The Palm of My Heart ~ Davida Adedjouma
This is a collection of poems written by African American children. While the color black is often associated with negativity, darkness, and evil, these poems celebrate the beauty of being Black!
Blog Posts
We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past ~ Jacqueline Woodson
Teeka's family had a picnic this Sunday past and everyone was there...except for Cousin Martha and her dry apple pie, that you just had to eat.
A Letter to Amy ~ Ezra Jack Keats
Peter is having a birthday party. Among all his neighborhood friends, he most wants to invite a girl, Amy. So, he writes a letter.
Max Found Two Sticks ~ Brian Pinkney
Max found two heavy twigs and would tap his two make-shift drum sticks on anything he could find...his thighs, Grandpa's cleaning bucket, hat boxes, bottles, garbage cans.
Honey, I Love ~ Eloise Greenfield
This book is about a little girl and many of the things that she loves and a few things she doesn't love, like going to sleep.
Corduroy ~ Don Freeman
I can remember reading Corduroy as a little girl. However, I had not remembered that this beloved story featured Lisa, a little "brown like me" girl! Needless to say, we absolutely love Corduroy!
Yo, Jo! ~ Rachel Isadora
This book is about Jomar and his brother and the different slang sayings they use with their friends in the neighborhood. Even grandpa chimes in with a bit of slang.
The Creation ~ James Weldon Johnson
A man tells a group of attentive children the Biblical story of God's creation of the world. The illustrations showcasing a storyteller are a tribute to the oral tradition of block folk stories.
My Military Mom ~ Claudia Harrington
Conner is the student of the week in his new class. His classmate, Lenny, goes home with Conner and uses a camera to snap pictures of the new student of the week.
Unplugged ~ Laura Pedersen
Frustrated with her families' use of electronics, Ella confiscates all their gadgets, devices, and power cords. Her bold move inspires the family to "unplug" and spend time together.
The Penny Pot ~ Stuart J. Murphy
This book is part of the Math Start Collection. It is a living math book about counting coins. Jessie wants to get her face painted, but doesn't have enough money.
Cool Cuts ~ Mechal Renee Roe
I love this book! Not only do the bright and vibrant illustration of the cool haircuts draw you in, but the positive affirmations are just as beautiful!
All Different Now ~ Angela Johnson
Juneteenth, commemorated on June 19th, is the celebration of the emancipation of slaves. This book shares the response of and the jubilation felt as a young girl's family receives news that they are free.
Sam and the Tigers ~ Julius Lester
A retelling of one of the most controversial books in children’s literature (Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman), Sam and the Tigers is about a boy living in a place where all the people were named Sam and they lived and worked alongside the animals “like they didn’t know they weren’t supposed to.”
Lift Every Voice and Sing ~ James Weldon Johnson
his poem was originally written by school principal and activist in Jacksonville, Florida. The poem was set to music by his brother and was first performed on February 12, 1900 by the principal’s students at a celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
I Got Next ~ Daria Peoples-Riley
It’s game day and it’s time to put your game face on! While this is a basketball story, it is so much more! It encourages the reader to not quit; to never give up, even if the odds are stacked against you!
Two Problems for Sophia ~ Jim Averbeck
This is a fun story about a girl and her two giraffe-sized problems; her pet giraffe's long tongue that gives long, sloppy, slurpy kisses and it's long, whomping snoring that keeps everyone awake.
I Am Perfectly Designed ~ Karamo Brown
Through a conversation between father and son, this book encourages readers to love themselves and know that they are perfectly designed.
Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion ~ Alex T. Smith
This is a fun, whimsical book about a lever girl who outsmarts a very hungry lion with a sneaky plan of his own.
I Had a Favorite Hat ~ Boni Ashburn
With "a little of this and a little of that," a girl turns her wide brim, flippy, floppy, summer hat into a hat for many occasions.