Children's Books Catalog
When the Rain Came Down
Author: Keisha Morris / Leslie Helakoski
When the rain came down and the water rose up . . .
thousands fled but many couldn’t leave.
When the rain came down and the water rose up . . .
a community came together.
When the rain came down and the water rose up . . .
hope grew from heartache.
With lyrical text and evocative illustrations, When the Rain Came Down spreads a powerful message of resilience through community building after the tides of a natural disaster and captures the incredible strength of shared humanity even on the darkest days.
When I Wrap My Hair
Author: Shauntay Grant
When I wrap,
my roots run deep.
As deep as an African marketplace
or a city sidewalk
or the stories between them.
With lyrical text by acclaimed author Shauntay Grant and vibrant illustrations by Jenin Mohammed, When I Wrap My Hair is both an act of joyful recognition and a demonstration of how knowledge is passed through generations.
What Will You Be?
Author: Yamile Saied Mendez
“Méndez and Alizadeh create a balance between the abstract and concrete by letting the child imagine the future but with Abuela’s guidance and support. A sweet read to share with loved ones.” —Kirkus (starred review)
“Turning a common question of childhood into a substantive quest, this imaginative set of plans will have other children charting their own course through the stars.” —School Library Journal
What will you be when you grow up?
A young girl dreams about all the endless possibilities, sparking a sense of wonder, curiosity, and growth. With her abuela’s loving guidance, she learns her potential is limitless.
Yamile Saied Méndez’s powerful, lyrical text and Kate Alizadeh’s colorful, stunning art are a radiant celebration of family, love, and community.
What Makes YOU Happy?
Author: Nedra Glover Tawwab
Avery loves to make people happy—so much so that she often ignores her own wants and needs. If a friend's favorite color is yellow, she always gives that friend the yellow marker. If someone wants PB&J for lunch, she gives up her own sandwich.
Now, her birthday is coming up and she's having trouble deciding what to do for her party. She knows her friends would love going to an amusement park, so maybe she should ignore the fact that the rides make her feel sick. Her brother loves superheroes, so she's considering having a superhero party. Luckily, her friends help her realize it's OK to do what makes you happy—especially on your own special day. Her birthday party is her best one yet!
What is Juneteenth (What Was?)
Author: Kristi Jewel and Who HQ
Discover more about Juneteenth, the important holiday that celebrates the end of chattel slavery in the United States.
On June 19, 1865, a group of enslaved men, women, and children in Texas gathered around a Union solder and listened as he read the most remarkable words they would ever hear. They were no longer enslaved: they were free. The inhumane practice of forced labor with no pay was now illegal in all of the United States. This news was cause for celebration, so the group of people jumped in excitement, danced, and wept tears of joy. They did not know it at the time, but their joyous celebration of freedom would become a holiday--Juneteenth--that is observed each year by more and more Americans.
Author Kirsti Jewel shares stories from Juneteenth celebrations, both past and present, and chronicles the history that led to the creation of this joyous day.
With 80 black-and-white illustrations and an engaging 16-page photo insert, readers will be excited to read this latest addition to Who HQ!
What Are Little Girls Made Of?
Author: Jeanne Willis
Think you know your nursery rhymes? Then think again! In this witty reworking of some nursery rhymes, Georgie Porgie doesn’t dare to make the girls cry, Little Bo-Peep’s sheep are all present and accounted for, thank you, and it’s a female doctor, of course, who fixes Humpty Dumpty. With the combination of clever rhymes and charming, witty illustrations, this remixed nursery rhyme collection is the perfect gift book for any child (or adult!), to read aloud or enjoy alone.
Welcome To The Party
Author: Gabrielle Union
Inspired by the eagerly awaited birth of her daughter, Kaavia James Union Wade, New York Times bestselling author and award-winning actress Gabrielle Union pens a festive and universal love letter from parents to little ones, perfect for welcoming a baby to the party of life!
Reminiscent of favorites such as The Wonderful Things You’ll Be by Emily Winfield Martin, I’ve Loved You Since Forever by Hoda Kotb, and Take Heart, My Child by Ainsley Earhardt, Welcome to the Party is an upbeat celebration of new life that you’ll want to enjoy with your tiny guest of honor over and over again.
A great gift for all occasions, especially Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, baby showers, and birthdays.
Welcome Back! (An All Are Welcome Early Reader)
Author: Alexandra Penfold
The sun is up.
The day has begun.
It’s back to school
For everyone!
The kids from All Are Welcome are heading back to school and eager to see old friends, make new friends, and learn to be readers, writers, listeners, and leaders. Three things they keep in mind: Always try. Have fun. Be kind.
Step 2 Readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. They are ideal for children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help. Perfect for children who are ready to read on their own!
Wednesday and Woof #3: The Runaway Robot
Author: Sherri Winston
It’s a double mystery when a robot and a hamster go missing before the science fair in the third book of this full-color early chapter book series about the best detectives in the Midwest!
Detective Tip #3: Use your imagination and stay calm!
When a classmate’s DIY robot goes missing right before the school Science Fair, Detective Wednesday Nadir and her service dog, Woof are sure they can find it…until the class hamster also disappears! Now the pressure is on! Can Wednesday and Woof use the scientific method to solve two cases at once—or will the stress cause a mess?
HarperChapters build confident readers one chapter at a time! With short, fast-paced books, art on every page, and milestone markers at the end of every chapter, they're the perfect next step for fans of I Can Read!
Wednesday and Woof #1: Catastrophe
Author: Sherri Winston
Can Wednesday and her service dog, Woof, sniff out Mrs. Winter’s missing cat before her big trip? This is the first book of a fun full-color early chapter book series about the best detectives in the Midwest!
Detective Tip #1 Try not to jump to conclusions. Wednesday and her service dog, Woof, are the best detectives in the whole world—or at least their neighborhood. But can they find Mrs. Winters’s missing cat before her big trip? Or will the case of the cat-napped kitty be their first unsolved mystery?
HarperChapters build confident readers one chapter at a time! With short, fast-paced books, art on every page, and milestone markers at the end of every chapter, they're the perfect next step for fans of I Can Read!
We Move the World
Author: Kari Lavelle
An inspiring and empowering picture book about the small things kids do that have the potential to change the world!
Meet some of the world’s most beloved movers, shakers, scientists, activists, dreamers, and doers from the past and present who model what every childhood first can lead to! Neil Armstrong, Misty Copeland, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and more were once kids—they grew up to lead us to the moon, dance in the ballet, and break barriers.
From first steps to solving puzzles and learning the alphabet, all the small things are only the beginning: they can lead to future activism and innovation that just might change the world!
Featuring fresh and accessible text paired with vibrant illustrations, We Move the World gives young readers a chance to see how much is possible just because of the things they already do. Includes robust backmatter that gives further context on each figure and historical moment, including the most recent COVID-19 pandemic.
We Could Fly
Author: Rhiannon Giddens
At a sparrow’s urging, a young girl feels a mysterious trembling in her arms, a lightness in her feet, a longing to be free. Her mother tells her that her Granny Liza experienced the same, as did many of their people before her. Perhaps it’s time, Mama says, to slip the bonds of earth and join the journey started long ago. To hold each other tight and rise. Drawing on lyrics from the song “We Could Fly” by Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell, which in turn draw on a heritage of African folklore, this incantatory dialogue between a mother and daughter paired with startlingly beautiful illustrations celebrates love, resilience, and the spiritual power of the“old-time ways”—tradition and shared cultural memory—to sustain and uplift.
We Are Joy
Author: Chrystal D. Giles
We are joy—showing off our moves and tick-tocking to the drumbeatsof our created culture—the culture that moves the world.
We are joy—full surrounded by laughter, and lightand love, and love, and love.
Shining with lyrical prose and gorgeously vibrant art, this delightful picture book read-together is an inspiring celebration of the beauty and strength of Black culture, Black community, and Black family. It's an empowering affirmation that joy—especially black joy, is all around us—in the people we love, in our commmunities, and in our hearts.
When Life Gives You Mangos
Author: Kereen Getten
A small village on a Jamaican island.
A girl who doesn't remember the previous summer.
A best friend who is no longer acting like one; a new girl who fills that hole in her heart.
A summer of finding fallen mangos, creating made up games and dancing in the rain.
Secrets she keeps from others...and herself.
The courage to face the truth even in the toughest of storms.
Inspired by the author's childhood experiences, When Life Give You Mangos is a celebration of island life as well as a rich, lyrical mystery.
Read it...and don't spoil the unforgettable ending!
When I Look in the Mirror
Author: Jacquelin Ihuwan
We've all had a moment where we question the reflection we see. When I Look in the Mirror was designed to highlight potential comments biracial children may face and the resulting questions that could follow. It is a book that not only appeals to young children with its colorful pictures and catchy wording but can also be used by adults to introduce deeper issues and important life lessons.
What Shall We Tell You?
Author: Wade Hudson
A much-needed poem of hope and love for children facing adversity due to bigotry, bullying, violence, or other causes.
This moving picture book from Black creators Wade Hudson and Tonya Engel empowers children ages 4-8 to face life’s challenges with courage and confidence.
“What shall we tell you / when our world / sometimes seems / dark and uninviting?”
What do we say to children when they encounter exclusion, hatred, or cruelty? In this poem, Wade Hudson uses a series of questions and answers to reassure children that despite the very real problems we sometimes face, “love, like cream in milk, / will rise to the top.”
Accompanied by Tonya Engel’s lush illustrations, Hudson sensitively delivers his message of hope, love, and inclusivity. He affirms that every child belongs, can be themselves, and is strengthened by kindness.
What Love Looks Like
Author: Laura Obuobi
One question must be answered before Afia can slip into a peaceful sleep: What does love look like? With the companionship of her loving papa, Afia journeys to find love and learns that it is the warmth of the sun’s hugs, the brook’s soothing song, and other mesmerizing gifts of nature. But Afia’s quest also teaches her that she may not have to go too far to see the emotion at the heart of the world’s wonders.
What Is Hip-Hop?
Author: Eric Morse
"In the beginning, there was a beat..." So begins What is Hip-Hop?--a playful guided tour of one of the most revolutionary pop culture movements of the twentieth century. Beginning with block parties in the Bronx, What is Hip-Hop? brings the reader up to the present day, with rhyming verses and engaging 3-D clay illustrations. It's a fun, accessible, and informative read for B-boys and B-girls of all ages.
In the follow-up to their acclaimed and beloved hit What Is Punk? author Eric Morse and artist Anny Yi reunite to celebrate the music that changed their lives and the voices that achieved iconic status along the way. See Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, Salt-N-Pepa, Biggie and Tupac, Eminem, and even Nicki Minaj and Kendrick Lamar, as you've never seen them!
Welcome To The Party (Board Book)
Author: Gabrielle Union
Inspired by the eagerly awaited birth of her daughter, Kaavia James Union Wade, New York Times bestselling author and award-winning actress Gabrielle Union pens a festive and universal love letter from parents to little ones, perfect for welcoming a baby to the party of life!
Reminiscent of favorites such as The Wonderful Things You’ll Be by Emily Winfield Martin, I’ve Loved You Since Forever by Hoda Kotb, and Take Heart, My Child by Ainsley Earhardt, Welcome to the Party is an upbeat celebration of new life that you’ll want to enjoy with your tiny guest of honor over and over again.
A great gift for all occasions, especially Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, baby showers, and birthdays.
Welcome to Castlehaven
Author: Editors of Phoenix Intl Pub
Princesses, knights, unicorns, and more! Come meet Nella, her family, and her friends in the magical land they call home. Press 7 buttons while you read to play enchanting sounds that make the book come alive! Hands-on interaction keeps young readers engaged as they enjoy a story encouraging kindness, bravery, and self-confidence.This Sound Book is special because:Matching words with pictures and sounds improves comprehensionHands on interaction engages young readersThe story encourages kindness, bravery, and self-confidence
On June 30, 2015 Misty stepped on stage as the first female African-American principal dancer for the American Ballet Theater and made history!
Weird and Wonderful You
Author: Zaila Avant-garde
New York Times bestselling author and Scripps National Spelling Bee champ Zaila Avant-garde encourages young readers to embrace what makes them different in this vibrant and uplifting new picture book.
We are the weird. The wonderfully weird, that is. When others blend in, we stand out.
Young readers will find joyful encouragement in this empowering celebration of individuality and self-acceptance. Through an motivating message and a series of inspiring quotes and affirmations, this book encourages readers to embrace their unique quirks and see them as strengths. It’s a colorful manifesto for anyone who has ever felt out of place or different, urging them to stand out, be proud, and stay true to themselves.
This book is a perfect gift for anyone who needs a reminder that being weird is wonderful, from one of America’s most exciting and unique young voices.
Also available from Zaila Avant-garde:
Words of Wonder from Z to A
Words Are Magic! (Step Into Reading)
Sports Are Fun! (Step Into Reading)
It’s Not Bragging If It’s True
Wednesday and Woof #2: New Pup on the Block
Author: Sherri Winston
Could a friend really have taken Wednesday’s brother’s prized possession? Wednesday and her service dog, Woof, take the case in the second book of this full-color early chapter book series about the best detectives in the Midwest!
Detective Tip #2 Don’t forget to use your eyes, ears, and even your nose. Wednesday’s brother’s drone went missing in their own backyard. And that can mean only one thing—the thief is one of their friends! Can the neighborhood’s newest service dog help Wednesday and Woof sniff out the bandit? Or will the case of the missing drone be a doggone disaster?
HarperChapters build confident readers one chapter at a time! With short, fast-paced books, art on every page, and milestone markers at the end of every chapter, they're the perfect next step for fans of I Can Read!
We Run the Night
Author: Peace Mbengei
An elite, isolated Kenyan boarding school is terrorized by supernatural entities, grotesque maladies, and strange transformations in a chilling YA horror debut inspired by the urban legend of “night runners.”
Perfect for fans of She Is a Haunting and White Smoke
When Shani returns to her elite, isolated boarding school after her father’s mysterious death, she just wants to finish senior year with her scholarship intact—which means focusing on her work and staying out of trouble. Even with her best friend, Pendo, by her side, she’s never quite fit in at Taji Academy. But soon, strange things start happening at school—not only are students coming down with odd, grotesque skin maladies, someone is causing chaos on campus after curfew. Are they night runners, the supernatural entities that terrorize rural neighborhoods in the dark?
The strict administration insists it’s just students pulling pranks. Everyone knows that night runners are just an urban legend. But when one of the popular students, Adila, goes missing—and Shani wakes up one morning with mud on her feet, torn clothes, and a pounding headache—she knows it’s more than that. As she and others at Taji begin to transform with no way to contact the outside world, she must figure out what is happening—before it’s too late.
We Love Our Hair
Author: Frank Berrios
Long or short, beaded or braided, curly, wavy, straight, or covered – everyone’s hair is unique and beautiful, just like them! Featuring characters from PAW Patrol, Santiago of the Seas, Bubble Guppies, and more, this storybook will entertain and empower kids ages 3 to 7 to love themselves and their hair just the way they are. So get ready to celebrate everyone’s differences and what makes them special with Nickelodeon!
We Are Music
Author: Brandy Stosuy
From music writer and The Creative Independent/Kickstarter Editor in Chief, Brandon Stosuy, comes a new board book called We Are Music that dives into the history of music.
It starts with clapping, tapping, and drums, and from there the music moves in many different directions. From classical to blues to jazz to country to rock to punk to rap to hip hop, there is one important thread that weaves through every song that has ever been created: us.