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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I am Hua Mulan
"A girl retells the story of the legendary female warrior she admires, who long ago fought bravely to protect her people. Hua Mulan learned from her father to ride horses and fight with a spear. When her people were under attack, the army needed more men. To spare her ailing father, Mulan disguised herself as a man and rode off to war. Mulan’s bravery and skills won her wide acclaim, but her true identity was never revealed. When the war ended, Mulan returned home to find her family safe and happy." -- publisher
Chinese new year wishes
"It is Hong's favorite time of the year. His whole family celebrates. It is the Chinese New Year. In this beautifully illustrated book, children aged 2 to 6 will follow Hong as he and his family prepare for and celebrate the Chinese New Year Festival. They will also enjoy reading the story behind the most important celebration in Chinese culture. More interesting facts and questions for discussion are included at the back of the book. Written in English and Chinese, Chinese New Year Wishes is perfect as an early reader or to read aloud." -- back cover
Moon festival wishes
"The moon is big and round tonight. Today is a special day for Mei and her family. It is the Chinese Moon Festival. In this beautifully illustrated book, children aged 2 to 6 will follow Mei as she and her family prepare for and celebrate the Moon or the Mid-autumn Festival. They will also enjoy reading the story behind one of the most important Chinese celebrations. Written in English and Chinese, Moon Festival Wishes is perfect as an early reader or to read aloud." --Back cover
A big bed for little snow
"Little Snow loves the new big, soft bed Mommy made him for the long, cold winter nights. But Mommy says this bed is for sleeping, not jumping! What happens when he can’t resist jump, jump, jumping on his new fluffy, bouncy bed?" --publisher
Fatima the spinner and the tent
"Fatima's life is beset with what seems to be disasters. Her journey leads her from Morocco to the Mediterranean, Egypt, Turkey and, finally, to China. It is in China that she realizes that what seemed at the time to be really unfortunate events were an integral part of her eventual fulfillment."--Jacket flap
The wisdom of Ahmad Shah
Some two hundred and fifty years ago the great King Ahmad Shah Durrani ruled Afghanistan. His magnificent empire extended from eastern Iran to northern India, and from the Amu Darya to the Indian Ocean. Known to his people as Ahmad Shah Baba (Ahmad Shah, our father), the king was an outstanding general and a just ruler. But he was vexed with troubles and needed to find someone with the right qualities to help him — but how? -- publisher
The stranger’s farewell
This is a very old story, one that has entertained people all over the world for hundreds of years. A young couple invites a stranger to share their meal. As he leaves, his parting words reward their generosity in an amazing way. News of their changed status travels fast and prompts a greedy merchant to seek out the stranger in the hope of gaining a similar reward for himself. But, of course, the result is very different. This tale encourages readers to think about the nature of giving and receiving. It is set here in Afghanistan and retold for young people by the Afghan storyteller and teacher Palwasha Bazger Salam. --publisher
The Silly Chicken / El Pollo Bobo
A Sufi teaching tale of a chicken that has learned to speak as people do and spreads an alarming warning, which causes the townspeople to panic without first considering the messenger.
The dinner that cooked itself
In this retelling of an ancient Chinese folk tale, a hard-working young bachelor is rewarded for his kindness.
The Sheep Beauty
The kindness and generosity of those born under the sign of the sheep in the Chinese zodiac is brought to life in this heartwarming tale. Long, long ago, there lived a kind physician. He lived on a mountain in a small Chinese village where he practiced traditional Chinese medicine for all the villagers. On his way home one day, he found an injured sheep, rescued it and brought it home where he nursed the sheep back to life. One evening, after the sheep had been living with the physician for some time, a beast barged into the village, demanding payment of each household in the form of one child. If the villagers refused to hand over their children, the beast would eat everyone! In the blink of an eye, the rescued sheep transforms into a lovely girl, who, with a clever plan, manages to frighten the beast away and keep everyone in the village safe from harm. And so, with one simple act of kindness, an entire village is saved, reminding us that every action, no matter how small, has consequences.