Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
Kwame Alexander, pens a powerful picture book that tells the story of American slavery through the voice of a teacher struggling to help her students understand its harrowing history.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander teams up with poet Deanna Nikaido and Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet to celebrate the magic of discovering your very own poetry in the world around you. Begin with a question like an acorn waiting for spring. From this first stanza, readers are invited to pay attention--and to see that paying attention itself is poetry.

Ages 4-8, Gr.1-4.
Award-winning author Tonya Bolden and acclaimed illustrator R. Gregory Christie deliver an inspiring true story about the life, career, and impact of twentieth-century blues and gospel singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who was a trailblazer for rock-and-roll.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3,
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.

Ages 4-8, PrK-Gr.3.
Confused and distraught after the death of his father, a boy opens an envelope he left behind and is surprised to find a map of the woods beyond their house, with one spot marked in bright red. But why? The woods had been something they shared together, why would his father want him to go alone? When he reaches the spot marked on the map, he finds pages upon pages of drawings of woodland creatures, made by his father when he was his age.

Lexile measure AD1610L; Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
For centuries, blue powders and dyes were some of the most sought-after materials in the world. Ancient Afghan painters ground mass quantities of sapphire rocks to use for their paints, while snails were harvested in Eurasia for the tiny amounts of blue that their bodies would release. And then there was indigo, which was so valuable that American plantations grew it as a cash crop on the backs of African slaves. It wasn't until 1905, when Adolf von Baeyer created a chemical blue dye, that blue could be used for anything and everything--most notably that uniform of workers everywhere, blue jeans.

Ages 5-9; K-Gr.4.
Discover the Harlem icons that have defined generations of American culture. Harlem is full of remarkable treasures, including museums, performance spaces, community centers, and more--all of which come to life in this lavish celebration of Harlem as an epicenter of African American history and a vibrant neighborhood that continues to shape our world.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
Join Ty on his imaginative adventures in Ty's Travels: Lab Magic, a My First I Can Read book by acclaimed author and illustrator team Kelly Starling Lyons and Niña Mata. Science exploration, imagination, and play are highlighted in this fun story, perfect for sharing with children 3 to 6.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.2.
Coretta Scott King Honor winner Nikki Giovanni and fine artist Erin Robinson craft an ode to the magic of a library as a place not only for knowledge but also for imagination, exploration, and escape.

Lexile measure 430; Ages 6-9; Gr.1-4; Coretta Scott King award illustator winner, 2023.
From an award-winning author and critically acclaimed artist comes a stunning and deeply moving picture book based on the popular spiritual. The classic lyrics have been reworked to chronicle the milestones, struggles, tragedies, and triumphs of African American history.

Ages 4-8; K-Gr.2; Coretta Scott King author award, honor 2023.
Told in an age-appropriate fashion, with a perfect pause for parents to insert their own discussions with their children to accompany prompting illustrations, The Talk is a gently honest and sensitive starting point for this far-too-necessary conversation, for Black children, Brown children, and for ALL children. Because you can't make change without knowing what needs changing.

Ages 5-8; K-Gr.3.
Two children's book superstars--#1 New York Times bestseller Jacqueline Woodson, the author of The Day You Begin, and Leo Espinosa, the illustrator of Islandborn­--join forces to celebrate the joy and freedom of summer in the city, which is gloriously captured in their rhythmic text and lively art.

Ages 5-8; K-Gr.3.
Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López's highly anticipated companion to their #1 New York Times bestseller The Day You Begin illuminates the power in each of us to face challenges with confidence.

Ages 4-8; Prk-Gr.3; Pura Bepre award honor.
Author-illustrator C. G. Esperanza delivers a celebratory ode to graffiti and the Boogie Down Bronx through an infectious read-aloud beat and colorful illustrations that leap right off the page!

Ages 4-8; Gr.1-2.
In this joyful and impactful picture book, a transgender boy prepares for the first day of school and introduces himself to his family and friends for the first time. Calvin has always been a boy, even if the world sees him as a girl. He knows who he is in his heart and in his mind but he hasn't yet told his family.

Ages 4-8; K-Gr.3.
In this stirring, much-anticipated picture book by presidential inaugural poet and activist Amanda Gorman, anything is possible when our voices join together. As a young girl leads a cast of characters on a musical journey, they learn that they have the power to make changes--big or small--in the world, in their communities, and in most importantly, in themselves.

Lexile measure AD940L; Ages 4-8; K-Gr.3.
Discover the true meaning of community in this gorgeous picture book about a very special street bursting with joy, hope, and dreams. Welcome to Dream Street--the best street in the world! On Dream Street, love between generations rules, everyone is special, and the warmth of the neighborhood shines.

Ages 4-8; K-Gr.3.
From the Newbery Honor-winning author of Genesis Begins Again comes a shimmering picture book that shines the light on Zora Neale Hurston, the extraordinary writer and storycatcher extraordinaire who changed the face of American literature. Zora was a girl who hankered for tales like bees for honey. Now, her mama always told her that if she wanted something, "to jump at de sun", because even though you might not land quite that high, at least you'd get off the ground.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
From award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Ibi Zoboi comes her debut picture book--a tour de force that uses the principles of Kwanzaa to talk about the history of African Americans. This lyrical, powerful tribute is sumptuously illustrated by New Yorker artist and rising star Loveis Wise.

Lexile measure 770; Ages 4-8; K-Gr.3.
Discover the inspiring story of the first black woman elected to Congress and to run for president in this picture book biography. Meet Shirley, a little girl who asks way too many questions! After spending her early years on her grandparents' farm in Barbados, she returns home to Brooklyn and immediately makes herself known. Shirley kicks butt in school; she breaks her mother's curfew; she plays jazz piano instead of classical. And as a young adult, she fights against the injustice she sees around her, against women and black people.

Ages 7-10; Gr.2-5.
Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley was born in 1818, enslaved to a Virginian plantation owner. As a teenager, Lizzy was sent to work as the only slave on a small plantation, where the work was endless, and the masters treated her with unspeakable cruelty. A new master, learning Lizzy could sew, sent her to work for a tailor, who paid the master, not Lizzy, for Lizzy's work. The beautiful gowns that Lizzy created were displayed in the tailor's window and soon attracted the attention of the wealthiest women in Virginia. Though Lizzy first had to borrow money from her wealthy patrons to buy her freedom, once she was free, she was able to earn money of her own and pay them all back.

Lexile measure 640; Ages 7-12; Gr. 2-7.
From Jason Reynolds comes a hilarious, hopeful, and action-packed middle grade novel about the greatest young superhero you've never heard of, filled with illustrations by Raúl the Third! Portico Reeves's superpower is making sure all the other superheroes--like his parents and two best friends--stay super. And safe. Super safe.

Lexile measure 810; Ages 4-8; K-Gr.3.
A lyrical, heart-lifting love letter to Black and brown children everywhere: reminding them how much they matter, that they have always mattered, and they always will, from powerhouse rising star author Tami Charles and esteemed, award-winning illustrator Bryan Collier.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
A beautiful journey into African American history: Discover the true meaning of being brave in this tender and whimsical picture book from Daniel Bernstrom (One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree; Gator, Gator, Gator) and Shane Evans (Chocolate Me!) that follows a grandfather and grandson traveling through time and discovering their own African American history.

Ages 10 and up; Gr.1-4; Newbery Honor book 2021.
In stanzas of six lines each, each line representing one side of a box, celebrated poet Carole Boston Weatherford powerfully narrates Henry Brown's story of how he came to send himself in a box from slavery to freedom. Strikingly illustrated in rich hues and patterns by artist Michele Wood, Box is augmented with historical records and an introductory excerpt from Henry's own writing as well as a time line, notes from the author and illustrator, and a bibliography.

Ages 5-10
Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000) is known for her poems about "real life." She wrote about love, loneliness, family, and poverty--showing readers how just about anything could become a beautiful poem. Exquisite follows Gwendolyn from early girlhood into her adult life, showcasing her desire to write poetry from a very young age. This picture-book biography explores the intersections of race, gender, and the ubiquitous poverty of the Great Depression--all with a lyrical touch worthy of the subject.

Ages 5-10
Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000) is known for her poems about "real life." She wrote about love, loneliness, family, and poverty--showing readers how just about anything could become a beautiful poem. Exquisite follows Gwendolyn from early girlhood into her adult life, showcasing her desire to write poetry from a very young age. This picture-book biography explores the intersections of race, gender, and the ubiquitous poverty of the Great Depression--all with a lyrical touch worthy of the subject.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
This triumphant picture book celebrates Black joy by reclaiming a charged phrase and showing readers how resistance can be part of their everyday lives.

Ages 3-7; PrK-Gr.3.
The confident Black narrator of this book is proud of everything that makes him who he is. He's got big plans, and no doubt he'll see them through--as he's creative, adventurous, smart, funny, and a good friend. Sometimes he falls, but he always gets back up. And other times he's afraid, because he's so often misunderstood and called what he is not. So slow down and really look and listen, when somebody tells you--and shows you--who they are.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
In this captivating reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen's classic, Caldecott medalist and bestselling artist Jerry Pinkney conjures a poignant friendship story and an epic tale of redemption -- the definitive new version for our time.

Lexile measure 570; Ages 7-10; Gr.1-3.
In 1854, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jennings, an African American schoolteacher, fought back when she was unjustly denied entry to a New York City streetcar, sparking the beginnings of the long struggle to gain equal rights on public transportation.

Lexile measure 1100; Ages 6-8; PrK-Gr.3 ; Coretta Scoot King Illustrator Award honor, 2021.
With vivid illustrations by Kaylani Juanita, Samara Cole Doyon sings a carol for the plenitude that surrounds us and the self each of us is meant to inhabit.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.2, A Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honor Book. Mama's love is brighter than the sun, even on the rainiest of days. This celebration of a mother-daughter relationship is perfect for sharing with little ones!

Ages 4-8; K-Gr.1
In this moving story that celebrates cultural diversity, a shy girl brings her West African grandmother--whose face bears traditional tribal markings--to meet her classmates. It is Grandparents Day at Zura's elementary school, and the students are excited to introduce their grandparents and share what makes them special. Worried that her classmates will be scared of Nana--or worse, make fun of her--Zura is hesitant to bring her to school. Nana Akua knows what to do, though. With a quilt of traditional African symbols and a bit of face paint, Nana Akua is able to explain what makes her special, and to make all of Zura's classmates feel special, too.

Lexile measure AD830L; Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
From Rita Lorraine Hubbard and rising star Oge More comes the inspirational story of Mary Walker, a woman whose long life spanned from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, and who--with perseverance and dedication--proved that you're never too old to learn.

Ages 3-5; PrK-Gr.1.
When is an old truck something more? On a small, bustling farm, a resilient and steadfast pickup works tirelessly alongside the family that lives there, and becomes a part of the dreams and ambitions of the family's young daughter. After long days and years of hard work leave the old truck rusting in the weeds, it's time for the girl to roll up her sleeves. Soon she is running her own busy farm, and in the midst of all the repairing and restoring, it may be time to bring her faithful childhood companion back to life.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3; Coretta Scott King illustrator winner, 2021.
From a creative team with multiple Caldecott Honors comes this vibrant portrait of Aretha Franklin that pays her the R-E-S-P-E-C-T this Queen of Soul deserves. Aretha Franklin was born to sing. The daughter of a pastor and a gospel singer, her musical talent was clear from her earliest days in her father's Detroit church where her soaring voice spanned more than three octaves.

Ages 4-8; Prk-Gr.3.
The inspirational story of George Washington Carver and his childhood secret garden is brought to life in this picture book biography. When George Washington Carver was just a young child, he had a secret: a garden of his own. Here, he rolled dirt between his fingers to check if plants needed more rain or sun. He protected roots through harsh winters, so plants could be reborn in the spring. He trimmed flowers, spread soil, studied life cycles.

Ages 7-10; Gr.2-5.
Reverend F.D. Reese was a leader of the Voting Rights Movement in Selma, Alabama. As a teacher and principal, he recognized that his colleagues were viewed with great respect in the city. Could he convince them to risk their jobs--and perhaps their lives--by organizing a teachers-only march to the county courthouse to demand their right to vote? On January 22, 1965, the Black teachers left their classrooms and did just that, with Reverend Reese leading the way.

Ages 4-8; K-Gr.3.
From acclaimed author and illustrator pairing comes a beautiful picture book biography about the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin and how she fought for respect throughout her life. Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul, a legend. But before she became a star, she was a shy little girl with a voice so powerful it made people jump up, sway, and hum along.

From Ezra Jack Keats Award-winning author-illustrator Don Tate comes a remarkable picture book biography of William Still, known as Father of the Underground Railroad. William Still's parents escaped slavery but had to leave two of their children behind, a tragedy that haunted the family. As a young man, William went to work for the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, where he raised money, planned rescues, and helped freedom seekers who had traveled north.

Ages 4-8; K-Gr.2.
In this full, bright, and beautiful picture book, many different perspectives around the world are deftly and empathetically explored--from a pair of bird-watchers to the pigeons they're feeding. Young readers will be drawn into the luminous illustrations inviting them to engage with the world in a new way and see how everyone is connected, and that everyone matters.

Ages 5-10; PrK-Gr.3.
Frustrated by a day full of teachers and classmates mispronouncing her beautiful name, a little girl tells her mother she never wants to come back to school. In response, the girl's mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names on their lyrical walk home through the city. Empowered by this newfound understanding, the young girl is ready to return the next day to share her knowledge with her class.

Ages 4-8; Prk-Gr.3; Geisel award honor book, 2021.
Ty can't wait to ride his brand-new scooter at the park. Other kids zip and zoom by like race cars, but all Ty can do is wobble! Ty wants to give up, but a new friend helps Ty give it another try.

Ages 4-8; prK-Gr.2.
In his eagerly anticipated debut as author-illustrator, Caldecott and Coretta Scott King honoree Christian Robinson brings young readers on a playful, imaginative journey into another world.

Ages 4-8.
A young slave girl witnesses the heartbreak and hopefulness of her family and their plantation community when her brother escapes for freedom in this brilliantly conceived picture book by Coretta Scott King Award winner James E. Ransome.

Ages 4-8; K-Gr.4.
Newbery Award honoree Ashley Bryan has hand-selected a collection of celebrated English poet Christina Rossetti's poems to illustrate with his inimitable flourish. The world changes so quickly, but the joy and fun of being a child always remains.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3; Caldecott honor, 2020.
Nic is an aspiring musician whose life spans two different worlds--his suburban school where he wows his friends in orchestra, and the busy city streets of his home where he's jostled by the crowd. Nic makes his way home from a busy day at school with a double bass on his back, the symphony of his surroundings in his heart, and a sweet surprise for the reader at the end of his journey.

Ages 6-9; Gr.1-4.
A celebration of August Wilson's journey from a child in Pittsburgh to one of America's greatest playwrights August Wilson (1945-2005) was a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright who had a particular talent for capturing the authentic, everyday voice of black Americans.

Lexile measurement: 660L; Grades K-3; Ages 7-9.
Down home is where Lil' Alan and his parents and sister will join great-grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Down home is where Lil' Alan will hear stories of the ancestors and visit the land that has meant so much to all of them.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
A stunning new picture book from Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander and Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet! This New York Times bestselling duo has teamed up for the first time to bring you How to Read a Book, a poetic and beautiful journey about the experience of reading.

Ages 3-6; Prk-K.
Starting kindergarten is a big milestone--and the hero of this story is ready to make his mark! He's dressed himself, eaten a pile of pancakes, and can't wait to be part of a whole new kingdom of kids.

Ages 6-9; PrK-Gr.3.
An illustrated version of the song written by civil rights leader and poet James Weldon Johnson in 1899 that has come to be considered the African American national anthem.

Ages 6-9; K-Gr.3.
Much has been written about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the 1963 March on Washington. But there's little on his legendary speech and how he came to write it. Find out more in this gripping book with illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney.

Lexile measure 190; Ages 4-6; Prk-K.
Find out what happens when a boy who wants a puppy gets a truck instead in this simple and sweet picture book from Caldecott Honor winner Brian Pinkney.

Ages 4-8; PrK-gr.2; Horn Book Award winner, 2020.
In this warm and tender story by the Caldecott Honor-winning creator of Thank You, Omu!, join a mother and daughter on an up-and-down journey that reminds them of what's best about Saturdays: precious time together.

Lexile measure 660; Ages 5 and up; K-Gr.3.
Acclaimed writer Alice Faye Duncan tells the story of poet Gwendolyn Brooks, the first Black author to win the Pulitzer Prize. With a voice both wise and witty, Gwendolyn Brooks crafted poems that captured the urban Black experience and the role of women in society.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
After letting his band down by missing rehearsal, Shorty has some serious questions about what it means to be a leader. He hits the streets of New Orleans to find some answers and soak up inspiration. Along the way he'll meet street musicians, a favorite restaurant owner, and the famous Mardi Gras Indians.

Lexile measure 660; Ages 8-10; Gr.1-4.
Discover the remarkable true story of NFL star Ernie Barnes--a boy who followed his dreams and became one of the most influential artists of his generation--with this beautiful and fascinating nonfiction picture book illustrated by four-time Caldecott Honor recipient Bryan Collier.

Lexile measure 710; Ages 8-10; Gr.1-3
The bold story of Katherine Johnson, an African-American mathematician who worked for NASA during the space race and was depicted in the film Hidden Figures.

Lexile measure 980; Ages 5-8; K-Gr.2.
There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you. There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it's how you look, talk, or where you're from; maybe it's what you eat, or something just as random. It's not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it.

Ages 5-10; K-Gr.2.
NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book 2019 Selection Meet Raye Montague--the hidden mastermind who made waves in the U.S. Navy! After touring a German submarine in the early 1940s, young Raye set her sights on becoming an engineer. Little did she know sexism and racial inequality would challenge that dream every step of the way, even keeping her greatest career accomplishment a secret for decades.

AD610L; Ages 3-5; PrK-Gr.2.
When Grandma Mimi comes to visit, she always brings warm hugs, sweet treats...and her purse. You never know what she'll have in there--fancy jewelry, tokens from around the world, or something special just for her granddaughter.

Ages 5-10; K-Gr.3.
Born into slavery in Chattanooga, Tennessee, William "Bill" Lewis learned the blacksmith trade as soon as he was old enough to grip a hammer. He proved to be an exceptional blacksmith and earned so much money fixing old tools and creating new ones that he was allowed to keep a little money for himself. With just a few coins in his pocket, Bill set a daring plan in motion: he was determined to free his family.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
Brought to beautiful life by Caldecott Medalist and multiple award-winner Jerry Pinkney, this is a must-have for every child's library and is perfect for cozy wintertime readings. Outside in the cold, hear the wind rattle, come to the barn, keep warm with the cattle...

Ages 3-6; PrK-Gr.1.
This exuberant picture book explores the joys of the holiday season, once again illustrated by award-winning artist Frank Morrison. It's the most wonderful time of the year, and a mother and daughter are enjoying the sights and sounds of the holiday season.

Lexile measure 650; K-Gr.3; Ages 6-9;
Coretta Scott King Honor Award for Illustration 2019.Under the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, children and teenagers march against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963.

Lexile measure 580; Ages 5-8; K-Gr.3.
This lyrical, loving picture book from popular singer-songwriter Laura Veirs and debut illustrator Tatyana Fazlalizadeh tells the story of the determined, gifted, daring Elizabeth Cotten--one of the most celebrated American folk musicians of all time. Elizabeth Cotten was only a little girl when she picked up a guitar for the first time.

K-Gr.2.
When young Mae Jemison is asked by her teacher what she wants to be when she grows up, African American Mae tells her mostly white classmates that she wants to be an astronaut, a dream that her parents wholeheartedly support.

Lexile measure AD920L; Ages 8-10; K-Gr.3.
Junius G. Groves came from humble beginnings in the Bluegrass State. Born in Kentucky into slavery, freedom came when he was still a young man and he intended to make a name for himself. Along with thousands of other African Americans who migrated from the South, Junius walked west and stopped in Kansas.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
Shaking Things Up introduces fourteen revolutionary young women-each paired with a noteworthy female artist-to the next generation of activists, trail-blazers, and rabble-rousers. From the award-winning author of Ada's Violin, Susan Hood, this is a poetic and visual celebration of persistent women throughout history.

Lexile 950; Ages 8-10; Gr.1-4.
Sojourner Truth was born into slavery but possessed a mind and a vision that knew no bounds. So Tall Within traces her life from her painful childhood through her remarkable emancipation to her incredible leadership in the movement for rights for both women and African Americans.

Lexile measure AD540L; Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
Something Happened in Our Town follows two families -- one White, one Black -- as they discuss a police shooting of a Black man in their community. The story aims to answer children's questions about such traumatic events, and to help children identify and counter racial injustice in their own lives. Includes an extensive Note to Parents and Caregivers with guidelines for discussing race and racism with children, child-friendly definitions, and sample dialogues.

Lexile measure AD630L; Ages 5-8; PrK-Gr.2; 2019 Caldecott Honor Book, Winner of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award.
Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu's delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses toward the scrumptious scent. And one by one, Omu offers a portion of her meal.

Lexile measure 890; Ages 6-10; Gr.1-4.
Extraordinary illustrations and lyrical text present pioneering African American scientist Ernest Everett Just. He persisted in his research despite the discrimination and limitations imposed on him as an African American. His keen observations of sea creatures revealed new insights about egg cells and the origins of life.

Ages 2-5; PrK-K.
Light can be so many things! The twinkle of a faraway star, a firefly captured in a jar, a mother's love, a turtle dove . . . Lyrical text and crisp, cheerful illustrations illuminate What Is Light?, each page revealing the sparkle found in a child's simple but extraordinary world.

K-Gr.3
A howling wolf, a stalking tiger, a playful panda, a dancing bird - pairing the stunning photography of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore with the delicate poetry of Newbery award-winning author Kwame Alexander, this lush picture book celebrates the beauty, diversity, and fragility of the animal world.

Gr.1-2.
A little girl uses rhyming verse to describe the unique traits of her autistic friend. Benny likes trains and cupcakes without sprinkles, but he can also be fussy sometimes.

Ages 4-8; K-gr.2.
Wonderfully spare, deceptively simple verses pair with richly evocative paintings to celebrate the iconic imagery of our nation, beginning with the American flag.

Ages 4-8; K-Gr.3; Newbery Honor Book, Caldecott Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book & Illustrator Honor Book, Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award Book & New Illustrator Honor Book.
The barbershop is where the magic happens. Boys go in as lumps of clay and, with princely robes draped around their shoulders, a dab of cool shaving cream on their foreheads, and a slow, steady cut, they become royalty.

Ages 4-8; K-Gr.3.
Frederick Douglass was a self-educated slave in the South who grew up to become an icon. He was a leader of the abolitionist movement, a celebrated writer, an esteemed speaker, and a social reformer, proving that, as he said, "Once you learn to read, you will be forever free."

Ages 5-7; PrK-Gr.3.
An ode to black children, this empowering picture book is a celebration of African-American lives that promotes the self-esteem, making this both a timely and important book, especially in light of recent events across America.

Lexile measure AD600L; Ages 5-7; PrK-Gr.3.
A black mother expresses the many hopes and dreams she has for her child in this powerful picture book masterpiece.

Lexile measure AD490L; Ages 5-7; PrK-Gr.2.
Working up the courage to take a big, important leap is hard, but Jabari is almost absolutely ready to make a giant splash. Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He's finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he's a great jumper, so he's not scared at all.

Lexile measure 1050; Ages 8-12; K-Gr.4
Based on her popular Instagram posts, debut author/illustrator Vashti Harrison shares the stories of 40 bold African American women who shaped history.

Lexile measure AD620L; Ages 5-7; K-gr.2.
After a day of being taunted by classmates about her unruly hair, Mackenzie can't take any more and she seeks guidance from her wise and comforting neighbor, Miss Tillie. Most importantly, Mackenzie learns that natural black hair is beautiful.

Ages 4-8; K-Gr.3.
In this original retelling, set in New York City during the height of the Harlem Renaissance, one little girl finds her voice as a musician thanks to her enchanting adventures with a magical toy.

Ages 5-8; PrK-Gr.3.
Princesses with curls wear pearls. Princesses with head wraps take long naps. And princesses with teeny-weeny Afros wear teeny-weeny bows.

Gr. PrK-gr.2.
"Dream Variation," one of Langston Hughes's most celebrated poems, about the dream of a world free of discrimination and racial prejudice, is now a picture book stunningly illustrated by Daniel Miyares, the acclaimed creator of Float.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.2.
A classic read-aloud favorite addressing bullying retold by acclaimed artist Jerry Pinkney.

Ages 3-6, PrK-Gr.1.
Join our excited narrator as she lists all the things that will make her birthday the BEST birthday. when's my birthday? where's my birthday? how many days until my birthday? i'd like a pony for my birthday and a necklace for my birthday.

Lexile measure AD200L; Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
Presented as a thoughtful, poetic exchange between two characters -- who don't realize they are thinking and asking the very same questions -- this beautiful celebration of our humanity and diversity invites readers of all ages to imagine a world where there is no you or me, only we.

Lexile measure 720; Ages 5-10; K-Gr.4.
Meet the youngest known child to be arrested for a civil rights protest in Birmingham, Alabama, 1963, in this moving picture book that proves you're never too little to make a difference. Nine-year-old Audrey Faye Hendricks intended to go places and do things like anybody else.

Lexile measure 500L; Ages 4-8; K-Gr.3; Golden Kite Award, 2017.
A lovely, original story of Santa's magic, illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney.

Lexile measure 770; Ages 7-10; Gr.1-4.
The inspiring story of four-year-old Sarah Roberts, the first African American girl to try to integrate a white school, and how her experience in 1847 set greater change in motion.

Lexile measure AD670L; Ages 5-9; Gr.1-3.
Chosen as a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2016, this poetic, nonfiction story about a little-known piece of African American history captures a human's capacity to find hope and joy in difficult circumstances and demonstrates how New Orleans' Congo Square was truly freedom's heart.

Lexile measure 350; Ages 6-8; Gr.1-3.
Baseball season has arrived and Mo is all set to play with his team, the Lions. But Mo always bats last, and he always plays right field--and no balls ever come to right field. Will Mo ever get his chance to help the Lions win? Geisel Award.

Lexile measure 1120; Ages 8-12; Gr.3-7; Guided reading U
Now in a special new edition perfect for young readers, this is the amazing true story of four African-American female mathematicians at NASA who helped achieve some of the greatest moments in our space program.

Gr. PrK-Gr.2.
Sophie lives with Mama and Daddy and Grandpa, who spends his days by the window. An ailing grandfather and his helpful granddaughter play a unique game of seek and find.

K-Gr.3; An Ezra Jack Keats Book Award Winner.
A picture book celebration of the indomitable Muddy Waters, a blues musician whose fierce and electric sound laid the groundwork for what would become rock and roll.

Lexile measure 840; Ages 5-8.
Critically acclaimed author Jabari Asim and Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator E.B. Lewis give readers a fascinating glimpse into the boyhood of Civil Rights leader John Lewis. John wants to be a preacher when he grows up a leader whose words stir hearts to change, minds to think, and bodies to take action.

Lexile measure 1050; Ages 8-10; Gr.1-3; Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner, 2017; Caldecott Award winner, 2017.
Somewhere in Brooklyn, a little boy dreams of being a famous artist, not knowing that one day he would make himself a king. Jean-Michael Basquiat and his unique, collage-style paintings rocketed to fame in the 1980s as a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the art world had ever seen.

Lexile measure AD50L; Ages 4-7; PrK-K.
Bro and Dude have very different ideas about how to spend the day at the beach. But as Bro continues to gasp and cheer as he reads his book (Moby Dick), Dude can't help but get curious.

Lexile measure 720; Ages 6-10; K-Gr.2.
Benjamin Banneker is known and admired for his work in science, mathematics, and astronomy. He was born free at a time in America, 1731, when most African Americans were slaves. At the age of 22 he built a strike clock based on his own drawings and using a pocket-knife.

Lexile measure AD430L; Ages 6-8; Gr.K-3.
This story imagines what it was like when Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass got together for a cup of tea and discussed their struggle for civil rights.

Lexile measure 630; Ages 7-10; Gr.1-4.
Relates the story of the National Memorial African Bookstore, founded in Harlem by Louis Michaux in 1939, as seen from the perspective of Louis Michaux Jr., who met famous men like Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X while helping there.

Gr.2-4; Ages 5-9.
Introduces readers to Benny Andrews, one of the most important African-American painters of the 20th century.

Ages 3-6; PrK-Gr.2.
A playful grasshopper wonders why the busy ants around him won't join in his merrymaking as the seasons pass by. But when winter arrives, he soon sees the value of his friends' hard work--just as the ants learn the value of sharing what they've worked for.

Ages 4-7; Gr.K-3.
Caldecott Honor artist Faith Ringgold takes readers on an unforgettable journey through the Harlem Renaissance.

Lexile measure AD150L; Ages 4-8; Gr.prK-gr.3.
If you plant a carrot seed . . . a carrot will grow. If you plant a cabbage seed . . . cabbage will grow. But what happens if you plant a seed of kindness . . . or selfishness?

Lexile measure AD140L; Ages 4-8; K-Gr.2.
Maria is from Spain, Jin is from Korea, and Fatima is from Somalia. All three are new to their American elementary school, and each has trouble speaking, writing, and sharing ideas in English. Through self-determination and with encouragement from their peers and teachers, the students learn to feel confident and comfortable in their new school without losing a sense of their home country, language, and identity.

Lexile measure AD610L; Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.2.
Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn't he have an iPod like the boys on the bus?

Lexile measure AD1130L; Ages 5-9; Gr.1-4.
An elderly African American woman, en route to vote, remembers her family's tumultuous voting history in this picture book publishing in time for the fiftieth anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Lexile measure AD560L; Ages 3-7; K-Gr.2.
In New Orleans, there lived a man who saw the streets as his calling, and he swept them clean. He danced up one avenue and down another and everyone danced along. In this heartwarming book about a real garbage man, Phil Bildner and John Parra tell the inspiring story of a humble man and the heroic difference he made in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

K-Gr.3.
My pen rides dinosaurs and hides an elephant in a teacup. What can your pen do?' So begins Myers' tale of how to overcome adversity using only what you have available.

Lexile measure 490; Ages 6-9; Gr.1-4.
Ella Mae is used to wearing her cousin's hand-me-down shoes--but when her latest pair is already too tight, she's thrilled at the chance to get new shoes. But at the shoe store, Ella Mae and her mother have to wait until there are no white customers to serve first.

Ages 3-5; Prk-Gr.2.
Owen loves playing ball. But it doesn't always 'love' him back. And after a particularly disastrous day on the field, Owen is benched. He is feeling so low that he doesn't even notice the ball rolling through a hole in the fence until it's rolled too far.

Lexile measure AD830L; Ages 5-8; Gr.1-4.
Explore a little-known story of the civil rights movement, in which black and white citizens in one Alabama city worked together nonviolently to end segregation.

Ages 5-10.
Each day features a different influential figure in African-American history, from Crispus Attucks, the first man shot in the Boston Massacre, sparking the Revolutionary War, to Madame C. J. Walker, who after years of adversity became the wealthiest black woman in the country, as well as one of the wealthiest black Americans, to Barack Obama, the country's first African-American president.

Ages 5-8; Gr.1-3.
Through the eyes of one little girl, All Different Now tells the story of the first Juneteenth, the day freedom finally came to the last of the slaves in the South. Since then, the observance of June 19 as African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond.

K-Gr.2; Ages 5-7.
In an unnamed city at night, a young boy wakes and gets out of bed to say his prayers. Outside his window a beautiful amber moon illuminates the city around him and all its inhabitants: a homeless woman bundled up on a bench, the father of a soldier who's been deployed overseas, an ill patient in the hospital and parents who cannot afford to feed their children.

Ages 4-8; Gr.K-3.
In this remarkable retelling of Beauty and the Beast, award-winning illustrator Pat Cummings creates an enchanted fairy-tale world flavored by the art, architecture, and culture of West Africa, while writer H. Chuku Lee stays true to the story of this beloved classic.

Lexile measure AD1100L; Ages 5-8; Gr.K-3.
A young girl growing up in Harlem in the 1950s, whose mother cleans and stitches costumes for a ballet company, dreams of becoming a prima ballerina one day, and is thrilled to see a performance of Janet Collins, the first "colored" prima ballerina.

Ages 5-8; Gr.1-3; Coretta Scott King illustrator award winner, 2015.
In her debut picture book, Misty Copeland tells the story of a young girl--an every girl--whose confidence is fragile and who is questioning her own ability to reach the heights that Misty has reached. Misty encourages this young girl's faith in herself and shows her exactly how, through hard work and dedication, she too can become Firebird.

Ages 4-8; Gr.1-3; Coretta Scott King illustrator honor book, 2015.
Melba Doretta Liston loved the sounds of music from as far back as she could remember. As a child, she daydreamed about beats and lyrics, and hummed along with the music from her family's Majestic radio. At age seven, Melba fell in love with a big, shiny trombone, and soon taught herself to play the instrument.

Ages 7-12; gr.1-4.
Based on a true story from Archbishop Desmond Tutu's childhood in South Africa, Desmond and the Very Mean Word reveals the power of words and the secret of forgiveness.

Lexile measure 1040L; Ages 7-10; Gr.1-4.
What happened when a former slave took beat-up old instruments and gave them to a bunch of orphans? The Jenkins Orphanage Band caused a sensation on the streets of Charleston. People called the band's style of music "rag"--a rhythm inspired by the African American people who lived on the South Carolina and Georgia coast.

Ages 5-8; K-gr.2.
Every morning, I play a game with my father. He goes knock knock on my door and I pretend to be asleep till he gets right next to the bed. And my papa, he tells me, "I love you." But what happens when, one day, that "knock knock" doesn't come?

Lexile measure AD1090L: Ages 5-9; Gr.1-3.
The story of one family's journey north during the Great Migration starts with a little girl in South Carolina who finds a rope under a tree one summer. She has no idea the rope will become part of her family's history.

Ages 4-7; Prk-gr.3.
Even the slowest tortoise can defeat the quickest hare, and even the proudest hare can learn a timeless lesson from the most humble tortoise: Slow and steady wins the race!

Awards: Charlotte Zolotow Award, 2013.; Awards: Coretta Scott King Award, author, 2012.; Lexile measure 640; Ages 5-9, gr. K-3.
Chloe and her friends won't play with the new girl, Maya. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her friends, they reject her. Eventually Maya stops coming to school. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the lost opportunity for friendship, and thinks about how much better it could have been if she'd shown a little kindness toward Maya.

Lexile measure AD770L; Ages 6-9; Gr.1-3.
A tribute to lesser-known Harlem Renaissance performer Florence Mills includes coverage of her youth as a child of former slaves, her singing and dancing performances that inspired songs and entire plays, and the struggles with racism that prompted her advocacy of all-black theater and musicals.

Ages 8 and up, gr. K-3.
On August 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington, Martin Luther King gave one of the most powerful and memorable speeches in our nation's history. His words, paired with Caldecott Honor winner Kadir Nelson's magificent paintings, make for a picture book certain to be treasured by children and adults alike.

Lexile measure 390; Ages 5 and up, gr. 1-4.
Winner of the Coretta Scott King illustrator award, I, Too, Am America blends the poetic wisdom of Langston Hughes with visionary illustrations from Bryan Collier in this inspirational picture book that carries the promise of equality.

Ages 5-9; Gr.k-4.
For generations, children have been enchanted by the tale of the clever cat in fancy boots who outsmarts a king and a sorcerer to win a castle and a bride for his penniless master. The humor, the magic, and a lush Renaissance setting are all on glorious display, and a well-placed gatefold adds to the drama.

Lexile 730; grade level 4.5; Informational history, Poetry, Awards: Coretta Scott King Author Honor, 2012, gr. 1-4.
Describes the period of the 20th century when many African Americans left the South to make better lives for themselves in the northern states.

Ages 4-8, gr. PreK-3.
Joseph's grandpa could do almost anything with his hands. He could play the piano, throw a curveball, and tie a triple bowline knot in three seconds flat. But in the 1950s and 60s, he could not bake bread at the Wonder Bread factory. Factory bosses said white people would not want to eat bread touched by the hands of the African Americans who worked there.

Lexile measure 1100; Ages 6-10; Book level 6; Gr. K-3; Caldecott Honor & Coretta Scott King Award Winner .Dave was an extraordinary artist, poet, and potter living in South Carolina in the 1800s. He combined his superb artistry with deeply observant poetry, carved onto his pots, transcending the limitations he faced as a slave.

Ages 5-9; Book level 5.3;Gr. 1-3.
This prequel to Eric Velasquez's biographical picture book Grandma's Records is the story of a Christmas holiday that young Eric spends with his grandmother.

Lexile measure 900; Ages 3-9, Book level 5.6; Biography, gr. K-2.
Jimi Hendrix was many things: a superstar, a rebel, a hero, an innovator. But first, he was a boy named Jimmy who loved to draw and paint and listen to records. A boy who played air guitar with a broomstick and longed for a real guitar of his own.

Lexile measure AD710L; Reading level 3.4; Ages 3-6.
Gia is tired of hearing about the new baby. It hasn't even been born yet, but everyone, even her friends, seem fixated on it. Gia thinks things are fine just the way they are! And she's worried: if the baby's such a big deal now, what's going to happen to Gia's nice, cozy life with Mama once it's born?

Ages 4-9; Book level 4.9, gr. K-3.
Walking many miles to school in the dusty road, young Coretta knew, too well, the unfairness of life in the segregated south. A yearning for equality began to grow. Together with Martin Luther King, Jr., she gave birth to a vision and a journey--with dreams of freedom for all.

Ages 5-8; Gr.Prk-Gr.2.
In award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney's wordless adaptation of one of Aesop's most beloved fables, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted. After a ferocious lion spares a cowering mouse that he'd planned to eat, the mouse later comes to his rescue, freeing him from a poacher's trap.

Ages 3 and up; poetry, gr. PreK-3.
Langston Hughes's spare yet eloquent tribue to his people has been cherished for generations. Now, acclaimed photographer Charles R. Smith Jr. interprets this beloved poem in vivid sepia photographs that capture the glory, the beauty, and the soul of being a black American today.

Gr. 1-3.
Langston Hughes has long been acknowledged as the voice, and his poem, The Negro Speaks of Rivers, the song, of the Harlem Renaissance. Although he was only seventeen when he composed it, Hughes already had the insight to capture in words the strength and courage of black people in America.

Ages 5-9, gr. 1-4.
Born into slavery, Belle had to endure the cruelty of several masters before she escaped to freedom. But she knew she wouldn't really be free unless she was helping to end injustice. That's when she changed her name to Sojourner and began traveling across the country, demanding equal rights for black people and for women.

Ages 4-8, gr. K-2.
Black is dazzling and distinctive, like toasted wheat berry bread; snowberries in the fall; rich, red cranberries; and the bronzed last leaves of summer.

Ages 5-10; book level 4.9; informational, gr. 1-4.
Our 16th president is known for many things: He delivered the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address.He was tall and skinny and notoriously stern-looking. And he also had some very strong ideas about abolishing slavery, ideas which brought him into close contact with another very visible public figure: Frederick Douglass.

Ages 6-11; book level 4.3; historical fiction, gr. PreK-3.
In July 1969, the world witnessed an awe-inspiring historical achievement when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the moon. For the young protagonist of this lyrical and hopeful picture book, that landing is something that inspires her to make one giant step toward all of the possibilities that life has to offer.

Ages 4-10; book level 2.2; general fiction, gr. K-2.
When it begins to rain and storm on the day of her big parade, Jazmin stomps, shouts, and does all she can think of to drive the rain away.

Lexile measure 380; ages 4-8; book level 3; Gr. K-3.
Henry Brown doesn't know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves' birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse.

Lexile measure 660; ages 5-10; Book level 4; Gr. 1-4.
In lyrical text, Carol Boston Weatherford describes Harriet Tubman's spiritual journey as she hears the voice of God guiding her North to freedom on that very first trip to escape the brutal practice of forced servitude.

Ages 3-7, gr. K-2.
In this toe-tapping jazz tribute, the traditional "This Old Man" gets a swinging makeover, and some of the era's best musicians take center stage.

Guided Reading Level: M; Lexile measure 460; Ages 6-12; Grade level 2.7; 6 copies.
Then a law is passed that forbids segregation and opens the town pool to everyone. Joe and John Henry are so excited they race each other there...only to discover that it takes more than a new law to change people's hearts.

Guided Reading Level M; Lexile measure 700; Book level 3.3; Ages 6-11
A young boy who loves to dance listens as his father retells the story of the night he was born, which coincided with the opening of the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem.

Lexile measure 760; K-Gr.4; Guided reading Q; Americas Award for Children & Young Adult Literature, Honor book, 2005.
Sareen is attending her first sit-up, a Jamaican tradition that celebrates the life of a loved one who has died.The whole village has come to share memories of Sareen's Nana. Sareen wants to tell her stories of Nana's last mango season and their search for the perfect mango, but she's afraid the words won't come or that she'll begin to cry.

Book level 3.8; Ages 4-8, gr. K-2.
This treasured poetry collection by Coretta Scott King Award-winning collaborators Eloise Greenfield and Jan Spivey Gilchrist journeys to a place where words, creativity, and imagination abound.

Guided Reading Level P; Lexile measure 880; Ages 5-10; Grade level 4.7;
A biography of Clayton Peg Leg Bates, an African-American man who lost a leg at the age of twelve, yet went on to become a world-renowned tap dancer.

Lexile measure 390; Book level 3.2; Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.2; Guided reading L
Master storyteller Virginia Hamilton retells this classic trickster tale in her own distinctive, playful vernacular.

Guided Reading Level: L; Lexile measure 540; Ages 5-8; Grade level 3.2; Library has 6 copies.
Sassy dances in the wings and waits for the right opportunity to make her debut. When the director of a dance festival comes to town, Sassy decides the time has come and makes her presence known

Lexile measure 150; Ages 6-8; Gr.K-2.
In the light of a blue moon, the second full moon in a month, Maxine discovers something amazing in the grass: a magical moon ring! Ahead lies a night of adventure beyond anything Maxine could have imagined, as she is whisked around the globe, from the ice floes of Antarctica to the sunbaked African savannah to the neon lights of New York City.

Guided Reading Level U; Lexile measure 580; ages 5-11; book level 3
When night falls, and all is quiet, a slave girl starts to run. She follows the moon into the woods, leading her loved ones away from their master. There's only one place where he might not find them, and it's under the quilt of night. Guided by the stars, they head north in the direction of freedom.

Guided Reading Level P; Lexile measure 780; ages 7-10; book level 5.2
An introduction to the life of Marian Anderson, extraordinary singer and civil rights activist, who was the first African American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera, whose life and career encouraged social change.

Guided Reading Level: M; Lexile measure 400; Ages 4-9; Grade level 3.6
Sara and Susan share tea, cookies, crab cakes, and stories about hats when they visit their favorite relative, Aunt Flossie.

Guided Reading Level: M; Lexile measure 550; ages 5-12; book level 4.3
In segregated 1950s Nashville, a young African American girl braves a series of indignities and obstacles to get to one of the few integrated places in town: the public library.

Guided Reading Level K; Lexile measure 410; ages 3-9; book level 3.4
This picture book biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Brings his life and the profound nature of his message to young children through his own words. Martin Luther King, Jr. , Was one of the most influential and gifted speakers of all time.

Guided Reading Level P; Lexile measure 780; Book Level 3.6; Ages 5-8
A young girl eagerly awaits a coming rainstorm to bring relief from the oppressive summer heat. "Come on, Rain!" Tess pleads to the sky as listless vines and parched plants droop in the endless heat. Then the clouds roll in and the rain pours. And Tess, her friends, and their mothers join in together in a rain dance to celebrate the shower that renews both body and spirit.

Ages 5-7.
Essie eagerly awaits the visit of her cousin but feels disheartened after her arrival because Neeny is no longer interested in life on the island from which she moved.

Lexile measure AD140L; Ages 5-8.
Ever hear of Charlie Parker? The great jazz saxophone player? Look at this board book and you'll hear Charlie Parker; you'll hear music in your mind.

Lexile measure 680; Reading level 4.1; Ages 4-8; PrK-K; Guided reading L
Grace loves stories, whether they're from books, movies, or the kind her grandmother tells. So when she gets a chance to play a part in Peter Pan, she knows exactly who she wants to be.

Guided Reading Level P; Grades K-2
Up above the earth so far Hang half a moon and one whole star Hang one whole star and half a moon; Nighttime will be coming soon. And while a young girl sleeps, nighttime deepens all around her -- in the woods and garden, on the ocean, in the city, and on the porch, where her parents sit.

Guided Reading Level R; Lexile: 690; Ages: 5-12; Grade level: 3.5
"Mirandy is sure she'll win the cake walk if she can catch Brother Wind for her partner, but he eludes all the tricks her friends advise.

Guided Reading Level S; Lexile measure 750; ages 8-12; book level 4.8
Four children witness a confrontation between an elderly black man and a white storekeeper in rural Mississippi in the 1930s.

Guided Reading Level: J; Lexile: 500; Ages: 3-9; Grade level 3.2
No book has captured the magic and sense of possibility of the first snowfall better than The Snowy Day.