Children's Books Catalog
Mermaid and Pirate
Author: Tracey Baptiste
Glub glub…
Aargh...
Mermaid and Pirate cannot understand each other. They speak different languages and come from different worlds. But they’re quick to lend a hand, or a tail, when the sky grows stormy and waters get rough, and a friendship is born. Sometimes kindness and generosity speak louder than words.
Me and the Family Tree
Author: Carole Weatherford
A celebration of family roots from award-winning children's author Carole Boston Weatherford!
I've got my brother's ears
And my sister's big bright eyes.
I've got my grandpa's hands
Though mine are a smaller size.
As a young girl reflects on the characteristics she shares with her family, she also notices and appreciates what makes her unique. This adorably sweet book reminds children of the love and security of family and celebrates the wonderful diversity among the people that make up our families and who love us so much!
Maybe An Artist, A Graphic Memoir
Author: Liz Montague
A heartfelt and funny graphic novel memoir from one of the first Black female cartoonists to be published in the New Yorker, when she was just 22 years old.
When Liz Montague was a senior in college, she wrote to the New Yorker, asking them why they didn't publish more inclusive comics. The New Yorker wrote back asking if she could recommend any. She responded: yes, me.
Those initial cartoons in the New Yorker led to this memoir of Liz's youth, from the age of five through college--how she navigated life in her predominantly white New Jersey town, overcame severe dyslexia through art, and found the confidence to pursue her passion. Funny and poignant, Liz captures the age-old adolescent questions of “who am I?” and “what do I want to be?” with pitch-perfect clarity and insight.
This brilliant, laugh-out-loud graphic memoir offers a fresh perspective on life and social issues and proves that you don’t need to be a dead white man to find success in art.
Maya Angelou: A Little Golden Book
Author: Anne Wynter
Help your little one dream big with a Little Golden Book biography about writer, poet, and Civil Rights activist Maya Angelou. Little Golden Book biographies are the perfect introduction to nonfiction for young readers—as well as fans of all ages!
This Little Golden Book about Maya Angelou–the acclaimed poet, lecturer, activist, and author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings–is an inspiring read-aloud for young readers.
Maya and the Rising Dark
Author: Rena Barron
Twelve-year-old Maya is the only one in her South Side Chicago neighborhood who witnesses weird occurrences like werehyenas stalking the streets at night and a scary man made of shadows plaguing her dreams. Her friends try to find an explanation—perhaps a ghost uprising or a lunchroom experiment gone awry. But to Maya, it sounds like something from one of Papa’s stories or her favorite comics.
When Papa goes missing, Maya is thrust into a world both strange and familiar as she uncovers the truth. Her father is the guardian of the veil between our world and the Dark—where an army led by the Lord of Shadows, the man from Maya’s nightmares, awaits. Maya herself is a godling, half orisha and half human, and her neighborhood is a safe haven. But now that the veil is failing, the Lord of Shadows is determined to destroy the human world and it’s up to Maya to stop him. She just hopes she can do it in time to attend Comic-Con before summer’s over.
Maya and the Return of the Godlings (Maya and the Rising Dark, 2)
Author: Rena Barron
In this highly anticipated sequel, Maya and the godlings must return to the sinister world of The Dark to retrieve the one thing keeping the veil between the worlds from crumbling: her father’s soul. Perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky and Willa of the Wood. The threat from The Dark is far from over. Twelve-year-old Maya knows this. After crossing the veil between the two worlds, saving her father, and narrowly escaping the sinister clutches of the Lord of Shadows, tensions between the human world and The Dark are higher than ever. And even worse, Maya’s orisha powers as a godling are out of control.Now a guardian in training, Maya spends her days patching up veils with her father and cleaning up near-disasters like baby wormholes that her erratic powers create. But when Maya and her friends discover that something went terribly wrong during their journey to bring her father back to the human world, they are forced to return to The Dark and restore what they left behind, the one thing keeping the veil from falling: her father’s soul.The Lord of Shadows is mobilizing his forces for an all-out war against the human world. And this time, Maya and her friends will need all the help they can get. Even if that means teaming up with their greatest enemies, the darkbringers.
Maxie Wiz and the Magic Charms (Step into Reading)
Author: Michelle Meadows
HOCUS-POCUS! Maxie Wiz has magic homework! She must collect all the charms in her magic spell for it to work. Will she be able to follow the steps and rev up her magic wand?
Follow this little wizard and her dragon on a whimsical treasure hunt. Predictable rhymes help support a successful reading experience, while bright, lively art brings this delightful story to life.
Step 1 Readers feature big type and easy words. Rhymes and rhythmic text paired with picture clues help children decode the story. For children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading.
Mary Had a Little Plan: Mary Had a Little Glam (Volume 2)
Author: Tammi Sauer
Mary had a little plan
that sprouted on the spot.
It all began the day she passed
a drab, abandoned lot.
Fashion-forward Mary is known for adding flair everywhere she goes. When she spots an abandoned lot in her neighborhood, Mary knows she can use her talent to spruce it up. Soon she’s rallying neighborhood shops and calling on her friends to help. With Mary leading the way, this group carries out her little plan and fashions a future that is bright!
Mary Can!
Author: Mary J. Blige and Ashleigh Corrin
Most of the time, people say “no” or “you can’t” because they dream too small.
Young Mary has been told that there are many things she can’t do. Like stay up past bedtime, or be an astronaut or become president. But what she really wants is to sing, and she isn’t about to let anyone tell her she can’t do it!
A powerful motivating tale about a confident and ambitious girl who doesn’t feed into negativity, this debut children’s book from legendary artist Mary J. Blige proves that anyone can make their dreams come true by believing in themselves. It's a great conversation starter for overcoming discouragement from others.
Brought to life with imaginative illustrations by Ezra Jack Keats Award-winning illustrator Ashleigh Corrin, Mary Can! is perfect for go-getters who aren’t afraid to be a YES in a world full of NOs.
Marvel Black Panther - I'm Ready to Read
Author: Pl Kids
Come to Wakanda and get ready to read! Press 10 buttons to hear each page of the story read aloud by Black Panther. Simple sentences, large type, and expressive narration make it easy for beginning readers to follow along!
This book is special because:
- Simple sentences and large type ease the way for beginning readers
- Children can spot and say familiar words and sound out new ones
- Expressive narration by favorite characters enhances comprehension
- Features Iconic characters from Black Panther: King T'Challa as Black Panther, Shuri, the Dora Milaje, Klaw, and the Avengers!
Marley and the Family Band
Author: Cedella Marley and Tracey Baptiste
A picture book that celebrates music, love, and family from author Cedella Marley. A poetic story about a young girl who moves to a new country and learns to make friends—inspired by a childhood growing up with the musician Bob Marley as a father.
When Marley and her family move from Jamaica to Delaware, she knows life is about to change in big ways. And she's got the perfect plan to help her and her siblings make friends: an outdoor concert for the whole neighborhood!
But when weather ruins their plans, she discovers help in the most unlikely places as her new neighbors quickly become the kindest of friends.
In this joyful, vibrant picture book inspired by her childhood and iconic father, Cedella Marley assures children that nothing can stop the music as long as they have community.
Marcus Makes It Big
Author: Kevin Hart
Marcus’s movie, Toothpick vs. the Doom, is a HIT! But the only thing harder than making a movie is making a SECOND one. Marcus needs to come up with another great idea fast. Too bad his film crew (aka friends) are too preoccupied with their MeTube channels to notice. An invite to The Helen Show has Marcus thinking they’ll be back on top, but will nerves, unchecked ambition, and a rivalry between friends shut down this show before it even begins?
In the laugh-out-loud sequel, actor and comedian Kevin Hart delivers a message about being creative, working hard, and learning that sometimes the best dreams are the ones you achieve with your friends.
Mango In The City (Volume 2)
Author: Fracaswell Hyman
It’s summer break, and Mango is happy to split her time between watching her baby brother Jasper, hanging with her friend Izzy, and binging movies late into the night. Then she runs into her drama teacher Bob, who has some news—Yo, Romeo! is headed to the stage in New York City, and he wants Mango to reprise her lead! With her parents’ blessing (and a few rules) Mango is off to Brooklyn to live with her Aunt Zendaya. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, and knowing Mango, the drama is sure to follow!
Melody Lifts Her Voice
Author: Bria Alston
Melody Ellison loves singing and gardening, and is inspired by friends and family and the Civil Rights Movement to make changes in her community. Melody's story of leadership and making one's voice heard is sure to engage today's readers as they learn what it was like to be a girl in 1964. This Step 3 Step into Reading leveled reader is great for American Girl fans ages 5 to 8. This exciting Step into Reading is based on an American Girl story by Denise Lewis Patrick.Step 3 readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics for children who are ready to read on their own.Introduced in 1986, American Girl's flagship line of historical characters features 18-inch dolls, books, and accessories that give girls a dramatic understanding of the role women and girls played in shaping our country.
Me and My Mama
Author: Carole Boston Weatherford
The sun is calling us outside.
Mama cheers me down the slide!
We wish on puffs and sift through sand.
We hike together hand in hand.
With simple, charming text, and colorful illustrations, Me and My Mama is the perfect way to for kids to reflect on the special role their Mama plays in their life and explore the many ways love can be shown!
Maya's Song
Author: Renee Watson and Bryan Collier
This unforgettable picture book introduces young readers to the life and work of Maya Angelou, whose words have uplifted and inspired generations of readers. The author of the celebrated autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya was the first Black person and first woman to recite a poem at a presidential inauguration, and her influence echoes through culture and history. She was also the first Black woman to appear on the United States quarter.
Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Award winner Renée Watson uses Angelou’s beloved medium of poetry to lyrically chronicle her rich life in a deeply moving narrative. Vivid and striking collage art by Caldecott Honor recipient and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner Bryan Collier completes this unforgettable portrait of one of the most important American artists in history.
Maya’s momma was right.
Maya was a preacher, a teacher.
A Black girl whose voice
chased away darkness, ushered in light.
Maya And The Robot
Author: Eve L. Ewing
Maya's nervous about fifth grade. She tries to keep calm by reminding herself she knows what to expect. But then she learns that this year won't be anything like the last. For the first time since kindergarten, her best friends Jada and MJ are placed in a different class without her, and introverted Maya has trouble making new friends.
She tries to put on a brave face since they are in fifth grade now, but Maya is nervous! Just when too much seems to be changing, she finds a robot named Ralph in the back of Mr. Mac's convenience store closet. Once she uses her science skills to get him up and running, a whole new world of connection opens up as Ralph becomes a member of her family and Maya begins to step into her power. In this touching novel, Eve L. Ewing melds together a story about community, adapting to change, and the magic of ingenuity that reminds young readers that they can always turn to their own curiosity when feeling lost.
Maya And The Rising Dark
Author: Rena Barron
Twelve-year-old Maya is the only one in her South Side Chicago neighborhood who witnesses weird occurrences like werehyenas stalking the streets at night and a scary man made of shadows plaguing her dreams. Her friends try to find an explanation—perhaps a ghost uprising or a lunchroom experiment gone awry. But to Maya, it sounds like something from one of Papa’s stories or her favorite comics.When Papa goes missing, Maya is thrust into a world both strange and familiar as she uncovers the truth. Her father is the guardian of the veil between our world and the Dark—where an army led by the Lord of Shadows, the man from Maya’s nightmares, awaits. Maya herself is a godling, half orisha and half human, and her neighborhood is a safe haven. But now that the veil is failing, the Lord of Shadows is determined to destroy the human world and it’s up to Maya to stop him. She just hopes she can do it in time to attend Comic-Con before summer’s over.
Maya and the Lord of Shadows
Author: Rena Barron
War is coming. Despite everything Maya and her father have done, the veil that protects the human world is failing. The Lord of Shadows has raised an army powerful enough to challenge the orishas. And it’s only a matter of time before he breaks through the veil and destroys Maya’s neighborhood and the rest of the world.
Maya and her friends aren’t going down without a fight. She’s honing her guardian powers, with the help of two new allies—her long lost guardian sister and a mysterious darkbringer (who might be a double agent). But when an attack hits close to home, Maya doesn’t have any more time to prepare. She must face the Lord of Shadows or risk losing everything. With her friends—Eli, Frankie, Zeran, and Eleni—by her side, Maya leads the charge in an epic showdown that takes her across worlds and to the edge of the universe.
Will she succeed or will Darkness prevail, once and for all?
Maxie Wiz and Her Dragon (Step into Reading)
Author: Michelle Meadows
A rollicking, rhyming, magical adventure in this Step 1 Reader featuring a young wizard in training!
Maxie Wiz wants a pal. HOCUS-POCUS—a dragon egg appears! Soon, he almost grows too large for the castle! What spells will Maxie come up with to help with her new pet?
Follow this little wizard and her hatchling dragon for a day full of fun and charming spells! Easy-to-follow rhyme ensures a successful reading experience, while bright, lively art brings this delightful story to life.
Step 1 Readers feature big type and easy words. Rhymes and rhythmic text paired with picture clues help children decode the story. For children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading.
Mary Had a Little Glam
Author: Tammi Sauer
This little Mary has STYLE! In this fun take on Mother Goose, fashion-forward Mary helps some of childhood's most beloved characters go glam. From the kid who lives in a shoe (and dons some fab footwear, too) to Jack, who breaks his crown but gets a great new one, Mary's school friends look fantastic in their finery. But are they now too well dressed for recess? Not to worry—Mary always shows her flair for what to wear!
Marvel-Verse: Moon Girl (MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR)
Author: Brandon Montclare/ Amy Reed
Lunella Lafayette is one of the most brilliant minds in the Marvel-Verse - and she's only a fourth-grader! Moon Girl has brawn to back up her brains too - in the form of her big red T.Rex, Devil Dinosaur! Together, they're making a huge impression on the world! It's a rite of passage for any young hero to share a team-up with Spider-Man - but can Lunella, Devil and Spidey withstand the menace of the Pink Goblin? And as the War of the Realms rages around them, get ready for an epic battle: dinosaur vs. Frost Giant! But just who is the smartest one there is: Moon Girl or Mister Fantastic? Marvel's main geniuses are about to be put to the test.
Martin Luther King, Jr. And The March On Washington
Author: Frances E. Ruffin
On August 28, 1963, more than 250,000 people came to the nation's capital. They came by plane, by bus, by car--even on roller-skates--to speak out against segregation and to demand equal rights for everyone. They also came to hear the words of a very special leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. Told with a wonderful immediacy, this book captures the spirit of this landmark day in American history and brings Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech to vivid life for young children.
Marina's Turf (Isla of Adventure)
- Author: Dela Costa
In the seventh Isla of Adventure chapter book, Isla helps a lost baby dolphin!
When a lost baby dolphin washes ashore calling for help, Isla prepares to use her animal-speaking ability to assist in any way she can. What she doesn’t expect is for a boy her age to beat her to the job! Not only that, but Isla can’t understand a single thing the dolphin says. Could it be that Isla’s out of her depth?
Marcus Makes a Movie
Author: Kevin Hart
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Stand-up comedian and Hollywood box-office hit Kevin Hart keeps the laughs coming in an illustrated middle-grade novel about a boy who has big dreams of making a blockbuster superhero film. Perfect for readers of James Patterson's Middle School series and Lincoln Peirce's Big Nate series.
"Keep[s] kid readers on the edge of their seat." –Parents Magazine
Marcus is NOT happy to be stuck in after-school film class . . . until he realizes he can turn the story of the cartoon superhero he’s been drawing for years into an actual MOVIE! There’s just one problem: he has no idea what he’s doing. So he’ll need help, from his friends, his teachers, Sierra, the strong-willed classmate with creative dreams of her own, even Tyrell, the local bully who’d be a perfect movie villain if he weren’t too terrifying to talk to.
Making this movie won’t be easy. But as Marcus discovers, nothing great ever is—and if you want your dream to come true, you’ve got to put in the hustle to make it happen.
Comedy superstar Kevin Hart teams up with award-winning author Geoff Rodkey and lauded illustrator David Cooper for a hilarious, illustrated, and inspiring story about bringing your creative goals to life and never giving up, even when nothing’s going your way.