Multi-cultural Kids
"The combination of biography and Brooks' own poems makes for a strong, useful, and beautiful text . . . A solid introduction to a brilliant writer"--Kirkus. Acclaimed writer Alice Faye Duncan tells the story of poet Gwendolyn Brooks, the first Black author to win the Pulitzer Prize. SING a song for Gwendolyn Brooks.
Sing it loud--a Chicago blues. With a voice both wise and witty, Gwendolyn Brooks crafted poems that captured the urban Black experience and the role of women in society. She grew up on the South Side of Chicago, reading and writing constantly from a young age, her talent lovingly nurtured by her parents. Brooks ultimately published 20 books of poetry, two autobiographies, and one novel. Alice Faye Duncan has created her own song to celebrate Gwendolyn's life and work, illuminating the tireless struggle of revision and the sweet reward of success. Included on the Chicago Public Libraries list of Best Informational Books for Young Readers.
In a big city called New York
In a bustling neighborhood
There was an empty lot.
Nevaeh called it the haunted garden. Harlem Grown tells the inspiring true story of how one man made a big difference in a neighborhood. After seeing how restless they were and their lack of healthy food options, Tony Hillery invited students from an underfunded school to turn a vacant lot into a beautiful and functional farm. By getting their hands dirty, these kids turned an abandoned space into something beautiful and useful while learning about healthy, sustainable eating and collaboration. Five years later, the kids and their parents, with the support of the Harlem Grown staff, grow thousands of pounds of fruits and vegetables a year. All of it is given to the kids and their families. The incredible story is vividly brought to life with Jessie Hartland's "charmingly busy art" (Booklist) that readers will pore over in search of new details as they revisit this poignant and uplifting tale over and over again. Harlem Grown is an independent, not-for-profit organization. The author's share of the proceeds from the sale of this book go directly to Harlem Grown.
An inspiring children's picture book about the indomitable spirit of Jamaican six-time Olympic medal winner Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce
"Pryce, who earned her fame as an illustrious athlete before putting pen to paper, remains an influential voice for young men and women the world over...She lives the promise entrusted to her."
--Jamaica Gleaner
"I Am a Promise...takes readers on a journey from [Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce's] childhood to the Olympics. It's her story about dreaming big and turning those dreams into reality."
--New York Amsterdam News
"A choice pick for school and public library children's collections, highly recommended."
--Midwest Book Review
"This book, which offers material for the youngest readers and extends coverage of Jamaican track athletes beyond Usain Bolt, is a welcome addition to the sports biography bookshelf."
--Booklist
"Fraser Pryce, who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, always loved to run. Her noticeable talent was present at an early age and was nurtured by many adults in her life. Her ability was her promise--to herself, to her family, to the people who supported her, and to the country that cheered her on as she represented Jamaica in the Olympics."
--School Library Journal
"Assisted by fellow Jamaicans Rousseau and Moss in her picture book debut, sprinter Fraser Pryce, a six-time Olympic medalist, relays her life from childhood until age 21, when she won her first Olympic gold medal...The tale...succeeds in conveying Fraser Pryce's autobiography in a compelling, conversational manner."
--Publishers Weekly
"Writing with Rousseau, Pryce offers a text that's accessible to new readers, repetition both underscoring her tirelessness and supporting decoding. Firmly outlined in black and opaquely colored, Moss' images complement this moving story while highlighting both Pryce's determination and the spirit of Jamaica, especially the support of a loving community (all depicted as black, like Pryce)...A solid addition to the early biography shelf."
--Kirkus Reviews
Included in Publishers Weekly's Spring 2020 Children's Announcements, African-American Interest Young Readers's Titles, 2019-2020, and the Spring 2020 Children's Sneak Previews!
"A colorful children's book, chock full of vividly wonderful, bright and brilliant illustrations by Rachel Moss."
--Exclusive Magazine
"Highlights perseverance, grit, confidence, and of course the Olympics."
--Book Tastings
"Her grandmother tells her she is a promise but she doesn't understand why. As time goes on, she gets faster and begins to think of racing. Shelly Ann was the fastest woman in the world in 2012. She's a six-time Olympic medal winner. She learned she was a promise for Jamaica and the people who supported her. She also learned she was a promise to herself to do the best she can. That's a good lesson for all of us."
--Journey of a Bookseller
"Jamaica, stand up! This...picture book is something to get excited about."
--Here We Read
I Am a Promise takes readers on Shelly Ann's journey from her childhood in the tough inner-city community of Waterhouse in Kingston, Jamaica, through her development as a young athlete, to her first Olympic gold medal in the 100-meter sprint in 2008.
The story charts how Shelly Ann's commitment to hard work as well as the encouragement of loved ones helped her achieve her dreams against great odds and challenging life experiences. Most importantly, I Am a Promise encourages young readers to believe in themselves and to maximize their own promise to the world.
Meet extraordinary real-life heroines in the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls chapter book series! Introducing stories based on the lives of extraordinary women in global history, each stunningly designed chapter book features beautiful illustrations from a female artist as well as bonus activities in the backmatter to encourage kids to explore the various fields in which each of these women thrived. The perfect gift to inspire any young reader!
Being painted on
By the words of my family
Friends
And community From Vanessa Brantley-Newton, the author of Grandma's Purse, comes a collection of poetry filled with engaging mini-stories about girls of all kinds: girls who feel happy, sad, scared, powerful; girls who love their bodies and girls who don't; country girls, city girls; girls who love their mother and girls who wish they had a father. With bright portraits in Vanessa's signature style of vibrant colors and unique patterns and fabrics, this book invites readers to find themselves and each other within its pages. A dynamic, uplifting, and welcoming world of girls.--Kirkus Thoughtful, inclusive, and celebratory--Publishers Weekly Bursting with positivity, this would be a great book to use in primary school classrooms when discussing issues of friendship, diversity, and self-esteem.--Booklist
A perfect book for tomorrow's leaders, Little Heroes of Color educates and inspires by showing readers 50 trailblazers from a range of races and ethnicities. Bold colors and simple captions bring the youngest readers face-to-face with those who've shaped history and broken boundaries in science, the arts, government, and more.
From Toussaint Louverture, the leader of the Haitian Revolution, to Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Supreme Court Justice from Puerto Rico, these heroes have persisted through adversity and hardships to bring about positive change.
Children will discover that there is no one way to be a hero, and anyone can accomplish extraordinary things!
Amelia Earhart
Anne Frank
Charles Darwin
Ferdinand Magellan
Frida Kahlo
Leonardo Da Vinci
Nelson Mandela
Stephen Hawking
A New York Times Bestseller
Thoughtful, strong-willed sixth-grader Merci Suarez navigates difficult changes with friends, family, and everyone in between in a resonant new novel from Meg Medina. Merci Suarez knew that sixth grade would be different, but she had no idea just how different. For starters, Merci has never been like the other kids at her private school in Florida, because she and her older brother, Roli, are scholarship students. They don't have a big house or a fancy boat, and they have to do extra community service to make up for their free tuition. So when bossy Edna Santos sets her sights on the new boy who happens to be Merci's school-assigned Sunshine Buddy, Merci becomes the target of Edna's jealousy. Things aren't going well at home, either: Merci's grandfather and most trusted ally, Lolo, has been acting strangely lately -- forgetting important things, falling from his bike, and getting angry over nothing. No one in her family will tell Merci what's going on, so she's left to her own worries, while also feeling all on her own at school. In a coming-of-age tale full of humor and wisdom, award-winning author Meg Medina gets to the heart of the confusion and constant change that defines middle school -- and the steadfast connection that defines family.
Otis Redding's classic song "Respect"--as popularized by Aretha Franklin--becomes an empowering picture book exploring the concept of mutual respect through the eyes of a young girl.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T / Find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T / Take care, TCB
Oh (sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
A little respect
Respect is a children's picture book based on lyrics written and originally recorded by Otis Redding in 1965. Aretha Franklin's iconic rendition of the song later peaked at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1967. Redding's lyrics continue to resonate with listeners today.
With lyrics by Otis Redding and illustrations by Rachel Moss, this irresistible book shows a young girl, her brother, and her parents conjuring as many positive futures for each other as they can dream. Packed with playful vignettes as they imagine a life full of possibility, Respect provides families an opportunity to explore themes of mutual respect--while revisiting one of the greatest songs ever written.
The Otis Redding Foundation. Redding was dedicated to improving the quality of life for his community through the education and empowerment of its youth. He provided scholarships and summer music programs which continued until his untimely death on December 10, 1967. Today, the mission of the Otis Redding Foundation, established in 2007 by Mrs. Zelma Redding, is to empower, enrich, and motivate all young people through programs involving music, writing, and instrumentation. To learn more, visit: otisreddingfoundation.org.
Patrisse Khan-Cullors' and asha bandele's instant New York Times bestseller, When They Call You a Terrorist is now adapted for the YA audience with photos and journal entries!
A movement that started with a hashtag--#BlackLivesMatter--on Twitter spread across the nation and then across the world. From one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement comes a poetic memoir and reflection on humanity. Necessary and timely, Patrisse Khan-Cullors' story asks us to remember that protest in the interest of the most vulnerable comes from love. Leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement have been called terrorists, a threat to America. But in truth, they are loving women whose life experiences have led them to seek justice for those victimized by the powerful. In this meaningful, empowering account of survival, strength, and resilience, Cullors and asha bandele seek to change the culture that declares innocent black life expendable.
In 1863, when Ida B. Wells was not yet two years old, the Emancipation Proclamation freed her from the bond of slavery. Blessed with a strong will, an eager mind, and a deep belief in America's promise of "freedom and justice for all," young Ida held her family together, defied society's conventions, and used her position as a journalist to speak against injustice. But Ida's greatest challenge arose after one of her friends was lynched. How could one headstrong young woman help free America from the looming "shadow of lawlessness"?
Author Philip Dray tells the inspirational story of Ida B. Wells and her lifelong commitment to end injustice. Award-winning illustrator Stephen Alcorn's remarkable illustrations recreate the tensions that threatened to upend a nation while paying tribute to a courageous American hero.
Read Together (Ages 3 and up)
