Written by: Deborah Hopkinson Illustrated by: Kailey Whitman For ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Buddhism, Historical Figure, Historical Fiction, Spirituality, Nature, Mindfulness. Summary: In lyrical and flowing language, this book tells the story of a prince named Siddhartha. He was born in India, and had a natural curiosity about the world around him. Siddhartha’s father may have tried to…
Tag: Historical Fiction
Schomburg: The Man Who Built A Library
Written by: Carole Boston Weatherford Illustrated by: Eric Velasquez For ages: 8-12 years old, or a confident reading level. Language: English Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Historical Fiction, Historic Figures, Literacy, Trailblazers, Afro-Puerto Rican Figures, Professional Life, Schomburg Library. Summary: This book was sent to us by Candlewick Press, but all opinions are our own! This book is hefty! It is crammed with information about…
Freedom over me; Eleven slaves, their lives and dreams brought to life
Written & Illustrated by: Ashley Bryan For ages: 10-12 years (grades 4-6) Language: English Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Enslavement, Enslaved People, Historical Figures, Historical Events, Poetry, Historic Narratives, Narratives of Enslavement. Summary: This book is comprised of poems telling the stories of 11 enslaved people. Records of these individuals were found in a historical document owned by the author himself, who…
The Birth of Cool; How Jazz Great Miles Davis Found His Sound
Written by: Kathleen Cornell Berman Illustrated by: Keith Henry Brown For ages: second grade and up Language: English Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Historical Figure, Musician, Trailblazer. Summary: This beautifully illustrated picture book and it’s accompanying poem are an incredible testament to a legendary musician, but does not cover much about his personal life and the darker parts of his story…
Henry’s Freedom Box, A True Story from the Underground Railroad
Written by: Ellen Levine Illustrated by: Kadir Nelson For ages: 7 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Enslavement, Underground Railroad, Historical Figures, Historical Fiction, Family, Friendship, Abolition. Summary: This book is heart wrenching. Very little happens in this story that is positive besides gaining freedom, and it gives a very real look at Henry’s life while being enslaved. There are…
Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists
Written by: Mikki Kendall Illustrated by: A. D’Amico For ages: YA older teens (mature topics-violence, assault, enslavement, death) Language: English Topics Covered: Activism, Historic Figures, Historical Fiction, Enslavement, Women’s Rights, Suffrage, Women in Politics, Women in Leadership, Assault, Death, Indigenous Voices, POC-Centric Narratives, Marginalized Populations, Modern Black Freedom Struggle, LGBTQ, Black Feminist Thought. Summary: Triple A, how much do I love you?…
Brownstone’s Mythical Collection: Kai and the Monkey King [released 10/22]
Written & Illustrated by: Joe Todd-Stanton For ages: 5-7 years Language: English Topics Covered: Adventure, Mythology, Family, Love, Women Adventurers, Single Mother Families. Summary: This book was sent to us by Flying Eye Books, Nobrow in the UK, but all opinions are our own! This book is part of the larger Brownstone’s collection, and the illustrations are incredible! Kai and her…
Players in Pigtails
Written by: Shana Corey Illustrated by: Rebecca Gibbon For ages: 4 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: Women in Sports, Historical Figures, Baseball, Feminism. Summary: This is a great book about the phenomenon of women’s baseball teams around WWII, when most of the men were off fighting in the war. Part history and part historical fiction, the reader learns about the…
Front Desk
Written by: Kelly Yang Cover Art by: Maike Plenzke For ages: Middle Grades YA Book Language: English, slight Mandarin. Topics Covered: Immigration, Racism, Friendship, Family, Growing Up. Summary: Mia Tang and her parents emigrated from China two years before the book begins. When the book begins, it is summertime in California and the family is living in their car. Soon, a…
A Song for Gwendolyn Brooks
Written by: Alice Faye Duncan Illustrated by: Xia Gordon For ages: 4 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Poetry, Black Culture & Identity, Women Poets, Own Voices, Trailblazer, Historical Figure, Historical Events. Summary: This book is a fascinating rendition of poetry surrounding Gwendolyn Brooks, some of it is her own poetry and some is the author’s. The author…