Children's Books Catalog
Blues with a Butter Knife
Author: Jason Peterson
Young CeDell Davis learns to play the blues unlike anyone else—with his guitar upside down and a butterknife in his hand—and becomes a legendary musician.
Renowned Black illustrator R. Gregory Christie brings the blues legend to life in this nonfiction picture book for ages 7–10.
For young CeDell Davis, the blues cut straight to his heart. He wanted to play, but he had no instrument. He became an inventor: nailing wire and a rusty barrel ring to the side of his house so he could jam all day.
When he finally got a real guitar, CeDell played better than ever–but when he was about 10 years old, his body grew weak. After years spent battling polio in the hospital, he was finally well enough to come home and dust off his guitar. But he couldn’t play it. Polio had weakened his left, fretting hand and stiffened his right, strumming hand. Turning his guitar upside down and grabbing a butterknife from the kitchen, CeDell invented a whole new way to play the blues—a way that would one day get him up on stage, jamming with his musical idols.
Bloom
Author: Ruth Forman
From the author of Curls and Glow comes a joyfully poetic board book that delivers an ode to African American girls as naturally beautiful in our human garden.
those girls bloom
these do too
we bloom like flowers
how about you?
Introduce young readers to the idea of self-love in a simple, playful rhythm with this luminous story where each little girl is as unique and beautiful as a blossoming flower.
Blood at the Root
Author: LaDarrion Williams
Ten years ago, Malik's life changed forever the night his mother mysteriously vanished and he discovered he had uncontrollable powers. Since then, he has kept his abilities hidden, looking out for himself and his younger foster brother, Taye. Now, at 17, Malik is finally ready to start a new life for both of them, far from the trauma of his past. However, a daring act to rescue Taye reveals an unexpected connection with his long-lost grandmother: a legendary conjurer with ties to a hidden magical university that Malik’s mother attended.
At Caiman University, Malik’s eyes are opened to a future he never could have envisioned for himself—one that includes the reappearance of his first love, Alexis. His search for answers about his heritage, his powers, and what really happened to his mother exposes the cracks in their magical community as it faces a reawakened evil dating back to the Haitian Revolution. Together with Alexis, Malik discovers a lot beneath the surface at Caiman: feuding covens and magical politics, forbidden knowledge and buried mysteries.
In a wholly unique saga of family, history and community, Malik must embrace his legacy to save what's left of his old family as well as his new one. Exploring the roots and secrets that connect us in an unforgettable contemporary setting, this heart-pounding fantasy series opener is a rich tapestry of atmosphere, intrigue, and emotion.
PAPERBACK
Blast Off (Abby In Orbit)
Author: Andrea J. Loney
As Abby gets used to life in space, can she keep the things that are most important to her from drifting away?
It's the first day of third grade, and Abby Baxter is determined not to make any mistakes. It’s a little trickier than it was last year, though, because Abby is starting school on the OASIS International Space Station, where her parents are scientists. Abby is so focused on getting used to microgravity, watching her little brother, Nico, and meeting her new classmates that she almost messes up Mami’s big experiment. Can she figure out how to make things right, or is she destined to be sent back to Earth?
Black Swans
Author: Laurel van der Linde
The stories of six daring, groundbreaking Black ballet dancers leap off the pages of this beautifully illustrated nonfiction picture book. Meet Essie Marie Dorsey, who in 1926 opened one of the first ballet schools for Black students; Arthur Mitchell, the first Black dancer with the New York City Ballet; Christian Holder, a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet; choreographer Dwight Rhoden; and present-day ballerinas Misty Copeland and Michaela DePrince. With a leap of faith and a love of dance, these Black Swans overcame obstacles and opened doors for all the children who dream of dancing.
Black Hair Can: The Roots of Our Roots
Author: Sylvia Rodriguez
Black hair is the crown for the African diaspora worldwide and a strong symbol of identity and beauty in a variety of communities. It's a source of pride and expression, and from the times of kings and queens has demonstrated a person's life's journey.
Yet as enslaved people, Black people had their hair taken from them as a way to remove their humanity. As African Americans struggled through history, their hair became a major source of resiliency and a way to take back their power.
Written and illustrated by Sylvia Rodriguez, a Black and Latine debut author, Black Hair Can embraces the expansive history of Black hair and why people should proudly show off their styles—from sculpting and shaping to cornrows, Fulani braids, Afros, and more.
Back matter includes a hair pattern chart showing different hair types, along with different kinds of braids and twists. There are also great "how-to" hairstyles for children to try out.
Black Girls: A Celebration of You!
Author: Dominique Furukawa
A joyful love letter to every Black girl everywhere.
In an upbeat and rhythmic ode, Dominique Furukawa and Erika Lynne Jones celebrate Black girls in all their beauty and joy. Black Girls uplifts girls of every shade, size, and walk of life, reminding them that they are perfectly designed.
Whimsical, earnest, charming, full, bright, and beautiful, this picture book anthem deftly explores the diversity of Black girlhood.
Black girls, Black girls, rising still.
Shouting loud and proud and free,
that being a Black girl, Black girl
is a wondrous thing to be.
Black Girl You Are Atlas
Author: Renee Watson
In this semi-autobiographical collection of poems, Renée Watson writes
about her experience growing up as a young Black girl at the intersections of race, class, and gender.
Using a variety of poetic forms, from haiku to free verse, Watson shares recollections of her childhood in Portland, tender odes to the Black women in her life, and urgent calls for Black girls to step into their power.
Black Girl You Are Atlas encourages young readers to embrace their future with a strong sense of sisterhood and celebration. With full-color art by celebrated fine artist Ekua Holmes throughout, this collection offers guidance and is a gift for anyone who reads it.
Black Boy, Black Boy: Celebrate Remarkable Moments in Black History with this Up
Author: Ali Kamanda/Jorge Redmond
Dear boy, Black boy, I believe in you so.
Let's start your story―ready, set, go.
From athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick to musician Sam Cooke, inventor Elijah McCoy and writer Chinua Achebe, there are so many inspirational men in Black history. This lyrical, rhythmic text encourages boys to imagine everything they can be and the great things they can do, drawing on the strength of people throughout history that paved the way for Black boys today.
Black Boy, Black Boy tells today's boys: you have the courage, you are the light. It's a new day! Be inspired and motivated by drawing on the history of the role models that came before you.
Birmingham, 1963
Author: Carole Boston Weatherford
A poetic tribute to the victims of the racially motivated church bombing that served as a seminal event in the struggle for civil rights. In 1963, the eyes of the world were on Birmingham, Alabama, a flashpoint for the civil rights movement. Birmingham was one of the most segregated cities in the United States. Civil rights demonstrators were met with police dogs and water cannons. On Sunday, September 15, 1963, members of the Ku Klux Klan planted sticks of dynamite at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, which served as a meeting place for civil rights organizers. The explosion killed four little girls. Their murders shocked the nation and turned the tide in the struggle for equality. A Jane Addams Children's Honor Book, here is a book that captures the heartbreak of that day, as seen through the eyes of a fictional witness. Archival photographs with poignant text written in free verse offer a powerful tribute to the young victims.
Billy Loves Birds: A Fact-filled Nature Adventure Bursting with Birds!
Author: Jess French
Billy Loves Birds tells the fact-filled story of a day in the life of Billy, a budding young naturalist who is wild about birds of all kinds! Billy encounters many different kinds of birds in his adventures during his day at Forest School, and this book is filled with facts about all the different species he comes across, and some that he can only dream of seeing in the wild one day. He studies a blue tits’ nest with chicks about to fledge, spies a kingfisher catching a worm, and shows his friend how to peck like a woodpecker! Follow Billy as he shares his love of birds—discover how to trumpet like a crane or laugh like a kookaburra and learn what makes feathers fabulous or beaks extraordinary. With an engaging and lively narrative from Jess French and fun, warm illustrations from Duncan Beedie, this book will help ignite a love and appreciation for nature, right on our doorsteps.The Nature Heroes series focuses on a group of friends who are passionate about nature and the great outdoors. Each book features a different child who has a favorite topic that they are fascinated by: Billy Loves Birds, Bella Loves Bugs, Ava Loves Animals, and Pedro Loves the Planet! Playful text and funny relatable illustrations make this an accessible series, which provides an entertaining introduction to the natural world.
Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince
Author: Alliah L. Agostini
An exuberant picture book written by Alliah L. Agostini and illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice is about a Black boy with big dancing dreams who learns the meaning of courage and community.
It’s the weekend, first in June; speaker’s blasting out big tune!
Cousins, aunties, uncles, friends pack the house, and fun begins.
Shane is shy but loves to dance―and all year long, he’s picked up cans
to earn some money toward his goal: high-tops with a pump-up sole.
But then the speaker blows―it’s done! Will this stop his family’s fun?
Can Shane come through to save the day and bring back Big Tune Saturday?
Set within a vibrant Caribbean American neighborhood and told to a rhythmic beat, Big Tune is a story of Black boy joy that touches on determination, confidence to express who you are, selflessness, and community gratitude.
Big City, Big Dreams (Barbie) (Step into Reading)
Author: Random House
Boys and girls age 3-6 will love to read this Step 2 Step into Reading leveled reader based on the brand-new Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams musical special premiering on NETFLIX in fall 2021. Step 2 readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. For children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.
Since 1959, Barbie has shown girls that they can live their dreams. From an astronaut to a chef to a president, she knows that girls can do anything!
Blue
Author: Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond
Discover a world of creativity and tradition in this fascinating picture book that explores the history and cultural significance of the color blue. From a critically acclaimed author and an award-winning illustrator comes a vivid, gorgeous book for readers of all ages.
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.
With stunning illustrations by Caldecott Honor Artist Daniel Minter, this vibrant and fascinating picture book follows one color's journey through time and across the world, as it becomes the blue we know today.
Blood at the Root
Author: LaDarrion Williams
Ten years ago, Malik's life changed forever the night his mother mysteriously vanished and he discovered he had uncontrollable powers. Since then, he has kept his abilities hidden, looking out for himself and his younger foster brother, Taye. Now, at 17, Malik is finally ready to start a new life for both of them, far from the trauma of his past. However, a daring act to rescue Taye reveals an unexpected connection with his long-lost grandmother: a legendary conjurer with ties to a hidden magical university that Malik’s mother attended.
At Caiman University, Malik’s eyes are opened to a future he never could have envisioned for himself—one that includes the reappearance of his first love, Alexis. His search for answers about his heritage, his powers, and what really happened to his mother exposes the cracks in their magical community as it faces a reawakened evil dating back to the Haitian Revolution. Together with Alexis, Malik discovers a lot beneath the surface at Caiman: feuding covens and magical politics, forbidden knowledge and buried mysteries.
In a wholly unique saga of family, history and community, Malik must embrace his legacy to save what's left of his old family as well as his new one. Exploring the roots and secrets that connect us in an unforgettable contemporary setting, this heart-pounding fantasy series opener is a rich tapestry of atmosphere, intrigue, and emotion.
HARDCOVER
Blended
Author: Sharon M. Draper
Eleven-year-old Isabella’s parents are divorced, so she has to switch lives every week: One week she’s Isabella with her dad, his girlfriend Anastasia, and her son Darren living in a fancy house where they are one of the only black families in the neighborhood. The next week she’s Izzy with her mom and her boyfriend John-Mark in a small, not-so-fancy house that she loves.
Because of this, Isabella has always felt pulled between two worlds. And now that her parents are divorced, it seems their fights are even worse, and they’re always about HER. Isabella feels completely stuck in the middle, split and divided between them more than ever. And she is beginning to realize that being split between Mom and Dad involves more than switching houses, switching nicknames, switching backpacks: it’s also about switching identities. Her dad is black, her mom is white, and strangers are always commenting: “You’re so exotic!” “You look so unusual.” “But what are you really?” She knows what they’re really saying: “You don’t look like your parents.” “You’re different.” “What race are you really?” And when her parents, who both get engaged at the same time, get in their biggest fight ever, Isabella doesn’t just feel divided, she feels ripped in two. What does it mean to be half white or half black? To belong to half mom and half dad? And if you’re only seen as half of this and half of that, how can you ever feel whole?
It seems like nothing can bring Isabella’s family together again—until the worst thing happens. Isabella and Darren are stopped by the police. A cell phone is mistaken for a gun. And shots are fired.
Black Trailblazers: 30 Courageous Visionaries Who Broke Boundaries
Author: Bijan Bayne
Thirty bite-sized biographies of black thinkers, activists, and innovators with beautiful full-color illustrations throughout. Black Trailblazers is an illustrated inspiration for children that gives these important figures their due, highlighting their work to make our world a brighter, better place. An appealing blend of history, quotes from the figures themselves, and gorgeous visuals, this book will educate, entertain, and inspire.
Including luminaries such as:
- Madam C. J. Walker
- James Baldwin
- Shirley Chisolm
- Dick Gregory
- Nina Simone
- Thurgood Marshall
- Misty Copeland
- ...and many more!
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: The Courage to Dream
Author: Frederick Joseph
Set in the world of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever from Marvel Studios, The Courage to Dream is an inspiring picture book about a young Wakandan finding her destiny, from two New York Times best-selling creators.
The Courage to Dream tells the story of Assata, a young Wakandan who hopes to become one of the Dora Milaje, the warriors who protect Wakanda. But because of Assata’s disability, she lets go of her dream.
Assata’s light shows through all the same, introducing her to surprising friends: the princess Shuri, the warrior Okoye, and the powerful M’Baku. But only Assata can give herself what she’s missing: the courage to dream.
Black Gold
Author: Laura Obuobi
This lyrical picture book is a joyous, poetic, celebration of Black children and a reminder of the Universe’s unconditional love in stunning verse and captivating collage. Perfect for fans of Sulwe!
When the Universe decides to create a child, she draws from the earth—rich, dark, and full of everything that gives life, including eyes like black star sapphires and full lips to speak the truth. With help from the Sun and the Moon, they create a child of the Universe: beautiful, powerful, and boundless with the brilliance of Black Gold.
Laura Obuobi’s empowering, whimsical text and London Ladd’s lustrous, captivating illustrations will inspire children to love themselves exactly as they are.
Black Girls Are Magic: A Coloring Book for Girls Who Rock
Author: Danielle Arrington
Celebrate your Beauty, Strength, and Imagination!
It’s your time to shine! Black Girls Are Magic is a vibrant coloring book that puts the creativity, joy, and power of Black girls into the limelight. Color your way through more than 35 original illustrations that inspire confidence and imagination and celebrate all the ways you are extraordinary. Empowering statements like “Free to be me,” “My voice matters,” and “I love myself” make coloring each page a unique adventure! Black Girls Are Magic is the coloring book for girls who know just how amazing they are and want to share their magic with the world.
- More than 35 awesome, hand-drawn illustrations
- Creativity that inspires pride and confidence
- Perforated pages make it easy to show off your magical art
Black Brother, Black Brother
Author: Jewell Parker Rhodes
Framed. Bullied. Disliked. But I know I can still be the best.
Sometimes, 12-year-old Donte wishes he were invisible. As one of the few black boys at Middlefield Prep, most of the students don't look like him. They don't like him either. Dubbing him "Black Brother," Donte's teachers and classmates make it clear they wish he were more like his lighter-skinned brother, Trey.
When he's bullied and framed by the captain of the fencing team, "King" Alan, he's suspended from school and arrested.
Terrified, searching for a place where he belongs, Donte joins a local youth center and meets former Olympic fencer Arden Jones. With Arden's help, he begins training as a competitive fencer, setting his sights on taking down the fencing team captain, no matter what.
As Donte hones his fencing skills and grows closer to achieving his goal, he learns the fight for justice is far from over. Now Donte must confront his bullies, racism, and the corrupt systems of power that led to his arrest.
Powerful and emotionally gripping, Black Brother, Black Brother is a careful examination of the school-to-prison pipeline and follows one boy's fight against racism and his empowering path to finding his voice.
Black Boy Joy
Author: Kwame Mbalia
Black boy joy is…
Picking out a fresh first-day-of-school outfit.
Saving the universe in an epic intergalactic race.
Finding your voice—and your rhymes—during tough times.
Flying on your skateboard like nobody’s watching.
And more! From seventeen acclaimed Black male and non-binary authors comes a vibrant collection of stories, comics, and poems about the power of joy and the wonders of Black boyhood.
Contributors include: B. B. Alston, Dean Atta, P. Djèlí Clark, Jay Coles, Jerry Craft, Lamar Giles, Don P. Hooper, George M. Johnson, Varian Johnson, Kwame Mbalia, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Tochi Onyebuchi, Julian Randall, Jason Reynolds, Justin Reynolds, DaVaun Sanders, and Julian Winters
Bird
Author: Kristin Rosetta Elliott Hood
Young Mekhai, better known as Bird, loves to draw. With drawings, he can erase the things that don't turn out right. In real life, problems aren't so easily fixed.
As Bird struggles to understand the death of his beloved grandfather and his older brother's drug addiction, he escapes into his art. Drawing is an outlet for Bird's emotions and imagination, and provides a path to making sense of his world. In time, with the help of his grandfather's friend, Bird finds his own special somethin' and wings to fly.
Told with spare grace, Bird is a touching look at a young boy coping with real-life troubles. Readers will be heartened by Bird's quiet resilience, and moved by the healing power of putting pencil to paper.
Billions to Burn
Author: Taylor Banks
Twelve-year-old Zeus Jones is just about the only person in the world who believes in his grandfather’s stories about the Harlem Renaissance. To be fair, they are a bit far-fetched. After all, what are the chances that there was a renowned magazine called Burn! whose headquarters literally burned down, destroying almost every single copy? And who would believe that a secret page was actually hidden amongst the ashes, said to be the key to unlocking a lost fortune? No one, that’s who.
But when Zeus accidentally stumbles upon the secret page on the same day that his grandfather disappears without a trace, he finally has proof that his grandfather’s stories are more than just stories—they’re real. And now he knows that the secret page is more than just a secret page—it’s a treasure map, leading to a prize beyond all imagining.
Follow the map, find the treasure, save his grandfather. Seems simple enough. But as Zeus and his friends work to solve the riddles of the map, long-buried secrets about the Harlem Renaissance, Black history, and Zeus’s own family are unraveled. And what’s more, they aren’t the only ones intent on seizing this prize. . .
Filled with interactive clues and puzzles, young readers will love solving this mile-a-minute mystery right alongside Zeus!
Big Family Beach Day
Author: Nina Crews
An extended family enjoys a day at the beach in this intergenerational tribute to family, friendship, new experiences, and summertime fun by the acclaimed author-artist Nina Crews. A fresh take on Cynthia Rylant’s classic, The Relatives Came.
Every summer, Maya goes to the beach with her mom, grandma, aunts, uncles, and cousins. There are a lot of them. It’s a big family beach day! Full of sand, sun, splashing, sandwiches, swimming, and (of course) sunblock, Maya loves every moment of it.
Inspired by her own childhood and extended family reunions, Big Family Beach Day is Nina Crews’s celebration of summertime fun, friendship, family, and love. With her rich, vibrant art and accessible, read-aloud text, Nina Crews captures the joys of a memorable summer day with family.