LibGuides: Children's Books: Diversity and Ethnicity

Books on Diversity

These are books that seek to highlight how our similarities are expressed in varying ways. The illustrations and text may work together to demonstrate this juxtaposition.

Definitions

Diversity - diversity is about celebrating and accepting the equality of our differences; being a unique individual who is equal to all others in a large group. Look for diversity in children's picture books primarily in the illustrations.

Ethnic Experience - these books highlight and celebrate the history, traditions, and experiences of a cultural group.

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Amy Pinc

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Books Highlighting Diversity and the Ethnic Experience

One World, One Day by Barbara Kerley One World, One Day uses exquisite, moving photographs and Barbara Kerley's poetic text to convey a simple yet profound concept: we are one global family. This is a sophisticated concept book, presented as an elegant picture book with contributions from top international photographers. This beautiful photo book follows the course of one day in our world. Sunrise to sunset is captured in the essential things we all do daily, wherever we live in the world, and in the different ways we do them. The first meal of the day will take on a whole new dimension for American kids as an American pancake breakfast is contrasted with porridge in North Korea and churros in Spain. At the end, each image is reprinted as a thumbnail and accompanied by a detailed caption. Selected images feature photographers' notes that share the thoughts and methodology involved in the making of the picture and reveal fascinating behind-the-scenes information. The photographers reflect on how the pictures might resonate within the theme of the global family. Such reflections are rooted in the life experiences of these well-traveled professionals. Their global viewpoints, in tandem with Barbara Kerley's powerful message, set an ideal example for all future world citizens.
Call Number: JUV HQ781.5 .K47 2009
ISBN: 9781426304606
Publication Date: 2009-05-12
Is There Really a Human Race? by Jamie Lee Curtis; Laura Cornell (Illustrator) Is there really a human race? Is it going on now all over the place? When did it start? Who said, "Ready, Set, Go"? Did it start on my birthday? I really must know. With these questions, our hero's imagination is off and running. Is the human race an obstacle course? Is it a spirit? Does he get his own lane? Does he get his own coach? Written with Jamie Lee Curtis's humor and heart and illustrated with Laura Cornell's worldly wit, Is There Really a Human Race? Is all about relishing the journey and making good choices along the way—because how we live and how we love is how we learn to make the world a better place, one small step at a time.
Call Number: JUV PIC Curtis J
ISBN: 9780060753467
Publication Date: 2006-09-05
A Country Far Away by Nigel Gray; Philippe Dupasquier (Illustrator) Told in the first person by two young boys, this story relates their identical experiences . . . with very different results. The text appears in the middle of the page, and two sets of pictures, above and below, show the same actions in two very different cultures: a small African village and a modern suburban setting. . . . The format makes this an interesting picture book. . . . Children will enjoy finding the similarities and differences for themselves.-- School Library Journal.
Call Number: JUV PIC Gray N
ISBN: 0531057925
Publication Date: 1989-09-01
Come and Play by Ayana Lowe; Magnum Photos, Inc. Staff (Photographer); Julie Collins (Illustrator); Bloomsbury Publishing Staff Come and Play features 32 photographs of children from everywhere! China, Japan, Greece, Wales, Morocco, Oman, Texas, New York, and many more. Each photo is beautiful, thought provoking, and accompanied by lines of children's poetry that will amuse young readers, and cause adult readers to reflect and laugh as they see the images through children's eyes. The photographs span the last fifty years; while the children who wrote about them are a diverse group between the ages of 5 and 11.
Call Number: JUV PIC Lowe A
ISBN: 9781599902456
Publication Date: 2008-04-29
Little Humans by Brandon Stanton Street photographer and storyteller extraordinaire Brandon Stanton is the creator of the wildly popular blog "Humans of New York." He is also the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Humans of New York.To create Little Humans, he's combined an original narrative with some of his favorite children's photos from the blog, in addition to all-new exclusive portraits. The result is a hip, heartwarming ode to little humans everywhere.
Call Number: JUV PIC Stanton B
ISBN: 9780374374563
Publication Date: 2014-10-07
Free to Be...a Family by Marlo Thomas Free to Be . . . a Family is a collection of stories, songs, illustrations and poems that explore new ways of being together. Shel Siverstein, Carly Simon, Whoopi Goldberg and others are just a few of the friends who have contributed to this entertaining and enlightening volume.
Call Number: JUV PZ5 .F855 1987
ISBN: 0553052357
Publication Date: 1987-10-01

Black Is Brown Is Tan by Arnold Adoff; Emily Arnold McCully (Illustrator) Brown-skinned momma, the color of chocolate milk and coffee pumpkin pie, whose face gets ginger red when she puffs and yells the children into bed. White-skinned daddy, not white like milk or snow, lighter than brown, With pinks and tiny tans, whose face gets tomato red when he puffs and yells their children into bed. Children who are all the colors of the race, growing up happy in a house full of love. This is the way it is for them; this is the way they are, but the joy they feel extends to every reader of this book. Black is brown is tan is a story poem about being, a beautiful true song about a family delighting in each other and in the good things of the earth.
Call Number: JUV PIC Adoff A
ISBN: 0060200839
Publication Date: 1973-10-24
Knock Knock by Daniel Beaty; Bryan Collier (Artist) Every morning, I play a game with my father. He goes knock knock on my door and I pretend to be asleep till he gets right next to the bed. And my papa, he tells me, "I love you." But what happens when, one day, that "knock knock" doesn't come? This powerful and inspiring book shows the love that an absent parent can leave behind, and the strength that children find in themselves as they grow up and follow their dreams.
Call Number: JUV PIC Beaty D
ISBN: 9780316209175
Publication Date: 2013-12-17
Getting Used to Harry by Cari Best; Diane Palmisciano (Illustrator) When her mother marries Harry, Cynthia finds that she has to adjust to changes in her life at home.
Call Number: JUV PIC Best C
ISBN: 0531094944
Publication Date: 1996-09-01
Gettin' Through Thursday by Melrose Cooper; Nneka Bennett Andre dreads Thursdays. Thursday is the day before his mother gets paid at work each week and it's the day when money is tight and spirits are low for Andre and his older brother and sister. It's also the day when he gets his school report and although he anticipates being top of his class, he's sure that instead of the celebrations his mother has promised, it will be another miserable Thursday. There is a solution to the problem as readers of this delightful book will find out. Illustrated throughout in f/cl. Ages 4 - 8 years.
Call Number: JUV PIC Cooper M
ISBN: 1880000679
Publication Date: 1998-09-01
Tell Me Again about the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis; Laura Cornell (Illustrator) Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell, the New York Times bestselling team behind Today I Feel Silly and I'm Gonna Like Me, bring us a tender and funny picture book for every parent and child. Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born is a special celebration of the love and joy an adopted child creates for a family. In asking her parents to tell her again about the night of her birth, a young girl relives a cherished tale she knows by heart. Focusing on the significance of family and love, this a unique and beautiful story about adoption and the importance of a loving family. A beautiful adoption story, Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born also speaks to the universal childhood desire to know more about the excitement, awe, love, and sleeplessness that a new baby brings to a family. Tell me again about the night I was born. Tell me again how you would adopt me and be my parents. Tell me again about the first time you held me in your arms.
Call Number: JUV PIC Curtis J
ISBN: 006024528X
Publication Date: 1996-07-19
My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis; Suzanne DeSimone (Illustrator) A nonfiction picture book about acceptance. With words and illustrations even the youngest of children can understand, My Princess Boy tells the tale of a four-year-old boy who happily expresses his authentic self by dressing up in dresses, and enjoying traditional girl things such as jewelry and anything pink or sparkly. The book is from a mom's point of view, sharing both good and bad observations and experiences with friends and family, at school and in shopping stores.
Call Number: JUV PIC Kilodavis C
ISBN: 9781442429888
Publication Date: 2010-12-21
Every Year on Your Birthday by Jane Dyer (Illustrator); Rose Lewis In I Love You Like Crazy Cakes, Rose Lewis and Jane Dyer told the heartfelt story of one woman's adoption a baby girl from China. These sentiments are brought to life again in this touching portrait of birthday celebrations and unforgettable moments between a mother and her little girl: from joyous hugs for a new puppy, to quiet nights gazing at the stars remembering a faraway family. Capturing the richness of both Chinese and American cultures, Every Year on Your Birthday is a poignant tribute to the growing bond of love only a parent and child can know.
Call Number: JUV PIC Lewis R
ISBN: 9780316525527
Publication Date: 2007-05-01
Mama One, Mama Two by Patricia Maclachlan; Ruth L. Bornstein (Illustrator)
Call Number: JUV PIC MacLachlan P
ISBN: 0060240814
Publication Date: 1982-03-01
The Family Book by Todd Parr There are so many different types of families, and THE FAMILY BOOK celebrates them all in a funny, silly, and reassuring way. Todd Parr includes adopted families, step-families, one-parent families, and families with two parents of the same sex, as well as the traditional nuclear family. His quirky humor and bright, childlike illustrations will make children feel good about their families. Parents and teachers can use this book to encourage children to talk about their families and the different kinds of families that exist.
Call Number: JUV PIC Parr T
ISBN: 9780316738965
Publication Date: 2003-10-01
I'm Just Like My Mom; I'm Just Like My Dad/Me Parezco Tanto a Mi Mama; Me Parez by Jorge Ramos; Akemi Gutierrez (Illustrator) I'm just like my mom. Me parezco tanto a mi mamá. I'm just like my dad. Me parezco tanto a mi papá. With Akemi Gutiérrez's charming illustrations, renowned journalist Jorge Ramos explores the many ways in which all children are just like their parents--in two languages! Junto con las simpáticas ilustraciones de Akemi Gutiérrez, el respetado periodista Jorge Ramos explora las varias maneras en que los hijos se parecen a sus padres. ¡Y lo hace en dos idiomas!
Call Number: JUV PIC Ramos J
ISBN: 9780061239687
Publication Date: 2008-07-29
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson; Peter Parnell; Henry Cole (Illustrator) And Tango Makes Three is the bestselling, heartwarming true story of two penguins who create a nontraditional family. At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo get the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own. Selected as an ALA Notable Children's Book Nominee and a Lambda Literary Award Finalist, "this joyful story about the meaning of family is a must for any library" (School Library Journal, starred review).
Call Number: JUV PIC Richardson J
ISBN: 9780689878459
Publication Date: 2005-06-01
Sunday by Synthia Saint James (Illustrator) Portrays an African American family as they spend a typical Sunday eating breakfast, going to church, and visiting their grandparents.
Call Number: JUV PIC Saint James S
ISBN: 0807576581
Publication Date: 1996-09-01
Pecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson; Sophie Blackall (Illustrator) Gia is tired of hearing about the new baby. It hasn't even been born yet, but everyone, even her friends, seem fixated on it. Gia thinks things are fine just the way they are! And she's worried: if the baby's such a big deal now, what's going to happen to Gia's nice, cozy life with Mama once it's born? Beloved author Jacqueline Woodson and Sophie Blackall have created a heartwarming story for kids adjusting to the idea of a new family member. Young readers will be reassured by Gia's eventual understanding that the baby won't ruin the special bond she has with her mom, and might even be a sweet addition to the family.
Call Number: JUV PIC Woodson J
ISBN: 9780399239878
Publication Date: 2010-10-28

Carmen Learns English by Judy Cox; Angela N. Dominguez (Illustrator) The first day of school can be scary--especially when no one else speaks your language.   Carmen wishes she was back in Mexico, where everyone spoke Spanish and she didn't stand out. But a little bravery, a loving family, and a compassionate, determined teacher help Carmen find her way. Señora Coski's Spanish is muy terrible, but that means Carmen knows she won't laugh if her English sounds terrible, too.   Soon, Carmen is confident enough to join in lessons, games, and songs--and she starts to teach her classmates Spanish, too! Uno, dos, tres. . . .   Brightly illustrated by Pura Belpré Honor illustrator Angela Dominguez, Carmen Learns English explores the frustrations and triumphs of a young immigrant learning a new language, and celebrates the ways in which we learn from one another.   For anyone worrying about their first day of school, this sweet, realistic picture book is sure to reassure and entertain.
Call Number: JUV Cox J
ISBN: 9780823421749
Publication Date: 2010-07-01
My Two Worlds by Ginger Gordon; Martha Cooper (Photographer) In this photo essay, 8-year-old Kirsy Rodriguez introduces New York City and the Dominican Republic.
Call Number: JUV F128.9.D6 G67 1993
ISBN: 0395587042
Publication Date: 1993-08-15
Angel Island by Russell Freedman Angel Island, off the coast of California, was the port of entry for Asian immigrants to the United States between 1892 and 1940. Following the passage of legislation requiring the screening of immigrants, "the other Ellis Island" processed around one million people from Japan, China, and Korea. Drawing from memoirs, diaries, letters, and the "wall poems" discovered at the facility long after it closed, the nonfiction master Russell Freedman describes the people who came, and why;the screening process; detention and deportation; changes in immigration policy; and the eventual renaissance of Angel Island as a historic site open to visitors. Includes archival photos, source notes, bibliography, and index.
Call Number: JUV F868.S156 F74 2013
ISBN: 9780547903781
Publication Date: 2014-01-07
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhhà Lai Inside Out and Back Again is a #1 New York Times bestseller, a Newbery Honor Book, and a winner of the National Book Award! Inspired by the author's childhood experience as a refugee--fleeing Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon and immigrating to Alabama--this coming-of-age debut novel told in verse has been celebrated for its touching child's-eye view of family and immigration. For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its strangers, the dullness of its food . . . and the strength of her very own family. This moving story of one girl's year of change, dreams, grief, and healing received four starred reviews, including one from Kirkus which proclaimed it "enlightening, poignant, and unexpectedly funny." An author's note explains how and why Thanhha Lai translated her personal experiences into Hà's story.
Call Number: JUV FIC Lai T
ISBN: 9780061962783
Publication Date: 2011-02-22
The Arrival by Shaun Tan (Illustrator) A truly remarkable work of art that is already one of the most talked-about books of the season."Tan's lovingly laid out and masterfully rendered tale about the immigrant experience is a documentary magically told." -- Art Spiegelman, author of Maus"An absolute wonder." -- Marjane Satrapi, author of Persepolis"A magical river of strangers and their stories!" -- Craig Thompson, author of Blankets"A shockingly imaginative graphic novel that captures the sense of adventure and wonder that surrounds a new arrival on the shores of a shining new city. Wordless, but with perfect narrative flow, Tan gives us a story filled with cityscapes worthy of Winsor McCay." -- Jeff Smith, author of Bone"Shaun Tan's artwork creates a fantastical, hauntingly familiar atmosphere... Strange, moving, and beautiful." -- Jon J. Muth, Caldecott Medal-winning author of Zen Shorts"Bravo." -- Brian Selznick, Caldecott Medal-winning author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret"Magnificent." -- David Small, Caldecott Medalist
Call Number: JUV FIC Tan S
ISBN: 9780439895293
Publication Date: 2007-10-01
The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman; Bagram Ibatoulline (Illustrator) Newbery Medalist Paul Fleischman and Bagram Ibatoulline tell a breathtaking immigration tale with appeal across generations."Pick whatever you like most. Then I'll tell you its story." When a little girl visits her great-grandfather at his curio-filled home, she chooses an unusual object to learn about: an old cigar box. What she finds inside surprises her: a collection of matchboxes making up her great-grandfather's diary, harboring objects she can hold in her hand, each one evoking a memory. Together they tell of his journey from Italy to a new country, before he could read and write - the olive pit his mother gave him to suck on when there wasn't enough food; a bottle cap he saw on his way to the boat; a ticket still retaining the thrill of his first baseball game. With a narrative entirely in dialogue, Paul Fleischman makes immediate the two characters' foray into the past. With warmth and an uncanny eye for detail, Bagram Ibatoulline gives expressive life to their journey through time - and toward each other.
Call Number: JUV PIC Fleischman P
ISBN: 9780763646011
Publication Date: 2013-03-12
The Dream Jar by Bonnie Pryor; Mark Graham (Illustrator) After emigrating to America, each member of a Russian family works hard to contribute to the family's dream of someday owning and running a store.
Call Number: JUV PIC Pryor B
ISBN: 0688130615
Publication Date: 1996-03-01
Yoon and the Jade Bracelet by Helen Recorvits; Gabi Swiatkowska (Illustrator); H. Recorvits It is Yoon's birthday and all she wants is a jump rope so she can play with the other girls in the school yard. Instead, Yoon's mother gives her a Korean storybook about a silly girl who is tricked by a tiger. Yoon also receives a jade bracelet that once belonged to her grandmother. The next day at school, a girl offers to teach Yoon how to jump rope, but for a price: she wants to borrow the jade bracelet. When Yoon tries to get her bracelet back, the girl swears it belongs to her. Yoon mustuse the lessons learned in her storybook and her "Shining Wisdom" to retrieve the precious keepsake. In this third book featuring Yoon, lush impressionistic dreamscapes evoke a simple and timeless message: it is possible to trick a tiger. Yoon and the Jade Bracelet is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
Call Number: JUV PIC Recorvits H
ISBN: 9780374386894
Publication Date: 2008-08-05
The Journey by Francesca Sanna ". . . a wonderful teaching tool for those who are welcoming refugees into their community."--The New York Times With haunting echoes of the current refugee crisis this beautifully illustrated book explores the unimaginable decisions made as a family leave their home and everything they know to escape the turmoil and tragedy brought by war. This book will stay with you long after the last page is turned. From the author: The Journey is actually a story about many journeys, and it began with the story of two girls I met in a refugee center in Italy. After meeting them I realized that behind their journey lay something very powerful. So I began collecting more stories of migration and interviewing many people from many different countries. A few months later, in September 2014, when I started studying a Master of Arts in Illustration at the Academy of Lucerne, I knew I wanted to create a book about these true stories. Almost every day on the news we hear the terms "migrants" and "refugees" but we rarely ever speak to or hear the personal journeys that they have had to take. This book is a collage of all those personal stories and the incredible strength of the people within them.
Call Number: JUV PIC Sanna F
ISBN: 9781909263994
Publication Date: 2016-09-13
Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say (Illustrator); Eve Bunting Lyrical, breathtaking, splendid--words used to describe Allen Say's Grandfather's Journey when it was first published. At once deeply personal yet expressing universally held emotions, this tale of one man's love for two countries and his constant desire to be in both places captured readers' attention and hearts. Winner of the 1994 Caldecott Medal, it remains as historically relevant and emotionally engaging as ever.
Call Number: JUV PIC Say A
ISBN: 0395570352
Publication Date: 1993-10-25
How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz Having fled from war in their troubled homeland, a boy and his family are living in poverty in a strange country. Food is scarce, so when the boy's father brings home a map instead of bread for supper, at first the boy is furious. But when the map is hung on the wall, it floods their cheerless room with color. As the boy studies its every detail, he is transported to exotic places without ever leaving the room, and he eventually comes to realize that the map feeds him in a way that bread never could. The award-winning artist's most personal work to date is based on his childhood memories of World War II and features stunning illustrations that celebrate the power of imagination. An author's note includes a brief description of his family's experience, two of his early drawings, and the only surviving photograph of himself from that time. How I Learned Geography is a 2009 Caldecott Honor Book and a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
Call Number: JUV PIC Shulevitz U
ISBN: 9780374334994
Publication Date: 2008-04-01
Halmoni and the Picnic by Karen M. Dugan (Illustrator); Sook Nyul Choi; Karen Dugan (Illustrator) When Yunmi's class plans a picnic in Central Park, her Korean grandmother, Halmoni, agrees to chaperone.But Yunmi worries that the other children will make fun of Halmoni's traditional Korean dress and unfamiliar food.
Call Number: UV PIC Choi N
ISBN: 0395616263
Publication Date: 1993-09-27

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia In this Newbery Honor novel, New York Times bestselling author Rita Williams-Garcia tells the story of three sisters who travel to Oakland, California, in 1968 to meet the mother who abandoned them. A strong option for summer reading--take this book along on a family road trip or enjoy it at home. This moving, funny novel won the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction and the Coretta Scott King Award and was a National Book Award Finalist. Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern's story continues in P.S. Be Eleven and Gone Crazy in Alabama. Readers who enjoy Christopher Paul Curtis's The Watsons Go to Birmingham and Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming will find much to love in One Crazy Summer. Rita Williams-Garcia's books about Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern can also be read alongside nonfiction explorations of American history such as Jason Reynolds's and Ibram X. Kendi's books. In One Crazy Summer, eleven-year-old Delphine is like a mother to her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern. She's had to be, ever since their mother, Cecile, left them seven years ago for a radical new life in California. But when the sisters arrive from Brooklyn to spend the summer with their mother, Cecile is nothing like they imagined. While the girls hope to go to Disneyland and meet Tinker Bell, their mother sends them to a day camp run by the Black Panthers. Unexpectedly, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern learn much about their family, their country, and themselves during one truly crazy summer. This novel was the first featured title for Marley D's Reading Party, launched after the success of #1000BlackGirlBooks. Maria Russo, in a New York Times list of "great kids' books with diverse characters," called it "witty and original." This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 6, especially during homeschooling. It's a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the classroom. "This vibrant and moving award-winning novel has heart to spare," commented Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich in her Brightly article "Knowing Our History to Build a Brighter Future: Books to Help Kids Understand the Fight for Racial Equality."
Call Number: JUV FIC Williams-Garcia R
ISBN: 9780060760885
Publication Date: 2010-01-26
I See the Rhythm of Gospel by Toyomi Igus; Michele Wood (Illustrator) "We free now, baby," mama whispers as we bounce and sway with the wagon's twists and turns over roads of clay through the land that oppressed us to a new world, a brand new day. The dynamic author/illustrator team of Toyomi Igus and Michele Wood has come together again to produce I See the Rhythm of Gospel, a sequel to the Coretta Scott King Award-winning I See the Rhythm. Readers of all ages will be captivated by this informative and inspirational blend of poetry, art, and music that relates the history of gospel music as reflected through the journey of African Americans from their arrival as slaves in America to the election of our first black president, Barack Obama. The bonus CD included in the back of the book features these five gospel songs representing different eras in African-American gospel history: Gospel Quartets: "Wade in the Water"--Golden Gate Quartet Gospel Women: "I Will Move on Up a Little Higher"--Mahalia Jackson Gospel Soul (Motown and Funk): "Hallelujah Praise"--CeCe Winans Gospel Power: "Jesus Be a Fence Around Me"--Fred Hammond and Radical for Christ Holy Hip-Hop: "I Love You"--Cross Movement
Call Number: JUV ML3187 .I38 2010
ISBN: 9780310718192
Publication Date: 2010-12-06
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña; Christian Robinson (Illustrator) #1 New York Times Bestseller A USA Today Bestseller Winner of the Newbery Medal A Caldecott Honor Book A Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book   This award-winning modern classic--a must-have for every child's home library--is an inclusive ode to kindness, empathy, gratitude, and finding joy in unexpected places, and celebrates the special bond between a curious young Black boy and his loving grandmother. Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn't he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty--and fun--in their routine and the world around them. This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the wonderful perspective only grandparent and grandchild can share, and comes to life through Matt de la Peña's vibrant text and Christian Robinson's radiant illustrations.
Call Number: JUV PIC de la Pena M
ISBN: 9780399257742
Publication Date: 2015-01-08
Black Means... by Barney Grossman; Charles Bible (Illustrator)
Call Number: JUV PIC Grossman B
ISBN: 0809030373
Publication Date: 1970-01-01
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman; Caroline Binch (Illustrator) Grace loves stories, whether they're from books, movies, or the kind her grandmother tells. So when she gets a chance to play a part in Peter Pan, she knows exactly who she wants to be. Remarkable watercolor illustrations give full expression to Grace's high-flying imagination.
Call Number: JUV PIC Hoffman M
ISBN: 0803710402
Publication Date: 1991-09-02
Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine; Kadir Nelson (Illustrator) A stirring, dramatic story of a slave who mails himself to freedom by a Jane Addams Peace Award-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist. Henry Brown doesn't know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves' birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold at the slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do: He will mail himself to the North. After an arduous journey in the crate, Henry finally has a birthday -- his first day of freedom.
Call Number: JUV PIC Levine E
ISBN: 9780439777339
Publication Date: 2007-01-01
Ellen's Broom by Kelly Starling Lyons; Daniel Minter (Illustrator) A young girl learns a new meaning for freedom during the time of Reconstruction Ellen always knew the broom resting above the hearth was special. Before it was legal for her mother and father to officially be married, the broom was what made them a family anyway. But now all former slaves who had already been married in their hearts could register as lawful husband and wife. When Ellen and her family make the long trip to the courthouse dressed in their best, she brings the broom her parents had jumped so many years before. Even though freedom has come, Ellen knows the old traditions are important too. After Mama and Papa's names are recorded in the register, Ellen nearly bursts with pride as her parents jump the broom once again. Ellen is a wonderfully endearing character whose love for her family is brought to life in Daniel Minter's rich and eye-catching block print illustrations.
Call Number: JUV PIC Lyons K
ISBN: 9780399250033
Publication Date: 2012-01-05
Stitchin' and Pullin' by Patricia C. McKissack; Cozbi A. Cabrera (Illustrator); Cozbi A. Cabrera (Illustrator) MOTHER AND DAUGHTER, grandmother and granddaughter, aunt and niece, friend and friend. For a hundred years, generations of women from Gee’s Bend have quilted together, sharing stories, trading recipes, singing hymns—all the while stitchin’ and pullin’ thread through cloth. Every day Baby Girl listens, watches, and waits, until she’s called to sit at the quilting frame. Piece by piece, she puzzles her quilt together—telling not just her story, but the story of her family, the story of Gee’s Bend, and the story of her ancestors’ struggle for freedom.
Call Number: JUV PIC McKissack P
ISBN: 9780375831638
Publication Date: 2008-10-28
The Hat That Wore Clara B. by Melanie Turner-Denstaedt; Frank Morrison (Illustrator) On Mother’s Sunday at church, Clara B.’s grandma has the most beautiful hat of all the ladies. When people compliment her on it, she says, “Honey, I’m not wearing this hat. This hat is wearing me!” Clara B. likes to sit behind the hat in church and pretend it is wearing her. One day Clara B. decides that pretending isn’t enough, and she waits for her chance at the hat. But when the right moment comes along and she finally gets her hands on it, things don’t go exactly as she’d planned . . . Exuberant illustrations by Frank Morrison perfectly capture a colorful African American Baptist tradition – and the special relationship between a girl, her grandma, and a big, bold, beautiful hat.
Call Number: JUV PIC Turner-Denstaedt M
ISBN: 9780374327941
Publication Date: 2009-03-31
Bronzeville Boys and Girls by Gwendolyn Brooks; Faith Ringgold (Illustrator) This classic picture book from Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gwendolyn Brooks, paired with full-color illustrations by Caldecott Honor artist Faith Ringgold, explores the lives and dreams of the children who live together in an urban neighborhood. In 1956, Gwendolyn Brooks created thirty-four poems that celebrated the joy, beauty, imagination, and freedom of childhood. Bronzeville Boys and Girls features these timeless poems, which remind us that whether we live in the Bronzeville section of Chicago or any other neighborhood, childhood is universal in its richness of emotions and new experiences.
Call Number: JUV PS3503.R7244 B76 2007
ISBN: 9780060295059
Publication Date: 2006-12-26

Up and down the Andes by Laurie Krebs; Aurélia Fronty (Illustrator) Surround yourself with the colours and wonders that await on this lively trip through the Andes mountains of Peru. The rhyming, cadenced text is supplemented by nine pages of educational notes about Peru and its people. Ages: 4-10 Colour illustrations
Call Number: JUV F2230.1.S7 K74 2008
ISBN: 9781846862038
Publication Date: 2008-09-01
The Pool Party by Gary Soto; Robert Casilla (Illustrator) Rudy, part of a Mexican-American family, has growing-up problems.
Call Number: JUV FIC Soto G
ISBN: 0385308906
Publication Date: 1993-05-01
Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle; Rafael López (Illustrator) Girls cannot be drummers. Long ago on an island filled with music, no one questioned that rule--until the drum dream girl. In her city of drumbeats, she dreamed of pounding tall congas and tapping small bongós. She had to keep quiet. She had to practice in secret. But when at last her dream-bright music was heard, everyone sang and danced and decided that both girls and boys should be free to drum and dream.         Inspired by the childhood of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl who broke Cuba's traditional taboo against female drummers, Drum Dream Girl tells an inspiring true story for dreamers everywhere.
Call Number: JUV PIC Engle M
ISBN: 9780544102293
Publication Date: 2015-03-31
Don't Say a Word, Mama / No Digas Nada, Mama by Joe Hayes; Esau Andrade Valencia (Artist) Mamá says she has the best daughters in the world. The two women live near their mother--Rosa with her husband and children, Blanca by herself. They both have flourishing gardens. Rosa and Blanca are so generous and kind and thoughtful--well, everyone, including Mamá, ends up with too much corn, tomatoes, and red hot chiles! It's crazy! It's also Joe Hayes at his finest, telling one of those stories young kids love, full of mishaps, surprise endings, and happy mommas! In fact, one seven-year old--after hearing Joe tellDon't Say a Word, Mama!--came home and told her mother, "I heard a story today that I think changed my life!" That's a pretty fantastic endorsement! 2014 Honor Book, Patterson Prize for Books for Young People Joe Hayes has been enchanting listeners and readers alike for over thirty years. His books have received many awards including two Land of Enchantment Children's Book Awards and an Aesop Accolade Award. His books have also been on the Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List three times.Ghost Fever won the Texas Bluebonnet Award for 2006-2007. Esau Andrade Valencia comes from a family of folk artists. He is increasingly being recognized as a master artist in the tradition of Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo. His paintings are included in the collection of The Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California, as well as in the Downey Museum of Art in Downey, California.
Call Number: JUV PIC Hayes J
ISBN: 9781935955290
Publication Date: 2013-10-29
Book Fiesta! by Pat Mora; Rafael Lopez (Illustrator) This Pura Belpré Award-winning picture book is a bilingual ride through the joyous history of Children's Day/El día de los niños. Children's Day/Book Day; El día de los niños/El día de los libros has been observed on April 30th for over twelve years. Founder Pat Mora's jubilant celebration of this day features imaginative text and lively illustrations by award-winning illustrator Rafael López that will turn this bilingual fiesta into a hit for story time! Toon! Toon! The book includes a letter from the author and suggestions for celebrating Children's Day /El día de los niños.
Call Number: JUV PIC Mora P
ISBN: 9780061288777
Publication Date: 2009-03-10
Let's Salsa by Lupe Ruiz-Flores; Robert Casilla (Illustrator); Natalia Rosales-Yeomans (Translator) Estella can't help but giggle when she sees her neighbors, Doña Rosa and Doña Maria, shaking their hips while dancing and sweating at an exercise class at the community recreation center. A few days later, when her mother complains about gaining weight, Estella encourages her to join the class. Every day after school, Estella enjoys watching the women dance to the rhythmic music. And she's especially thrilled when the instructor invites her to join them in dancing salsa. "Salsa? That's what it's called? I thought salsa was to eat with chips!" But one day, kids are banned from the class, and Estella is forced to go to a boring crafts class instead. She'd much rather be dancing! So when Estella learns that women had to fight to gain the right to vote, she decides she'll petition for kids' rights to enjoy salsa dance classes at the community center! In this bilingual picture book for children ages 5-9, a young girl learns that dancing is good for fun and fitness, and that even kids can change the way things are done.
Call Number: JUV PIC Ruiz-Flores L
ISBN: 9781558857629
Publication Date: 2013-11-30

Maria Tallchief by Heid E. Erdrich; Rick Whipple (Illustrator) A biography of the famous ballet dancer whose Native American origins caused problems in furthering her career.
Call Number: JUV GV1785.T32 E73 1993
ISBN: 0811465772
Publication Date: 1992-09-01
Thunder Boy Jr by Sherman Alexie; Yuyi Morales (Illustrator) From New York Times bestselling author Sherman Alexie and Caldecott Honor winning Yuyi Morales comes a striking and beautifully illustrated picture book celebrating the special relationship between father and son. Thunder Boy Jr. wants a normal name...one that's all his own. Dad is known as big Thunder, but little thunder doesn't want to share a name. He wants a name that celebrates something cool he's done like Touch the Clouds, Not Afraid of Ten Thousand Teeth, or Full of Wonder. But just when Little Thunder thinks all hope is lost, dad picks the best name...Lightning! Their love will be loud and bright, and together they will light up the sky.
Call Number: JUV PIC Alexie S
ISBN: 9780316013727
Publication Date: 2016-05-10
The Christmas Coat by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve; Ellen Beier (Illustrator) Virginia's coat is too small and hardly protects her from the frigid South Dakata winter. As Christmas approaches, all the children on the Sioux reservation look forward to receiving boxes full of clothing sent by congregations in the East. Virginia spots a beautiful gray fur coat but holds back tears as it is claimed by one of her classmates. Later, virginia can't believe what Mama brings home. Based on an event from the author's childhood, this picture book captures the true spirit of Christmas.
Call Number: JUV PIC Sneve V
ISBN: 9780823421343
Publication Date: 2011-07-01
Firedancers by Jan Bourdeau Waboose; C. J. Taylor (Illustrator) "What is it, Noko?" Grandmother does not answer. Somehow, I feel that we are being watched and she knows what is there. "I will go and see what it might be." And then I add, "I'll be careful." Although I try to sound brave, I don't want to go into the dark corner where the fire does not glow. I remind myself that I have been in the woods many times and was never afraid before. I walk toward the huge white pine that hides what could be there. Again, I feel a wind tapping my back. I look behind me. There is nothing. As night sets in and the fire crackles, a young native girl is amazed when he grandmother invokes the spirits of their ancestors. She learn the mystical firedance and creates a bond with her people and their heritage that will last a lifetime.
Call Number: JUV PIC Waboose J
ISBN: 9780773731387
Publication Date: 1999-09-01
Songs of Our Ancestors by Mark Turcotte; Kathleen Presnell (Illustrator) Through poetry (a child-centered, child-responsive format), these beautifullyillustrated, multicultural books tell the story of many courageous Americans -- African Americans, Latino Americans, Native Americans, and Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent -- women and men who followed their dreams to create a better life...not just for themselves, but for others as well. Although their experiences often were difficult, they did not allow prejudice and discrimination to thwart their progress. They have helped build our nation, defend it, and lead it into the 21st century. The outstanding individuals recognized include Sequoyah, Crazy Horse, Chief Joseph, Maria Tallchief, Jim Thorpe, and Wilma Mankiller.
Call Number: JUV PS3570.U627 S66 1995
ISBN: 0516051547
Publication Date: 1995-04-01

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