Pecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson

Pecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson (author), Sophia Blackall (illustrator)

It’s the end of summer and Gia and her mother are waiting on a baby that’s due to come around the time of the first snow. Gia is less than happy with all the attention “that ding-dang baby” is getting from family members and friends, even before it’s born. And already the baby is a copycat who loves Gia’s favorite food—pecan pie. That must explain why her mama is craving it so. Woodson’s honesty as she writes about a big sibling’s lack of enthusiasm is refreshing, as is the acknowledgement from Gia’s mother that she, too, will miss when it was just the two of them, after the baby is born. Sophie Blackall’s warm ink-and-watercolor illustrations show a multiracial extended family with an African American mom and daughter at its center. Ages 3-5.

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#pecanpiebaby #jacquelinewoodson #family #siblings #siblingrivalry #love #multiracial #extendedfamily #youngreaders #loveofreading #childrensbooks #storiesofacolorfulworld #letsgetkidsreading

Ninth Ward by Jewel Parker Rhodes

Ninth Ward by Jewel Parker Rhodes

In the week before Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans, twelve-year-old Lanesha is attending school, running errands in her neighborhood., and even starting to make a new friend in TaShon, a boy who lives nearby. Lanesha lives in the Ninth Ward with Mama Ya-Ya, the woman who’s raised her since she was born, while the ghost of Lanesha’s mother is the silent third resident of their home.

In this vivid work of realistic fiction the ability to sense things beyond the physical world is simply part of the fabric of Mama Ya-Ya’s and Lanesha’s lives. It’s as real as the rhythm of life in their neighborhood, a place where people do what they can for one another. But that rhythm is disrupted as the hurricane approaches and warnings come to evacuate. Lanesha and Mama Ya-Ya have no way out of the city, or even to the stadium where many others are taking shelter. They remain at home, eventually joined by TaShon. The ferocious winds and torrential rains are frightening, but the rising waters in the storm’s aftermath are a slow and quiet terror. When the attic in which the three take shelter begins filling with water, Lanesha discovers survival is more than a matter of strength and courage, but of faith as well. In the end, that means holding on, reaching out, and letting go in author Jewell Parker Rhodes’ memorable, exquisitely realized story that offers an affecting look at the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina through one child’s experience. Ages 9-12

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#ninthward  #jewellparkerrhodes #neworleans #hurricanekatrina #tragedy #survival #courage #community #love #strength #childrensbooks #loveofreading #youngreaders #storiesofacolorfulworld #letsgetkidsreading 

Shades of Black : A Celebration of Our Children by Sandra L. Pinkney

Shades of Black : A Celebration of Our Children by Sandra L. Pinkney (author), Myles Pinkney (illustrator)

I am Black / I am Unique / I am the creamy white frost in vanilla ice cream/ and the milky smooth brown in a chocolate bar...
Using simple poetic language and stunning photographs, Sandra and Myles Pinkney have created a remarkable book of affirmation for African-American children.


Photographic portraits and striking descriptions of varied skin tones, hair texture, and eye color convey a strong sense of pride in a unique heritage. A joyous celebration of the rich diversity among African-Americans. Ages 5-7

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#shadesofblack #sandrapinkney #black #unique #skintones #hairtexture #eyecolor #heritage #culture #diversity #love #poetry #youngreaders #joyofreading #childrensbooks #letsgetkidsreading #storiesofacolorfulworld

Quinito's Neighborhood = El Vecindario de Quinito by Ina Cumpiano

Quinito's Neighborhood = El Vecindario de Quinito by Ina Cumpiano (author) Jose Ramirez (illustrator)

Quinito’s neighborhood is made up of more than just buildings, streets, and shops — it’s made up of people he knows and loves. Each person has an important job to do, and each knows and values every member of the community. Readers meet them on this delightful neighborhood tour. His cousin Tita, who learns how to make people laugh in clown school. His aunt, who paints murals to brighten up the streets. Rafi, who bakes bread, and Luis Manuel, who sells it. Highlighted by José Ramírez's energetic, jewel-like illustrations, Quinito's Neighborhood inspires readers to explore and appreciate their own neighborhoods. Ages 3-5

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#quinitosneighborhood #inacumpiano #community #culture #exploration #inspiration #youngreaders #joyofreading #letsgetkidsreading #storiesofacolorfulworld

Grandpa Stops a War : A Paul Robeson Story by Susan Robeson

Grandpa Stops a War: A Paul Robeson Story by Susan Robeson (author), Rod Brown (illustrator)

The true story of Paul Robeson's visit to the front lines of the Spanish Civil War is a tale of courage and activism told by his granddaughter, Susan Robeson. Grandpa Paul was a world-famous actor and singer with a deep and rumbling voice, a man of peace and principle who worried about the safety of children and families living in countries at war. He wanted to use his voice to promote social justice all over the world. Though people warned Grandpa Paul that it was too dangerous, he traveled with his friend Captain Fernando to the battlefields of the Spanish Civil War to sing to the soldiers. And then something amazing happened... With gorgeous illustrations from fine artist Rod Brown, Grandpa Stops a War celebrates Paul Robeson's global activism and towering achievements, and shows readers the power of music in times of discord and war. Ages 5-9

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#grandpastopsawar #paulrobeson #susanrobeson #spanishcivilwar #freedomfighter #justice #courage #activism #socialjustice #youngreaders #culture #history #peace #loveofreading #storiesofacolorfulworld #letsgetkidsreading

Goodnight Taj Mahal by Nitya Mohan Khemka

Goodnight Taj Mahal by Nitya Mohan Khemka (author) Kavita Singh Kale (illustrator)

This delightful and educational board book tours little explorers around the magical city of Agra. Children will discover all of their favorite landmarks and attractions, including Taj Mahal, Mehtab Bagh Gardens, Agra Fort, Jama Masjid, Kinari bazaar, Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, Rambagh Gardens, Sadar Bazaar, Sikandra, Fatehpur Sikri and more. This book is part of the bestselling Good Night Our World series, which includes hundreds of titles exploring iconic locations and exciting, child-friendly themes. Many of India's most beloved regions are artfully celebrated in these board books designed to soothe children before bedtime while instilling an early appreciation for India's natural and cultural wonders. Each book stars a multicultural group of people visiting the featured area's attractions as rhythmic language guides children through the passage of both a single day and the four seasons while saluting the iconic aspects of each place. Ages 4-6.

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#goodnighttajmahal #nityamohan #adventure #explorers# india #diaspora #culture #landmarks #worldtravelers #awholenewworld #youngreaders #childrensbooks #multicultural #loveofreading #imagesmatter #storiesofacolorfulworld #letsgetkidsreading

A Children's Introduction to African American History by Jabari Asim

A Children's Introduction to African American History by Jabari Asim, Lynn Gaines (illustrator)


Jabari Asim goes beyond what's taught in the classroom to reveal a fact-filled history of African American history through politics, activism, sports, entertainment, music, and much more. You'll follow the road to freedom beginning with the slave trade and the middle passage through the abolitionist movement and the Civil War where many African Americans fought as soldiers. You'll learn how slave songs often contained hidden messages and how a 15-year-old Jamaican-born young man named Clive Campbell helped to create hip-hop in the early 1970's.
You'll experience the passionate speeches, marches, and movements of the Civil Rights era along with and the sacrifices of Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, and many others. Along the way there are dozens of profiles of political trailblazers like Shirley Chisholm, the first black women elected to Congress in 1968; dominants athletes like Tiger Woods who, in 1995, was only the second African American to play in a Master's Golf Tournament which he went on to win in 1997; popular musicians like Miles Davis, one the most influential artists of the twentieth century; and inspiring writers like Toni Morrison, the first African American to win the Nobel Prize in literature. Filled with beautiful illustrations by Lynn Gaines that bring these figures and events to life, plus a removable historical timeline poster, A Child's Introduction to African American History is a fascinating and comprehensive guide to this often overlooked yet immensely important part of American history. Ages 8-12

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#achildrensintroductiontoafricanamericanhistory #jabariasim #americanhistory #leadership #culture #childrensbooks #loveofreading #youngreaders #supportblackauthors #supportblackillustrators #storiesofacolorfulworld #letsgetkidsreading

Libba: The Magnificient Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten by Laura Veirs

Libba:The Magnificient Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten by Laura Veirs, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh (illustrator)


Elizabeth Cotten was only a little girl when she picked up a guitar for the first time. It wasn't hers (it was her big brother's), and it wasn't strung right for her (she was left-handed). But she flipped that guitar upside down and backwards and taught herself how to play it anyway. By age eleven, she'd written "Freight Train," one of the most famous folk songs of the twentieth century. And by the end of her life, people everywhere—from the sunny beaches of California to the rolling hills of England—knew her music. This lyrical, loving picture book from popular singer-songwriter Laura Veirs and debut illustrator Tatyana Fazlalizadeh tells the story of the determined, gifted, daring Elizabeth Cotten—one of the most celebrated American folk musicians of all time. Plus, this is the fixed format version, which looks almost identical to the print edition. Ages 5-8

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#Libba #lauraveirs #music #culture #folkmusic #musicians #imagesmatter #childrensbooks #joyofreading #storiesofacolorfulworld #youngreaders #letsgetkidsreading

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penrold

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penrold, Suzanne Kaufman(illustrator)



Follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms. A school where kids in patkas, hijabs, and yarmulkes play side-by-side with friends in baseball caps. A school where students grow and learn from each other's traditions and the whole community gathers to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
All Are Welcome lets young children know that no matter what, they have a place, they have a space, they are welcome in their school. Ages 4-8

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#allarewelcome #alexandrapenrold #diversity #culture #traditions #community #imagesmatter #representationmatters #joyofreading #childrensbooks #storiesofacolorfulworld #letsgetkidsreading

The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore

The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore


A boy tries to steer a safe path through the projects in Harlem in the wake of his brother’s death in this outstanding debut novel that celebrates community and creativity. It’s Christmas Eve in Harlem, but twelve-year-old Lolly Rachpaul and his mom aren’t celebrating. They’re still reeling from his older brother’s death. Then Lolly’s mother’s girlfriend brings him a gift that will change everything: two enormous bags filled with Legos. Now, faced with a pile of building blocks and no instructions, Lolly must find his own way forward. Building a fantastical Lego city at the community center provides Lolly with an escape — and an unexpected bridge back to the world. David Barclay Moore paints a powerful portrait of a boy teetering on the edge — of adolescence, of grief, of violence — and shows how Lolly’s inventive spirit helps him build a life with firm foundations and open doors. Ages 10-14

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#thestarsbeneathourfeet #davidbarclaymoore #harlem #community #creativity #perseverence #dreambig #love #faith #imagesmatter #storiesmatter #blackboys #youngreaders #childrensbooks #loveofreading #storiesofacolorfulworld #supportblackauthors #letsgetkidsreading

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands by Kadir Nelson

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands by Kadir Nelson

What began as a spiritual has developed into one of America’s best-known songs, and now for the first time it appears as a picture book, masterfully created by award-winning artist Kadir Nelson. Through sublime landscapes and warm images of a boy and his family, Kadir has created a dazzling, intimate interpretation, one that rejoices in the connectedness of people and nature. Inspired by the song’s simple message, Kadir sought to capture the joy of living in and engaging with the world. Most importantly, he wished to portray the world as a child might see it — vast and beautiful. Ages 4–8.

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#thewholeworldinhishands #kadirnelson

#culture #poetry #music #family
#imagesmatter #representationmatterse

#blackauthors #blackillustrators
#loveofreading #joyofreading #readinglife
#youngreaders #supportblackauthors
#supportblackillustrators

Lullaby (For a Black Mother) by Langston Hughes

Lullaby (For a Black Mother) by Langston Hughes, illustrated by Sean Qualls

With a few simple words as smooth as a song, the poet Langston Hughes celebrates the love between a Black mother and her baby. The award-winning illustrator Sean Qualls’s painted and collaged artwork captures universally powerful maternal moments with tenderness and whimsy. In the end, readers will find a rare photo of baby Hughes and his mother, a biographical note, further reading, and the complete lullaby. Ages 0–4.

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#lullabyforablackmother #langstonhughes
#seanqualls #culture #poetry #family
#motherhood #love #blackauthors
#blackillustrators #blackpoets #imagesmatter
#loveofreading #joyofreading #readinglife
#youngreaders #supportblackauthors
#supportblackillustrators

Hey Black Child by Useni Eugene Perkins

Hey Black Child by Useni Eugene Perkins, illustrated by Bryan Collier

Six-time Coretta Scott King Award winner and four-time Caldecott Honor recipient Bryan Collier brings this classic, inspirational poem to life, written by poet Useni Eugene Perkins.

Hey Black child,
Do you know who you are?
Who really are?
Do you know you can be
What you want to be
If you try to be
What you can be?

This lyrical, empowering poem celebrates Black children and seeks to inspire all young people to dream big and achieve their goals. Ages 3–10.

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#heyblackchild #usenieugeneperkins #culture #poetry

#blackchildren #imagesmatter

#respresentationmatters #blackpoets

#blackauthors #awardwinners

#loveofreading #readinglife #joyofreading

#youngreaders #supportblackauthors

#supportblackillustrators

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe


Jean-Michel Basquiat and his unique, collage-style paintings rocketed to fame in the 1980s as a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the art world had ever seen. But before that, he was a little boy who saw art everywhere: in poetry books and museums, in games and in the words that we speak, and in the pulsing energy of New York City. Now, award-winning illustrator Javaka Steptoe’s vivid text and bold artwork echoing Basquiat’s own introduce young readers to the powerful message that art doesn’t always have to be neat or clean — and definitely not inside the lines — to be beautiful. Ages 6–12.

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#radiantchild #javakasteptoe #jean-michelbasquiat

#art #culture #blackartist #energy #NYC #readers

#loveofreading #joyofreading #readinglife 

#supportblackauthors

Trombone Shorty by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews

Trombone Shorty by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, illustrated by Bryan Collier



Hailing from the Tremé neighborhood in New Orleans, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews got his nickname by wielding a trombone twice as long as he was high. A prodigy, he was leading his own band by age six, and today this Grammy-nominated artist headlines the legendary New Orleans Jazz Fest. Along with esteemed illustrator Bryan Collier, Andrews has created a lively picture book autobiography about how he followed his dream of becoming a musician, despite the odds, until he reached international stardom. Trombone Shorty is a celebration of the rich cultural history of New Orleans and the power of music. Ages 4–8.

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#tromboneshorty #troyandrews #culture
#music #jazz #blackmusicians #neworleans  #imagesmatter  #perseverence #readers #readinglife #reading #loveofreading #joyofreading #supportblackauthors

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes

The barbershop is where the magic happens. Boys go in as lumps of clay and, with princely robes draped around their shoulders, a dab of cool shaving cream on their foreheads, and a slow, steady cut, they become royalty. That crisp yet subtle line makes boys sharper, more visible, more aware of every great thing that could happen to them when they look good: lesser grades turn into As; girls take notice; even a mother’s hug gets a little tighter. Everyone notices. A fresh cut makes boys fly. This rhythmic, read-aloud title is an unbridled celebration of the self-esteem, confidence, and swagger boys feel when they leave the barber’s chair — a tradition that places on their heads a figurative crown, beaming with jewels, that confirms their brilliance and worth and helps them not only love and accept themselves but also take a giant step toward caring how they present themselves to the world. The fresh cuts. That’s where it all begins. Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut is a high-spirited, engaging salute to the beautiful, raw, assured humanity of Black boys and how they see themselves when they approve of their reflections in the mirror. Ages 3–10.

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#crown #derrickbarnes #blackhair #barbershops #blackboys

#imagesmatter #pride #representationmatters #healthyselfimages

#tradition #culture #power #readers #loveofreading #readinglife #joyofreading #supportblackauthors

Honoring Women's History Month pt. 23: Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Sean Qualls:

In honor of women's history month, a celebration of children's books by black women authors:

Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Sean Qualls:

Young John Coltrane was all ears. And there was a lot to hear growing up in the South in the 1930s: preachers praying, music on the radio, the bustling of the household. These vivid noises shaped John's own sound as a musician. Carole Boston Weatherford and Sean Qualls have composed an amazingly rich hymn to the childhood of jazz legend John Coltrane.

Before John Was a Jazz Giant is a 2009 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book and a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Ages 5–9

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#beforejohnwasajazzgiant #carolebostonweatherford #awardwinner #culture #music #jazz #johncoltrane #blackwomenauthors #womenshistorymonth #imagesmatter #ourstory #americanhistory #reading #readinglife #loveofreading #supportblackwomenauthors 

Honoring Women's History Month pt. 22: The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth & Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

In honor of women's history month, a celebration of children's books by black women authors:

The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth & Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

In the 1930s, Lewis’s dad, Lewis Micheaux Sr., had an itch he needed to scratch a book itch. How to scratch it? He started a bookstore in Harlem and named it the National Memorial African Bookstore. 

And as far as Lewis Micheaux Jr. could tell, his father’s bookstore was one of a kind. People from all over came to visit the store, even famous people Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X, to name a few. In his father’s bookstore people bought and read books, and they also learned from each other. People swapped and traded ideas and talked about how things could change. They came together here all because of his father’s book itch. Read the story of how Lewis Micheaux Sr. and his bookstore fostered new ideas and helped people stand up for what they believed in. Ages 7–10.

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#thebookitch #vaundamicheauxnelson #culture #blackbookstores #harlem #ourstory #americanhistory #blackwomenauthors #womenshistorymonth #imagesmatter #readers #readinglife #loveofreading #supportblackwomenauthors #supportblackbookstores 

Honoring Women's History Month pt. 17:Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia:

In honor of women's history month, a celebration of children's books by black women authors:

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia:

From beloved Newbery Honor winner and three-time Coretta Scott King Award winner Rita Williams-Garcia comes a powerful and heartfelt novel about loss, family, and love that will appeal to fans of Jason Reynolds and Kwame Alexander.

Clayton feels most alive when he’s with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, and the band of Bluesmen—he can’t wait to join them, just as soon as he has a blues song of his own. But then the unthinkable happens. Cool Papa Byrd dies, and Clayton’s mother forbids Clayton from playing the blues. And Clayton knows that’s no way to live.

Armed with his grandfather’s brown porkpie hat and his harmonica, he runs away from home in search of the Bluesmen, hoping he can join them on the road. But on the journey that takes him through the New York City subways and to Washington Square Park, Clayton learns some things that surprise him.

National Book Award Finalist * Kirkus Best Books of 2017 * Horn Book Best Books of 2017 * Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2017 * School Library Journal Best Books of 2017 * NAACP Image Awards Youth/Teens Winner * Chicago Public Library Best Books * Boston Globe Best Books of 2017. Ages 8–12.

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#claytonbyrdgoesunderground #ritawilliamsgarcia #culture
#music #blues #blackwomenauthors #womenshistorymonth 

#imagesmatter #blackcharacters #awardwinner #readers #readinglife #reading #loveofreading #supportblackwomenauthors