This holiday season, we are excited to spotlight a collection of beautiful children’s books created by talented local Bay Area authors and illustrators!

At Tandem, we believe book-sharing experiences can transport children to new worlds, introduce fresh ideas, and offer meaningful connections to the experiences of other children and families. That’s why our book collection is intentionally curated to include mirrors (books where children see themselves and their own experiences reflected), windows (books that help them learn about other people, places, and experiences), and sliding glass doors (books that let them step into imagined worlds).

We are fortunate to have a vibrant and diverse community of authors and illustrators in the Bay Area who create picture books that lay the foundation for a more inclusive and just world. The books in this guide reflect their creativity, cultural richness, and lived experiences, from stories rooted in heritage and family traditions to tales that spark imagination, advocacy, and joy.

To make the most of each book-sharing experience, we’ve included tailored conversation starters for each title. Open a book to spark a conversation about fairness, empathy, and inclusion while fostering a sense of community, connection, and belonging!

Mrs. Mustard’s Baby Faces

Written by Jane Wattenberg

This colorful accordion-style board book features real photos of babies’ faces showing various emotions.

Age level: 0 – 2 years

Talking Tip: As you share this book with very young children, point to each baby’s face and name the emotion they are displaying. You might say, “This baby looks happy!” Then, smile and show your happy face to your child and encourage your baby to mimic you. 

Make it interactive: Use silly faces, sounds, and gestures for each emotion and watch your little one respond!

When Sun Rises

Written by Aida Salazar
Illustrated by Caribay M. Benavides

Celebrating family, culture, and the rhythms of nature, When Sun Rises follows a boy and his father as they move through the changing seasons, all guided by the cycles of the sun. Rooted in Mexican Indigenous traditions, this story shows how the sun shapes daily life and connects all living things. It invites readers to notice the world around them and feel the interconnectedness between people, the seasons, and the Earth.

Age level: 1 – 3 years

Talking Tip: Talk with your child about what you notice in nature where you live. Ask questions like “What do we see in the spring?” or “How does the sun feel in the summertime?” 

Encourage your child to share their own experiences playing outside, visiting family, celebrating traditions, or watching the weather change. This helps build vocabulary, strengthens observation skills, and connects the story to your family’s everyday life.

Baby Danced the Polka

Written by Karen Beaumont
Illustrated by Jennifer Plecas

It’s nap time on the farm, but one unsleepy baby has a different plan…Will Baby do the cha-cha? Will Mama flip her wig?

Perfect fun for young children who like lively stories, this happy tale invites all to join in and dance along. Read, sing, lift the flaps, do a little jip-and-twirl!  It’s a toe-tappin’, no-nappin’ good time when Baby starts to boogie.

Age level: 2 – 5 years

Talking Tip: Encourage your child to move along with Baby and wiggle, jump, and spin. Ask, “Can you do the same dance as Baby?” You can also make it interactive by inviting your child to guess which animal Baby will dance with next. For example, say, “With the chocolate-colored…what animal has chocolate-colored fur?”

Triangle

Written by Mac Barnett
Illustrated by Jon Klassen

Meet Triangle. He is going to play a sneaky trick on his friend, Square. Or so Triangle thinks. . . . A visually stunning, humorous book set in the imaginative world of shapes.

Age level: 2 – 6 years

Talking Tip: Encourage your child to share what they think will happen next. Ask questions like,  “What shape do you think Triangle will see next?” 

You can also practice problem-solving skills by asking, “What would you do if you were Triangle or Square from the book?” Make the story come alive by connecting it to your child’s world! Invite them to spot different shapes at home, in the park, or on the playground.

What Will My Story Be?

Written & Illustrated by Nidhi Chanani

After listening to her aunties share stories from their pasts, a young girl begins to imagine all the tales she can create with her own imagination and realizes the endless possibilities for her future. This vibrantly illustrated picture book encourages children to embrace their creativity and cherish the wisdom passed down through generations.

Age level: 3 – 5 years

Talking Tip: When you are sharing the story, invite your child to act out each story from the book. After the reading, ask your child what kinds of stories they like to imagine. You might guide them with a question like, “What adventures would you like to have if you could be anyone in your story?”

Then, let’s bring their story to life! You can act it out together, draw it on paper, or even create a storybook!

Planted with Love, Growing into a Family

Written by Natasha Tripplett
Illustrated by Adriana Predoi

This picture book follows Lamar, a boy who has lived in seven foster homes in three years, as he gradually learns to trust his new foster mother through their shared work in her garden. When anger and uncertainty lead him to destroy the garden, his foster mother’s patient love shows him that, just like the plants she tends, he too is wanted, loved, and capable of blooming.

Age level: 3 – 7 years

Talking Tip: As you share this story, invite your child to share stories about times your family worked together or helped each other, such as baking, gardening, or trying something new.

This is a great story to use to explore feelings and relationships. Ask simple questions for younger children, like, “Who do you love to spend time with?” For preschool-aged and older children, try reflective questions such as, “What makes our family special?”

Spanish is the Language of My Family

Written by Michael Genhart
Illustrated by John Parra

This beautiful picture book tells the story of a young boy preparing for a Spanish spelling bee with help from his grandmother, who shares her experiences of being punished for speaking Spanish in school during her childhood. It celebrates the joy of sharing cultural heritage across generations and explores themes of cultural pride.

Age level: 4 – 8 years

Talking Tip: Before sharing this story, ask your child which language(s) are spoken by your family at home. As you share the story with your child, talk about the traditions, foods, or celebrations that make your family unique. You can also encourage your child to share what they enjoy most. Share a favorite word, phrase, or song in your family’s language and invite your child to repeat it.

What Do Brothas Do All Day?

Written & Illustrated by Ajuan Mance

Inspired by Richard Scarry’s What Do People Do All Day?, these joyous portraits of Black men engaged in everyday life celebrate the deep roots and rich cultures of African American communities.

Age level: 4 – 8 years

Talking Tip:  This book ends with an invitation: What will you do today? Talk about your plans with your child: Where would they like to go? What would they like to play? How are these plans similar to—and different from—what is portrayed in this book?

The Day the Books Disappeared

Written by Joanna Ho and Caroline Kusin Pritchard
Illustrated by Dan Santat

Arnold loves his airplane book so much that he wishes the other books would disappear, and suddenly, they do! But when all the books vanish, including his favorite, he must find a way to bring them back. This story helps young readers think about different perspectives and sparks conversations about book banning and the importance of having access to all kinds of books.

Age level: 4 – 8 years

Talking Tip: After reading, talk together about why it’s important to have many different kinds of books and how stories help us learn about new ideas, people, and interests. Encourage your child to share what kinds of books they enjoy and why everyone should have the chance to read the books they love.

I Love Salmon and Lamprey: A Native Story of Resilience

Written by Brook M. Thompson
Illustrated by Anastasia Khmelevska

This inspiring autobiographical story follows a Yurok and Karuk girl who grows up caring for the salmon and lampreys of the Klamath River. When dams threaten these important fish, her community leads a successful Native-led effort to save them. The story highlights Brook’s path toward becoming an environmental scientist and shows the power of working together to protect nature and honor cultural traditions. The book also features a dyslexia-friendly font and fun facts about salmon and lampreys.

Age level: 5 – 8 years

Talking Tip: After reading, you might ask your child why salmon and lampreys are important to Brook and her community, and talk together about how people can work as a team to protect nature and use their voices to make positive change. You can also invite your child to share an animal or part of nature they would like to help and why.