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Our collection of picture books featuring Black and Indigenous Peoples and People of Color (BIPOC) is available to the public.

*Inclusion of a title in the collection DOES NOT EQUAL a recommendation.*

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Beware the Heartman

2024

“For once, everything in twelve-year-old Josephine’s life is going according to plan. She’s finally proved that girls belong on the cricket team and earned a spot as a starting player! And she’s confident that she and her best friend, Ahkai, will both be accepted to their dream secondary school. Nothing can stop Jo now — not even the memory of the vengeful sea spirit she vanquished last year. But then a series of disasters strike. Ahkai suddenly seems to have a new best friend — the annoyingly perfect Lynne. Then Jo isn’t accepted to the same school as Ahkai! Even worse, Jo keeps having eerie encounters with a mysterious figure lurking in the shadows — a figure who bears an unsettling resemblance to the fearsome Heartman rumored to steal children’s hearts… Jo doesn’t know where to turn. With Daddy away, the only person who’ll believe her is Ahkai, but Jo is too proud to ask for help after being replaced. By the time she musters the courage to approach him, it’s too late. Ahkai has disappeared without a trace. He’s been taken by the Heartman. None of the adults believe Jo. The Heartman is just a legend, after all. But Jo knows that the fearsome creature is real and that if she doesn’t find his lair soon, Ahkai will be lost forever.” — publisher

Centering Culture & Identity Folklore

Rick Riordan Presents: It Waits in the Forest

2024

by Sarah Dass

“Unlike the other residents of the small Caribbean Island of St. Virgil, Selina DaSilva does not believe in magic. With a logical mind and a knack for botany, Selina used to dream of leaving the island to study Pharmacology—until a vicious, unsolved attack left her father dead and her mother in a coma. Now her guilt over her mother’s condition keeps her tethered to the island, relegated to conning gullible tourists with useless talismans and phony protection rituals. But when one of those tourists ends up at the center of a string of strange murders, the truth that Selina has been denying can no longer be avoided: there is evil lurking in the forests that surround St. Virgil. Another thing that can’t be avoided? Selina’s ex-boyfriend Gabriel, newly employed at the local newspaper and eager to put his investigative skills to use. Desperate to put an end to the killings and claim justice for Selina’s family, these two former lovers race to find answers. But evil bides its time. And as long-buried feelings and long-hidden secrets about Selina’s family’s past begin to reveal themselves, only one answer remains—and it waits in the forest.” — publisher

Centering Culture & Identity Folklore

The Trickster in the Vase (The Osagie Twins #1)

2024

by Sophia Ezomoghene and Sanjay Charlton

“Twins Eddie and Nosa Osagie have one golden rule: NEVER enter Baba’s study when he’s not home. But when Grandpa Sunny’s birthday party beckons, their curiosity gets the best of them. All they want is to play soccer with the mysterious ball in the study. Sneaking through the office seemed harmless… until they knocked over a dusty bronze vase, releasing the mischievous trickster spirit, Eshu! Chaos ensues as Eshu wreaks havoc throughout the neighborhood. Now, Eddie and Nosa are on a mission to track down the trickster, end his pranks, and secretly return him to the vase in the office. Can they defeat Eshu before Grandpa Sunny’s guests arrive? Or will Baba uncover their secret snooping?” — publisher

Centering Culture & Identity Folklore

A Flag for Juneteenth

2023

by Kim Taylor

“On June 19, 1865, in Galveston, General Gordon Granger of the Union Army delivered the message that African Americans in Texas were free. Since then, Juneteenth, as the day has come to be known, has steadily gained recognition throughout the United States. ln 2020,a powerful wave of protests and demonstrations calling for racial justice and equality brought new awareness to the significance of the holiday. A Flag for Juneteenth depicts a close-knit community of enslaved African Americans on a plantation in Texas, the day before the announcement is to be made that all enslaved people are free. Young Huldah, who is preparing to celebrate her tenth birthday, can’t possibly anticipate how much her life will change that Juneteenth morning. The story follows Huldah and her community as they process the news of their freedom and celebrate together by creating a community freedom flag.” — publisher

Cross Group Folklore Informational

Beauty and the Beast (Plus Jake)

2023

by Jasmine Walls and Vincent Batignole

“Jake thinks he’s too cool for fairy tales, but that changes when he falls into the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale and meets Belle. Her strength lies in her empathy and conviction, and Jake is in awe of her kindness. Jake is also in awe of the Beast’s demanding and rude attitude. What is his problem? When Belle goes to visit her ailing father, Jake takes the opportunity to befriend the Beast. Jake calls out the Beast on his terrible behavior and attitude and learns a few things about himself in this untraditional graphic novel.” — publisher

Folklore

Folktales for a Better World: Stories of Peace and Kindness

2023

by Elizabeth Laird and Mehrdokht Amini

“Will two clans in Ethiopia make peace by throwing their most precious possessions in the river? Can a poor Palestinian shepherd show a rich sultan the value of true kindness? Or will an angel in Afghanistan find a way to turn the selfish Emir into a caring ruler? Buried treasure and an act of forgiveness reunite a father and daughter in Sudan while a camel is the key to choosing a kind and fair ruler for the kingdom of Yemen. Hear the Syrian story of the woodcutter and the lion to discover the meaning of friendship, and then follow nine courageous Uighur princesses of Kashgar, as they bring peace to their kingdom – without any fighting. The importance of peace and kindness in our lives shines through these timeless, inspirational stories from seven countries, beautifully told and illustrated with empathy and humor.” — publisher

Folklore

My Selma

2023

by Willie Mae Brown

“A stirring memoir of growing up Black in a town at the epicenter of the fight for freedom, equality, and human rights. Combining family stories of the everyday and the extraordinary as seen through the eyes of her twelve-year-old self, Willie Mae Brown gives readers an unforgettable portrayal of her coming-of-age in a fractured town at the crossroads of history. Selma’s pivotal role in the civil rights movement forms an inescapable backdrop in this collection of stories. In one, Willie Mae takes it upon herself to offer summer babysitting services to a glamorous single white mother—a secret she keeps from her father that unravels with shocking results. In another, Willie Mae reluctantly joins her mother at a church rally, and is forever changed after hearing Martin Luther King Jr. deliver a defiant speech. My Selma! captures the voice and vision of a perspicacious, impetuous, resourceful young person who gives us a loving portrayal of her hometown while also delivering a no-holds-barred indictment of the time and place.” — publisher

Biography/Autobiography Centering Culture & Identity Cross Group Oppression & Resilience Race/Culture/Identity Concepts

The Lion’s Whisker: Sister and Brother Take on a Challenge Together

2023

by Rebecca Sheir and Nikita Abuya

“Courage, collaboration, patience, and sibling love prevail in this folktale with its roots in the Ethiopian tradition. The Lion’s Whisker tells the story of Brother and Sister who are constantly arguing. When Grandmother sends them on a dangerous mission to pluck a lion’s whisker for her magical potion, the siblings learn valuable lessons about the strength gained by working together, being brave, and showing patience and understanding for others. This classic folktale is brought to life for today’s kids by Rebecca Sheir—creator and host of the award-winning Circle Round storytelling podcast­—with the vibrant and modern folk art of Kenyan illustrator Nikita Abuya. Once kids and families have read The Lion’s Whisker, resources in the back prompt further exploration of the tale, with conversation questions and creative storytelling prompts and activities.”– publisher

Folklore

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