Written & Illustrated by: Brian Pinkney For ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Own Voices Black Culture & Identity Black Joy Family Summary: Kenny is a busy dude, and he has a lot to do. Getting dressed, escaping the vacuum, learning soccer…so many things! Luckily, Kenny has his family for love and support. His sister…
Search Results for: Black joy
Me & Mama
English 3 years & up Family Black Culture & Identity Love Black Joy Cozbi A. Cabrera summary This story is beautiful, and I’m enamored by author illustrator Cozbi Cabrera’s ability to showcase such a tender and emotional relationship between mother and daughter. Also, her website is ridiculously gorgeous, and you should definitely check it out….
Glow
english Infant & Up Black Boy Joy Poetry Board Books Ruth Forman & Geneva Bowers summary The sequel to Curls is here!! This sweet and poetic board book follows a young boy coming home from playing, taking a bath, and snuggling into bed. The language is beautiful, and the illustrations joyful, comfortable, and warm. Under…
Magic Like That
English 3+ Black Joy Hair Girls Outdoors Poetry Samara Cole Doyon & Geneva Bowers summary Magic Like That is the most beautiful ode from our narrator to her hair. As she sits on the floor with her mom combing through it, the young girl thinks about other hairstyles she’s had in the past and how…
When We Say Black Lives Matter
English 5+ Black Lives Matter White Supremacy Racism Empowerment Maxine Beneba Clarke summary When We Say Black Lives Matter was published in Australia last year, and has finally made its way across the pond to gut punch North American readers in the most poignant way possible. The stunning artwork that Beneba Clarke has created to…
I Affirm Me: The ABCs of Inspiration for Black Kids
English 3 years & up Black Joy Positivity Empowerment Affirmation Inspiration History Mindfulness Self-Esteem Nyasha Williams & Sóf’ya Glushkó summary You may or may not remember last May when I shared a book called What’s the Commotion in the Ocean? about a Black mermaid talking about climate justice. The pair behind that book is also…
The ABC’S of Black History
English 5 years and up Historical Figures Activism Black Culture & Identity Trailblazers Rhyming & Literacy Black Joy Rio Cortez & Lauren Semmer As soon as I saw this book, I had an inkling it would be phenomenal. I don’t think I was prepared for just how beautiful it is. Alphabet books can be…
Vacation Reads!
English MG & Up Hey y’all! I’m back, Happy 2022! I hope you all had a graceful end of the year and an optimistic beginning to the new one! Below is a list of the books I read during my absolutely fabulous and much much much needed break. Tap any book cover to grab yourself…
Hair: Books for Joy, Confidence & Empowerment
English Wanda has some Xhosa 4-8 years Hair Joy Sikhism Own Voices Self-Confidence & Empowerment Black Joy See each book The dominant white culture in our society has strict, Eurocentric standards for what constitutes as appropriate and professional. These are books that push back on that narrative, and embrace the uniqueness of the strands that…
When Langston Dances
English Any Age! Black Boy Joy Ballet Dance Perseverance Following Dreams Kaija Langley & Keith Mallett summary Full disclosure: Kaija is a close friend of mine. However, even if we had never met (which is honestly very distressing to think about) I would be just as obsessed with this book. Black boy joy? Check. Following…
