The Moon Ring ~ Randy DuBurke
One hot night, Maxine goes on a wild adventure around the globe thanks to the magic of the blue moon and the moon ring.
Blog Posts
Langston’s Train Ride ~ Robert Burleigh
This historic retelling details the moments on a train crossing the Mississippi River that led to poet Langston Hughes writing his poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers."
Ben’s Trumpet ~ Rachel Isadora
Ben loves to play his pretend trumpet while listening to the music coming from the Zig Zag Jazz Club.
Catching the Wild Waiyuuzee ~ Rita Williams-Garcia
Surprisingly, this book is about the "adventures" of a young girl trying to avoid getting her hair combed and braided.
Pictures for Miss Josie ~ Sandra Belton
Based on the life and impact of Miss Josephine Carroll Smith, this book depicts a father and later his son, who are encouraged to put their gifts and dreams to good use!
Cendrillon ~ Robert D. San Souci
This book is about a Caribbean Cinderella. While similar to the "traditional" version of the Cinderella, this version has elements of the West Indian culture.
Max Goes to the Library ~ Adria F. Klein
Max loves to read books. So, he goes to the library. He gets a library card and uses the computer to find books to check out.
White Water ~ Michael S. Bandy & Eric Stein
Michael questions why the "Coloreds" water fountain has warm, muddy water when the "Whites Only" fountain MUST have cool, refreshing water. But does it?
Bring Me Some Apples and I’ll Make You a Pie ~ Robbin Gourley
A young girl helps her family harvest all kinds of wonderful fruits and veggies and plans for all the delicious meals that will come from their garden throughout the year.
A Place Where Hurricanes Happen ~ Renee Watson
Best friends Adrienne, Keesha, Michael, and Tommy live on the same street in New Orleans. This fictional book documents how each child's family responds to Hurricane Katrina.
Pecan Pie Baby ~ Jacqueline Woodson
Gia is concerned about the news of a new sibling. The baby has not even been born yet and already seems to be all everyone talks about.
Whistle for Willie ~ Ezra Jack Keats
If only Peter could whistle, his dog Willie would run straight to him...just like the boy and the dog he saw down the street.
I Slightly Want to Go Home ~ Lauren Child
This cute book is based on the Disney Playhouse show Charlie and Lola. Lola goes to her friend Lotta's house to have a sleepover.
Long Shot ~ Chris Paul
This book is about NBA superstar Chris Paul. As a child everyone told him he was too small to play basketball.
The Wedding ~ Angela Johnson
This book is about a young girl, Daisy, and her thoughts about her older sister's wedding. This could be useful for preparing a young girl for some of the events leading up to and including a wedding.
Ndito Runs ~ Laurie Halse Anderson
Like many children in Kenya, Ndito runs a long distance to get to school. As she runs through her village, she calls up animal dreams to keep her company.
Max Goes to School ~ Adria F. Klein
This is a great little Read-it! Readers book for beginning readers. It is about a boy named Max who likes to read and write.
Down the Winding Road ~ Angela Johnson
This story is about a boy and girl who take their annual trip down the winding road to visit the Old Ones' house.
Happy to Be Nappy ~ Bell Hooks
This book celebrates the hair styles and hair textures of African American girls. "Just all girl happy! Happy to be nappy hair."
The Adventures of Sparrowboy ~ Brian Pinkney
My boys really enjoyed this book. It is about Henry, a paperboy, who collides with a sparrow while on his paper route.