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When The Beat Was Born:  DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop written by Laban Carrick Hill; illustrated by Theodore Taylor  (Ages 6-10)

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When The Beat Was Born:  DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop written by Laban Carrick Hill; illustrated by Theodore Taylor  (Ages 6-10)

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Before there was hip hop, there was DJ Kool Herc.

On a hot day at the end of summer in 1973 Cindy Campbell threw a back-to-school party at a park in the South Bronx. Her brother, Clive Campbell, spun the records. He had a new way of playing the music to make the breaks—the musical interludes between verses—longer for dancing. He called himself DJ Kool Herc and this is When the Beat Was Born. From his childhood in Jamaica to his youth in the Bronx, Laban Carrick Hill's book tells how Kool Herc came to be a DJ, how kids in gangs stopped fighting in order to breakdance, and how the music he invented went on to define a culture and transform the world.

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All Because You Matter by by Tami Charles (Author), Bryan Collier (Illustrator).          (Ages 4-8)

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All Because You Matter by by Tami Charles (Author), Bryan Collier (Illustrator).          (Ages 4-8)

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Discover this poignant, timely, and emotionally stirring picture book, an ode to black and brown children everywhere that is full of hope, assurance, and love.

Tami Charles pens a poetic, lyrical text that is part love letter, part anthem, assuring readers that they always have, and always will, matter. This powerful, rhythmic lullaby reassures readers that their matter and their worth is never diminished, no matter the circumstance: through the joy and wonder of their first steps and first laughter, through the hardship of adolescent struggles and the pain and heartbreak of current events, they always have, and always will, matter. Accompanied by illustrations by renowned artist Bryan Collier, a four-time Caldecott Honor recipient and a nine-time Coretta Scott King Award winner or honoree, All Because You Matter empowers readers with pride, joy, and comfort, reminding them of their roots and strengthening them for the days to come.

Lyrical, personal, and full of love, All Because You Matter is for the picture book audience what The Hate U Give was for YA and Ghost Boys was for middle grade: a conversation starter, a community touchstone, and a deep affirmation of worth for the young readers who need it most.

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Saving Savannah by Tonya Bolden (Ages 14+)

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Saving Savannah by Tonya Bolden (Ages 14+)

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From acclaimed author Tonya Bolden comes the story of a teen girl becoming a woman on her own terms against the backdrop of widespread social change in the early 1900s.

Savannah Riddle is lucky. As a daughter of an upper class African American family in Washington D.C., she attends one of the most rigorous public schools in the nation--black or white--and has her pick among the young men in her set. But lately the structure of her society--the fancy parties, the Sunday teas, the pretentious men, and shallow young women--has started to suffocate her.

Then Savannah meets Lloyd, a young West Indian man from the working class who opens Savannah's eyes to how the other half lives. Inspired to fight for change, Savannah starts attending suffragist lectures and socialist meetings, finding herself drawn more and more to Lloyd's world.

Set against the backdrop of the press for women's rights, the Red Summer, and anarchist bombings, Saving Savannah is the story of a girl and the risks she must take to be the change in a world on the brink of dramatic transformation.

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In this picture-book poetry collection, Brantley-Newton (Grandma’s Purse) writes in the voices of various girls, exploring themes such as community and identity (“I Am a Canvas”), simple pleasures (“Summer Loves”), and unavoidable troubles (“Pimples”). Ranging from a few lines to the length of a page, the poems are matched with bright, textured, mixed-media illustrations featuring a variety of girls—curly and straight haired, ethnically diverse, blemish dotted, glasses wearing, spunky, shy, lonely, and empowered—in highly relatable moments. One standout piece, “A Wish For Daddy,” departs from some of the sunnier themes to address a feeling of longing: a brown-skinned girl with braids watches the joyful interactions between a schoolmate and her grinning father: “She dances on his feet/ and he tells her she’s sweet/ I wish I had a daddy/ That would be so neat.” Thoughtful, inclusive, and celebratory, this collection encourages readers to look both inward and outward, and to use kindness as a link to “go/ higher and higher/ pulling each one up.” Ages 4–8.

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Black Children's Book Author Vanessa Brantley Newton

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Black Children's Book Author Vanessa Brantley Newton

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Vanessa Brantley Newton attended both SVA and FIT of New York, where she studied fashion and children's illustration. An artist swathed in retro chic, she loves all things vintage - especially books and clothes from the 40s through the 60's - and it shines through in her designs, which run the gamut of fun and whimsical to stylish and sophisticated. She loves to add unique touches to her work, including mixed media accents, collage, and hand lettering.

Vanessa was born during the Civil Rights movement, and attended school in Newark, NJ. Being part of a diverse, tight-knit community during such turbulent times, Vanessa learned the importance of acceptance and empowerment in shaping a young person's life. When she read Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, it was the first time she saw herself in a children's book. It was a defining moment in her life, and has made her into the artist she is today. As an illustrator, she includes children of all ethnic backgrounds in her stories and artwork. She wants all children to see their unique experiences reflected in the books they read, so they can feel the same sense of empowerment and recognition she experienced as a young reader.

Vanessa celebrates self-love and acceptance of all cultures through her work, and hopes to inspire young readers to find their own voices. She first learned to express herself as a little girl through song. Growing up in a musical family, Vanessa's parents taught her how to sing to help overcome her stuttering. Each night the family would gather to make music together, with her mom on piano, her dad on guitar, and Vanessa and her sister, Coy, singing the blues, gospel, spirituals, and jazz. Now whenever she illustrates, music fills the air and finds its way into her art. The children she draws can be seen dancing, wiggling, and moving freely across the page in an expression of happiness. Music is a constant celebration, no matter the occasion, and Vanessa hopes her illustrations bring joy to others, with the same magic of a beautiful melody.

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Vanessa Brantley Newton is the author and illustrator of Let Freedom Sing and Don't Let Auntie Mabel Bless the Table, and has illustrated numerous children's books including One Love & Every Little Thing, words by Bob & Cedella Marley, and Presenting Tallulah written by Tori Spelling.

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In this picture-book poetry collection, Brantley-Newton (Grandma’s Purse) writes in the voices of various girls, exploring themes such as community and identity (“I Am a Canvas”), simple pleasures (“Summer Loves”), and unavoidable troubles (“Pimples”). Ranging from a few lines to the length of a page, the poems are matched with bright, textured, mixed-media illustrations featuring a variety of girls—curly and straight haired, ethnically diverse, blemish dotted, glasses wearing, spunky, shy, lonely, and empowered—in highly relatable moments. One standout piece, “A Wish For Daddy,” departs from some of the sunnier themes to address a feeling of longing: a brown-skinned girl with braids watches the joyful interactions between a schoolmate and her grinning father: “She dances on his feet/ and he tells her she’s sweet/ I wish I had a daddy/ That would be so neat.” Thoughtful, inclusive, and celebratory, this collection encourages readers to look both inward and outward, and to use kindness as a link to “go/ higher and higher/ pulling each one up.” Ages 4–8.

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Hands Up!By BREANNA J. MCDANIELIllustrated by SHANE W. EVANS

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Hands Up!By BREANNA J. MCDANIELIllustrated by SHANE W. EVANS

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This triumphant picture book recasts a charged phrase as part of a black girl’s everyday life–hands up for a hug, hands up in class, hands up for a high five–before culminating in a moment of resistance at a protest march.

A young black girl lifts her baby hands up to greet the sun, reaches her hands up for a book on a high shelf, and raises her hands up in praise at a church service. She stretches her hands up high like a plane’s wings and whizzes down a hill so fast on her bike with her hands way up. As she grows, she lives through everyday moments of joy, love, and sadness. And when she gets a little older, she joins together with her family and her community in a protest march, where they lift their hands up together in resistance and strength.

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Hands Up!By BREANNA J. MCDANIELIllustrated by SHANE W. EVANS

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Hands Up!By BREANNA J. MCDANIELIllustrated by SHANE W. EVANS

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This triumphant picture book recasts a charged phrase as part of a black girl’s everyday life–hands up for a hug, hands up in class, hands up for a high five–before culminating in a moment of resistance at a protest march.

A young black girl lifts her baby hands up to greet the sun, reaches her hands up for a book on a high shelf, and raises her hands up in praise at a church service. She stretches her hands up high like a plane’s wings and whizzes down a hill so fast on her bike with her hands way up. As she grows, she lives through everyday moments of joy, love, and sadness. And when she gets a little older, she joins together with her family and her community in a protest march, where they lift their hands up together in resistance and strength.

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Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

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Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

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Brown Girl Dreaming tells the story of my childhood, in verse. Raised in South Carolina and New York, I always felt halfway home in each place. In these poems, I share what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and my growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement.
It also reflects the joy of finding my voice through writing stories, despite the fact that I struggled with reading as a child. My love of stories inspired and stayed with me, creating the first sparks of the writer I was to become.
-Jacqueline Woodson

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Ghost by Jewell Parker Rhodes (Ages 12+)

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Ghost by Jewell Parker Rhodes (Ages 12+)

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A heartbreaking and powerful story about a black boy killed by a police officer, drawing connections through history, from award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes.

Only the living can make the world better. Live and make it better.

Twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat. As a ghost, he observes the devastation that's been unleashed on his family and community in the wake of what they see as an unjust and brutal killing.

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By CAROLE BOSTON WEATHERFORD Illustrated by ERIC VELASQUEZ

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By CAROLE BOSTON WEATHERFORD Illustrated by ERIC VELASQUEZ

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Amid the scholars, poets, authors, and artists of the Harlem Renaissance stood an Afro–Puerto Rican named Arturo Schomburg. This law clerk’s life’s passion was to collect books, letters, music, and art from Africa and the African diaspora and bring to light the achievements of people of African descent through the ages.

When Schomburg’s collection became so big it began to overflow his house (and his wife threatened to mutiny), he turned to the New York Public Library, where he created and curated a collection that was the cornerstone of a new Negro Division. A century later, his groundbreaking collection, known as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, has become a beacon to scholars all over the world.

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After a day of being taunted by classmates about her unruly hair, Mackenzie can’t take any more and she seeks guidance from her wise and comforting neighbor, Miss Tillie. Using the beautiful garden in the backyard as a metaphor, Miss Tillie shows Mackenzie that maintaining healthy hair is not a chore nor is it something to fear. Most importantly, Mackenzie learns that natural black hair is beautiful.
-Albert Whitman & Co.

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Written by Mariahadessa Ekere TallieIllustrated by Ashleigh Corrin

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Written by Mariahadessa Ekere TallieIllustrated by Ashleigh Corrin

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Seven-year-old Layla loves life! So she keeps a happiness book. What is happiness for her? For you?

Spirited and observant, Layla’s a child who’s been given room to grow, making happiness both thoughtful and intimate. It’s her dad talking about growing-up in South Carolina; her mom reading poetry; her best friend Juan, the community garden, and so much more. Written by poet Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie and illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin, this is a story of flourishing within family and community.

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Written by Mariahadessa Ekere TallieIllustrated by Ashleigh Corrin

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Written by Mariahadessa Ekere TallieIllustrated by Ashleigh Corrin

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Seven-year-old Layla loves life! So she keeps a happiness book. What is happiness for her? For you?

Spirited and observant, Layla’s a child who’s been given room to grow, making happiness both thoughtful and intimate. It’s her dad talking about growing-up in South Carolina; her mom reading poetry; her best friend Juan, the community garden, and so much more. Written by poet Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie and illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin, this is a story of flourishing within family and community.

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Big Hair, Don't Care by Crystal Swain-Bates

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Big Hair, Don't Care by Crystal Swain-Bates

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Lola has really really REALLY big hair, much bigger than the other kids at her school. Despite her hair blocking the view of anyone that dares sit behind her and causing her to lose at hide and seek, she sings the praises of her big hair throughout this rhyming picture book. Designed to boost self-esteem and build confidence, this beautifully illustrated book is perfect for any girl or boy who has ever felt a bit self-conscious about their hair and may need a reminder from time to time that it's okay to look different from the other kids at their school.

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WE RISE, WE RESIST, WE RAISE OUR VOICES a compilation by Kwame Alexander, Sharon Draper, Ellen Oh, Andrea Pippins, Jason Reynolds, Rita Williams-Garcia, and Jacqueline Woodson

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WE RISE, WE RESIST, WE RAISE OUR VOICES a compilation by Kwame Alexander, Sharon Draper, Ellen Oh, Andrea Pippins, Jason Reynolds, Rita Williams-Garcia, and Jacqueline Woodson

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New York, NY — Random House Children’s Books will publish WE RISE, WE RESIST, WE RAISE OUR VOICES, an empowering collection of poems, letters, personal essays, art, and other works from over 50 diverse, award-winning children’s book authors and artists in collaboration with Just Us Books, a Black-owned publisher committed to exclusively producing Black and multicultural children’s books. Phoebe Yeh, VP/Publisher of Crown Books for Young Readers, acquired world rights for publication from Just Us Books co-founders and anthology compilers Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson.

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I Am Every Good ThingWritten by Derrick BarnesIllustrated by Gordon C. James

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I Am Every Good ThingWritten by Derrick BarnesIllustrated by Gordon C. James

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Celebrate the heart connection between adopted children and the forever families who welcome them with kindness, care, and unconditional love in this powerful picture book from the author of Honey Baby Sugar Child.

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I Am Every Good Thing Written by Derrick Barnes Illustrated by Gordon C. James

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I Am Every Good Thing Written by Derrick Barnes Illustrated by Gordon C. James

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An upbeat, empowering, important picture book from the team that created the award-winning Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut

I am
a nonstop ball of energy.
Powerful and full of light.
I am a go-getter. A difference maker. A leader.

The confident Black narrator of this book is proud of everything that makes him who he is. He's got big plans, and no doubt he'll see them through--as he's creative, adventurous, smart, funny, and a good friend. Sometimes he falls, but he always gets back up. And other times he's afraid, because he's so often misunderstood and called what he is not. So slow down and really look and listen, when somebody

tells you--and shows you--who they are. There are superheroes in our midst!

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I Believe I Canby Grace Byersillustrated by Keturah A. Bobo                               (Ages 4-8)

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I Believe I Canby Grace Byersillustrated by Keturah A. Bobo                               (Ages 4-8)

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I Believe I Can is an affirmation for boys and girls of every background to love and believe in themselves.

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Ghost by Jason Reynolds.    (Ages 10-14)

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Ghost by Jason Reynolds.    (Ages 10-14)

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Running. That’s all that Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw) has ever known. But never for a track team. Nope, his game has always been ball. But when Ghost impulsively challenges an elite sprinter to a race — and wins — the Olympic medalist track coach sees he has something: crazy natural talent. Thing is, Ghost has something else: a lot of anger, and a past that he is trying to outrun. Can Ghost harness his raw talent for speed and meld with the team, or will his past finally catch up to him?

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March (Trilogy) by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell                      (Ages 11-15)

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March (Trilogy) by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell                      (Ages 11-15)

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Congressman John Lewis (GA-5) is an American icon, one of the key figures of the civil rights movement. His commitment to justice and nonviolence has taken him from an Alabama sharecropper’s farm to the halls of Congress, from a segregated schoolroom to the 1963 March on Washington, and from receiving beatings from state troopers to receiving the Medal of Freedom from the first Black president. March is the first-hand account of John Lewis’ lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation. Rooted in Lewis’ personal story (including his childhood), it also reflects on the highs and lows of the broader civil rights movement. Many years ago, John Lewis and other student activists drew inspiration from the 1958 comic book “Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story.” Now, his own graphic novel bring those days to life for a new audience, testifying to a movement whose echoes will be heard for generations.

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The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore.     (Ages 10-14)

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The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore.     (Ages 10-14)

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A boy tries to steer a safe path through the projects in Harlem in the wake of his brother’s death in this outstanding debut novel that celebrates community and creativity. It’s Christmas Eve in Harlem, but twelve-year-old Lolly Rachpaul and his mom aren’t celebrating. They’re still reeling from his older brother’s death. Then Lolly’s mother’s girlfriend brings him a gift that will change everything: two enormous bags filled with Legos. Now, faced with a pile of building blocks and no instructions, Lolly must find his own way forward. Building a fantastical Lego city at the community center provides Lolly with an escape — and an unexpected bridge back to the world. David Barclay Moore paints a powerful portrait of a boy teetering on the edge — of adolescence, of grief, of violence — and shows how Lolly’s inventive spirit helps him build a life with firm foundations and open doors.

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The Crossover by Kwame Alexander                          (Ages 10-12)

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The Crossover by Kwame Alexander                          (Ages 10-12)

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"With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I’m delivering," announces dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood from Kwame Alexander. Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.

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Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia.             (Ages 8-12) 

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Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia.             (Ages 8-12) 

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From beloved Newbery Honor winner and three-time Coretta Scott King Award winner Rita Williams-Garcia comes a powerful and heartfelt novel about loss, family, and love. Clayton feels most alive when he’s with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, and the band of Bluesmen — he can’t wait to join them, just as soon as he has a blues song of his own. But then the unthinkable happens. Cool Papa Byrd dies, and Clayton’s mother forbids Clayton from playing the blues. And Clayton knows that’s no way to live. Armed with his grandfather’s brown porkpie hat and his harmonica, he runs away from home in search of the Bluesmen, hoping he can join them on the road. But on the journey that takes him through the New York City subways and to Washington Square Park, Clayton learns some things that surprise him.

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Becoming Kareem: Growing Up On and Off the Court by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.     (Ages 8-12)

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Becoming Kareem: Growing Up On and Off the Court by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.     (Ages 8-12)

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At one time, Lew Alcindor was just another kid from New York City with all the usual problems: He struggled with fitting in, with pleasing a strict father, and with overcoming shyness that made him feel socially awkward. But with a talent for basketball, and an unmatched team of supporters, Lew Alcindor was able to transform and to become Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. From a childhood made difficult by racism and prejudice to a record-smashing career on the basketball court as an adult, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s life was packed with “coaches” who taught him right from wrong and led him on the path to greatness. His parents, coaches Jack Donahue and John Wooden, Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee, and many others played important roles in Abdul-Jabbar’s life and sparked him to become an activist for social change and advancement. The inspiration from those around him, and his drive to find his own path in life, are highlighted in this personal and awe-inspiriting journey. Written especially for young readers, Becoming Kareem chronicles how Kareem Abdul-Jabbar become the icon and legend he is today, both on and off the court. Ages 8–12.

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12 Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali by Charles R. Smith, illustrated by Bryan Collier                (Ages 10+)

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12 Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali by Charles R. Smith, illustrated by Bryan Collier                (Ages 10+)

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From the moment a fired-up teenager won 1960 Olympic gold to the day when a retired legend, hands shaking from Parkinson’s, returned to raise the Olympic torch, the boxer known as “The Greatest” waged many a fight. Some were in the ring, against opponents like Sonny Liston and Joe Frazier; others were against societal prejudice and a war he refused to support because of his Islamic faith. The rap-inspired verse weaves and bobs and jabs, while bold collage artwork matches every move, capturing the “Louisville loudmouth with the great gift of rhyme” who shed the name Cassius Clay to take on the world as Muhammad Ali. Ages 10 and up.

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Hey Black Child by Useni Eugene Perkins, illustrated by Bryan Collier                (Ages 3-10)

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Hey Black Child by Useni Eugene Perkins, illustrated by Bryan Collier                (Ages 3-10)

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Hey Black child,
Do you know who you are?
Who really are?
Do you know you can be
What you want to be
If you try to be
What you can be?

This lyrical, empowering poem celebrates Black children and seeks to inspire all young people to dream big and achieve their goals.

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Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream For Me by Daniel Beaty, illustrated by Bryan Collier                                 (Ages 4-7)

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Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream For Me by Daniel Beaty, illustrated by Bryan Collier                                 (Ages 4-7)

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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.

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Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe.       (Ages 6–12)

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Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe.       (Ages 6–12)

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Jean-Michel Basquiat and his unique, collage-style paintings rocketed to fame in the 1980s as a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the art world had ever seen. But before that, he was a little boy who saw art everywhere: in poetry books and museums, in games and in the words that we speak, and in the pulsing energy of New York City. Now, award-winning illustrator Javaka Steptoe’s vivid text and bold artwork echoing Basquiat’s own introduce young readers to the powerful message that art doesn’t always have to be neat or clean — and definitely not inside the lines — to be beautiful.

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Trombone Shorty by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, illustrated by Bryan Collier: (Ages 4–8)

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Trombone Shorty by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, illustrated by Bryan Collier: (Ages 4–8)

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Hailing from the Tremé neighborhood in New Orleans, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews got his nickname by wielding a trombone twice as long as he was high. A prodigy, he was leading his own band by age six, and today this Grammy-nominated artist headlines the legendary New Orleans Jazz Fest. Along with esteemed illustrator Bryan Collier, Andrews has created a lively picture book autobiography about how he followed his dream of becoming a musician, despite the odds, until he reached international stardom. Trombone Shorty is a celebration of the rich cultural history of New Orleans and the power of music.

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Malcolm X: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz, illustrated by AG Ford.     (Ages 6-10)

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Malcolm X: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz, illustrated by AG Ford.     (Ages 6-10)

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Malcolm X grew to be one of America’s most influential figures. But first, he was a boy named Malcolm Little. Written by his daughter, this inspiring picture book biography celebrates a vision of freedom and justice. Bolstered by the love and wisdom of his large, warm family, young Malcolm Little was a natural born leader. But when confronted with intolerance and a series of tragedies, Malcolm’s optimism and faith were threatened. He had to learn how to be strong and how to hold on to his individuality. He had to learn self-reliance. Together with acclaimed illustrator AG Ford, Ilyasah Shabazz gives us a unique glimpse into the childhood of her father, Malcolm X, with a lyrical story that carries a message that resonates still today — that we must all strive to live to our highest potential. Ages 6–10.

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Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James: 

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Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James: 

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The barbershop is where the magic happens. Boys go in as lumps of clay and, with princely robes draped around their shoulders, a dab of cool shaving cream on their foreheads, and a slow, steady cut, they become royalty. That crisp yet subtle line makes boys sharper, more visible, more aware of every great thing that could happen to them when they look good: lesser grades turn into As; girls take notice; even a mother’s hug gets a little tighter. Everyone notices. A fresh cut makes boys fly. This rhythmic, read-aloud title is an unbridled celebration of the self-esteem, confidence, and swagger boys feel when they leave the barber’s chair — a tradition that places on their heads a figurative crown, beaming with jewels, that confirms their brilliance and worth and helps them not only love and accept themselves but also take a giant step toward caring how they present themselves to the world. The fresh cuts. That’s where it all begins. Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut is a high-spirited, engaging salute to the beautiful, raw, assured humanity of Black boys and how they see themselves when they approve of their reflections in the mirror.

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Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James: 

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Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James: 

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The barbershop is where the magic happens. Boys go in as lumps of clay and, with princely robes draped around their shoulders, a dab of cool shaving cream on their foreheads, and a slow, steady cut, they become royalty. That crisp yet subtle line makes boys sharper, more visible, more aware of every great thing that could happen to them when they look good: lesser grades turn into As; girls take notice; even a mother’s hug gets a little tighter. Everyone notices. A fresh cut makes boys fly. This rhythmic, read-aloud title is an unbridled celebration of the self-esteem, confidence, and swagger boys feel when they leave the barber’s chair — a tradition that places on their heads a figurative crown, beaming with jewels, that confirms their brilliance and worth and helps them not only love and accept themselves but also take a giant step toward caring how they present themselves to the world. The fresh cuts. That’s where it all begins. Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut is a high-spirited, engaging salute to the beautiful, raw, assured humanity of Black boys and how they see themselves when they approve of their reflections in the mirror.

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The Great Greene Heist (The Great Greene Heist #1) by Varian Johnson

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The Great Greene Heist (The Great Greene Heist #1) by Varian Johnson

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Jackson Greene has reformed. No, really he has. He became famous for the Shakedown at Shimmering Hills, and everyone still talks about the Blitz at the Fitz.... But after the disaster of the Mid-Day PDA, he swore off scheming and conning for good.

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Garvey’s father has always wanted Garvey to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, reading—anything but sports. Feeling like a failure, he comforts himself with food. Garvey is kind, funny, smart, a loyal friend, and he is also overweight, teased by bullies, and lonely. When his only friend encourages him to join the school chorus, Garvey’s life changes. The chorus finds a new soloist in Garvey, and through chorus, Garvey finds a way to accept himself, and a way to finally reach his distant father—by speaking the language of music instead of the language of sports.

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When best friends Tai and Mila are reunited after a summer apart, their friendship threatens to combust from the pressure of secrets, middle school, and the looming dance auditions for a new talented-and-gifted program.
-Goodreads

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Brown Baby Lullabyby Tameka Fryer Brown (Goodreads Author), A.G. Ford (Illustrations)

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Brown Baby Lullabyby Tameka Fryer Brown (Goodreads Author), A.G. Ford (Illustrations)

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From sunset to bedtime, two brown-skinned parents lovingly care for their beautiful brown baby: first, they play outside, then it is time for dinner and a bath, and finally a warm snuggle before bed.

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Woke: A Young Poet's Guide to Justice by Mahogany L Browne, Elizabeth Acevedo, Olivia Gatwood              (Grades 2-5)

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Woke: A Young Poet's Guide to Justice by Mahogany L Browne, Elizabeth Acevedo, Olivia Gatwood              (Grades 2-5)

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A collection of poems to inspire kids to stay woke and become a new generation of activists.Historically poets have been on the forefront of social movements. Woke is a collection of poems by women that reflects the joy and passion in the fight for social justice, tackling topics from discrimination to empathy, and acceptance to speaking out.With Theodore Taylor's bright, emotional art, and writting from Mahogany L. Browne, Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatwood, kids will be inspired to create their own art and poems to express how they see justice and injustice.

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Spirit Week Showdown: Magnificent Mya Tibbs by Crystal Allen

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Spirit Week Showdown: Magnificent Mya Tibbs by Crystal Allen

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Nine-year-old Mya Tibbs has a great best friend, a cool brother, and a plan for winning the Spirit Week challenges so that she and her best friend Naomi get the VIP badges to the town fair. Things go very wrong when Mya is paired up with Mean Connie, a bully Naomi knows from her old school. Over the week, however, Mya discovers things aren't what they appear, and she has to make a decision about what kind of friend she wants to be.
-CommonSense Media

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Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien ThomasBook review by Jan Carr, Common Sense Media

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Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien ThomasBook review by Jan Carr, Common Sense Media

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Vivien Thomas had long strived to become a doctor, but after losing his college savings in the stock market crash of 1929, he instead took a job as a research technician at Vanderbilt University. As an African-American, Thomas’s title was officially “janitor.” Despite persistent racial prejudice, Thomas devised a means to perform open-heart surgery on “blue babies” who were not getting enough oxygen, a procedure that would save the lives of many infants. Hooks writes with vivid detail and immediacy, describing Thomas’s anxiety as he coaches Dr. Blalock, the doctor who originally hired him, on performing the first surgery.

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No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in KansasTonya Bolden (Author)  Don Tate (Illustrator)

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No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in KansasTonya Bolden (Author)  Don Tate (Illustrator)

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Discover the incredible true story of how one of history's most successful potato farmers began life as a slave and worked until he was named the "Potato King of the World"!

Junius G. Groves came from humble beginnings in the Bluegrass State. Born in Kentucky into slavery, freedom came when he was still a young man and he intended to make a name for himself.

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Someday is NowWritten by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich & illustrated by Jade Johnson

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Someday is NowWritten by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich & illustrated by Jade Johnson

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Someday Is Now tells the inspirational story of the celebrated civil rights leader, Clara Luper, who led one of the first lunch-counter sit-ins in America. How will you stand against something you know is wrong? One way is to follow the lessons of bravery taught by civil rights pioneers like Clara Luper. As a child, Clara saw how segregation affected her life. Her journey famously led her to Oklahoma, where she and her students desegregated stores and restaurants that were closed to African-Americans. With courage and conviction, Clara Luper led young people to “do what had to be done.” This moving title includes additional information on Clara Luper’s extraordinary life, her lessons of nonviolent resistance, and a glossary of key civil rights people and terms.

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The King of KindergartenBy DERRICK BARNESIllustrated by VANESSA BRANTLEY-NEWTON

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The King of KindergartenBy DERRICK BARNESIllustrated by VANESSA BRANTLEY-NEWTON

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Starting kindergarten is a big milestone–and the hero of this story is ready to make his mark! He’s dressed himself, eaten a pile of pancakes, and can’t wait to be part of a whole new kingdom of kids. The day will be jam-packed, but he’s up to the challenge, taking new experiences in stride with his infectious enthusiasm! And afterward, he can’t wait to tell his proud parents all about his achievements–and then wake up to start another day.
Newbery Honor-winning author Derrick Barnes’s empowering story will give new kindergarteners a reassuring confidence boost, and Vanessa Brantley-Newton’s illustrations exude joy.

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“Questlove, music director for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and author of Mo’ Meta Blues, recounts his own musical journey in these spirited reflections on the elements of creativity. Questlove defines creativity as the “personality that makes it possible” to produce art; he discusses the creative process, the value of mentors, and the usefulness of collaboration . . . Questlove champions collaboration, reflecting on his own work with his Roots partner Tariq Trotter, and advises readers to be curious and open to ideas. Since creativity often grows when encountering the work of others, Questlove encourages artists to work with those who have different approaches, as he did with rapper and producer J Dilla and Talking Heads founder David Byrne, among others. Questlove’s generous, provocative guidebook offers experienced wisdom about tapping into the creative process.”
– Publishers Weekly

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Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations Hardcover – August 6, 2019 by Kelly Starling Lyons

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Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations Hardcover – August 6, 2019 by Kelly Starling Lyons

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“Tracing the history of Black Americans since 1900 through five generations of one family, this creative book also connects events and cultural shifts with particular lines in the song, underscoring their relevance during certain times . . . With clarity and warmth, the illustrations sensitively capture the changing characters, emotions, and eras as time passes . . . Well-structured, original story . . . Dovetailing nicely with the books that introduce the song itself, this moving picture book celebrates it as a ‘symbol of faith, brilliance, resistance, and resilience.’”

– Booklist, Starred Review

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Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations Hardcover – August 6, 2019 by Kelly Starling Lyons

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Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations Hardcover – August 6, 2019 by Kelly Starling Lyons

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“Tracing the history of Black Americans since 1900 through five generations of one family, this creative book also connects events and cultural shifts with particular lines in the song, underscoring their relevance during certain times . . . With clarity and warmth, the illustrations sensitively capture the changing characters, emotions, and eras as time passes . . . Well-structured, original story . . . Dovetailing nicely with the books that introduce the song itself, this moving picture book celebrates it as a ‘symbol of faith, brilliance, resistance, and resilience.’”

– Booklist, Starred Review

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This list is by Debbie Reese of American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL). AICL provides critical perspectives and analysis of indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books, the school curriculum, popular culture, and society. Visit the AICL website and subscribe to the AICL blog for many more recommendations, critical reviews, and current news.

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This list is by Debbie Reese of American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL). AICL provides critical perspectives and analysis of indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books, the school curriculum, popular culture, and society.

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Buffalo Bird Girl A Hidatsa Storyby S. D. Nelson   (Grades K-4) 

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Buffalo Bird Girl A Hidatsa Storyby S. D. Nelson   (Grades K-4) 

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This fascinating picture book biography tells the childhood story of Buffalo Bird Womanandmdash;a Hidatsa Indian born around 1839. Through her true story, readers learn what it was like to be part of this Native American community, which lived along the Missouri River in the Dakotas, a society that depended on agriculture for food and survival rather than hunting. Using original artwork and archival photographs, award-winning author/illustrator S. D. Nelson has captured the spirit of Buffalo Bird Girl and her lost way of life.

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Picture book. By Paula Young Shelton and illustrated by Raul Colon. 2009. A child’s unique perspective on the Civil Rights Movement by the daughter of Civil Rights activist Andrew Young.

Time Periods: 20th Century, People’s Movement: 1961 - 1974

Themes: Civil Rights Movements

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Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale

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Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale

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Picture Book. Written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh. 2013. An age-appropriate story that brings to light the hardship and struggles faced by thousands of families crossing the border.

Time Periods: 21st Century

Themes: Immigration, Latinx

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Picture Book. By Zetta Elliott. Illustrated by Purple Wong. 2016. 36 pages. A story that introduces young readers to the historic mis-representation (and absence) of people of color in museums and how to take action.

Time Periods: 21st Century, 2001 - Present

-Published by Rosetta Press

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Picture book. By Don Brown. 2004. The story of the 1899 strike by the children who sold newspapers on the street for grades K-4.

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Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat

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Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat

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Picture book. Edited by Nikki Giovanni. 2008. and CD. A celebration of poetry with a beat. Includes CD with selected recordings of poems and historical background.

Time Periods: 20th Century, Post-Civil Rights Era: 1975 - 2000

Themes: Art & Music

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LEE & LOW BOOKS is the largest multicultural children's book publisher in the country. We are also one of the few minority-owned publishing companies in the United States,

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About Us

Lee & Low Books is the largest multicultural children's book publisher in the country. We are also one of the few minority-owned publishing companies in the United States.

Founded in 1991, we have always been family-owned and independent, which means we publish what we want and aren't afraid to take risks. Our books have won major awards including the Coretta Scott King Award, the Pura Belpré Award, the NAACP Image Award, and many more.

Lee & Low Books is committed to publishing diverse books that are about everyone, for everyone. We are dedicated to cultural authenticity, and we make a special effort to work with new authors and illustrators of color.

We publish multicultural children's books for every age, including leveled books for beginning readers, picture books, early chapter books, middle grade, and young adult books. We also publish a wide selection of bilingual and Spanish language books.

Visit our testimonials page to see some of the people and organizations who support our work!

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Lee & Low Books is the largest multicultural children's book publisher in the United States. We are your diversity source.

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An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States (Curriculum Resource)

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An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States (Curriculum Resource)

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Today in the United States, there are more than five hundred federally recognized Indigenous nations comprising nearly three million people, descendants of the fifteen million Native people who once inhabited this land. The centuries-long genocidal program of the US settler-colonial regimen has largely been omitted from history. Acclaimed historian and activist Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz offers a history of the United States told from the perspective of Indigenous peoples and reveals how Native Americans, for centuries, actively resisted expansion of the U.S. empire.

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An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States

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An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States

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Today in the United States, there are more than five hundred federally recognized Indigenous nations comprising nearly three million people, descendants of the fifteen million Native people who once inhabited this land. The centuries-long genocidal program of the US settler-colonial regimen has largely been omitted from history. Acclaimed historian and activist Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz offers a history of the United States told from the perspective of Indigenous peoples and reveals how Native Americans, for centuries, actively resisted expansion of the U.S. empire.

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Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom (Ages 5+)

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Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom (Ages 5+)

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Picture Book. By Tim Tingle. 2008. 40 pages. A picture book that highlights rarely discussed intersections between Native Americans in the South and African Americans in bondage.

Time Periods: Civil War Era: 1850 - 1864

Themes: African American, Native American, Slavery and Resistance

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"How to Be an Anti-Racist'" by Ibram X. Kendi.

Ibram X. Kendi's concept of antiracism reenergizes and reshapes the conversation about racial justice in America--but even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. Instead of working with the policies and system we have in place, Kendi asks us to think about what an antiracist society might look like, and how we can play an active role in building it.

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The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth, and Harlem's Greatest Bookstore

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The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth, and Harlem's Greatest Bookstore

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Picture book. By Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. 2015. Tells the story of Lewis Michaux Sr.'s Harlem bookstore that was a center of African American history, scholarship, debate, and activism, for grades 2-5.

Time Periods: 20th Century, Prosperity, Depression, & World War II: 1920 - 1944, Cold War: 1945 - 1960, People’s Movement: 1961 - 1974

Themes: African American

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From enslaved teenager to U.S. congressman in ten years

John Roy Lynch spent most of his childhood as a slave, but the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of the Civil War promised African Americans in the South the freedom to work and learn as they saw fit. While many people there were unhappy with the changes, John Roy thrived in the new era. He was appointed to serve as Justice of the Peace and at age 25 was elected into the United States Congress, where he worked to ensure that the people he represented were truly free.

This biography, accompanied by Don Tate’s splendid illustrations, gives readers an in-depth look at the Reconstruction period through the life of one of the first African American congressmen.

50 pages
Ages 7-10

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A people’s history flips the script. When we look at history from the standpoint of the workers and not just the owners, the soldiers and not just the generals, the invaded and not just the invaders, we can begin to see society more fully, more accurately. The more clearly we see the past, the more clearly we’ll see the present — and be equipped to improve it.

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"Teaching Critically About Lewis & Clark"
The first chapter of this excellent resource about the uses and misuses of Lewis and Clark in U.S. classrooms is “Beyond Adventure.” This evocative title also says a lot about what is offered by the authors of a book that is at once critique (of the dominant Lewis and Clark adventure narrative) and curriculum (new lessons that help teachers move beyond).

On the critique side, the authors examine how popular textbook treatments of Lewis and Clark miseducate children by erasing Indigenous people, knowledge, and history — like the Harcourt Social Studies book for elementary students that asserts, “Little was known about the land in the Louisiana Purchase.” Known by whom? On the curriculum side, the authors offer promising lesson plans for children of all ages.

One example that powerfully refutes the textbook passage above is “Everything Was Already Loved.” In this elementary lesson, each student learns about and draws a different plant known and used by Indigenous peoples before the arrival of white colonizers — red cedar, huckleberries, wapato, camus, biscuitroot, etc. — to create a “card” and play a game similar to Uno, with a unique set of rules. The rules, of course, are not the point. The point is to help children marinate in the wealth of scientific knowledge held by Indigenous people. To quote poet Karenne Wood, from which the lesson takes its title, “Nothing was discovered. Everything was already loved.” [Description from Rethinking Schools.]

ISBN: 9780807763704 | Published by Teachers College Press.

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“Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You” by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

“Reynolds and Kendi have created a book that slyly draws attention to the page itself. ‘Uh-oh. The R-word,’ they write. The word that ‘for many of us still feels Rated R. Or can be matched only with the other R word — run. But don’t. Let’s all just take a deep breath. Inhale. Hold it. Exhale and breathe out’ — and here, the text breaks apart to give us the dangerous word — ‘race.’”

— Kaitlyn Greenidge: Read her full review here.

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“All American Boys,” by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

“This is a brilliant look at the effects of police brutality from the perspective of two teen boys: one white and one black. We get inside both of their minds and watch them grapple with the weight of something that is way too familiar in our country. “

— Matt de la Peña

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“Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness,” written and illustrated by Anastasia Higginbotham

“An honest explanation about how power and privilege factor into the lives of white children, at the expense of other groups, and how they can help seek justice.”

— Meena Harris

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“Resist: 35 Profiles of Ordinary People Who Rose Up Against Tyranny and Injustice,” by Veronica Chambers. Illustrated by Paul Ryding.

“Chambers, who is the senior editor of special projects here at The Times, has pulled together 35 inspiring stories from the past 500 years of history, each with a lesson for our kids about how to fight injustice in their own lives.”

— Jessica Grose

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“The Youngest Marcher,” by Cynthia Levinson. Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton.

“It’s one of the more shocking and little-known stories of the civil rights movement: In 1963, the City of Birmingham jailed hundreds of kids for joining the Children’s March. Among them was 9-year-old Audrey Faye Hendricks, taken from her family to spend a week behind bars, eating ‘oily grits’ and sleeping on a bare mattress. Levinson and Newton keep her story bright and snappy, emphasizing the girl’s eagerness to make a difference and her proud place in her community.”

— Maria Russo, former children’s book editor at The New York Times

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“Each Kindness,” by Jacqueline Woodson. Illustrated by E.B. Lewis.

“A new girl, Maya, shows up at school, and the whole class, including Chloe, our main character, shuns her because she’s shabbily dressed and seems different. This goes on for a while, and then Maya is suddenly gone, and Chloe realizes she’s missed her chance to be kind. This is a powerful picture book that bravely ends with regret.”
— Matt de la Peña

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“Each Kindness,” by Jacqueline Woodson. Illustrated by E.B. Lewis.

“A new girl, Maya, shows up at school, and the whole class, including Chloe, our main character, shuns her because she’s shabbily dressed and seems different. This goes on for a while, and then Maya is suddenly gone, and Chloe realizes she’s missed her chance to be kind. This is a powerful picture book that bravely ends with regret.”
— Matt de la Peña

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"Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea," by Meena Harris

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"Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea," by Meena Harris

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Meena Harris debuts with an empowering picture book about two sisters who work with their community to effect change, inspired by a true story from the childhood of her aunt, US Senator Kamala Harris, and mother, lawyer, and policy expert Maya Harris.
- Harper Collins

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“Hair Love,” by Matthew A. Cherry. Illustrated by Vashti Harrison.

“Written by a former N.F.L. wide receiver and now an Oscar-winning short film, ‘Hair Love’ tells the story of a black father learning to do his daughter’s hair for the first time and the special bond they share.”
— Meena Harris

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"Neighborhood Series Books" by Ezra Jack Keats

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"Neighborhood Series Books" by Ezra Jack Keats

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Ezra Jack Keats’s books about Peter (“The Snowy Day,” “A Letter to Amy,” “Hi, Cat!,” “Whistle for Willie”)

“I love all of Ezra Jack Keats’s books about Peter, because they show a black boy in the city and the stories are just about his curiosity, his bravery and his being a kid. They are beautiful meditations on the interiority of black childhood without trauma while still feeling very black.”
— Kaitlyn Greenidge

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“Saturday,” written and illustrated by Oge Mora

“This book is pure joy. A mom and her daughter, Ava, always look forward to Saturdays because it’s the one day of the week they get to spend together without school or work. On this particular Saturday, though, they experience a series of disappointments. Nothing seems to be going as planned. Still, thanks to Ava they figure out a way to enjoy their time together. A quiet yet profound picture book.”
— Matt de la Peña