a little girl and her mother spend in America while waiting for her father to join them from the Philippines.”
A book that highlights: family, friendship, & world culture.
“When Sarah accidentally breaks Bubbe’s blue glass bowl, she sets a heart-shaped piece of blue glass on an adventure, touching the lives of children around the world, until it finally―remarkably―finds its way back home.”
A book that highlights: family, traditions, & Jewish culture.
“Inspired by memories author Charlotte Offsay and illustrator Jason Kirschner have of baking Challah with their children, Challah Day celebrates the sweetness of sharing homemade food as a family.
In the back of the book, read about the cultural importance of Challah and Jewish traditions. A Challah recipe is included.”
A book that highlights: fear, resilience, & Peruvian folklore.
“Benita loves to read in bed but keeps getting interrupted by a whistling Tunche, a scary Supay and other spooky creatures from Peruvian lore. To the creatures’ disbelief, Benita is so absorbed by her book that she’s not the least bit scared of them. This humorous celebration of bedtime reading puts a global twist on taking the “scary” out of monsters.”
A book that highlights: family, transition, loneliness, resilience, & Filipino culture.
“A little girl holds lessons learned in her grandfather’s sari-sari store close while adjusting to a new home in this sweet picture book about the joy of community, connection, and Filipino culture.”
A book that highlights: family, traditions, & Armenian culture.
“Join Tato and her family as they help Bábo (grandmother) on rug-washing day, in this sweet and playful picture book tribute to Armenian cultural traditions.”
A book that highlights: family, traditions, & Indian culture.
“This touching picture book celebrates the custom of applying henna for special occasions through a mother and daughter who share family memories and stories.”
A book that highlights: friendship, communication, the deaf community, & Filipino sign language.
“This sweet and perceptive picture book by authors Joanna Que and Charina Marquez tells the story of two girls as they learn to communicate with each other. With playful illustrations that celebrate the beautiful movements of sign language, back matter discussing sign languages around the world, and endpapers teaching all the signs used in the book, Dancing Hands conveys the shy and fumbling experience of making friends and overcoming language barriers.”
A book that highlights: diverse abilities, accessibility, acceptance, advocacy, & diversity.
“A bold and colorful exploration of all the ways that people navigate through the spaces around them and a celebration of the relationships we build along the way. We Move Together follows a mixed-ability group of kids as they creatively negotiate everyday barriers and find joy and connection in disability culture and community. A perfect tool for families, schools, and libraries to facilitate conversations about disability, accessibility, social justice and community building. Includes a kid-friendly glossary (for ages 3–10).”
A book that highlights: sibling rivalry, family, perseverance, & Hinduism.
“When his brother Kartikeya challenges him to a race around the world, Ganesha knows he cannot win with speed. He may not be as fast as Kartikeya, but clever Ganesha knows that every problem has more than one solution! A celebration of the dynamic bond between siblings and a loving tribute to family, Ganesha’s Great Race is the story of their most famous contest and will delight readers with a tale of muscles, mangoes, and the meaning of the world.”
A book that highlights: family, traditions, & Vietnamese culture.
“From the creator of the TikTok sensation Grey and Mama (@greyandmama) comes a Vietnamese American family story about a boy who loves to eat adventurously, comfort food, family tradition, and a grandmother's love and wisdom.
Join Grey and his cousin Mila as Grandma teaches them to cook bánh loc, Vietnamese dumplings, and passes down her memories of sharing this heritage comfort food with other loved ones.”
A book that highlights: community pride, togetherness, and Indigenous American culture.
“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. A perfect book for Native American Heritage Month and all year round!”
A book that highlights: Cantonese food, blended traditions, family, & Chinese culture.
“A young boy realizes, thanks to his family, that he can enjoy both his Chinese and North American cultures through his favorite dishes.
Based on the author’s own experiences growing up, The Blue Bowl will speak to many children and adults alike with similar experiences and bring a new perspective to those who do not share in this experience. With deliciously eye-catching illustrations and descriptive, inviting text, readers will be reminded of all their favorite foods as they follow along with Max’s story.”
A book that highlights: family, curiosity, & Muslim culture.
“A precocious girl makes it her mission to find out why the women in her family wear hijabs in this heartwarming yet funny picture book celebrating Muslim women, curious children, and family love.
Noor loves her mum and all the other hijabi women in her family but wonders why they wear headscarves. Is it to hide snacks for later? Or because they’re super spies hiding their secret identities?
Full of curiosity, Noor sets out to find her answer, but her family are all busy and have no time to answer this important question. Just as Noor is ready to give up on her quest, her Ammu arrives home and knows just the thing to say to crack the case wide open.”
A book that highlights: family traditions & Indian culture.
"Here is a completely captivating picture book that celebrates family, tradition...and mangoes!
Narrated by a determined young Indian child, and set in a lush mango grove, here is a picture book that honors generational traditions and beautifully introduces young readers to a culture with which they may not be familiar."
A book that highlights: family pride & Chinese-American culture.
“An empowering story about a Chinese American girl who proudly translates for her mom, helping her to demonstrate her skill as a seamstress on Career Day at school.
It will soon be Career Day at Zia’s school and she cannot wait for Mama to tell her classmates all about her job as a seamstress and about the beautiful dresses she sews. There are just two problems: Mama cannot take time off from work and she also cannot speak English fluently. Zia is determined, however, and hatches a plan.
When Career Day arrives, we meet a vet, a stay-at-home dad, and more. And when Mama finally makes her debut, Zia is the proudest kid in class. Everyone loves career day, but most of all, Zia.”
Do you have any books you would add to this list? Let us know!
