Children's Books Catalog
Poppy's Family Recipes
Author: Lauren Semmer
Sunday afternoons are special for Poppy, because she gets to spend them with Granddad. Today they are preparing a meal from scratch!
When Poppy is nervous about trying Granddad's famous coconut stew, he shares the rich family history behind his dish. Then, after looking through a book of Grandad's favorite recipes, they decide to make a sweet potato pie!
From visiting the farmers market for local ingredients to cooking side by side with Granddad, Poppy learns that nothing feels better than sharing a home-cooked meal with the people you love.
New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Lauren Semmer serves up a heartfelt story about the joy of cooking and the power of family tradition. The book also includes two recipes for young readers to make.
This book features two unique illustrated covers, one on the jacket and the other on the case, that make it the perfect gift to share with loved ones!
Please, Louise
Author: Toni Morrison
Nobel Prize recipient Toni Morrison and Slade Morrison breathe new life into a classic Aesop’s fable.
In the well-known tale of “The Tortoise and the Hare,” everyone remembers that “slow and steady wins the race”—or does it? In this energetic retelling of a favorite fable, it’s the speedy Hare who crosses the finish line first, but it’s Tortoise who has the tale to tell when he discovers that the race, not the winning, is what matters most. While winning is important, isn’t making a true friend the best prize of all?
Please, Baby, Please (Hardcover)
Author: Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee
From moments fussy to fond, Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, producer Tonya Lewis Lee, present a behind-the-scenes look at the chills, spills, and unequivocal thrills of bringing up baby!
Go back to bed,
baby, please, baby, please.
Not on your HEAD
baby baby baby, please!
Vivid illustrations from celebrated artist Kadir Nelson evoke toddlerhood from sandbox to high chair to crib, and families everywhere will delight in sharing these exuberant moments again and again.
Playtime For Restless Rascals
Author: Nikki Grimes
"Time to get to work, little one," I tell you.
"What work?" you ask.
Like always,
you pretend not to understand.
"Your job is called Play," I say.
Mom needs to wake up her child whose job is to play. From dancing in puddles to jumping in leaves, and swinging high enough to almost reach the sun, there's so much to do in a fun-filled day.
For those seeking children's books about diversity, this loving depiction of everyday shenanigans is sure to become a story time favorite. Playtime for Restless Rascals is an African American children's book that celebrates imagination, playful moments, and the love between parents and child.
Pilar Ramirez and the Curse of San Zenon (Pilar Ramirez Duology, 2)
Author: Julian Randall
After being magically transported to the mythical island of Zafa and rescuing her long captive cousin Natasha, Pilar is back in Chicago . . . and hiding the shocking truths about Zafa and Natasha being alive. So, when she and her family are invited on a trip to Santo Domingo, Pilar welcomes the distraction and the chance to see the Dominican Republic for the first time.
But when Ciguapa and close friend Carmen magically appears in the DR searching for help, Pilar is soon on the hunt for the escaped demon El Baca and his mysterious new ally. Now, with a cursed storm gathering over the island to resurrect an ancient enemy, Pilar will have to harness her newfound bruja powers if she has any hope of saving her own world, Zafa, and most importantly her family before the clock runs out and ushers in a new era of evil.
Perron Family Haunting: The Ghost Story that Inspired Horror Movies
Author: Ebony Joy Wilkins
The Perron family received this advice from the previous homeowner of their Rhode Island farmhouse: "For the sake of your family, leave the lights on at night!" A ghostly witch named Bathsheba led the haunting of the Perron family, physically and psychologically tormenting them. This legendary ghost story eventually became the subject of the movie The Conjuring, and continued to haunt the Perron family for years to come.
Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights
Author: Rob Sanders
Protesting. Standing up for what’s right. Uniting around the common good—kids have questions about all of these things they see and hear about each day. Through sparse and lyrical writing, Rob Sanders introduces abstract concepts like “fighting for what you believe in” and turns them into something actionable. Jared Schorr’s bold, bright illustrations brings the resistance to life making it clear that one person can make a difference. And together, we can accomplish anything.
Party: A Mystery
Author: Jamaica Kincaid
Three girls--Pam, Bess, and Sue--attend a party to celebrate the publication of the first of the Nancy Drew mystery books. There are many distractions at the fancy affair: flower arrangements, partygoers, refreshments, and lots and lots of marble. Suddenly, the oldest girl, Pam, sees what can only be described as something truly...bilious...not good! Bess sees it too. The youngest, Sue, does not, and as usual she has a hard time getting anyone to tell her anything. Party: A Mystery is a beautifully drawn adventure story that promises questions that will grab children, but does not guarantee an answer.
Parker's Big Feelings
Author: Parker Curry/ Jessica Curry
Parker is not having a good day. All she wants is some time alone to read her book, but her brother and sister will not stop following her around. Parker is feeling lots of big feelings. How can Parker turn a bad day into something good?
Parker Shines On: Another Extraordinary Moment
Author: Parker Curry/ Jessica Curry
Parker Curry loves being a big sister. She gets to play dress-up with her little sister, Ava, and piano with her baby brother, Cash. And Parker loves to dance, twirling and leaping and spinning in joy.
But when a dancer joins her class and needs her help, Parker wonders if she has what it takes to be not only a real dancer, but a real friend.
This inspirational picture book has an afterword by prima ballerina and New York Times bestselling author Misty Copeland.
Parker Dresses Up: Ready-to-Read Level 1 (A Parker Curry Book)
Author: Parker Curry
The New York Times bestselling team behind Parker Looks Up returns with this Level 1 Ready-to-Read about the fun of dressing up and dreaming big!
Parker is playing dress up with her younger siblings, Ava and Cash. With each costume, Parker imagines what her life would be like if she were a doctor, a princess, or even a princess doctor. Because Parker knows that she doesn't need to limit herself to being one thing. The sky’s the limit!
Our Story Starts in Africa: A Picture Book
Author: Patrice Lawrence
When Paloma goes to visit her family in Trinidad, she doesn’t feel that she fits in. But Tante Janet has a story to tell her: An ancient story of warrior queens and talking drums, of treasures and tales that span thousands of years . . . a story that Paloma shares in, because her story, too, starts in Africa.Join Tante and her inquisitive niece as they share the story of how her family came to the Caribbean, through the dark days of colonization and enslavement, to the emergence of a thriving, contemporary community of many faces, places, and successes.All too often, children’s books dealing with “Africa” are reductive, with little mention or explanation of modern Africa and too much focus on traditional costume, dancing, and animals. Our Story Starts in Africa offers a new approach to caregivers wanting to talk about Black history and Blackness from its very origins, sensitively told and vibrantly illustrated.
Our Gracie Aunt
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Sometimes, even when a mama loves you, she can’t always take care of you . . .
That’s what happens with Johnson and Beebee’s mama—and that’s why they are being taken to their aunt Gracie’s house.
Who is this Gracie aunt? That’s what Johnson wants to know. He can’t remember her, and Beebee doesn’t seem to trust her, at least not at first. But slowly, as the three of them spend time together—cooking, watching movies, snuggling on the couch, and even crying when they need to—they form a bond. And when Johnson sees Mama again, he knows that no matter where he lives, he’ll always be surrounded by love.
Poppy or the Snake?
Author: Toni Morrison, Slade Morrison
n this clever riff on Aesop, Poppy feels guilty when he accidentally drives over Snake, and he decides to risk being bitten in order to free the sassy reptile. But smake wants more. This is a sly tale about who gets the last laugh.
We, the creators of Who's Got Game? were inspired by the wonder of Aesop's Fables -- their vitality, their endless demand for more interpretations. In our versions the original stories are opened up and their moralisitic endings reimagined; the victim might not lose; the timid gets a chance to become strong; the fool can gain insight; the powerful may lose their grip. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. More than a play on these beloved fables, Who's Got Game? is AESOP LIVE!
Please, Baby, Please (Paperback)
Author: Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee
From moments fussy to fond, Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, producer Tonya Lewis Lee, present a behind-the-scenes look at the chills, spills, and unequivocal thrills of bringing up baby!
Go back to bed,
baby, please, baby, please.
Not on your HEAD
baby baby baby, please!
Vivid illustrations from celebrated artist Kadir Nelson evoke toddlerhood from sandbox to high chair to crib, and families everywhere will delight in sharing these exuberant moments again and again.
Please, Baby, Please (Board Book)
Author: Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee
From moments fussy to fond, Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, producer Tonya Lewis Lee, present a behind-the-scenes look at the chills, spills, and unequivocal thrills of bringing up baby!
Go back to bed,
baby, please, baby, please.
Not on your HEAD
baby baby baby, please!
Vivid illustrations from celebrated artist Kadir Nelson evoke toddlerhood from sandbox to high chair to crib, and families everywhere will delight in sharing these exuberant moments again and again.
Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa (Pilar Ramirez Duology, 1)
Author: Julian Randall
Twelve-year-old Pilar Violeta “Purp” Ramirez’s world is changing, and she doesn’t care for it one bit. Her Chicago neighborhood is gentrifying and her chores have doubled since her sister, Lorena, left for college. The only constant is Abuela and Mami’s code of silence around her cousin Natasha―who vanished in the Dominican Republic fifty years ago during the Trujillo dictatorship.
When Pilar hears that Lorena’s professor studies such disappearances, she hops on the next train to dig deeper into her family's mystery. After snooping around the professor's empty office, she discovers a folder with her cousin’s name on it . . . and gets sucked into the blank page within.
She lands on Zafa, an island swarming with coconut-shaped demons, butterfly shapeshifters, and a sinister magical prison where her cousin is being held captive. Pilar will have to go toe-to-toe with the fearsome Dominican boogeyman, El Cuco, if she has any hope of freeing Natasha and getting back home.
Piecing Me Together
Author: Renee Watson
Acclaimed author Renee Watson offers a powerful story about a girl striving for success in a world that too often seems like it's trying to break her.
Jade believes she must get out of her poor neighborhood if she's ever going to succeed. Her mother tells her to take advantage of every opportunity that comes her way. And Jade has: every day she rides the bus away from her friends and to the private school where she feels like an outsider, but where she has plenty of opportunities. But some opportunities she doesn't really welcome, like an invitation to join Women to Women, a mentorship program for "at-risk" girls. Just because her mentor is black and graduated from the same high school doesn't mean she understands where Jade is coming from. She's tired of being singled out as someone who needs help, someone people want to fix. Jade wants to speak, to create, to express her joys and sorrows, her pain and her hope. Maybe there are some things she could show other women about understanding the world and finding ways to be real, to make a difference.
Peeny Butter Fudge
Author: Toni Morrison and Slade Morrison, Illustrated by Joe Cepeda
Snuggle, snuggle.
Time to rest.
Nana joins us in her nest.
There is no one like Nana in the whole wide world. She is the best. Nana knows how to take an ordinary afternoon and make it extra special! Nap time, story time, and playtime are transformed by fairies, dragons, dancing, and pretending -- and then mixing and fixing yummy, yummy fudge just like Nana and Mommy did not so many years ago....
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison and her son Slade tell a story of what really goes on when Nana is left in charge!
Patina
Author: Jason Reynolds
A newbie to the track team, Patina must learn to rely on her teammates as she tries to outrun her personal demons in this follow-up to the National Book Award finalist Ghost by New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds.
Ghost. Lu. Patina. Sunny. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team—a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves.
Patina, or Patty, runs like a flash. She runs for many reasons—to escape the taunts from the kids at the fancy-schmancy new school she’s been sent to ever since she and her little sister had to stop living with their mom. She runs from the reason WHY she’s not able to live with her “real” mom any more: her mom has The Sugar, and Patty is terrified that the disease that took her mom’s legs will one day take her away forever. And so Patty’s also running for her mom, who can’t. But can you ever really run away from any of this?
As the stress builds, it’s building up a pretty bad attitude as well. Coach won’t tolerate bad attitude. No day, no way. And now he wants Patty to run relay…where you have to depend on other people? How’s she going to do THAT?
Parker's Slumber Party
Author: Parker Curry/ Jessica Curry
Parker is so excited. She is having a slumber party with her friends! There will be games, crafts, and even cupcakes with sprinkles! They don’t want the fun to end, but can they stay up all night?
Parker Takes A Trip
Author: Parker Curry/ Jessica Curry
Parker is going on a big adventure! She and her family are flying on a plane to visit her Papi and Nana in another country called Portugal. What will Parker see there? What will Parker do? No matter what happens, it’s sure to be an amazing trip.
Parker Grows A Garden
Author: Parker Curry
Parker is growing her own backyard garden! She plants tulips with Nana and herbs and vegetables with Mom Mom. After patiently waiting all winter long, Parker sees her garden bloom! This story celebrates Parker’s relationships with her two grandmothers and the joy of nurturing plants in the garden, and the backmatter features Parker’s love of taking nature walks in her neighborhood.
Ours
Author: Ruth Forman
From the bestselling author of Curls, Glow, and Bloom comes a board book that joyfully celebrates skin tone self-love with a mirror for little ones.
I love mine (mine)
she loves hers (hers)
he loves his (his)
I love theirs
Show young readers how to see themselves and others with confidence and love with this beautiful rhyming board book toddlers and parents alike will love.
Our Joyful Noise
Author: Gabriele Davis
A joyful, jazzy picture book following a Black family through a week of shared moments and simple pleasures, woven through with hidden musical jewels from spirituals and songs.
We move to the sounds
that FLOW through our days.
Soft sounds, low sounds, LOUD sounds,
slow sounds.
Joyful, NOISEFUL, soulful sounds.
OUR sounds.
For this loving family, each moment of the day is filled with music, from the moment they wake to the sound of Mama humming them into a happy day as she plop plop plops berries into oatmeal, to bedtime when Daddy soothes them to sleep, strong hands smoothing brows, warm and slow, sweet chariots swinging low.