Looking for books about family to read at home with your child? Books that explore family relationships, dynamics, and diversity can help kids better understand their families by exposing them to different types of families. Children’s books about families can also help kids learn about and overcome family issues, challenges, and changes by sparking important conversations.
Whether you’re looking for a story about family relationships, conflict resolution, or family fun, these books about family are perfect for kids of all ages.
Why are family books important?
Reading books about family with your child can help them learn about love, empathy, and the value of family relationships. Books about families can also examine diversity within families and introduce common family issues, conflicts, and resolutions. Thus, these books help children explore real-world scenarios they may face or are currently facing.
In addition, reading stories about family can help children learn new vocabulary, build world knowledge, improve reading comprehension, and develop interpersonal skills like empathy, problem-solving, and acceptance.
The 10 Best Books About Family for Kids
Below are some of the best books about family to read at home with your child. For each book listed below, we’ve outlined the important family lessons taught by the book, as well as recommended age ranges - so you can find the perfect books about families for your child.
1. I’m the Colour of Honey
Written By Maïmouna Jallow
Illustrated By Caroline Faysse
I’m the Colour of Honey is a family book about a young girl named Amanda. Amanda doesn’t quite look like her mom or dad, but she desperately wishes she did. She’s tired of people mistaking her mom for her aunt and her dad for her teacher. She doesn’t like when she has to explain why she doesn't look like them. Can Amanda overcome this and learn that family is about so much more than the color of your skin?
This is one of the best kids' books about family because it explores family diversity and self-acceptance.
Family Topics: diverse families, inclusivity, self-acceptance, multicultural families, family bonds
Recommended For: kindergarten, first grade, and older kids (ages 6+)
I’m the Colour of Honey is available as a read-aloud story on the Booka reading app for kids!
2. My Family
Written By Eve Heidi Bine-Stock
My Family is a book about family relationships and structure. In this short story, a young boy introduces all his family members, naming each person’s relationship to him. He further explains these relationships and the family structure with the help of a family tree. As a result, this book is helpful for introducing young children to the titles of family members and their relationships with one another.
Family Topics: family relationships and dynamics, family members, family tree
Recommended For: toddlers, preschool, and kindergarten and older children (ages 2 to 6+)
3. Olive and Charlotte
Written By Laurie Friedman
Illustrated By Asma Enayeh
Olive and Charlotte is a family-themed picture book about siblings. The story follows two sisters - Olive and Charlotte. Olive tries as hard as she can to be like her big sister Charlotte, who (she thinks) is perfect in every way. But, try as she might, Olive can’t seem to emulate Charlotte’s perfection. Will she ever be able to stop comparing herself to her sister and find a way to stand out on her own?
This is one of our favorite picture books about family because it teaches children to love themselves for who they are!
Family Topics: siblings, individuality, self-acceptance
Recommended For: preschool, kindergarten, and older kids (ages 4 to 7+)
Charlotte and Olive is available as a read along book on Booka.
4. Mom's New Friend
Written and Illustrated By Mattia Cerato
Mom’s New Friend is an excellent book about families for any child experiencing difficulty accepting a new person (and potential family member). From the Family Snaps book collection, this short story explores family conflict and the idea of a blended family.
When a young boy learns that he will meet his mom’s new friend, Dan, he quickly decides they won’t get along. But maybe Dan won’t be so bad. Will this young boy come to accept his mom’s new friend?
Family Topics: family dynamics, chosen family, acceptance
Recommended For: kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and older children (ages 5 to 8+)
Mom’s New Friend is available on the Booka reading app as a read-aloud story.
5. Little Mister Gets A Sister
Written By Samaria Rose Lemke
Illustrated By Ruth-Mary Smith
Is your child apprehensive or confused about becoming a big sister or brother? Little Mister Gets A Sister is one of the best fiction books about family to help them prepare!
In this story, Little Mister learns that he’s going to become a big brother. But he doesn’t want a new sister. She gets on his nerves and ruins things that used to be fun! But Little Mister soon realizes that he can help his little sister learn what he knows - and that he loves being her big brother after all!
Family Topics: family changes, family love, siblings, family relationships, acceptance, family dynamics
Recommended For: preschool, kindergarten, and older kids (ages 3 to 5+)
Little Mister Gets A Sister is available on Booka as a read along book.
6. My Family
Written By Kim Mitzo Thompson and Karen Mitzo Hilderbrand
Illustrated By Roberta Collier-Morales
My Family is a short story about family relationships and traditions. In this book, a young girl named Sophie introduces her family members, including her dog, mom, dad, brother, sister, grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle, and cousins. After young readers meet Sophie’s family, they learn about a family tradition - celebrating her birthday!
This is one of the best children’s books about families for introducing children to the names of family members! It also includes a list of family vocabulary at the back to help parents and caregivers teach children new family-related words.
Family Topics: family members, traditions, family relationships
Recommended For: toddlers, preschool, kindergarten, and older children (ages 3 to 6+)
7. Our Family. Who Is In My Family?
Written By Edward Bailey
Our Family. Who Is In My Family? is another great kids book about families that explores family relationships and the names of family members. This picture book includes simple, eye-catching illustrations that make it easy for young children to learn new family-related vocabulary.
This book about family is a Booka Exclusive (available only on Booka)!
Family Topics: family relationships, family members
Recommended For: toddlers, preschool, kindergarten (ages 1+)
Our Family. Who Is In My Family? is available as a read-aloud story on the Booka reading app for kids.
8. Facing Divorce
Written By Stephanie Finne
Facing Divorce is a non-fiction book about family matters and the changes that come with divorce. This educational book introduces the concept of divorce, explaining what it is and what it means for families, including the possibility of becoming a blended family. It also includes suggested activities and exercises to help children cope with and communicate about divorce.
This book is an excellent resource for any family going through a divorce. In addition to helping parents and caregivers provide a clear explanation, specific examples in the book help children better understand what to expect.
Family Topics: family challenges and conflict, divorce
Recommended For: first grade, second grade, third grade and older children (ages 7 to 10+)
9. Along Came Callie
Written By Alicia Rodriguez
Illustrated by Duc Nguyen
Along Came Callie is a book about families that explores what it’s like to get a new sibling. In this short story, Liam gets a new baby sister - Callie. Liam is not a fan. Callie is stinky and gets far too much attention. How will Liam learn to love his baby sister?
This is one of our favorite picture books about families because it teaches children valuable lessons about love and acceptance. The book also includes writing prompts to encourage creative thinking and writing for older children.
Looking for other meaningful books? Check out these books that teach life lessons.
Family Topics: sibling dynamics, getting a new sibling
Recommended For: preschool, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, third grade, and older kids (ages 3 to 10+)
Along Came Callie is available on Booka as a read-aloud story.
10. Rice and Beans
Written By Wiley Blevins
Illustrated By Mattia Cerato
Part of the Family Snaps book collection, Rice and Beans, is a story that explores family diversity and the idea of adoption. The book follows a young adopted girl who explains how she came to be with her ‘forever family.’ Young readers follow along as the girl learns about her heritage and cultural traditions and shares these with her family.
We love this book about family because it teaches children that you don’t have to look like your family to be part of it! There’s so much more to a family than looks and heritage - it’s love that holds everything together!
Family Topics: family diversity, chosen family, family love, adoption, multicultural families, family bonds
Recommended For: kindergarten, first grade, second grade (ages 5 to 8+)
Rice and Beans is available as a read-aloud story on Booka.
Booka - The Go-To Kids’ Reading App for Books About Family & More
Whether it’s for kids’ books about family or other fun and educational stories, Booka is the go-to kids' reading app for parents and caregivers around the globe!
Why is Booka favored? Similar to other popular reading apps for kids, like Epic and Reading Eggs, Booka offers easy access to hundreds of children’s stories - all at the touch of a button. Booka also provides innovative features, like Read To Me (a read-aloud option that allows children to follow the words in a story as it’s read aloud by a professional narrator) and Booka Reads (a personalized collection of picture books based on your child's interests).
But the real reason parents and caregivers around the world choose Booka is that the app was designed by parents for parents (and kids)! Thus, Booka ensures that reading at home is simple, fun, engaging, and educational!
Want to see why parents love Booka? Check it out for yourself!