PRE-ORDER: On Sale Date: October 3, 2023

A young Black girl and her aunt celebrate the wonder and magic of their family's legacy through storytelling.

When Zora grows up, she wants to be just like Aunt Bea. Aunt Bea is the best storyteller she knows! Every day after school, Zora heads to her aunt’s house, where they take out their family book and turn Aunt Bea’s kitchen into their stage. They raid Aunt Bea’s costume chest, filled with colorful garments from her acting days, and even do special voices to tell the stories of swimming coaches, Sunday preachers, World War II pilots, and more—all real members of their family. Zora can’t wait to find out what her story will be. As the days pass, Zora notices something’s happening to Aunt Bea. She gets tired more quickly, and sometimes she needs Zora to tell the stories instead. Zora never imagined that Aunt Bea’s tales would ever stop, but in addition to creating lots of joy and a lifetime of memories, Aunt Bea had been working on her greatest gift of all: preparing Zora to become the story keeper.

Lyrically told by Dr. Ebony Joy Wilkins and exquisitely rendered with mixed-media illustrations by Dare Coulter, Zora, the Story Keeper captures the richness and scope of Black American life through the lens of one family across generations.

This lyrical picture book is a beautiful, heart-opening ode to loved ones we’ve lost and a reminder that their love will carry on with us forever. Filled with stunning illustrations and uplifting text, this is an inspiring story for children and adults to read together in times of need.

This is not goodbye, sweet child.
I’ll see you on the other side. . . .

Simple, rhyming text and evocative illustrations offer comfort to children who may be grieving, or coming to terms with the idea of loss or change. The universal message opens the door to our collective healing, and the everlasting connection of love.    

Actress, dancer, and singer Rachel Montez Minor wrote this book to help children and their families process big life changes. With illustrations from Mariyah Rahman, Minor’s soothing and poetic words are a balm for the spirit.

The stunning new picture book by presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman and Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Christian Robinson—available in Spanish

Te dicen que esto
no va a funcionar.
¿Pero cómo lo sabrás
si nunca lo intentas?

Amanda Gorman, poeta inaugural presidencial y autora #1 superventas del New York Times, y Christian Robinson, ganador de los premios Caldecott Honor y Coretta Scott King Honor, han creado un mensaje de esperanza eterna.

A veces el mundo se siente roto. Y los problemas parecen demasiado grandes para solucionarlos. Pero de alguna forma, tenemos el poder de cambiar las cosas. Con un poco de fe, y con la ayuda de un amigo, juntos podemos encontrar la belleza y crear un cambio.

Con un texto íntimo e inspirador, e ilustraciones poderosamente impresionantes, Algo, algún día nos enseña que hasta los gestos más pequeños pueden tener un gran impacto.

A stunning picture book comprising two incredible stories—the first part chronicles the adventures of a four-year-old Black girl named Harlem, while the second part describes the history of Harlem the neighborhood. From a New York Times bestselling author and a critically acclaimed illustrator.

In this beautiful picture book in two parts, meet Harlem: the girl and the neighborhood. Part one follows the adventures of a little girl named Harlem and her single father as they go on a museum “playdate” with painters Romare Bearden and Jean-Michel Basquiat, listen to John Coltrane records, and conduct science experiments in their apartment ("The volcano erupts /Red lava on Valentine’s Day!").

Part two takes us back to the fourth year of the twentieth century in Harlem the neighborhood. Here, we are introduced to Philip A. Payton Jr., aka Papa Payton, whose Afro-American Realty Company gave birth to the Black housing explosion, helping to start America's Great Black Migration. Because of Papa Peyton, Black families—like Harlem and her father a century later—could move to Harlem and thrive and flourish.

This is a completely unique, absolutely gorgeous picture book by a New York Times bestselling author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning illustrator that weaves together the lives of a modern Black family and a historically Black neighborhood in New York City.

*ships in 7-10 business days

Carter G. Woodson was born to two formerly enslaved people ten years after the end of the Civil War. Though his father could not read, he believed in being an informed citizen, so Carter read the newspaper to him every day. As a teenager, Carter went to work in the coal mines, and there he met Oliver Jones, who did something important: he asked Carter not only to read to him and the other miners, but also research and find more information on the subjects that interested them.

"My interest in penetrating the past of my people was deepened," Carter wrote. His journey would take him many more years, traveling around the world and transforming the way people thought about history.

From an award-winning team of author Deborah Hopkinson and illustrator Don Tate, this first-ever picture book biography of Carter G. Woodson emphasizes the importance of pursuing curiosity and encouraging a hunger for knowledge of stories and histories that have not been told.

Illustrations also feature brief biological sketches of important figures from African and African American history.

A girl longs for her mother’s attention. But Mummy is always busy helping everyone else and their children!

Day by day, the narrator recalls what it was like growing up with her mother, who was a nanny, as well as a friend, baker, maker, teacher, cleaner and more. As the youngest in her family, the girl stayed home and helped amuse the children her mother looked after. She went along on trips to the Caribbean greengrocer in their Brooklyn neighborhood, where her mother would almost always forget to buy her favorite fruit. She eavesdropped on her mother’s conversations, waiting for her turn to talk, only to be shooed away. She even accompanied her mother on office-cleaning expeditions on Saturdays. Mummy seldom had a moment to spare. 

But looking back on a special surprise one Easter Sunday, the narrator realizes that her mother was always thinking about her own children, in spite of the demands of her domestic work and the central role she played in her community.

Based on Laura James’ childhood in Brooklyn, and accompanied by her gorgeous, vibrant illustrations, this simple story is a moving reflection of race, class and labor in North America, including the Caribbean.

How to not fear failure, but embrace it as a way to learn.

Teach kids how to turn negative feelings surrounding the inevitability of failure into important life lessons.

Failure is something that everyone encounters at some point in their lives, no matter how much you try to avoid it. Whether that’s in school, in a friendship, or even playing your favorite sport, success is not a 100% certainty. Grownups, it’s up to you to teach kids how to embrace it. This book doesn’t paint a pretty face on failure. Instead, it rethinks what it means, and shows kids how to live their lives not trying to avoid it.

Meet A Kids Co., a new kind of media company with a collection of beautifully designed books that kickstart challenging, empowering, and important conversations for kids and their grownups. Learn more about us at akidsco.com.

Which spectacular unicorn are you?

Each Afro Unicorn has superpowers: Unique is the problem solver with the power to heal and protect; Divine cheerleads and uplifts others, possessing super strength; and Magical is the all-knowing one with the power to read minds.

Get to know these amazing Afro Unicorns and celebrate the power inside of you!

When Afro Unicorn creator April Showers realized that her favorite emoji—the unicorn!—was only available in white, she was inspired to create a more inclusive brand for children of color to celebrate how magical, unique, and divine they truly are.

PRE-ORDER: On Sale Date: November 7, 2023

A humorous and joyful celebration of love and sharing by the award-winning and bestselling duo, Angela Johnson and Dav Pilkey.

When Maya's grandfather comes to visit from Alaska, he brings a surprise in a crate -- something, he says, to teach her "fun and sharing." Maya hopes it's a horse or a big brother. But instead, it's a huge, pink pig named Julius! Maya's parents see Julius as a slob, but Maya feels differently. She sees a playmate, a protector, and a sharer in all that's magical and wild.

This brand-new edition of the classic picture book by award-winning author Angela Johnson and illustrator Dav Pilkey will teach a new generation of readers about friendship, affection, and sharing, with lots of laughs along the way.

PRE-ORDER: On Sale Date: October 10, 2023

An empowering, feel-good picture book with an inspiring message of self-acceptance from the founder of Young Enterprising Sisters.

There are a million and seven things to love about you!

…your hair, no matter the ‘do (or doesn’t do!)

…the colors you wear (from green to tangerine!)

…and the adventures you love (especially birthdays and bikes!)

Author Fatima Scipio’s bouncy rhymes paired with Paige Mason’s delightful, energetic illustrations celebrate all the neat, sweet, and amazingly off-beat things that make a child incredible. This exuberant picture book is perfect for bedtimes or any times they need cheer. But most of all, I Love Everything About Me celebrates each unique child’s sense of adventure, curiosity, and just being their own amazing selves.

PRE-ORDER: On Sale Date: October 10, 2023

Featuring stunning mixed-media collage artwork, this exuberant picture book celebrates a special day of cooking shared between a boy and his father, a family feast, and the beautiful traditions of the Gullah Geechee people—perfect for fans of Fry Bread, Thank You, Omu!, and My Papi Has a Motorcycle.

Papa has something special planned for tonight’s family dinner—and Bobo can’t wait! Eager to learn how to make okra stew like his ancestors, Bobo helps Papa pick and chop vegetables from the garden, catch shrimp from the creek, rain down rice in the pot, simmer the stew, and even make a tasty side of cornbread—all culminating in a mouthwatering feast enjoyed by three generations of family members.

Inspired by Natalie Daise's own Gullah Geechee culture, this rhythmic, joyous debut picture book—from the co-creator of the hit '90s Nickelodeon show Gullah Gullah Island—is a celebration of Gullah Geechee traditions and highlights a special day shared between father and son as they cook a central cultural dish. Backmatter includes a detailed author’s note about Gullah culture and Natalie's own okra stew recipe.

PRE-ORDER: On Sale Date: October 24, 2023

A rhythmic, striking picture book biography of legendary singer/songwriter/performer Prince.

On ordinary days, you could see him.
A beautiful boy, but small
with a smile given only to lilacs
growing between broken sidewalks
carrying in his pockets
a sound.

Before Prince became one of the bestselling musicians of all time, he was a boy named Prince Rogers Nelson.

Often overlooked and abandoned, he found his own inspiration in the world around him—teaching himself how to play the guitar, the piano, the drums, and much more.

And when he grew up, he used these small details of the everyday to make music, and make the world around him more colorful.

With gorgeous art from Jacqueline Alcántara, Ordinary Days is a tender, profound look into Prince's early life and the moments that shaped him.

PRE-ORDER: On Sale Date: December 5, 2023

A vibrant and clever picture book by an acclaimed novelist about a grandmother who hides in a giant gourd to avoid danger.

Once upon a time, in a little village in India, there lived an old woman. Everyone in the village called her Grandma. One day, Grandma received a letter from her daughter, who lived on the other side of the jungle. "Please come and visit me," said the letter. "I haven't seen you in so long. I miss you."

And so, Grandma begins a perilous journey to the far side of the jungle. Can she use her keen wit to escape the jungle animals and make it safely home?

Chitra Divakaruni's sharp, rhythmic retelling of this Bengali folktale is complimented perfectly by Susy Pilgrim Waters's brightly colored, captivating illustrations.

PRE-ORDER: On Sale Date: December 5, 2023

Millie's grandma, her Lao Lao, passes down her dumpling recipe in this heartwarming story about community, culture, and belonging.

Millie loves cooking with her Lao Lao, and together they walk through Chinatown collecting fresh ingredients to make a steaming hot batch of dumplings. Chives from Auntie Lim, shrimp from Uncle Lee, and enough lychee to last all day make for the perfect dumplings and the perfect summer together for Millie and Lao Lao.

However, when winter rolls around and Lao Lao falls ill, it's up to Millie to remember Lao Lao's recipe and return to Chinatown to get all the right ingredients. With two teaspoons of patience, a pinch of luck, and a whole lot of love, Millie and her parents make a batch of dumplings that Lao Lao will never forget.

This is a celebration not only of good food, but of the loved ones we get to share good food with.

PRE-ORDER: On Sale Date: December 5, 2023

What will Maya be when she grows up? A rocket scientist like Annie Easley? An Olympic athlete like Alice Coachman? A brain surgeon like Alexa Canady?

In this heart-warming and funny story, Maya discovers the achievements of some amazing Black women . . . but it's a brave Nigerian princess who really captures her imagination! 

With humor and zeal, Stephanie Taylor celebrates the lives of incredible Black women in this moving and funny, feminist narrative, while award-winning illustrator Jade Orlando's colorful art perfectly captures the warm and charming mother-daughter relationship. 

PRE-ORDER: On Sale Date: December 12, 2023

Bestselling author Natasha Anastasia Tarpley (I Love My Hair!) returns with this sweet slumber party story that explores both the easy and hard parts of friendship.

Keyana is hosting her very best friend, Nia, over for a night of games, dancing, and splashing in the pool! But when Keyana and Nia have trouble seeing eye-to-eye, they'll have to come together to remember just how much they care about each other. 

With more warm illustrations by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow, Natasha Anastasia Tarpley's Keyana Loves her Friend gives young-readers a fresh new lesson on conflict resolution and the importance of friendship. 

PRE-ORDER: On Sale Date: November 14, 2023

Inspired by Richard Scarry’s What Do People Do All Day?, these joyous portraits of Black men engaged in everyday life celebrate the deep roots and rich cultures of African American communities.

Have you ever wondered . . .
What do brothas do all day?
Brothas drive. Brothas dance. Brothas work. Brothas listen. And brothas love.

Scarry’s now-classic book, first published in 1968, is a richly illustrated guide to the places, jobs, and activities that defined the daily lives of grown-ups. Author-illustrator Ajuan Mance created What Do Brothas Do All Day?, like Scarry, in response to children’s innate curiosity about the activities and experiences of others, but also to meet the longing many kids have for characters and communities that look and feel like the people and places they know.

This joyous reflection of real Black men and boys engaged in everyday life is a gift for Black kids who rarely see themselves reflected in the pages of a book and an affirmation of their world and the people who populate it. From grocery shopping and waiting for a trim at the barbershop to singing, dancing, and laughing with friends, Mance captures the beauty in the ordinary, affirming the enduring strength of the Black community.

DIVERSE BOOKS FOR KIDS: This picture book features real Black men the author has observed in the world—everyday people, not models or stereotypes. One fan describes it as "just a rainbow of Black men, a beautiful rainbow of Black men."

LIBRARIAN LOVE: What Do Brothas Do All Day? began as an all-ages zine, but the author began to conceive of it as a children's book after being approached by two children's librarians.

INSPIRED BY A CLASSIC: As the author notes in the book, "I first encountered Richard Scarry’s work in the early 1970s when I was about six years old. The world of adults, with its grocery lists, PTA meetings, shopping trips, and dinner parties, seemed both tantalizingly exotic and impossibly complex. Today, those same descriptors can be applied to the ways that many people of all ages perceive Black men."

AN INVITATION: The book ends with an invitation, perhaps even a call to action: What will you do today?

Perfect for:

• Parents and grandparents seeking engaging read-aloud and read-along picture books
• Teachers and librarians looking for books featuring Black communities
• Gift for readers of Jacqueline Woodson, Kwame Alexander, Cedella Marley, and Derrick Barnes books
• Fans of Richard Scarry's What Do People Do All Day?

PRE-ORDER: On Sale Date: November 21, 2023

Relive the magic of Bob Marley’s most beloved songs in this newest picture book adaptation!

Is this love?
Is this love that I’m feeling?

Bob Marley’s music has captured the hearts and souls of families around the world. This sweet adaptation of one of his best-loved songs is a heartwarming tale of an older child’s love for a younger sibling.

From the moment she sees her baby sister, big sister knows just what she’s going to do: love her and treat her right, every day and every night. Playing together, watching over her, standing by her through thick and thin . . . big sister does it all because, yes, this is love that she’s feeling.

Adapted by Cedella Marley, Bob Marley’s eldest child, and exuberantly illustrated by Alea Marley, Is This Love? is a joyful ode to the unshakeable love shared by all those who call one another family.

BOB MARLEY FANS: This new addition to the series based on the lyrics of famed reggae musician Bob Marley introduces his music and ideals to the youngest of readers while inspiring nostalgia in older ones.

DIVERSE CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Filled with upbeat illustrations and lyrical text, Is This Love? makes a terrific read-aloud for families or classrooms with its uplifting message of love, caring, and connection.

SIBLING LOVE: Warm and lyrical, this book is a familiar ode to the unbreakable and enduring bond between sisters, making it a perfect gift to welcome a new family member or celebrate important milestones.

SWEET MESSAGE FOR FAMILIES: Imaginative and vibrant, parents and caregivers will appreciate the endearing message of this picture book, recognizing that love comes in all forms and the importance of treasuring special times with family every day.

BEST KIDS' BOOK SERIES: Fans of One Love, Every Little Thing, and Get Up, Stand Up will love this modern take on the classic song Is This Love?.

Perfect for: 

• Parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians seeking engaging books that teach kids about community and connection through song
• Gifting for baby shower, new baby arrival or adoption, birthday, Valentine's Day, or any occasion that celebrates love
• Fans of all the titles in the Bob Marley book series and musical adaptations for kids like All You Need is Love, What a Wonderful World, and Sweet Child o' Mine

In this vital and accessible survey, a prominent activist for racial justice answers questions from real children, giving them the tools and the confidence to shape a more just society.

Using questions canvassed from children around the United Kingdom as her framework, writer, activist, engineer, and broadcaster Yassmin Abdel-Magied provides a clear overview of racism’s history, what it looks like today, and how to recognize, resist, and disrupt racist conversations and attitudes that can appear anywhere. This book is a practical guide for taking actionable steps, but it acknowledges that talking about racism invites complex feelings and offers tips and tactics for expressing those emotions safely, stepping back when needed, and prioritizing self-care. The book’s warm and assured tone, friendly illustrations, and supplementary charts, sidebars, infographics, and glossary offer an authentic way to open a dialogue with middle-grade readers, providing an eloquent call to nurture compassion and change, challenge inequality, and strive toward racial justice for all.

PRE-ORDER: On Sale Date: November 7, 2023

A lyrical narrative of a Palestinian family in exile explores universal bonds of family, loyalty, and friendship through the lens of eleven Arabic expressions for love.

A family has fled their homeland in search of safety in another country, carrying a single suitcase. As their journey unfolds, the oldest child reflects on the special contents of that suitcase: photo albums that evoke eleven of many names for love in Arabic. From sunshine-warm friendship to the love that dissolves all tears; from the love that makes you swoon to the love that leaves you yearning for the heart’s homeland—her family has experienced it all. Illustrated in vibrant watercolor pencil and collage on textured card stock, this moving scrapbook shows a family embracing an unknown future even as they honor the past, casting immigration and the refugee experience in the light of universal human connection.

PRE-ORDER: On Sale Date: November 7, 2023

In a companion to Build a House, Rhiannon Giddens—Grammy Award winner and cofounder of the Carolina Chocolate Drops—gives wing to a moving tale of grace and transcendence, with acclaimed artist Briana Mukodiri Uchendu.

At a sparrow’s urging, a young girl feels a mysterious trembling in her arms, a lightness in her feet, a longing to be free. Her mother tells her that her Granny Liza experienced the same, as did many of their people before her. Perhaps it’s time, Mama says, to slip the bonds of earth and join the journey started long ago. To hold each other tight and rise. Drawing on lyrics from the song “We Could Fly” by Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell, which in turn draw on a heritage of African folklore, this incantatory dialogue between a mother and daughter paired with startlingly beautiful illustrations celebrates love, resilience, and the spiritual power of the “old-time ways”—tradition and shared cultural memory—to sustain and uplift.

PRE-ORDER: On Sale Date: February 13, 2024

In a sparkling debut authored by a sixteen-year-old daughter of immigrants, this ode to the power of multilingualism gives voice to the lasting benefits of speaking with more than one tongue.

Sumi’s mother can speak two languages, Malayalam and English. And she can switch between them at the speed of sound: one language when talking to Sumi’s grandmother, another when she addresses the cashier. Sometimes with Sumi she speaks a combination of both. Could it be she possesses a superpower? With awe and curiosity, young Sumi recounts the story of her mother’s migration from India and how she came to acquire two tongues, now woven together like fine cloth. Rahele Jomepour Bell’s inviting illustrations make playful use of visual metaphors, while Uma Menon’s lyrical text, told astutely from a child’s perspective, touches lightly on such subjects as linguistic diversity and accent discrimination (“no matter how they speak, every person’s voice is unique and important”). This welcome debut, penned when the author was still a teenager, is an unabashed celebration of the gift of multilingualism—a gift that can transport people across borders and around the world.