Curated book lists:

multicultural/diverse protagonists/empowering

• 50 Multicultural Books Every Child Should Know - curated by Collaborative Children's Book Center (CCBC) at UW Madison
• Best Multicultural Books of 2014 - curated by the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature (CSMCL) identifies the best in multicultural books. The mission of the CSMCL is to provide children, teachers, parents, educators, students, and librarians access to multicultural children’s books with high literary and artistic standards.
• Cheat Sheet for Selling Diversity - list of picture and chapter books compiled by #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign
• The Dark Fantastic - Blog by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas on diverse literature for children and YA
  
• The Brown Bookshelf - http://thebrownbookshelf.com/
  The Brown Bookshelf is designed to push awareness of the myriad of African American voices writing for young readers. Our flagship initiative is 28 Days Later, a month-long showcase of the best in Picture Books, Middle Grade and Young Adult novels written and illustrated by African Americans.
  
  
• 28 Black Picture Books That Aren’t About Boycotts, Buses or Basketball -  https://scottwoodsmakeslists.wordpress.com/2016/01/30/28-black-picture-books-that-arent-about-boycotts-buses-or-basketball/ 

A few years ago Scott Woods was asked by a local TV station to suggest some books for children in honor of Black History Month. Being a Black librarian he relished the opportunity, but did point out that his offerings would avoid the typical fare of Black children’s books: boycotts, buses and basketball. We’ve picked up a few other hobbies since the 1960s, and there are hundreds of books to show for it. Here is his humble sampling of some just in time for Black History Month. 28 children’s picture books, most of them featuring Black children doing what all children do: play, make up stories, learn life lessons, and dream.

high interest - boys

• Big Nate comic books -
  

high interest - girls

other resources for selecting books:

• Cynthia Smith’s Exploring Diversity in Children’s Literature Page
• American Indians in Children's Literature -- Debbie Reese's blog reviewing children's literature
• Oyate - website reviewing children's literature reprsenting Native cultures
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