The Wild Ones & a Love of Dessert

English YA Feminism Sci-Fi Fantasy BIPOC Narratives Anger Chosen Family Magic Love CW: Mentions of assault Nafiza Azad summary This. Book. Is. Everything. When a publicist got in touch and told me about The Wild Ones, I was instantly hooked. A roving band of girls that weaponize their screams in retaliation for the times they’ve…

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….

love in the wild

Ok, buckle up, I’m sharing a book about animals. A board book that reinforces the phrase “love is love” to be exact. Gay penguins? Yes. Lady cheetahs courting? Gotcha covered. Bighorn sheep falling in love? You betcha.

Love You Head to Toe

Written & Illustrated by:  Ashley Barron For ages: Infants & Up (Board Book) Language: English Topics Covered: Family Early Literacy Babies Summary:  This adorable board book celebrates babies and their attributes similar to animals! Happy babies yawn like hippos, stretch like starfish, and munch like chipmunks. I love the papercut illustrations and the diverse families portrayed….

Love

Written & Illustrated by:  Corrinne Averiss & Kirsti Beautyman For ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Social-Emotional Learning Anxiety Family Starting School Love   Summary:  Not only are the illustrations in this book truly resplendent, but it also addresses a topic that nearly everyone has experienced in some capacity or another: separation anxiety. In the…

Julián at the Wedding

Written & Illustrated by: Jessica Love For Ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Sequels, Latinx Family, BIPOC Protagonists, Weddings, LGBTQ Relationships, Love, Friendship. Summary: Julián is back, this time in a wedding! Julián and his friend Marisol have important jobs in the ceremony, and have been given fancy outfits to go with it. Afterwards,…

These Violent Delights

Written By: Chloe Gong For Ages: YA (CW: Gun violence, gore, kissing, gangs) Language: Majority English, some Chinese & Russian. Topics Covered: Romeo & Juliet Retelling, Communism, China, Gangsters, Fantasy, Monsters, Historical Fiction. Summary: I think all of us have had to read Romeo & Juliet by Shakespeare in school, but none of us have…

Love is Powerful

Written By: Heather Dean Brewer Illustrated by: LeUyen Pham For Ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Peaceful Protest, Women’s March, Family, BIPOC Protagonists, Love, Confidence, Activism. Summary: For #sweetsandsocialjustice this week, I chose a book that is not only based on a real person and event, but also encompasses a lot of the unrest…

Grandad Mandela

Written by: Zazi, Ziwalene & Zindzi Mandela Illustrated by: Sean Qualls For ages: 4-10 years Language: English  Topics Covered:  Historical Figures, History, Activism, Nelson Mandela, Apartheid, Social Change, Imprisonment, Black Culture & Identity, South Africa. Summary:  I am shocked that I haven’t shared this book on Instagram yet, I assumed I shared it actual years ago. Well, today we remedy…

Like the Moon Loves the Sky

Written By: Hena Khan Illustrated by: Saffa Khan For Ages: 3-6 years Language: English & Arabic Topics Covered: Muslim Families, Children, Love, Growing Up, Own Voices. Summary: This is a very sweet book in which a mother describes all that she wishes for her child to be. It reminds me of Sweetest Kulu in the…