A tender-souled boy reeling from the death of his best friend struggles to fit into a world that wants him to grow up tough and unfeeling in this stunning middle grade novel in verse from the Newbery Honor–winning author of Genesis Begins Again.

It’s the summer before high school and Isaiah feels lost. He thought this summer was going to be just him and his homies Drew and Darius, hangin’ out, doing wheelies, and watching martial arts movies—a lot of chillin’ before high school and the Future. But more and more, Drew will barely talk to him—barely even look at him—and though he won’t admit it, Isaiah knows it’s because of Darius, because Darius is…gone.

And Isaiah wasn’t even there when it happened, with his best friend in his final moments. But he’s going to be there now. Him and Drew both, they’re gonna spend the summer breaking every single record they can think of, for Darius, for his dream of breaking world records. But Drew’s not the same Drew, and Isaiah being Isaiah isn’t enough for Drew anymore. Not his taste in music, his love for D&D, his interest in taking photos, or his aversion to jumping off rooftops. The real Isaiah is sensitive; he’s uncool.

And one day something unspeakable happens to Isaiah that makes him think Drew’s right. If only he could be less sensitive, more tough, less weird, more cool, more contained, less him, things would be easier. But how much can Isaiah keep inside until he shatters wide open?

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This picture book will delight every Spider-Man fan with its vibrant illustrations and heartfelt story about self-discovery.

New York Times bestselling author Denene Millner’s picture book follows Miles Morales as he explores what it means to be an artist, to be Spider-Man, and to be himself.

Miles Morales is captivated by the murals in his neighborhood, bursting with color and life. Each one tells a story about the artist who created it, and as an aspiring artist himself, Miles dreams of making his own one day. 

But Miles isn’t just an artist—he’s Spider-Man! When he makes friends with fellow artist Mr. Arty, Miles learns even more about his passions, his Puerto Rican heritage, and the importance of his neighborhood.

• Anyone looking for Palestinian or Arab books for kids
• Readers seeking immigrant or refugee stories or diverse picture books
• Father's Day gift giving to dads, grandparents, uncles, and friends with a heartfelt connection to their homelands
• Readers with a passion for memoirs and stories that illustrate the immigrant experience

A heartwarming picture book about how one little girl's unique beauty has been growing for generations in her family tree.

Anyiaka is in awe of her gorgeous Gullah Geechee family—she wants to be beautiful like her older sister, Sorie, a great listener like her mom, and a talented artist like her grandma. But on today's visit to her grandparents’ house, Anyiaka sticks out from the rest of the family like a sore thumb. She can't seem to do anything right, and a trip to Grandma's art studio confirms just how different she is from the rest of the family.

But Grandma’s artwork—a special set of nesting dolls—also shows that what’s on the outside doesn’t always tell the whole story. While they may be distinct, together, her family’s beauty and inner strength have deep roots that have been growing within each of them for generations.

Unicorn best friends Magical, Unique, and Divine are getting ready to welcome Santa in this Christmas picture-book adventure. Celebrate your inner unicorn with the first holiday book in the Afro Unicorn line! Includes countdown calendar and stickers.

December is finally here, and all the unicorns in the kingdom of Afronia are excited to meet Santa. But when Santa gets lost on the way, the unicorns fear that Christmas will be ruined. It’s up to Magical, Unique, and Divine to use their superpowers of love and kindness to save Christmas. 

Let the Christmas countdown begin in this tale of love and hope for the holidays!

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.

Inspired by acclaimed chef Eric Adjepong’s own childhood, Sankofa is the powerful story of a young boy’s culinary journey 400 years into the past to reconnect with his African roots and find his own place in America.

What if home was a place you’ve never been? For Kofi, a first-generation Ghanaian American boy, home is a country called Ghana. But it’s a place he’s never been. When tasked to bring a dish that best represents his family’s culture to school for a potluck lunch, Kofi is torn. With the help of his Nanabarima (grandfather), Kofi learns the hardship and resilience his family has endured—and how food has always been an integral part their story and culture. Sankofa is a reminder that food can transport you to a place called home—even if you’ve never been.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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?

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.

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.

In a charming new chapter-book series by a social-change advocate, young Frankie emulates her journalist mama by reporting on household news with the help of her sister and an unlikely news crew.

Frankie’s mama is leaving to cover a breaking news story. Frankie, Papa, and Frankie’s teenage sister, Raven, are all proud of Mama, even though they miss her when she’s away. But Frankie has a great idea: she can make her own news show! After all, Mama has told her that news is happening around her all the time. With a little assistance from her friends—including her doll Farrah, Robert the toy robot, and her tabby cat, Nina Simone—Frankie prepares for her first “broadcast.” And when she hears someone crying in the house, she knows that’s the developing story she must cover. With humor, empathy, and imagination, Frankie gets the scoop—and learns that even mature older sisters can miss Mama sometimes. With sweet illustrations throughout, this engaging new series embraces communication and compassion and is a refreshing portrayal of Black women in journalism. Young reporters will learn the terms of the trade, which are clearly presented in the text and reinforced in a glossary at the end of the book.

When his daddy comes home from the service struggling with PTSD, a young boy discovers that learning yoga together can be a source of healing.

Ever since Daddy returned from overseas, he’s been different. At first, Butta Bean thinks it’s his fault—that maybe his daddy doesn’t love him anymore. But Mama explains that Daddy’s mind is hurt from things that happened while he was away. When Mama takes them all to yoga class at their local YMCA, Daddy doesn’t want to go at first, and Butta Bean thinks it looks weird. But as Daddy and Butta Bean get better at the yoga poses (Daddy says he’s a real boyogi), Butta Bean starts to see a change in Daddy. He seems more and more like his old self. In a picture book gently tuned to a child’s understanding, award-winning author David Barclay Moore and Caldecott Honor recipient Noa Denmon celebrate the transformative power of yoga, therapy, and abiding love for your family.

Infused with jubilance and warmth, this luminous, lyrical picture book celebrates the people and the work that put food on our tables.

Bread, milk, wool, fruits, and vegetables: things that fill our day to day lives. But where, and who, do they come from? Across wheat fields and city rooftop gardens, mushroom beds and maple forests, Thank a Farmer traces the food and clothing that a family uses back to the people who harvested and created them.

With Maria Gianferrari’s informed and poetic text and monumental artwork from Monica Mikai, Thank a Farmer gently emphasizes the importance of agriculture in our day-to-day lives and reminds readers to give thanks to farmworkers around the world.

Do aliens exist? Are UFOs real? The race is on to discover alien life in the universe!

This book will sort myth from fact to bring you the real science behind the search for alien lifeforms. Space expert Joalda Morancy will take readers on a tour of the solar system (and beyond), onboard new NASA missions searching for the most likely alien hiding places—from icy moons of Jupiter to the clouds of Venus. Along the way kids will find out about:

• The robots sent to Mars to look for Martians
• What really goes on at Area 51
• Ways to spot an advanced alien civilization (hint—look for dim stars)

They may seem as fanciful as wizards and monsters, but this book will show that scientists not only believe that aliens exist—but that it’s only a matter of time before we find them.

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Illustrated by New York Times best-selling artist Bea Jackson, this poignant story speaks to Lunella Lafayette's insecurities about her hair as School Picture Day approaches.

Sure, Lunella may be a genius Super Hero (Moon Girl), but when someone makes unkind comments about her hair, she questions whether she needs to change it for School Picture Day. She is, after all, still a 13-year-old girl. Ultimately, Lunella figures out the hairstyle that makes her feel like her best self for her school picture, but not before struggling with what that means for her.

Readers will explore and relate to themes of self-kindness, patience, identity, and acceptance in this charming and funny story.

If you like this book, you might also considering adding these titles to your library:

• Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: One Girl Can Make a Difference
• Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Lunella's Journal
• Night Night Groot
• Snow Day for Groot!
• Captain Marvel: What Makes a Hero

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jason Reynolds’s debut picture book is a snappy, joyous ode to Word King, literary genius, and glass-ceiling smasher Langston Hughes and the luminaries he inspired.

Back in the day, there was a heckuva party, a jam, for a word-making man. The King of Letters. Langston Hughes. His ABCs became drums, bumping jumping thumping like a heart the size of the whole country. They sent some people yelling and others, his word-children, to write their own glory.

Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, and more came be-bopping to recite poems at their hero’s feet at that heckuva party at the Schomberg Library, dancing boom da boom, stepping and stomping, all in praise and love for Langston, world-mending word man. Oh, yeah, there was hoopla in Harlem, for its Renaissance man. A party for Langston.

Based on the true story of the first African American NASCAR champion Wendell Scott, Born Driven is an uplifting tale celebrating the power of persistence and big dreams.

Like many other boys, Wendell Scott had a big dream: to become a race car driver. He loved to race anything and everything! Although he faced many difficulties as an African American boy in the South, Wendell had the willpower to overcome these obstacles. Join Wendell Scott for the time he challenged himself to compete in his town’s soapbox derby.