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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Folktales for a Better World: Stories of Peace and Kindness
“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
The Boy Who Never Gave Up! / Mucicha Abdii Hinkunne!
“Young Yared is not the best student. He fails so often that he considers giving up on school completely. But the failures and perseverance of a caterpillar inspire him to untangle his heart and return to his studies with purpose. Motivated by the beauty of church music, he developed a new way to write it that caught the ear of the emperor. His devotion to music and education elevated him from the streets of Axum to Sainthood, and his music is still considered sacred to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.” — publisher
The Boy Who Never Gave Up! / ዘይቖርጽ ቆልዓ!
“Young Yared is not the best student. He fails so often that he considers giving up on school completely. But the failures and perseverance of a caterpillar inspire him to untangle his heart and return to his studies with purpose. Motivated by the beauty of church music, he developed a new way to write it that caught the ear of the emperor. His devotion to music and education elevated him from the streets of Axum to Sainthood, and his music is still considered sacred to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.” — publisher
Girls / Sétoc leǧoč
“Strong and smart, hard-working and beautiful, girls can be many things. In Ethiopia, where 80% of them live in the rural countryside, they can be all of these things and more: adventurous, brave, kind and curious, and everything in between. Detailed watercolor portraits of the incredible women and girls of Ethiopia fill the pages of our dual-language early reader. ” — publisher
Big Plans / Karoora Gurguddoo
“Based on a true story, this sweet tale follows two hopeful siblings as they try to turn a gift egg into little playmates. But as they eventually discover, sometimes you need more than just a plan to make a dream come true. Young children will delight in following the ambitious youngsters as they try to hatch their egg through a series of vibrant watercolor illustrations. ” — publisher
Big Plans / Telāleq ʻEqedoč
“Based on a true story, this sweet tale follows two hopeful siblings as they try to turn a gift egg into little playmates. But as they eventually discover, sometimes you need more than just a plan to make a dream come true. Young children will delight in following the ambitious youngsters as they try to hatch their egg through a series of vibrant watercolor illustrations. ” — publisher
Surprise on Lake Tana! (English and Amharic)
“Inspired by a true story, this charming tale follows two friends on a trip to visit the ancient island churches of Lake Tana in Ethiopia. But what they expected to be a smooth ride across the large lake in their little boat turns into an adventure when they are stranded in the water with the hippos! ” — publisher
Where Do Dreams Grow? / Halkee Hiigsiga Lagu Kobciyaa?
“If you’re a little kid with a big dream, where can you go to make that dream a reality? What if that dream is to become an architect, a pilot or an engineer? Inspire your emerging bilingual reader to dream big. ” — publisher
Where Do Dreams Grow? / Ḥelmoč ʼEwen Yamihonut Yat Naw?
“If you’re a little kid with a big dream, where can you go to make that dream a reality? What if that dream is to become an architect, a pilot or an engineer? Inspire your emerging bilingual reader to dream big. ” — publisher
Fifty Lemons / Hāmsā Lamin
In this Ethiopian parable, for one person, fifty lemons is a heavy load. For fifty people, fifty lemons are adornments. Translator Woubeshet Ayeno says that in his home region of Ethiopia, people stand on the bridge over the Blue Nile River, make a wish, and then toss a lomi (lemon) into the river to make their wish come true. In that region, the lomi is yellow. The river is a oat with yellow dots! In other regions, lomis are green and look like what we call a lime in the United States.” — publisher
