PRE-ORDER: ON SALE DATE: August 19, 2025

A young girl contemplates the passing of time and changing of seasons as she looks out on the world from her favorite chair in this heartwarming picture book by award-winning poet and New York Times bestselling author Rio Cortez.

In the morning, a young child opens her eyes, and, after one biiiiig streeeeetch, heads straight for her favorite place in the house: the blue velvet chair. Perched from the chair set by the living room window, the child daydreams about each season of the year and the changes that come with them. A now-snowy roof was once pelted by the slick rain of spring showers. Icy windows will once again transform into conveyors of sunshine and warmth against her skin.

And just as the seasons change, the child will continue to change too. But one thing will always remain the same: the coziness of the blue velvet chair.

PRE-ORDER: ON SALE DATE: July 15, 2025

A warm and funny picture book about the popular West African dish, from Nigerian author Onyinye Iwu, that shows how things work out best when you do them together.

Jollof is a a delicious, spicy rice, and vegetable dish originating in West Africa and now known and enjoyed world-wide. It’s the favorite food of best friends Kwame and Kamsi. But who makes the best Jollof? “My mom,” says Kwame. “No, my mom,” says Kamsi.

The two boys have a great idea. “Let’s each make our own and see whose is really best!” Carefully they pick their ingredients. But Kwame likes playing tricks on Kamsi, and Kamsi likes playing tricks on Kwame. Kamsi secretly adds nettles to Kwame’s Jollof, and Kwame pops a caterpillar into Kamsi’s. Puddle water, fiery ants and old dry chewing gum follow. What a mess! They’ve both made the worst Jollofs ever.

But in the kitchen their moms are sharing the preparation of a real Jollof rice dish, and call the two sad boys in to help. What a difference! “Alone we make good Jollof,” say the moms. “But together we make the best Jollof ever.” And the boys agree–it’s best to work together (but sometimes they still play tricks on each other).

PRE-ORDER: ON SALE DATE: May 6, 2025

Get out your shovels and fossil brushes for this delightful Step 2 reader following a family's search for fossils!

Ava loves rocks! But what she really really loves are fossils! Ava and her family are on a mission to dig up some fossils. They dig in their backyard, in the park, and by the creek but still no fossils. But Ava will not give up! The family head out to the beach for one more fossil hunting adventure! Will Ava finally be able to dig up her very own fossil?

Step 2 Readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories, for children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help. Rhyme and rhythmic text paired with picture clues help children decode the story.

PRE-ORDER: ON SALE DATE: May 13, 2025

Scripps National Spelling Bee champ, New York Times bestselling author, and Sports Illustrated Sports Kid of the Year Zaila Avant-garde shares her love of sports in this level 1 Step Into Reading book. Perfect for children just beginning to read.

Be a soccer star. Kick, kick, score! Bounce a basketball. Bounce, bounce, soar!

New readers will find playful encouragement in this easy reader that sings out about the joy of playing sports. Wth ample rhyme and helpful repetition, Zaila Avante-garde takes readers on a boisterous romp through the wide world of sports, showing cheerful scenes of baseball, swimming, running, gymnastics, and more.

Step 1 Readers feature big type and easy words for children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading. Rhyme and rhythmic text paired with picture clues help children decode the story.

PRE-ORDER: ON SALE DATE: July 1, 2025

An awe-inspiring picture book about the origin and advancement of humans, from author and #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Nikkolas Smith.

Fossil records show that the first humans were born in Africa. Meaning, every person on Earth can trace their ancestry back to that continent. The History of We celebrates our shared ancestors' ingenuity and achievements and imagines what these firsts would have looked and felt like.

What was it like for the first person to paint, to make music, to dance, to discover medicine, to travel to unknown lands? It required courage, curiosity, and skill.

The History of We takes what we know about modern human civilization and, through magnificent paintings, creates a tale about our shared beginnings in a way that centers Black people in humankind's origin story.

PRE-ORDER: ON SALE DATE:  June 10, 2025

Acclaimed authors Zadie Smith and Nick Laird are back with a brand-new picture book about conquering new experiences and enjoying the great outdoors!

Maud—the judo-suit-wearing guinea pig and proud oddball—is off into the wild, as is Kit, her owner. Both are slightly nervous about what they’ll find in the great outdoors, but with a pinch of bravery—and a few Signature Moves—they’ll make new friends and explore new worlds . . .

A warm and endearing story celebrating the quiet power of being yourself.

PRE-ORDER: ON SALE DATE: July 22, 2025

Here's a humorous picture book that shows the ways in which we are all different... and how that's really cool! The kid-friendly text and vibrant illustrations explore external and internal similarities and differences through comparisons of animals, objects, and people. A perfect gift for children ages 4-8.

Do you know there's something totally cool about each of us? We're different in all kinds of ways... fun and wonderful ways!

We can be different on the outside, like a red apple and a yellow apple. But we can also be as different as apples and dogs, with different shapes, sizes, and colors.

We can be different on the inside too! We can have different emotions, different dreams, and different ways of expressing ourselves.

There are so many ways we can be different. But it’s not only okay… it’s totally cool!

With Camey Yeh’s warm text, comical comparisons, and quirky illustrations, We’re Different and It’s Totally Cool! is the perfect read-aloud book that celebrates everyone's uniqueness and all the ways we are fabulously different—inside and out!

PRE-ORDER: ON SLAE DATE: June 24, 2025

A sequel to Ruby René Had So Much to Say that explores the importance of listening, making new friends, and teamwork.

Ruby René had so much to say…so she got her own segment on the school's morning announcements. But now Ruby’s got a co-host! After an unexpected sick day, Ruby René returns to someone new sitting in her anchor chair–Yanin Luray. Ruby reluctantly agrees to a shared show and is surprised that she loves having an assistant to bounce ideas off of.

But when Yanin refuses to come back to do the show, Ruby René is forced to reflect on how it’s not only important to share her voice, but her ears, too. As the girls learn to listen and talk in equal measure, they discover how to both get their way, as co-hosts.

PRE-ORDER: ON SALE DATE: July 8, 2025

A free-spirited new student helps a perfectionist panda embrace his more spontaneous side in this charming classroom story.

Mao Mao strives for everything to be absolutely, 100%...PERFECT!
But when Olivia joins his class, Mao Mao realizes that not everyone is this way. Olivia is messy. And noisy. And clumsy.
So, Mao Mao decides to teach Olivia the art of how to be *PERFECT.* How hard could it be?

With speech balloons and kawaii-influenced illustrations by Laan Cham, this relatable picture book celebrates individuality and self-expression and invites little ones to redefine what it means to be "perfect." It also champions embracing differences and learning from one another—an important lesson for any child starting school.

PRE-ORDER: ON SALE DATE: May 20, 2025

From the award-winning creators of Ice Cream Man and Good Things comes a journey through the mystical world of the Louisiana Bayou. Follow along as a young boy learns about the environment and the history of the bayou while on a boat ride with his grandpa. This stunning picture book features sidebars with fun facts and snippets of a poem woven throughout the narrative.

The bayou’s calling out to me.
“Come back, my son,” it says. “Come see.”
What holds me back, I do not know,
But I promised, and so I’ll go.

While Troy is on vacation in Louisiana, his grandpa has promised to take him down to the bayou. Grandpa explains that the bayou is not only a shallow, slow-moving, muddy river—but also so much more.

When the time finally comes, Troy and Grandpa climb into Uncle Joe’s pirogue and set off on a unique adventure that stirs up Grandpa's memories and Troy's imagination. Grandpa shares stories about their enslaved ancestors who escaped to the bayou, the ghosts who rise from the moss, and a chorus of creatures that sing around them.

At the end of the day, Grandpa gives Troy a notebook so that he can write about everything the bayou has taught him, or even compose beautiful poems like Grandpa’s. Troy discovers that there is so much to learn about the legends, history, flora and fauna, and yourself, down on the bayou.

Award-winning author Glenda Armand's inviting and informational text along with illustrator Alleanna Harris's lush illustrations capture the young protagonist's imaginative perspective, the lovely bond between a grandfather and grandson, the power of poetry, and the beauty and history of the bayou.

PRE-ORDER: ON SALE DATE: June 17, 2025

Perfect for back-to-school, this empowering and joyous picture book shows kids the importance of loving your name, having pride in your culture, and standing up for yourself.

Nigerian American sisters Chichi and Didi are ready for the first day of school! But after Chichi is teased for her "different" name, she comes home feeling discouraged.

Daddy and Mama tell the sisters the stories behind their names, helping Chichi return to school with her head held high.

Inspired by the childhood experiences of real-life sisters Peace Amadi and Ndidi Amadi, Chichi and Didi Love Their Names will teach readers:

* to be curious about the origin and meanings of their own names
* the importance of identity and saying names correctly
* the beauty in celebrating difference and taking pride in uniqueness

PRE-ORDER: ON SALE DATE: August 12, 2025

From an award-winning author comes a vibrant and heartwarming story of the bond between grandmother and grandchild, with a touch of Puerto Rican magic!

My abuela is a bruja.
There is magic in everything she does.

There is nothing more magical than a grandmother's love. But one lucky girl suspects her grandmother has actual magic. It's in the tun-tun-tun of the way she dances salsa, in the warmth of her hugs, and the delicious smell of her cooking. The granddaughter wonders: will I have magic of my own one day?

Follow the magic in this heartfelt picture book that features extensive backmatter that includes two special recipes from Mayra Cuevas and uplifiting illustrations from Lorena Alvarez Gómez.

Travel back in time in this collection of exhilarating dinosaur adventures for kids and grandchildren aged 7-10 from paleontologist and YouTuber Kallie Moore.

Who needs Jurassic World when the truth is this exciting? Prepare yourself for jaw-dropping discoveries, scandalous stories, and dinosaurs so weird you won’t believe they’re real! The tales in this dinosaur book are all completely true and many are included in a kids’ book for the first time. Readers will come face-to-face with incredible prehistoric beasts including the Australian dinosaurs that fossilized into gemstones, the prehistoric shark with a circular saw in its mouth, and the relative of T. rex that was found frozen at the top of a mountain in Antarctica…

The book is broken down into chapters covering the whole of Earth’s history:

Chapter 1 - The Beginning - featuring prehistoric goo and the first squishy animals

Chapter 2 - An Explosion of Life - featuring king-sized trilobites, armored fish, and giant bugs!

Chapter 3 - The Age of Reptiles - featuring spiny sauropods, pterosaurs the size of airplanes, and musical dinosaurs.

Chapter 4 - The Recent Past - featuring gigantic snakes, Ice Age mammoths and sabre-toothed cats, and the hairy primates that would one day evolve into humans!

Every thrilling story has been meticulously researched by author Kallie Moore, a fossil expert who also hosts the hit YouTube show PBS Eons. Beautiful illustrations by critically-acclaimed illustrator Becky Thorns bring incredible prehistoric beasts like Stegosaurus and Triceratops to life for younger readers.

Unlike most kids’ dinosaur books on the market, Tales of the Prehistoric World shines a light on the work of palaeontologists – from Susan Hendrickson, who discovered the most complete T. rex ever found, to Nizar Ibrahim, whose discoveries in the Sahara desert changed everything we thought we knew about Spinosaurus (SPOILER: it could swim!)

"Will please both fledgling and confirmed dinophiles. . .An insider’s view of exciting sites and finds, with prehistoric portraits aplenty to match." –Kirkus

A gift to stand the test of time

This beautiful hardback book makes the perfect gift for dino-mad kids. The cloth-textured cover is gilded with gold foil, and everything is printed using sustainable FSC® certified paper.

Collect the series

Part of Neon Squid’s acclaimed series of educational bedtime stories that also includes Tales of Ancient Worlds and Tales of World War II.

PRE-ORDER: ON SALE DATE: July 15, 2025

A touching and joyful celebration of siblinghood, by New York Times bestselling author Derrick Barnes

Rasheed has the best big brother in the world! Anthony has been his hero from day one, making him feel safe during storms and included in all kinds of fun activities. Thanks to Anthony, Rasheed knows all about worms, mud pies, puddles, and how to fly on a swing. And now that Rasheed is getting a little older, Anthony is teaching him how to do big-boy things, like button his own shirt, and ride a bike. And most importantly, that there will be times when Anthony needs his own space and time with his buddies. At first Rasheed feels crushed not to be included full-time with his brother, but fortunately, Anthony reassures him that even when they're not together he still loves Rasheed and nothing will ever change that. And when Momma and Daddy share the big news that soon both of them will be big brothers, Rasheed knows--thanks to Anthony--just what kind of big brother he wants to be.

From celebrated broadcast journalist and talk show host of the Tamron Hall show, Tamron Hall, comes an endearing story about young Moses and his crew, inspired by her real-life son, as they go on an adventure around Harlem’s most iconic spots to deliver jars of honey for their neighbor and learn about the places and people that make Harlem home.

For Moses, Harlem couldn’t be any more different from the Texas he moved away from. He can’t hear the frogs and fireflies at night, and the only friends he has are his dog, Lotus-May and his bird, JoJo. But when his friendly neighbor Laila suggests that he help her deliver jars of honey to the neighborhood, he finally gets the chance to make new friends and see the magic that echoes throughout Harlem. And as he discovers storied landmarks along the way, the place begins to feel inviting and alive.

From Emmy Award–winning talk show host of the Tamron Hall show, Tamron Hall, comes a lively and heartening tale about one of the nation’s most iconic neighborhoods and the places and people that make a place feel like home.

From the duo behind the best-selling If I Had a Dinosaur comes this humorous and imaginative celebration of unicorns.

Have you ever given any thought to what the perfect magical pet would be? Giants are far too big, and dragons are way too hot, but what about a unicorn? It might eat all your ice cream for breakfast, but if you get upset about that, it will feed you cotton candy! It can sprinkle star dust on grumpy siblings, carry you to soccer practice on a rainbow, and make sure you dream nothing but sweet and fluffy unicorn dreams.

In this playful tale, a little girl finds out firsthand what it’s like to have a magical creature as a pet.

Illustrated in color throughout

From the duo behind the bestselling If I Had series, a humorous and entertaining tale celebrating octopuses.

Have you ever thought about what the best aquatic pet would be? It’s an octopus, of course! When a little girl fantasizes about having a crazy smart octopus pet, she pictures jumping rope with its tentacles, practicing different ball games simultaneously, and playing hide-and-seek with her camouflaging friend (just look out for the ink!).

With vibrant illustrations and playful rhymes, If I Had an Octopus is a laugh-out-loud story celebrating friendship between a child and her octopus. From the duo behind If I Had a Dinosaur, If I Had a Sleepy Sloth, and If I Had a Unicorn, Gabby Dawnay and Alex Barrow’s latest is a charming and imaginative tale about our favorite eight-armed creature.

Illustrated in color throughout

The inspirational life of Kamala Harris for kids!

From the newly-announced Young People's Poet Laureate comes a powerful and inspiring picture book that shares how each milestone and moment in Kamala Harris's life represents something that lies within young readers' reach, too―building community, asking for answers, learning from elders, standing up for what's right, pride, friendship, strength, and most of all―knowing that nothing is out of the reach of their future!

This stunning children’s book from the photographer behind the Instagram sensation Brown Girls Do Ballet, combines irresistible photos of young ballerinas of color with inspirational text that empowers all children to express their true selves through movement and music.

When TaKiyah Wallace-McMillian went to enroll her three-year-old daughter into her first ballet class, she immediately noticed the lack of diversity of backgrounds and abilities among the students pictured on the school's website. In response, TaKiyah, a photographer, began taking pictures of young dancers of color and launched an Instagram called Brown Girls Do Ballet. The Instagram was an instant sensation, drawing a community of dancers of all ages. A nonprofit organization, that provides resources, mentoring, and inspiration worldwide followed soon after.

Takiyah’s first children’s book is full of gorgeous photographs of irresistible young BIPOC ballerinas of all levels -- from beginners to more experienced dancers. Writer JaNay Brown-Wood's poetic text, inspired by the dancer's graceful poses and powerful leaps, encourages young readers be proud of who they are and empowers them to take center stage. Brown Girls Do Ballet will inspire all readers to pursue their dreams no matter what barriers are put in front of them.

A gloomy, rainy day is turned upside down when Gran-moman takes Petite Marie on an adventure through town. Celebrate joy, Louisiana Creole culture, community, and the love of a wonderful grandparent in this gorgeous story about making every day count.

"Conveys the big power of small actions and the bolstering effect of community." Publisher's Weekly, Starred Review

"As Petite Marie moves around the town with her grandmother, their loving bond is expressed through all
their interactions." Booklist

Rain falls outside an old Louisiana Creole house until the ground is as soggy as a bowl of cush cush. Petite Marie thinks she's going to have to spend all day indoors, but Gran-moman takes Petite Marie on an unexpected journey around town. Soon, Petite Marie is having a magical day filled with friends, delicious Louisiana creole cooking, and a lot of care and kindness. With the help of Gran-moman she discovers that any day can be beautiful, no matter the weather.

PRE-ORDER.  ON SALE DATE: May 6, 2025

The celebrated author of Ezra Jack Keats Award winner Nell Plants a Tree and a Caldecott Honor artist come together for a poetic picture book introduction to Juneteenth and its origin.

Oh, how you would dance! How you would sing! How you would celebrate!

With lyrical text from Anne Wynter and radiant artwork from Jerome Pumphrey, this poetic picture book explains the history behind Juneteenth celebrations. So Many Years simultaneously acknowledges the history of slavery in the US as well as the astonishing Black resilience that has led to an enduring legacy of Black joy.

PRE-ORDER ONLY.  ON SALE DATE: May 6, 2025

Marcus Bridgewater, also known as the social media sensation Garden Marcus, shows kids the lessons he learned in his grandma's garden when he was growing up.

Grandma's favorite place is her garden. It seems like she could stay there forever! Marcus wants to know why--so they set about exploring it together. From shells protecting seeds (like Marcus's helmet protects his head!) to a small seed eventually growing into something big (also just like Marcus!), there are so many amazing connections to be made in this wonderful place. Day after day, Marcus delights in realizing how much he has in common with the plants--he drinks water every day, too, and he gets haircuts just like the plants get pruned. As his grandma says, there's a whole world to explore in a garden, and Marcus likes thinking about it as a playground for all the snails, birds, bugs, and worms. And one of its many beauties is the bounty they are rewarded with after all the love and care they pour into it!

A moving picture book about the history of Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas—and the origins of Juneteenth.

When people visit me, they are free—to run, play, gather, and rejoice.

They built me to remember.

On June 19, 1865, the 250,000 enslaved people of Texas learned they were free, ending slavery in the United States. This day was soon to be memorialized with the dedication of a park in Houston. The park was called Emancipation Park, and the day it honored would come to be known as Juneteenth.  

In the voice and memory of the park itself—its fields and pools, its protests and cookouts, and, most of all, its people—the 150-year story of Emancipation Park is brought to life. Through lyrical text and vibrant artwork, Tonya Duncan Ellis and Jenin Mohammed have crafted an ode to the struggle, triumph, courage, and joy of Black America—and the promise of a people to remember.

"Hello there, sunshine!"

Every morning, young Tabitha wakes up and greets the sun. She loves how it brings everyone JOY. But one day she wakes up and the sun is missing! So Tab hops on her strawberry shortcake bike with her puppy in tow and makes it her business to find the sun.

Can she do it? Or will Tabitha find out that sometimes the shine we're looking for is inside of us?

A perfect pick for fans of What Do You Do with an Idea?, You Matter, and Just Because, Brown’s debut is a marvelous read-aloud and a great gift that will remind the youngest reader to always stay positive. 

A visual celebration of Black women and their gardens, filled with inspiration, stories, and the healing magic of gardening, based on the popular Instagram account BlackGirlsGardening.

Through first-person narratives and arresting photography, this unique gardening book profiles women who demonstrate how a gardening practice has the power to heal, empower, educate, and connect. Thirty-one compelling personal stories about creating backyard, flower, and vegetable gardens, participating in community gardens, and gardening with kids are included. Sidebars offer advice on composting, pest control, must-have tools, greenhouse gardens, and more.

In a beautiful, chunky package that can be read cover to cover or displayed on a coffee table, Black Girls Gardening makes a lovely gift for aspiring and practicing Black women gardeners, first-time homeowners, parents who garden with their kids, and women of all ages who enjoy sinking their hands into the soil.

GARDENING AS EMPOWERMENT: With stories on starting a garden from seed, building your own vegetable and flower beds, growing your own food, connecting with a community, and showing your kids the power and joy that come from these experiences, this uplifting book demonstrates how gardening empowers women and green thumbs of all ages and levels. 

HEALTH BENEFITS: Gardening is good for you, and it’s a lifelong hobby! Spending time outside is an excellent way to relieve stress and anxiety, and gardening is an accessible and increasingly common pastime that provides respite from our indoor, online, sedentary lives. This book celebrates gardens as a sanctuary, a source of solace and joy, and a place for self-discovery and connection.

CELEBRATES DIVERSITY: This uniquely inspiring nature and gardening book highlights stories from Black, biracial, and multiracial women, an underrepresented audience in mainstream gardening, nature, and outdoor media.

Perfect for:
* Self-care gift or self-purchase for Black women, ages 18 - 50+
* Gift-giving for Mother’s Day, birthday, housewarming, or retirement
* Women gardeners and aspiring green thumbs
* Garden admirers and nature enthusiasts
* First-time homeowners who want to plant a garden
* Followers of @BlackGirlsGardening
* Fans of Nature Swagger, Wild at Home, My Beautiful Black Hair, She Explores

A bold anthem that celebrates the power and potential of young Black boys by the award-winning creative team of author Brynne Barnes and superstar illustrator Bryan Collier.

From the celebrated author of Black Girl Rising and Colors of Me and four-time Caldecott Honor recipient and multiple-award-winning illustrator of Trombone Shorty, Rosa, and many more, this is a picture book to read, share, and cherish across generations.

Black Boy, Rise combines gorgeous, moving text—filled with lyrical references to poets and writers whose voices have lifted and defined the Black experience, including Langston Hughes, Lucille Clifton, W. E. B. Du Bois, and James Weldon Johnson—with vibrant, beautifully rendered watercolor images that powerfully reflect the soul and gloriousness of Black boys in all their brilliance: the rich legacy of their past, the grit and grace of their present, and the divine promise of their future.

BLACK JOY: This dynamic anthem speaks directly to the need of families, educators, and young readers to see the full beauty, richness, and complexity of Black boys’ experiences reflected in thoughtful, empowering children’s literature that positively portrays and celebrates Black boyhood.

A GREAT GIFT: From graduation to birthdays to other milestone events, this book makes a perfect present for anyone looking to celebrate, empower, and inspire the men in their lives—whether sons, grandsons, nephews, cousins, or friends.

AFRICAN AMERICAN BOOKS FOR KIDS: For fans of All Because You Matter and Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, Brynne Barnes brings a fresh spin with her rhythmic rhyming text that exhorts readers to “Make beauty. Make joy. Make believe, and pretend. Make wonder. Makes wishes. Make magic begin.”
 

Perfect for:
* Parents, grandparents, and caregivers
* Teachers and librarians seeking diverse books
* Anyone interested in books about Black joy or Black history
* Gift-givers looking for a unique and inspiring book for the boys (or men) in their lives
* Readers who loved Martin’s Big Words, I Am Every Good Thing, and Black Boy Joy

Baby’s loud. Baby’s messy. Sometimes Baby really smells. Maybe Baby just doesn’t know the rules? Good thing it’s big sister time—she can show Baby how to be the best baby ever!

Told through the eyes of a big sister,this charming hardcover picture book empowers older siblings by showing them that they have very important roles to play in introducing their family’s new baby to the world.

From cleaning up messes to learning to share, big sister will teach the new baby everything any baby needs to know. After all, big sister was a baby once, too—and she was really good at it. 

It’s Big Sister Time! shows every girl how awesome it is being a big sister. Because as we all know, being a sister RULES!

Baby’s loud. Baby’s messy. Sometimes Baby really smells. Maybe Baby just doesn’t know the rules? Good thing it’s big brother time—he can show Baby how to be the best baby ever!

Told through the eyes of a big brother,this charming hardcover picture book empowers older siblings by showing them that they have very important roles to play in introducing their family’s new baby to the world. 

From cleaning up messes to learning to share, big brother will teach the new baby everything. After all, big brother was a baby once, too—and he was really good at it.

It’s Big Brother Time! shows every boy how awesome it is being a big brother. Because as we all know, being a brother RULES!

Tenderly illustrated by Alleanna Harris, Adiba Nelson's debut picture book Oshún and Me is a heartwarming ode to family, identity, and the beauty of braided hair. Also available in Spanish!

It’s Sunday, and that means it’s Hair Day! As Mami weaves gold and cowrie shells into Yadira’s hair, she tells her the story of the goddess Oshún, showing Yadi how her Afro Latin heritage is lovingly tucked into each braid and shell.

The next day, Yadi arrives for her first day at a new school. She's nervous about making friends, but with her beautiful braids, the click-clack of the cowrie shells, and a little guidance from Oshún, she finds she has everything she needs to be her best, most authentic self.

A letter from the author and visual examples of different kinds of braided hairstyles are included in the back of the book.

EDICIÓN EN ESPAÑOL

Una niña conoce a más parientes de los que puede contar, pero ¿cómo se comunicará con ellos si no puede hablar español con la misma fluidez?

A little girl meets more relatives than she can count—but how will she communicate with them if she can’t speak their language?

(edición en español)
Es el primer viaje de una niñaal país natal de su papá, y ella está impresionada con los paisajes maravillos, los sonidos sorprendentes ¡y especialmente con el tamaño de su enorme familia! Pero sabe solo un poco de español y le resulta difícil compartir chistes y anécdotas con fluidez. Por suerte, sus parientes la ayudan a ver que hay otras maneras de relacionarse. Pronto la niña siente que está justo donde pertenece: en el corazón de una familia amorosa, aprendiendo mientras crece.

(Spanish edition)
It’s a little girl’s first trip to her papa’s homeland, and she’s wowed by all the amazing sights and sounds—and especially by the size of her enormous family! But she only knows a little Spanish, and it’s hard not to be able to share jokes and stories. Fortunately, her relatives help her see that there are other ways they can connect, and soon she feels like she’s right where she belongs: in the heart of a loving family, learning as she goes along.

A little girl meets more relatives than she can count—but how will she communicate with them if she can’t speak their language?

It’s a little girl’s first tripto her papa’s homeland, and she’s wowed by all the amazing sights and sounds—and especially by the size of her enormous family! But she only knows a little Spanish, and it’s hard not to be able to share jokes and stories. Fortunately, her relatives help her see that there are other ways they can connect, and soon she feels like she’s right where she belongs: in the heart of a loving family, learning as she goes along.

From Ross Mathews (The Drew Barrymore Show and RuPaul’s Drag Race) and his husband, Dr. Wellinthon García-Mathews, comes a heartwarming and humorous tale of love and family as two young boys travel to Mexico to be ring bearers in their uncles’ wedding.

From Emmy-winning TV host and producer Ross Mathews (The Drew Barrymore Show and RuPaul’s Drag Race) and Dr. Wellinthon García-Mathews comes a heartwarming and humorous tale of family, friendship, and love inspired by their real-life wedding.

Evan and Andy are excited to visit Mexico for their uncles’ wedding—and their parents are excited that the boys will have a chance to experience the culture, practice their Spanish, and learn responsibility as ring bearers in the ceremony. Once they arrive, Evan and Andy just want to play soccer, swim, and eat all the great food. However, once the festivities are in full swing and the boys witness the love and happiness between their two tíos, they quickly embrace their role in their uncles’ very special day.

This debut picture book written by Ross Mathews and Dr. Wellinthon García-Mathews, and illustrated by Tommy Doyle, reminds us about the importance of love, family, and embracing one’s cultural identity.