Our collection of picture books featuring Black and Indigenous people and People of Color (BIPOC) is available to the public. *Inclusion of a title in the collection DOES NOT EQUAL a recommendation.* Click here for more on book evaluation.
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143 matching books
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Any Child 23
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Biography 23
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Cross Group 19
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Folklore 19
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Activism 14
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Adoption 1
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Disability 12
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LGBQ 1
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Fiction 103
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Non-Fiction 37
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Girl/Woman 100
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Background 17
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Joint Main 29
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Secondary 88
My Diwali Light
"A charming holiday story following one girl’s family as they celebrate their Diwali traditions with the ones they love. Devi loves the Diwali season. It’s a time to wear her favorite red bindi and eat samosas until she bursts! Makemithai and design rangoli with her Papa. And paint diyas with her nani—a reminder to shine her light brightly all year long. This joyful story, with vibrant collage illustrations, follows one girl’s Diwali traditions as her family celebrates their favorite holiday with the ones they love. " -- publisher
A Sari for Ammi
"Ammi weaves the most beautiful saris but never gets to wear any of them. Her two little daughters decide to do something about it—break their piggy bank! But when there isn’t enough money to buy Ammi a sari, the two girls must work together to find a solution. Will they be able to buy Ammi the gift she so deserves? With a text full of heart, and bright, cheerful artwork, this story brings readers into the home of a weaver’s family in Kaithoon, India, where the creation of saris is an art form. The book includes a glossary of Indian terms and a note about the saris made in this region." -- publisher
Ara The Dream Innovator
"Ara is a young girl who loves to dream BIG. Many of her amazing ideas come to her in her dreams. So Ara builds a Dream Decoder to capture them. But other kids have big dreams too. What about them? With help from her entrepreneur-mentors and her droid DeeDee (who dreams of--beep! beep!--BIG ice creams), Ara embarks on a quest to make her Dream Decoder FTW - For The World! First stop: a Hackathon to find a diverse team of fellow thinkers and tinkerers. Then--fingers crossed--they'll earn a spot at an Accelerator where, with tweaks and testing, they can make the Dream Decoder work for all kids. A story about inclusive innovation, and making your dreams come true!" -- publisher
Archie Celebrates Diwali
"It’s Archie’s favorite holiday—Diwali. And this year she gets to share it with her friends and introduce them to the festival of lights! Archana loves her family’s annual Diwali (deh-vah-lee) party, and this year she gets to share it with all her friends from school. She helps with the decorations and the food, and is eager for everyone to arrive. But once the party starts a thunderstorm kicks up and drenches the outside decorations and knocks out the power. Archie worries that everything will be ruined. How can there be a festival of lights without any electricity?" -- publisher
Ashoka the Fierce
"How an unruly and angry young prince transformed into a beacon of benevolence and peace. As the son of an emperor, Ashoka was destined for a life of greatness. But as a boy, Ashoka felt like he was living in the shadow of his brother, growing to become arrogant, impatient, and above all, angry. Wanting nothing more than to be king, Ashoka learned to be cunning, and when he finally managed to ascend to the throne, he was eager for war. After a brutal battle for the kingdom of Kalinga, Ashoka went to survey his new lands. On his ride through the battlefield, Ashoka was haunted by the great destruction that he had caused. This moment marked a change of heart for Ashoka. Upon returning home, his closest friend and wife, Asandamitra, encouraged him to study the wisdom of the Buddha, the dharma, and to learn meditation as a way forward from his destructive past. When Ashoka finally met the wise Buddhist monk Upagupta, it transformed the way he saw the role of a king. He became compassionate toward animals, people, and the environment that encompassed his kingdom as the first emperor of India. Ashoka's life is a real, foundational story in Indian history, and the pillars erected during his reign over two thousand years ago have become the emblem of the national flag. Ashoka's journey is a story of profound transformation, demonstrating the power of reflection, compassion, and wisdom. This is a modern telling of how Ashoka the Fierce became known as Ashoka the Great."-- publisher
Bindiya in India
"Bindiya in India is the story of a young Indian-American girl's first trip to India for an Indian wedding. Weaving together Hindi and English, the children's illustrated book takes place in the 1990s. Follow Bindiya as she meets her extended family for the first time, celebrates Indian wedding traditions, and creates memories and bonds to last a lifetime." -- publisher
Bracelets for Bina’s Brothers
Bina has three older brothers and this year she wants to make them bracelets for Raksha Bandhan, an Indian holiday that celebrates brothers and sisters--but first she must come up with patterns that include only their favorite colors, plus one unique bead that celebrates their special interests
Guru Nanak
"Guru Nanak (1469-1539), the founder of the Sikh religion, is the first in a line of ten enlightened gurus, or teachers, whose writings form the sacred scripture of Sikhism. Born into a humble Hindu family, Nanak was an extraordinary child who from a young age questioned the rituals of religion and the ways of the world around him. At the age of twenty-seven, he embarked on an inspired mission that took him from the sacred Himalayas in India, Nepal, and Tibet to the holy city of Mecca in Arabia. Throughout his twenty-five-year travels, Guru Nanak preached a message of one God, sincere worship, and of peace and equality for all. Today the Sikh religion numbers as many as 25 million followers worldwide and Guru Nanak is revered by Hindus and Muslims alike. Award-winning author, Demi, recounts his spiritual journey, showing how the essential teachings of Sikhism are expressed through Guru Nanak’s remarkable life and in his poetry." -- publisher
I Can Wash My Hands
"Discover strategies to help children stay safe and healthy by washing away germs. Children will learn how to wash their hands and see examples of when they should wash their hands. Aanya and her pet cat, Neela, discover that their daily activities can leave hands sticky, dirty, or covered in germs. This story shows handwashing in home and public restrooms with liquid and solid soaps to demonstrate what handwashing might look like in different environments. I Can Wash My Hands includes activities and strategies which teach the importance of cleanliness, handwashing and helping children practice handwashing procedures. This book showcases diversity in positive ways with characters that span various cultures, ethnicities, family situations, physical challenges and more. Readers of all backgrounds will see themselves in these pages while learning to value the diversity within their own community and being exposed to differences from around the world." -- publisher
Kalamata’s Kitchen
"Dora the Explorer meets No Reservations in this delicious picture book debut! Follow Kalamata and her alligator sidekick on the first of many exciting food adventures in a charming story about facing fears and overcoming back-to-school jitters. Tomorrow is Kalamata’s first day at a new school, and she’s nervous! What if the kids aren’t friendly? Or worse, what if they don’t like alligators!? If only Kalamata and Al Dente could go to back to the Indian spice market they visited this summer, then maybe she’d remember how to feel brave when new experiences seem scary. Luckily for Kalamata, all the magic required for her journey is right in her own kitchen! As Kalamata and her alligator friend, Al Dente, transport themselves to a magical land filled with tasty ingredients, she realizes being brave is exciting! And most importantly, she learns that when we’re nervous about trying new things, food can comfort us and remind us to stay curious, courageous, and compassionate." -- publisher