Search Our Database of Nearly 2,000 Diverse Picture Books

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.

COVID-19 Info: Currently, our collection is only available via Interlibrary Loan (ILL). However, we appreciate your patience as these services are still limited and you may find inactive links to the Bates Library Catalog and MARC record on certain book pages.

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Butterflies on the first day of school

2019

by Annie Silvestro and Dream Chen

Rosie can’t wait to start kindergarten—she’s had her pencils sharpened and her backpack ready for weeks. But suddenly, on the night before the big day, her tummy hurts. Rosie’s mom reassures her that it’s just butterflies in her belly, and she’ll feel better soon. Much to Rosie’s surprise, when she says hello to a new friend on the bus, a butterfly flies out of her mouth! As the day goes on, Rosie frees all her butterflies, and even helps another shy student let go of hers, too. -- publisher

Stacey Coolidge’s Fancy-Smancy Cursive Handwriting

2018

by Barbara Esham, Carl Gordon and Mike Gordon

Stacey Coolidge is the best at handwriting. She hardly ever uses her eraser. But Carolyn isn’t doing as well. Carolyn has been practicing cursive handwriting every day for weeks, and not only is she not going to get to play with Frederick, the class guinea pig, but her handwriting is also not much better than a guinea pig’s. It’s a good thing that her teacher, Mrs. Thompson, is able to turn her frustration into confidence! -- publisher

Keep your eye on the prize

2018

by Barbara Esham and Mike Gordon

The biggest day of the year at Morecaster School is filled with ideas, hard work, and pressure—it’s time for the annual science fair! Like many kids, Dylan is caught between doing his project on his own, and accepting help from his enthusiastic parents. This year he’s determined to do all the work himself, even if it means his project won’t be perfect. -- publisher

Ruby Finds a Worry

2019

by Tom Percival

Meet Ruby--a happy, curious, imaginative girl. But one day, she finds something unexpected: a Worry. It's not such a big Worry, at first. But every day, it grows a little bigger . . . And a little bigger . . . Until eventually, the Worry is ENORMOUS and is all she can think about. But when Ruby befriends a young boy, she discovers that everyone has worries, and not only that, there's a great way to get rid of them too. ~publisher

Madison, sit down!

2017

by Makiya Holmes, Mikala Tardy, Dartavius Washington and Emma Sullivan

Madison is a first-grader who can't sit still. She wants to make her teacher like her, but she also wants to jump and scream and play tag with her imaginary best friend, Alex. When Madison accidentally lets her class pet bunny out of its cage during recess, she will have to get creative and form unlikely friendships - and not just imaginary ones - if she wants to prove to her class that a hyperactive little girl can still be responsible.

America, my new home

2004

by Monica Gunning and Ken Condon

In twenty-three compelling poems, a young girl carries her dreams from her Carribbean island birthplace to America, a new land she finds at once puzzling, frightening, and inspiring.

Reptile flu

2015

by Kathryn Cole and Qin Leng

Kamal tries everything to avoid his school trip to the live reptile exhibit, but nothing works. His fear of being teased is almost as big as his fear of reptiles. Finally, in desperation, he communicates in a way everyone understands. His teacher and classmates respond to his outburst with support, finally understanding that he needs their help in order to feel comfortable.

It’s raining pups and dogs!

2013

by Jeanne Prevost and Amelia Hansen

When Lauren gets angry with her father for having their dog Scout spayed, dashing her hopes of having the fun of raising puppies, Lauren's dad takes her to an animal shelter to show why they made the decision not to breed Scout.

It jes’ happened

2012

by Don Tate and R. Gregory Christie

"A biography of twentieth-century African American folk artist Bill Traylor, a former slave who at the age of eighty-five began to draw pictures based on his memories and observations of rural and urban life in Alabama. Includes an afterword, author's note, and sources"-- Provided by publisher

Chachaji’s cup

2003

by Uma Krishnaswami and Soumya Sitaraman

A boy learns about his family history and the Partition of India from his great uncle, through stories told over a beloved old teacup.

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