When Paloma goes to visit her family in Trinidad, she doesn’t feel that she fits in.

But Tante Janet has a story to tell her: An ancient story of warrior queens and talking drums, of treasures and tales that span thousands of years… a story that Paloma shares in, because her story starts in…

Angela Dalton (A)  Jestenia Southerland (ILT)

List Price: $19.99 (Hardcover – Family Dinner Story – 2021

On Here Wee Read’s 2021 Ultimate List of Diverse Children’s Books! 

Publisher Weekly Starred Review! “Warm digital art by Southerland makes excellent use of…

Summer is finally here, and she’s bringing the most perfect day! From sunup to sundown!

Spike and Tonya Lewis Lee (A) Kadir Nelson (ILT)

List Price: $18.99 (Hardcover – Toddlers with Puppy – 2005)

In page after page of tail-wagging fun, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, Beacon Award-winning producer Tonya Lewis Lee, take a close-up look at what happens when a couple…

Jacqueline Woodson (A) and Sophie Blackall (ILT)

List Price: $8.99 (Paperback – New Baby / Mother Daughter Bond – 2009)

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…

Sadia Faruqi (A) and Hatem Aly (ILT)

List Price: $7.99 (Paperback – Super Girl – 2019)

Superhero Yasmin! She’s got the cape. She’s got the mask. Now she just needs a villain to defeat! While she’s looking for one, she meets lots of friends and neighbors who need her help, but no villains. Then…

June Peters, is a vibrant ten year old girl who understands the importance of giving. She’s determined to make a difference in the world and will do whatever it takes to complete her mission.

However, she learns a valuable lesson about talking to strangers and giving away her lunch money. June is still eager…

Bursting with inspiration and affirmation, Kheris Rogers’ debut picture book encourages children everywhere to love the skin they are in.

When her confidence is shaken by peers who say they are scared of her because she’s “too dark,” Imani turns to her sister for a loving reminder that she’s <span class="a-text-italic"…

Jacqueline Woodson (A)and Rafael Lopez (ILT)  

List Price: $18.99 (Hardcover – Meeting New People – 2018)

A #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

Featured in its own episode in the Netflix original show Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices!

National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson and two-time Pura Belpré Illustrator Award winner Rafael López…

This stunning children’s book from the photographer behind the Instagram sensation Brown Girls Do Ballet, combines irresistible photos of young ballerinas of color with inspirational text that empowers all children to express their true selves through movement and music.

When TaKiyah Wallace-McMillian went to enroll her three-year-old daughter into her first ballet class,…

Karen Katz (A and ILT)

List Price: $8.99 (Paperback – Multi-Cultural / Friends – 2002)

My name is Lena and I am seven. I am the color of cinnamon. Mom says she could eat me up.

Lena is going to paint a picture of herself. She wants to use brown paint for her…

A stunning, poetic debut picture book from Pasha Westbrook about honoring one’s roots and the unbreakable bond of familial love, brought to life with enchanting illustrations by Madelyn Goodnight.

Father braids my hair, just like his,

scented of coconut oil, the familiar tug of fingers on my scalp,

love in every twist…

As a young…

Lat Ashia M. Perry (A) & Bea kjackson (ILT)

List Price: $10.95 (Paperback – Children Self Esteem – 2015)

Hair Like Mine is the first book in the Kids Like Mine Series. It is a fun and easy read following a little girl who doesn’t like that her naturally curly hair looks…

Jacqueline Woodson (A) and James Ransome (ILT)

List Price: $8.99 (Paperback – Family / Incarcerated Parent – 2002)

In this moving picture book from multi-award winning author Jacqueline Woodson, a young girl and her grandmother prepare for a very special day–the one day a month they get to visit the girl’s father in…

Sylviane A. Diouf (A) and Shane W. Evans (ILT)

List Price: $6.99 ( Paperback – West Africa / Beauty and Braids – 2004)

Bintou wants braids. Long, pretty braids, woven with gold coins and seashells, just like her older sister and the other women in her family. But she is too young for…

Cozbi Cabera (A) and (ILT) 

List Price: $17.99 (Hardcover – Healthy Hair Tale – 2018)

After a day of being taunted by classmates about her unruly hair, Mackenzie cant take any more and she seeks guidance from her wise and comforting neighbor, Miss Tillie. Using the beautiful garden in the backyard as…

Debbie Allen (A) and Kadir Nelson (ILT)

List Price:$8.99 (Paperback – Performance / Dancing – 2000)

Sassy worries that her too-large feet, too-long legs, and even her big mouth will keep her from her dream of becoming a star ballerina. So for now she just dancing in the wings, watching…

What will Maya be when she grows up? A rocket scientist like Annie Easley? An Olympic athlete like Alice Coachman? A brain surgeon like Alexa Canady?

In this heart-warming and funny story, Maya discovers the achievements of some amazing Black women . . . but it’s a brave Nigerian princess who really captures her…

Mark Gonzales (A) and Mehrdokt Amini (ILT)

List Price: $18.99 (Hardcover – Muslim Culture / Identity and Acceptance – 2017)

From Muslim and Latino poet Mark Gonzales comes a touching and lyrical picture book about a parent who encourages their child to find joy and pride in all aspects of their multicultural identity.

…

A perfect picture book about perseverance, overcoming challenges, and working hard to achieve your goals!

Sydney learns to conquer her fear of public speaking at school, in this affectionate father-daughter story referencing inspiring role models who dealt with similar issues.

Sydney wants to be a great leader when she grows up. There’s just one…

Marlon McKinney (A and ILT)

List Price: $9.99 (Paperback – Comic Book/ Graphic Novel  A Fantasy Story – Queen of Sheba – 2021)

A beautiful Ethiopian princess must use courage, strength, and leadership to conquer a dangerous enemy set on destroying the wealthy Kingdom of Sheba.

Princess Makeda was born into a loving royal family…

Meet Rocket–a plucky aspiring astronaut intent on getting her community to LOOK UP! from what they’re doing and reach for the stars in this auspicious debut picture book. Honored as a Chicago Public Library 2019 Best of the Best Book!

A comet will be visible tonight,…

For me, brown is more than feeling proud.
It’s the color I see when I see me.

Zahra sees the world in vivid color. When she’s happy, she feels a razzle-dazzle pink in her hands. When she’s sad, she feels a deep blue behind her eyes. But she isn’t quite sure how…

Mary Hoffman (A)

List Price: $5.99 (Paperback – Friendship / Grief and Loss – 2112)

The spirited little girl with a big imagination who stars in Amazing Grace has two fun chapter books! In Encore, Grace!, when Grace’s family and group of friends change, Grace turns to her imagination to cope with things…

Joyce Carol Thomas (A) and Floyd Cooper (ILT)

List Price: $16.99 (Hardcover – Poems / African American Identity – 2008)

We are color struck
The way an artist strikes
His canvas with his brush of many hues
Look closely at these mirrors
these palettes of skin
Each color is rich
in its own…

Brenda C. Roberts (A), Frank Morrison (A) and (ILT)

List Price: $16.99 (Hardcover – Dancing / Friends – 2004)

Jazzy Miz Mozetta is the winner of the 2005 Coretta Scott King – John Steptoe New Talent Award

One fine evening, Miz Mozetta puts on her firecracker-red dress and heads outside to enjoy the…

Janay Brown Wood (A) and Priscilla Burris (ILT)

List Price: $17.99 (Hardcover – Family Time and Dinner Time – 2017) 

“A warmhearted tribute to the messy joys of a big, impromptu gathering” — Publisher’s Weekly STARRED review

“A fine addition to book collections about families, food, counting, and joyous gatherings” —…

Mary Hoffman (A) and Caroline Binch (ILT)

List Price: $8.99 (Paperback – Family / Travel to Africa / Reunites with Father – 2000)

When Grace gets the opportunity to go to Gambia with her Grandmother and visit with her father and his new family, she feels a little strange. But Nana says families…

Katheryn-Russell-Brown (A) and Fran Morrison (ILT)

List Price: $18.95 (Hardcover – Biography / Music / Trombone / Loved Music – 2014)

Melba Doretta Liston loved the sounds of music from as far back as she could remember. As a child, she daydreamed about beats and lyrics, and hummed along with the music from…

Jenny Lombard (A)

List Price $7.99 (Paperback – Teen Fiction / Friendship / Ethnic Background – 2006)

Drita and her family come to New York as refugees from war-torn Kosovo. Even though she barely speaks English, Drita can’t wait to start school and make a new…

Betty K. Bynum (A) and Claire Armstrong Parod (ILT)

List Price: $17.95 (Hardcover – Self-Esteem – 2013)

I’M A PRETTY LITTLE BLACK GIRL!

Introduces adorable Mia, who wakes with her hair just-a-going every which-a-ways! With her abundant energy and joy leading the way, readers follow Mia as she plays with her friends who…

Camille Yarbrough (A)

List Price: $7.95 (Paperback – Family / Decision Making – 2004)

Tamika loves being a member of the Sweet Fruit club. Tamika also loves to wonder and use her mind freely. But sometimes this gets her into trouble, especially…

Matthew A. Cherry (A) and Vashti Harrison (ILT) 

List Price: $17.99 (Hardcover – Father and Daughter / Hair Love – 2019) 

“I love that Hair Love is highlighting the relationship between a Black father and daughter. Matthew leads the ranks of new creatives who are telling unique stories of the Black experience. We need this.” <br…

Jerdine Nolen (A) and Colin Bootman (ILT)

List Price: $7.99 (Paperback – Family and Relationships / Tradition 2001)

Seems like everything good that happens in the home happens in the kitchen. A place where abundant love and sweet memories and wonderful stories are staples of…

Anna McQuinn (A) and Rosalind Beardshaw (ILT)

List Price $16.99 (Hardcover / Lola Series / Caring For A Pet – 2017)

Lola wants a cat, but Mommy says taking care of a pet is a lot of work. So Lola does her homework. At the library she finds books about cats and pet…

Mary Hoffman (A) ad Caroline Binch (ILT)

List Price: $6.99 (Paperback – Center Stage / Circus – 2001)

School’s out, and that means it’s time for fun! Grace and her friends are always ready for a little adventure, and Grace’s backyard is the perfect place to set up headquarters. Suddenly the lawn is…

Shauntay Grant (Author) and Jenin Mohammad (Illustrator)

Princesses with curls wear pearls. Princesses with head wraps take long naps. And princesses with teeny-weeny Afros wear teeny-weeny bows.

Celebrate different hair shapes, textures, and styles in this self-affirming picture book! From dreadlocks to blowouts to braids, Princess Hair shines a spotlight on the beauty and diversity of black hair, showing young readers that…

The colors of Hispaniola burst into life in this striking, evocative debut picture book that celebrates the joy of being Dominican.

If Dominican were a color, it would be the sunset in the sky, blazing red and burning bright.
If Dominican were a color, it’d be the roar of the ocean…

Audrey Vernick (A) and Don Tate (ILT) Harper Collins

List Price: $16.99 (Hardcover – Biography / Baseball – 2010)

Effa always loved baseball. As a young woman, she would go to Yankee Stadium just to see Babe Ruth’s mighty swing. But she never dreamed she…

Grace Byers (A) and Keturah A. Bobo (ILT)

List Price: $19.99  (Hardcover – Loving Oneself and Others/Self Respect and Self Esteem – 2017)

I Am Enough is the picture book everyone needs, and it’s now a New York Times bestseller!

This is a gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind…

Patricia Hubbell (A) and Don Tate (ILT)

List Price: $10.95 (Paperback – Imagination / Celebration of the Color Black – 2010)

A little girl contemplates all the wonders in the color black all around her. A lively poetic tribute to the color black, the letters and words in a book, a limousine, a…

From the Newberry Honor–winning author of Genesis Begins Again comes a shimmering picture book that shines the light on Zora Neale Hurston, the extraordinary writer and story catcher extraordinaire who changed the face of American literature.

Zora was a girl who hankered for tales like bees for honey. Now, her mama…

H. Chuku Lee (A) and Pat Cummings (ILT)

List Price: $17.99 (Hardcover (No Jacket Cover) – Fairy Tale 2014)

In this remarkable retelling of Beauty and the Beast, award-winning illustrator Pat Cummings creates an enchanted fairy-tale world flavored by the art, architecture, and culture of West Africa, while writer H. Chuku Lee stays…

Natasha Anastasia Tarpley (A) and E.B. Lewis (ILT)

List Price: $8.99 (Paperback – African American Girls / Hair Care / Pride and Self Esteem – 2005)

Natural Hair is Perfect for Our Little Girl’s Hair

No matter how gently Mama pulls as she combs Keyana’s hair, it still hurts. Keyana doesn’t feel lucky…

Jeanette Winter (A and I) 

List Price: $17.99 (Hardcover – Sisters / International Tennis Champs – 2019)

Celebrated picture book biographer Jeanette Winter shares the story of champion tennis players—and sisters—Venus and Serena Williams.

Before they were famous tennis stars, Venus and Serena Williams were sisters with big dreams growing up in Compton,…