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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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    Anansi and the Tug O’ War

    2007

    by Bobby Norfolk, Sherry Norfolk and Baird Hoffmire

    "A timeless trickster tale from Africa about silly spider, Anansì. Anansí the trickster spider is back to his old tricks once again in this classic African folktale. Anansí must use his brainpower to teach Elephant and Whale to respect smaller creatures. He challenges both Elephant and Whale to a tug o' war, but they don’t realize that they are actually pulling against each other and not Anansí. In the end, both stubborn animals are so tired that they give up when Anansí asks them who is the strongest animal and he declares himself the winner of the tug o' war. In this battle of wits, brains definitely outdo brawn. This trickster tale from Africa will teach readers the importance of courage, resourcefulness and respect. While author, Bobby Norfolk was visiting the town of Kumasi in Ghana in the summer of 1993, a woman told him, "At four-thirty every afternoon, we try to gather together and have Anansi time." Norfolk attended the afternoon break and heard elders tell stories of Anansi, the tireless trickster of Ghanian tradition. Anansi appears in these stories in his most playful and creative guises. The Norfolks' adaptations brim with action, energy, and humor." -- publisher

    Folklore

    Anansi and Turtle Go to Dinner

    2007

    by Bobby Norfolk, Sherry Norfolk and Baird Hoffmire

    "In this trickster tale from Africa, Anansí learns the value of being a good host. He also learns the truth of the old saying, 'What goes around, comes around.' A timeless trickster tale from Africa about silly spider, Anansì. This story provides another classic African folktale about the trickster spider Anansí. First off, it is a custom that whenever a guest arrives at mealtime that the host share his or her food with the guest, whether the visitor is invited or shows up uninvited. In this folktale, Anansí learns that Turtle is coming over and that he must share his dinner with Turtle. Being the trickster that he is, Anansí figures out a way to trick Turtle so that he can keep all of the food for himself. Of course, when Turtle realizes what Anansí has done, he is determined to teach Anansí a lesson." -- publisher

    Folklore

    Anansí and the Pot of Beans

    2006

    by Bobby Norfolk, Sherry Norfolk and Baird Hoffmire

    "A timeless trickster tale from Africa about silly spider, Anansì. Did you ever wonder why spiders have no hair? After reading Anansí and the Pot of Beans, you too will know the answer. This classic folktale from Africa, written by Bobby and Sherry Norfolk, tells the story of when Anansí goes to help his grandmother. Upon arrival he finds her steaming, hot pot of beans, which he can't resist. This is where the fun begins. Anansí and the Pot of Beans is a charming story that is entertaining while also teaching important life lessons in character values about responsibility and trust. While author, Bobby Norfolk was visiting the town of Kumasi in Ghana in the summer of 1993, a woman told him, "At four-thirty every afternoon, we try to gather together and have Anansi time." Norfolk attended the afternoon break and heard elders tell stories of Anansi, the tireless trickster of Ghanian tradition. Anansi Appears in these stories in his most playful and creative guises. The Norfolks' adaptations brim with action, energy, and humor." -- publisher

    Folklore

    Grandma Lena’s Big Ol’ Turnip

    2005

    by Denia Lewis Hester and Jackie Urbanovic

    "Grandma Lena takes good care of the turnips she plants in her garden. One turnip grows so big that Grandma can't pull it out of the ground! Even when Grandpa, Uncle Izzy, and the dog help Grandma yank and tug, the big ol' turnip doesn't budge. 2007-2008 Show Me Readers Award preliminary list (Missouri) 2005 Aesop Accolade, American Folklore Society Grandma Lena believes that something worth doing is worth doing right. So she takes good care of the turnips she plants in her garden. One turnip grows to an enormous size—Baby Pearl thinks it's a big potato! It is big enough to feed half the town. And it's so big that Grandma can’t pull it out of the ground! Even when Grandpa, Uncle Izzy, Aunt Netty, and the dog help Grandma yank and tug, the big ol’ turnip doesn’t budge. Still, this African-American family, including Baby Pearl, knows how to pull together." -- publisher

    Folklore

    Kallaloo! A Caribbean Tale

    2015

    by David Gershator, Phillis Gershator and Diane Greenseid

    "Can a shell really make soup? It might, if it's a brown-and-white West Indian shell, fresh from the sea. All it needs is a master soup-maker, like Granny, to stir the pot - and a little help from the folks in Market Square. Who wouldn't be willing to lend a hand to cook up some kallaloo, a soup famous from Jamaica to Trinidad? But there's one final ingredient missing and even the magic shell forgot to mention it!" -- publisher

    Beautiful Life Folklore

    Songs on the Vanilla Trail

    2021

    by Jean-Christophe Hoarau, Nathalie Soussana and Magali Attiogbé

    "An enchanting collection of 25 traditional songs pays homage to the rich cultural heritage and multilingual communities of East and Southern Africa. The resulting highly mixed musical styles that are unique to each region demonstrate how they welcomed new horizons through contact with others. A wide array of styles—skipping rope songs from Mozambique, lullabies from South Africa, counting songs from Réunion, traditional dance tunes from Madagascar—are all performed exquisitely by men, women, and children in more than a dozen languages and dialects. Vibrant compelling artwork and homegrown instruments, such as the tube zither, the kayamb, the bobre, the segakordeon and ravanne drums round off this wonderful celebration of history, language, and culture. Lyrics appear transcribed in their original language and translated to English followed by extensive notes describing the cultural background of each song and a map of East and Southern Africa. This picture book is accompanied by a CD featuring 25 recorded songs along with unique code for the digital download of the audio." -- publisher

    Beautiful Life Folklore

    Andromeda, Princess of Ethiopia / ʼItyap̣yāwitwa Leʻelt ʼAndromédā

    2021

    by Ellenore Angelidis, Leyla Angelidis, Worku L. Mulat and Daniel Getahun

    "Since the beginning of humanity, Ethiopia was the origin of some of the most remarkable and important people in history. The bones of one of the first hominids, Lucy, were found in Ethiopia, and stories of legendary Ethiopians stretch back into ancient history. Some of these legends were so famous that they were recorded in ancient Greek Mythology. One of these is the story of the daughter of ancient Ethiopian King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia: Princess Andromeda. Andromeda’s beauty was so renowned that it ignited the jealousy of Poseidon, who sent a great sea monster to devour her. But her plight inspired the Greek hero Perseus to intervene in her rescue, and then to marry her. Their story of love and hardship was immortalized as constellations which are still visible in Ethiopian night skies." -- publisher

    Folklore

    The Happiest Herder in the Land / Tiksituu Biyyattii Keessatti Hunda Caalaa Gammadaa Ta’e

    2018

    by Lizzie Iwicki

    "When a weary goat herder finds his goats leaping and dancing, he become curious. What has gotten into his frisky herd? He samples some of the red berries they’ve been eating and soon he is the happiest herder in Ethiopia! Based on a legend about the origin of coffee." -- publisher

    Folklore

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