English 4-8 years Fictive Kin Caregivers Growing Up Love Celebration Alice Faye Duncan & Charnelle Pinkney Barlow summary Another book in preparation for the beginning of the school year is this beautiful and tender book about fictive kin, Just Like a Mama. Similar to chosen family, fictive kin is a particularly important element to Black…
Tag: growing up
Thao
English & some Vietnamese 3 years & Up Self-Esteem Equity Growing Up Immigration Thao Lam summary Thao. Four letters, infinite pronunciation possibilities, much to Thao’s aggravation and dismay. Using a beautiful mix of collage and photos of herself as a child, Thao Lam tells the story of how she became desensitized to people mispronouncing her…
While I Was Away
English & Japanese MG & Up Asian-American Experience Japanese-American Own Voices Growing Up Family Language Learning SEL Waka T. Brown summary Waka is a Japanese-American sixth grader in rural Kansas in the 1980’s. At home, her family speaks Japanese almost exclusively, but Waka is behind in reading and writing in kanji. After a few incidents…
Howl
Written By: Kat Patrick Illustrated by: Evie Barrow For Ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Social-Emotional Learning, Family, Emotions, Growing Up. Summary: I absolutely love this book. Main character Maggie has had an awful day, her pencils won’t make squiggles right and her socks are quite unruly. When it comes to be bedtime, the…
Sugar in Milk
Written By: Thrity Umrigar Illustrated by: Khoa Le For Ages: 6 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: Immigration, Growing Up, Social-Emotional Learning, Legends. Summary: This beautiful and tender book takes a Persian story about immigration into new lands and brings it into a contemporary light with a main character having trouble feeling like she…
All Because You Matter
Written By: Tami Charles Illustrated by: Bryan Collier For Ages: 4 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: Poetry, Black Families, Children, Social-Emotional Learning, Growing Up, Self-Esteem, Self-Worth, Own Voices. Summary: This gorgeous book is an ode to Black sons, and a mother’s deepest wishes for her son to know his worth and that he…
This is Your Brain on Stereotypes
Written by: Tanya Lloyd Kyi Illustrated by: Drew Shannon For ages: 11-14 years Language: English Topics Covered: Activism, Social Justice, Critical Thinking, Growing Up, Media Literacy, Growing Up. Summary: I loooove this book! Books that focus on explaining inequity and the need for social justice to young adults are some of my favorites. In the book, author Tanya Lloyd Kyi takes…
You-Niquely You: An Interactive Journal
Written & Illustrated By: Terri Libenson For Ages: MG Language: English Topics Covered: Friendship, Growing Up, Self-Reflection, Social-Emotional Learning, Journaling. Summary: You fine folx might remember a few months ago I shared a graphic novel about a young Jewish girl with anxiety getting ready for her Bat Mitzvah. The book is part of a larger…
The International Day of the Girl: Celebrating Girls Around the World
Written By: Jessica Dee Humphreys and the Hon. Rona Ambrose Illustrated by: Simone Shin For Ages: 7-10 years Language: English Topics Covered: Feminism, Global Community, Holidays, Inequalities, Growing Up. Summary: This non-fiction book takes a look at a holiday we’re celebrating today, the International Day of the Girl! The book is setup to tell stories…
Interview with Kwame Alexander: Becoming Muhammad Ali
Written By: Kwame Alexander & James Patterson Illustrated by: Dawud Anyabwile For Ages: MG, YA Language: English Topics Covered: History, Biography, Trailblazer, Activism, Growing Up, Boxing, Cassius Clay, Muhammad Ali, Friendship, Self-Esteem, Confidence. Summary: Hi everyone! I am thrilled to be able to bring you a double whammy today of a recorded interview with powerhouse…