Our intention is to acquire and make available ALL picture books featuring Indigenous people and people of color published in the U.S. since 2002, including reprints. Inclusion of a title in the collection DOES NOT EQUAL recommendation. See our related readings page for suggested links for evaluating books.
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Nelson Mandela
Presents a biography of the former South African president best known for his political activism and fight to end apartheid.
Mama Africa!
A harrowing picture biography of civil-rights activist and Grammy Award-winning South African singer Miriam Makeba
What’s cooking, Jamela?
Jamela is responsible for fattening up the chicken intended for Christmas dinner, but instead she gives it a name and makes it her friend
Fly, eagle, fly!
A farmer finds an eagle and raises it to behave like a chicken, until a friend helps the eagle learn to find its rightful place in the sky
The night before Christmas in Africa
On Christmas Eve on the hot plains of northern South Africa, Father Christmas arrives in a donkey cart pulled by six kudu and a black rhino to deliver toys, sweets, chickens, and more
Home now
After the death of her parents, young Sieta goes to live with her Aunty on the other side of the mountains, but she is sad and lonely until she meets a young elephant who has also lost his family
The gift of gold
Here are all the ingredients of a classic fairy tale: a curse, a lucky gold pebble, an inquisitive little girl and, of course, a happy ending. The South African characters who help the girl along the way include traditional tribal people praying for rain, a friendly chameleon, and a misunderstood tokoloshe—a small ugly gremlin from African folklore
Bongani’s day
Presents a day in the life of a child living in Johannesburg, discussing the social life, customs, religion, history, and language of South Africa.
The soccer fence
Each time Hector watches white boys playing soccer in Johannesburg, South Africa, he dreams of playing on a real pitch one day and after the fall of apartheid, when he sees the 1996 African Cup of Nations team, he knows that his dream can come true
Desmond and the very mean word
While riding his new bicycle Desmond is hurt by the mean word yelled at him by a group of boys, but he soon learns that hurting back will not make him feel any better
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