Written by: Bree Galbraith Illustrated by: Josée Bisaillon For ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Social Justice, Bravery, Family, Community, Connections, POC-Centric Narratives, Social-Emotional Learning. Summary: Usha was born in a land where the sky is always gray. Hardly anyone remembers the sun, but Usha is lucky enough to live with her grandfather who does remember what it was like…
Tag: poc-centric narratives
Hike [released 3/17]
Written & Illustrated by: Pete Oswald For ages: any Language: English, but there are very few words in this book! Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Outdoors, Gender Neutral Stories, Family, Traditions, Nature, Environmental Activism. Summary: Hike is a beautiful wordless adventure between father and child outdoors! This adorable story is one of genuine excitement at spending the day outdoors, and the child…
The Revolution of Birdie Randolph
Written by: Brandy Colbert For ages: YA (underage alcohol use, marijuana use, sex, substance use/addiction) Language: English Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Black Culture & Identity, Growing Up, Chicago, Relationships, Dating, Family, Police Interaction (racist treatment), Summary: In the summer between sophomore and junior year, Birdie’s aunt Carlene unexpectedly shows up at their apartment above the hair salon that Birdie’s mother…
Reading Beauty
Written by: Deborah Underwood Illustrated by: Meg Hunt For ages: 3-6 years Language: English Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Literacy, Fairy Tale, Problem-Solving, Feminist, Independent Thought, Kindness, Family, Love, Pets, Space, Rhyming. Summary: This is the next book from the pair that brought you Interstellar Cinderella, which we loved very much! Both of us are so excited to get this one, we’ve been waiting…
The King of Kindergarten
Written by: Derrick Barnes Illustrated by: Vanessa Brantley-Newton For ages: 4-6 years Language: English Topics Covered: School, Social-Emotional Learning, New Places, POC-Centric Narratives, Friendship, Kindness, Own Voices. Summary: This book is the cutest! It is adorable, upbeat, and makes a first day at school seem like no big deal. Speaking about the daily routine at school in an embellished and royal…
Firu’s Forest
Written by: J. Leigh Shelton Illustrated by: Danica Jokic For ages: 5-10 years old Language: English Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Friendship, Social-Emotional Growth, Nature, Natural World. Summary: This book is a collection of 3 stories, connected by cameos and the rainforest. The first story is about a boy named Sebastian, who lives with his grandmother and loves bananas very much. He plants…
The Escape of Robert Smalls: A Daring Voyage Out of Slavery
Written by: Jehan Jones-Radgowski Illustrated by: Poppy Kang For ages: 9-13 years Language: English Topics Covered: Enslavement, Historical Figure, Historical Events, Abolition, POC-Centric Narratives, Resilience, Strength, Own Voices. Summary: This book is phenomenal. Robert Smalls was an enslaved man that was able to hold a job away from the person that enslaved him. Because of this, he worked on a ship…
My Mama is a Mechanic
Written & Illustrated by: Doug Cenko For ages: 3-6 years Language: English Topics Covered: Family, POC-Centric Narratives, Gender Stereotypes, Women in STEM. Summary: This book is absolutely adorable! Our narrator is a young boy, describing all of the things his mother is. Through the eyes of a child, his mother is a chemist, a monster truck driver, and treasure hunter….
Granddaddy’s Gift
Written by: Margaree King Mitchell Illustrated by: Larry Johnson For ages: 5 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Modern Back Freedom Struggle, Voting Rights, Family, Activism, Racism, Strength, Resilience, Education, Own Voices, Historical Fiction. Summary: This story is told from the perspective of a young girl, who everyone calls Little Joe on account of the fact that she follows…
Little People Big Dreams: Josephine Baker
Written by: Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara Illustrated by: Agathe Sorlet For ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Biography, Historical Figure, Musician, Women in Music, Trailblazer, Segregation, Racism, Activism, Modern Black Freedom Struggle, WWII. Summary: Josephine was a born performer, and found her fame dancing on a chorus line in New York City. Due to ongoing segregation and general…