A picture book bursting with life and flavors about a son and his father cooking up a beloved dish that originated in West Africa—jollof recipe included!

Early in the morning while the sun is still rising, a young boy wakes his father for something special—it’s Jollof Day!

With clanging pots and pans, lots of chopped tomatoes and onions, and a secret blend of spices, this father and son dance to the music of kitchen noise while something delicious burbles on the stove.

With bouncing text that begs to be read aloud and exuberant illustrations full of momentum, Jollof Day is a celebration of the dishes that bring a family together.

This lyrical and heartwarming picture book follows a Nigerian girl who worries about her family's upcoming move. But she soon realizes that no matter where they go, there will always be room at their kitchen table for her community to gather around.

When Zainab runs down the stairs in the morning, she knows what she'll find: Papa cooking at the stove, Mama pouring tea, and then everyone gathering around the family table. Neighbors stop by, and there's plenty of room for them, too. There are so many beloved rituals that happen at the table: homework and crafts, aunties coming to plait hair, and festive gatherings with neighbors and relatives. But soon boxes start piling up around the house, and Zainab worries about the move—will the rituals feel the same in her new home?

In the new house, the family table still feels cozy to sit around. And soon, old neighbors and new friends stop by, and everyone is welcome at the table. Meg Medina's Evelyn Del Ray is Moving Away meets Peter H. Reynolds's Our Table in this heartwarming story about how difficult it is to move, but how connecting with community makes everything better.

This stunning picture book takes a joyful look into the loving and long process of a hair wash day and the beautiful bond between a daughter and mother. Perfect for Mother’s Day or all year round!

I love Sundays, because Sundays are wash days. And wash days are just for us.

Filled with heartwarming illustrations, Wash Day with Mama centers on a little girl cherishing each step of their hair washing routine while Mama imparts her wisdom and stresses the importance of self-care, loving yourself, and being proud of who you are. The process of washing and taking care of Black hair takes time and effort, but this poignant story shows how it is an act of self-love and nurtures a special connection between mother and daughter.

For the Black community, washing their hair can feel like an event in and of itself, and that's why it has been christened "wash day." For many, wash day isn't just a routine, but an intimate ritual that is a symbol of self-love and pride. This self-care practice, although individual to the person, can root them in their culture and allow them to embrace generations of hair traditions. This book shows the love and care of washing Black hair and compels us to reflect on shared moments that we may take for granted.

A picture book biography celebrating the first known Black female tattoo artist in the U.S., Jacci Gresham, co-authored by Jacci herself, and with stylish, accessible artwork by David Wilkerson

How to make your mark?
Express yourself: From coloring outside the lines to creating her own clothes, expressing herself through art made Jacci Gresham feel confident.
Keep an open mind: When Jacci started out, women getting tattooed was considered distasteful. Women giving tattoos was unheard of. And a Black woman tattoo artist? Jacci was the first.
Practice every day: Jacci studied her craft. She developed new inking techniques for Black and brown skin. And she welcomed everyone into her New Orleans shop, including women of every color, shape, and size.
Stand up for what you believe: From art class to artist, Jacci Gresham pushed boundaries, and she never took no for an answer. Jacci made her mark. How will you make yours?

PRE-ORDER.  ON SALE: April 22, 2025

Celebrate the power of food to create delicious, lasting memories with this poetic and playful exploration of the joy of waiting for, and finally sharing, fried plantains.

Mama steers the cart toward the produce section of the grocery store and picks up a bunch of green plantains. Thus begins a week of anxious anticipation as a young girl waits for mustard yellows to seep onto the unripe green peels. By Thursday, black marks begin to splotch and streak across the plantains. And finally, on Sunday, the frying pan sizzles and hisses, as Mama serves up the warm, sugary slices the young girl has waited for so long.  
 
Much like there is sweet treasure hidden beneath the skin of a plantain, this beautifully written and evocative story reaches far beyond the act of preparing a favorite food. Ripening Time celebrates the way food and family entwine to connect us across generations—and serves as a touching reminder that some of the sweetest rewards in life are worth the wait.

Featuring artists ranging from Miles Davis to Kendrick Lamar, dive into this stunningly illustrated celebration of the history of Black music in America by the award-winning author of The Undefeated.

Listen to the sound of survival, courage, and democracy—the soundtrack of America. Hear Billie Holiday's raspy, mournful voice, and tap your foot to Louis Armstrong's trumpet. Scream with James Brown and bop your head to Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Can you spot the 80+ references to artists like Robert Johnson, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimi Hendrix, Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, and Beyonce? 

Come dance to Kwame Alexander’s melodious narrative of the history of Black music in America, accompanied by the vibrant illustrations of Charly Palmer. 

The book includes extensive back matter, providing even more context and history about the music and musicians.

This powerful and hopeful picture book—inspired by the historic election of Vice President Kamala Harris—celebrates brown and Black girls and is magnificently illustrated by a Caldecott Honor-winning artist.

Brown girl, brown girl, what did you see? 
A world that sees my skin before it sees me. 

Based on a viral poem by Blaxican poet and activist Leslé Honoré, and illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Cozbi A. Cabrera, this moving journey through the past, present, and future of brown and Black girls is a celebration of community, creativity, and joy—and offers a reminder of the history that inspires hope, and the hope that inspires activism.

Praise for Brown Girl, Brown Girl:

✭ "Warmly, brilliantly welcoming—and not to be missed." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

PRE-ORDER.  ON SALE DATE: April 1, 2025

From the creator of the beloved webcomic The Oxherd Boy, comes this dazzling, gorgeously illustrated picture book about a little boy who learns he is big enough to do big things. 
 
Little Ah-Fu has a big imagination, but he can’t imagine being the Oxherd Boy . . . yet.
 
When the day comes for Ah-Fu to bring the huge family ox home from the woods, he worries that he’s not big enough to do the job. 
 
Will fear and self-doubt drive Ah-Fu home empty-handed? Or can he rely on his wits and compassion to become the Oxherd Boy his family expects—and prove to himself that he is, indeed, big enough?
 
Delightfully paired with exquisite illustrations, this empowering story inspired by traditional Chinese philosophy shows kids big and small how to trust themselves and embrace what they can be.

A magnificently illustrated picture book biography of Barack Obama : a tireless organizer, a brilliant orator, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, and the first Black president of the United States of America.

Before he became the president, Barack Obama was a little boy called Barry. Amid a happy childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia, he also yearned for a better understanding of Black history and culture, and a better sense of his own identity as a Black American. Spurred by conversations around race, injustice, and inequality, he became a community organizer, practiced civil rights law, and was elected to the US Senate. “Yes we can!” became a rallying cry for his message of hope and change throughout the 2008 presidential election—which resulted in Barack Obama becoming the first Black president of the United States.

This addition to the highly acclaimed Big Words series celebrates one of the most inspiring American leaders of our time. With evocative illustrations by award-winning artist Tonya Engel, Doreen Rappaport’s richly detailed narrative employs rousing quotes from Obama himself and encourages young readers to investigate who they are and who they might one day become.

Don’t miss these other titles in the Big Words series!
Ellen Takes Flight: The Life of Astronaut Ellen Ochoa
Ruth Objects: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Helen’s Big World: The Life of Helen Keller
Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln
Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Stunning poetry and illustrations introduce a new generation to the beloved literary icon Toni Morrison, by New York Times bestselling author Andrea Davis Pinkney and Caldecott Honor winner Daniel Minter.

From imaginative child to visionary storyteller, Toni Morrison was a fiercely inspiring writer that helped change the world. This poetic picture book is part love letter and part biography, praising the power of this Nobel Prize winner. With its tender refrain, readers will know how much Morrison's stories -- and their own -- mean to the world. She was loved -- and so are they!

From Laura Obuobi, acclaimed author of NAACP Image Award nominee Black Gold and What Love Looks Like, comes a triumphant nonfiction picture book about ballet star Michaela Mabinty DePrince, one of the most celebrated ballerinas of our generation. This lyrical true tale follows her childhood, from Sierra Leone orphan to world famous dancer.

In a Sierra Leone dust storm, ballet swooped into Michaela Mabinty DePrince’s life and never let her go. After her adoption brought her to the United States, ballet continued to be the consoling hand that guided Michaela, filling her with joy and hope. Over time, Michaela’s love for ballet only grew, and with it her dream of becoming a professional dancer.

However, there were peers who told Michaela she didn’t belong in the ballet world, that her skin and vitiligo made her too different. But ballet had stirred in Michaela a faith and determination that would help her turn her dreams into a reality.

From the acclaimed author of NAACP Image Award nominee Black Gold and What Love Looks Like, Laura Obuobi, and artist Olivia Duchess comes a lyrical and heartwarming picture book about one of the most influential ballerinas of our generation, inspiring all of us to never give up on our dreams.

Brown Skin, Curly Girl Becomes a Marine Biologist is a captivating tale that follows a young Nigerian-American girl who discovers her love for the ocean and its inhabitants while visiting the beach with her father. The book intertwines vivid imagery of sea animals with an inspirational message of self-worth, girl power, and encouragement.

With the encouragement of her father, Brown Skin, Curly Girl develops the unwavering belief that she can do anything if she sets out to make her dream a reality.

Through her journey, young readers will learn about the wonders of marine life and the important role that marine biologists play in protecting our oceans. They will also be inspired by her curiosity, imagination and enthusiasm for exploring the ocean.

Written by author Paula Swearingen, Brown Skin, Curly Girl Becomes a Marine Biologist is a must-read for young brown girls and all children who need a reminder that anything is possible if they set their minds to it. With beautiful illustrations and a powerful message, this book is sure to become a favorite for generations to come.

Open the door to understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the path to peace.

What is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Why is it happening? Is peace possible? When kids ask questions like these, are grownups prepared to answer? This book was created to provide context for this conflict, open the door to conversation, and lay a path for understanding, peace, and compassion for our shared future.

PRE-ORDER.  ON SALE DATE: June 24, 2025

From multi Grammy-award winning artist and songwriter Victoria Monét comes a lyrical picture book that's perfect for children with separation anxiety, while also offering some healing for hard working parents.

I’ll always be your moon
You’ll always be my star

Just keep me in your heart and
I’ll be everywhere you are

In this melodic picture book from chart-topping musical sensation Victoria Monét, a gentle moon comforts a young star as night ends and they separate. Paired with the whimsical and imaginative art of Alea Marley, Everywhere You Are reminds us that even when someone isn’t right next to us, their love still carries on in our hearts.

A young biracial girl looks around her world for her color. She finally chooses her own, and creates a new word for herself―honeysmoke.

Simone wants a color.

She asks Mama, “Am I black or white?”

“Boo,” Mama says, just like mamas do, “a color is just a word.”

She asks Daddy, “Am I black or white?”

“Well,” Daddy says, just like daddies do, “you’re a little bit of both.”

For multiracial children, and all children everywhere, this picture book offers a universal message that empowers young people to create their own self-identity.

Simone knows her color―she is honeysmoke.

An Imprint Book

"This will appeal to so many biracial kids looking for a way to embrace every part of themselves." ―NBCNews.com

"A terrific addition to the WeNeedDiverseBooks canon, where it joins such books as Selina Alko's I’m Your Peanut Butter Big Brother and Taye Diggs' Mixed Me!." ―Booklist

This land is your land now, but who was here before? This engaging primer about native lands invites kids to trace history and explore their communities.

Before my family lived in this house, a different family did, and before them, another family, and another before them. And before that, the family lived here, not in a house, but a wigwam. Who lived where you are before you got there?

This Land teaches readers that American land, from our backyards to our schools to Disney World, are the traditional homelands of many Indigenous nations. This Land will spark curiosity and encourage readers to explore the history of the places they live and the people who have lived there throughout time and today.

You have within you infinite promise. How big will YOU dream? This striking companion to I Am My Ancestors' Wildest Dreams celebrates Black female achievement and is perfect for fans of I Am Enough, Little Leaders, and She Persisted.

"Magnificently compelling....Lets Black girls know each time they turn the page that all of their dreams are possible." ―Angela Bassett, Award-winning Actress and Producer

I AM dope!

My crown shines bright

in all its glory.

When I dream big,

I can do anything!

In this inspiring tribute to Black girl pride and excellence, a young child discovers her place in a radiant heritage. As she meets twelve extraordinary Black women―historic and contemporary heroines who have blazed a trail for her own future success―she internalizes their strength and sets out to change the world in her own way.

Just like them, she can reach her dreams. And readers will discover that they can reach theirs too.

These books are for event pick up only!

In this call to bravery from Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad, Faizah learns to overcome her fears and stand in front of the crowd in this beautiful celebration of family, fencing, and community.  

Faizah loves being part of the community at her mosque, and she loves being part of the group at her fencing lessons. When all eyes are on her, though, Faizah freezes up. Mama says bravery will come with time, but there’s a fencing tournament coming up—does Faizah have what it takes to be bold?

Love, honesty, and courage shine through every page of this empowering picture book from the bestselling, award-winning team behind The Proudest Blue and The Kindest Red.

Dear Black Boy is a letter of encouragement to all of the black boys around the world who feel like sports are all they have. It is a reminder that they are more than athletes, more than a jersey number, more than a great crossover or a forty-yard dash, that the biggest game that they’ll ever play is the game of life. The same things that make these strong beautiful black boys great on whatever playing surface they choose are the same things that will propel them forward in life: mental toughness, dedication, passion, determination, and effort are all things that carry over into the game of life. With the right preparation, every Black Boy can win.

A tale about a young heroine named Carolina Blue who sets out to catch a magical black unicorn that just so happens to frequent her backyard.

From U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón and Caldecott Honoree Peter Sís: a transcendent picture book featuring the poem that will travel into space aboard NASA’s Europa Clipper.

As part of her tenure as U.S. poet laureate, Ada Limón has written “In Praise of Mystery,” which will be engraved on the Europa Clipper spacecraft that launches to Jupiter and its moons in October 2024. Published here as Limón’s debut picture book, this luminous poem is illustrated by celebrated and internationally renowned artist Peter Sís.

In Praise of Mystery celebrates humankind’s endless curiosity, asks us what it means to explore beyond our known world, and shows how the unknown can reflect us back to ourselves.

color artwork throughout

A young Black girl overcomes self-doubt and embraces her unique superhero princess identity in this energetic and empowering book from the author of I Will Swim Next Time.

Halima can't decide who to dress up as for her friend's birthday party. Should she be a princess like Elsa, or a sort-of superhero like Pippi Longstocking? "You can't be either," her friends tell her, "because you don't look like them."

Mama assures Halima can be whoever she wants to be, and together they discover more strong, brave women to look up to. Can Halima find the confidence to become her own unique superhero princess?

Heartfelt and uplifting, Halima's story encourages pride and self-expression in young readers, and introduces them to inspiring women of colour from around the world. African-diaspora mother Emily Joof is the author of I Will Swim Next Time. Åsa Gilland's vibrant and lively illustrations are full of fun.

In The Stories from My Grandmother’s Hands, children (ages three to eight) and caregivers will experience the beauty of the connection between generations. This beautifully illustrated book features different pigmentations, gender breadth, and ableness within the Black diaspora. 

As children and their caregivers read The Stories from My Grandmother’s Hands, they will learn to value the gifts of their caregivers and grandmothers, and how they teach them to recognize energies in their own bodies, through cultural somatic practices. It is an interactive experience to be shared between generations. By reading these simple practices together, children learn that they and their people are not defective, and that things happened to their people before they got here. The Stories from My Grandmother's Hands is a toy box to help children create joy and manage the energetics of white-body supremacy.

Embark on an alphabetic odyssey through culture and heritage.

Imagine a world where every letter of the alphabet unlocks the colorful tapestry of a rich and ancient culture. This enchanting book does just that, guiding young readers on a journey through language, history, and traditions with each turn of the page.

Can we sing the ABC anywhere? With a woolly bear or on thin air? Set off on an alphabetic adventure to Palestine, a land that tells a story with every letter. From the A that stands for Arabic, a beautiful language sung by millions, to the Z for za’atar, a flavor that’s as bold as the history it accompanies, P Is for Palestine is more than just an ordinary ABC.

It’s also an odyssey through heritage, a cultural immersion that connects young minds to the world beyond their own. It’s where the traditional T for thob dresses meets the modern, where the ancient Q for Quds (Jerusalem) sits at the heart of spirituality, and where the resilience symbolized by I for intifada teaches the value of standing up for what is right.

With engaging illustrations and sweet rhymes, this book is a celebration of identity, a bridge spanning generations, and an invitation to friendship. Whether you’re a child, a parent, or simply a lover of wisdom and wonder, let this journey inspire you with every letter you explore.

No one knows maps like Nikki ― but can she get her family to Grandma's house in time?

Nikki’s family is preparing for a long road trip from Toronto to the Bronx to attend Uncle Travis's wedding. They pack their suitcases, boxes of Jamaican black cake, and most importantly to Nikki, the big map book!

Nikki loves geography and enjoys tracing the routes to all the places her relatives live ― her Grandpa in Florida, her cousins in Atlanta, DC, and Boston. She daydreams of England, where other family lives, and Jamaica and Africa, where her roots run deep.

Her attention comes back to the road trip when it’s clear that Daddy’s taken a wrong turn. “I can help!” says Nikki, who proves to be an excellent navigator. She guides them back to the Bronx Expressway, under the elevated subway tracks, onto a street of brown row houses and safely to Grandma’s.

Inspired by the childhoods of author Nadia L. Hohn and illustrator TeMika Grooms, Getting Us to Grandma’s is full of fun historic details ― a world before Google Maps! ― and authentic cultural moments shared by diasporic families, whose stories can be traced across continents. A fantastic representation of Black girls in STEM.

Key Text Features

Illustrations

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6

With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3

Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7

Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

Este debut literario relata la profunda y conmovedora historia de cómo una niña y su abuelita enfrentan varias manifestaciones del racismo en su vida cotidiana.

El tiempo en casa con Abuelita es divertido. Incluye comer panqueques, saltar charcos y pintarse las uñas. Mientras que las salidas para hacer compras no siempre son divertidas. En el supermercado y en el bus la gente es impaciente y desconfiada. A veces alzan la voz y gritan. Esto entristece, enfada y atemoriza a la niña protagonista de la historia. Ella decide nunca más salir de su casa. Esto cambia cuando en un instante la pequeña se da cuenta que unidas, ella y Abuelita, son mucho más fuertes.

Los cálidos y expresivos dibujos de Rafael Mayani ilustran magníficamente la ternura que existe entre la narradora y su querida Abuelita.

In this touching, empowering picture book debut, a girl and her beloved abuelita lean on each other as they contend with racism while running errands in the city.

Spending time at home with Abuelita means pancakes, puddle-jumping, and nail-painting. But venturing out into the city is not always as fun. On the bus and at the grocery store, people are impatient and suspicious―sometimes they even yell. Sad, angry, and scared, the story’s young narrator decides not to leave home again . . . until a moment of empowerment helps her see the strength she and Abuelita share when they face the world together. Warm, expressive illustrations by Rafael Mayani highlight the tenderness in Abuelita and the narrator’s relationship.

Since life first arose on Earth, nearly all dinosaurs, mammals, insects, and birds that have ever existed have gone extinct. In this voicy, full-color illustrated encyclopedia, hear from the animals themselves what happened to them!

If your species happens to be alive right now, you should feel very lucky.

You probably know about the downfall of the dinosaurs and how the dodo bird met its doom. But you might not have heard about the other weird and wonderful creatures throughout the eons that just didn’t make it.

But that doesn’t mean all these stories are sad; extinction is just a part of the long, long history of life on Earth. And some of the ways these species died out are actually pretty silly . . .

In this fully illustrated encyclopedia, you’ll hear from the creatures who have faced extinction throughout the years—and learn what survival of the fittest means for those on evolution’s bad side.

Nearly a million copies sold in Japan!

In this debut picture book from Taraji P. Henson, quirky, stylish and a bit off-the-cuff Lil TJ is ready for her first day of school. But when she gets there, TJ finds that everything she does is a little different than everyone else and she’s standing out in all the wrong ways. Once TJ’s classmate Beau notices, he relentlessly teases her. TJ is filled with anxiety and doubt until she recalls some important words of wisdom from her Grandma Patsy. When she looks inside to her own creativity and personality, she figures out how to help herself make new friends! —and helps someone else too!

You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!) is the perfect read for:

• Easing back-to-school jitters and setting a course for the new school year
• Helping children ages 4-8 to overcome anxieties and embrace what makes them unique
• Classroom and library story time, as well as bedtime reading
• Promoting mental wellness and learning socialization skills, embracing the importance of standing in their own uniqueness, and promoting friendship over bullying.

A great rhinoceros, plagued with sorrow, learns a lesson from the sun about the secret to happiness

In the ancient forest, a beautiful rhinoceros was wondering what sadness he felt in his heart and asked for help.

What follows is an enchanting fable about the importance of kindness and empathy, vividly illustrated by Catalina Vásquez and movingly penned by the award-winning writer Ondjaki.

NBA champion Jayson Tatum scores with this hilarious tale of a baby turned basketball superstar!

Inspired by Jayson Tatum’s life as both an NBA superstar and a loving dad, this laugh-out-loud picture book is the story of what happens when a tot becomes an NBA teammate. Coathored by Sam Apple and featuring Parker-Nia Gordon’s sweet and appealing art, Baby Dunks-a-Lot is “delightful . . .silly and sporty in equal measure” (Kirkus).

When a big kid teaches his little brother how to play basketball for the first time, something unusual happens . . . baby bro flies through the air for a monster dunk! Before long, every professional team wants the incredible dunking baby on their roster. Baby Dunks-A-Lot is poised to become a basketball legend—that is, until he misses his bedtime.

The Boss Baby meets Space Jam in Jayson Tatum’s debut picture book, Baby Dunks-a-Lot!

A tender picture book about a veteran’s PTSD and a family’s love for each other—on good days and hard days—from award-winning creators Winsome Bingham and Rahele Jomepour Bell

Momma wears combat boots, a camouflage jacket, and a U.S. ARMY tag on her chest. She is a fighter for her country’s freedom, but she is also a fighter for her family. When Momma comes home from a long deployment, however, something has changed. Our narrator, Momma’s “Baby," misses the big hugs, uniform fashion shows, and music mornings they used to share. And she really misses planting vegetables together. Now her Momma won’t even come out to the garden. But maybe, just maybe, she can bring the garden to Momma.

Missing Momma is the poignant and ultimately hopeful, comforting story of a child with a parent affected by PTSD. Sensitively written by Winsome Bingham and movingly illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell, Missing Momma beautifully reminds kids that a family’s love endures even on days that aren’t picture perfect.