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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10 matching books
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Afia the Ashanti Princess
“Looking for an engaging book to teach children about building self-confidence, developing a sense of pride in their family history, and looking beyond tiaras and princess dresses? This is it! Afia is a young girl who dreams of being a princess but doesn’t know of any princesses who look like her. She travels to Ghana to visit her grandmother and learns about her ancestor who was a brave warrior queen.This is the debut story in the Ashanti Princess and Prince book series. The purpose of this book series is to: 1. Emphasize the importance of diverse representation in children’s books; 2. Introduce young girls and boys of diverse backgrounds to stories which allow them to relate to the main characters; 3. Encourage children to learn about their family history and cultural heritage; 4. Empower children to develop self-confidence and a sense of pride in their diverse family backgrounds; and 5. Inspire all readers to develop an interest in learning more about African history and culture.” — publisher
Nana Akua Goes to School
“In this moving story that celebrates cultural diversity, a shy girl brings her West African grandmother—whose face bears traditional tribal markings—to meet her classmates. This is a perfect read for back to school—no matter what that looks like! It is Grandparents Day at Zura’s elementary school, and the students are excited to introduce their grandparents and share what makes them special. Aleja’s grandfather is a fisherman. Bisou’s grandmother is a dentist. But Zura’s Nana, who is her favorite person in the world, looks a little different from other grandmas. Nana Akua was raised in Ghana, and, following an old West African tradition, has tribal markings on her face. Worried that her classmates will be scared of Nana—or worse, make fun of her—Zura is hesitant to bring her to school. Nana Akua knows what to do, though. With a quilt of traditional African symbols and a bit of face paint, Nana Akua is able to explain what makes her special, and to make all of Zura’s classmates feel special, too.” — publisher
When It All Syncs Up
“Ballet is Aisha’s life. So when she’s denied yet another lead at her elite academy because she doesn’t “look” the part, she knows something has to change-the constant discrimination is harming her mental health. Switching to her best friend Neil’s art school seems like the perfect plan at first. But she soon discovers racism and bullying are entrenched in the ballet program here, too, and there’s a new, troubling distance between her and Neil. And as past traumas surface, pressure from friends and family, a new romance, and questions about her dance career threaten to overwhelm her. There’s no choreography to follow-for high school or for healing. Aisha will have to find the strength within herself-and place her trust in others-to make her next move.” — publisher
The Sister Switch
“Ten-year-old Addie Asante of Columbus, Ohio, is sick of being the middle sister. Her big sister, Sophie, can do whatever she wants, and her little sister, Camille, is totally spoiled. When Addie receives a mysterious box in the mail containing a magical bracelet–and a note from a girl in New York named Becca–she’s intrigued. Addie makes a wish on the bracelet to no longer be in the middle and suddenly–POOF–she’s literally transformed into her big sister! At first, getting to be Sophie is amazing: Addie is allowed to hang out at the coffee shop after school, have her own room, AND participate in the school talent show… this is the life! But as her new long-distance friend Becca warns Addie, this wish-granting bracelet isn’t all that it seems. Having a wish come true can get really messy really fast. Plus, in a twist of magical chaos, Addie’s big sister has become the baby sister, and Addie’s baby sister is living as ADDIE! With friendships–and school tests–on the line, and a sneaky stranger determined to get her hands on the magic bracelet… can Addie and her sisters find a way to switch things BACK before it’s too late?” — publisher
Maisie’s scrapbook
As the seasons turn, Maisie rides her bull in and out of Dada’s tall tales. Her Mama wears linen and plays the viola. Her Dada wears kente cloth and plays the marimba. They come from different places, but they hug her in the same way. And most of all, they love her just the same. A joyful celebration of a mixed-race family and the love that binds us all together.
No two snowflakes
One Christmas afternoon, Lou in Canada writes to Araba, his pen pal in an unnamed tropical country, to explain to her what snow is. In free verse, he describes it by moonlight, in the late day, and in the muddy spring. His catalog of enjoyments includes tobogganing; packing snowballs; and making forts, igloos, and snow angels- all activities that most northerners will recognize, but few tropical dwellers may picture without explanation.
Bella’s chocolate surprise
Part of the Bella Balistica series: Bella Balistica was born in Guatemala and now lives with Annie, her adoptive mother, in London. It’s Bella’s birthday and Mum’s made Bella her favourite chocolate cake. But just what is chocolate made of and where does it come from? With the help of her friend the Quetzal bird, Bella harnesses the powers of her mystical pendant that once belonged to her Guatemalan birth mother, and flies to Ghana in West Africa to discover much more than she bargained for.
In the small, small night
Kofi can’t sleep in his new home in the United States, so his older sister Abena soothes his fears about life in a different country by telling him two folktales from their native Ghana about the nature of wisdom and perseverance
Grandma comes to stay
A young girl in Ghana awaits the arrival of her grandmother for a visit. When she arrives, her grandmother shows her how to wear traditional dress, reads her favourite book, and takes her to see dancers at a festival
One hen
“Inspired by true events, One Hen tells the story of Kojo, a boy from Ghana who turns a small loan into a thriving farm and a livelihood for many…One Hen shows what happens when a little help makes a big difference. The final pages of One Hen explain the microloan system and include a list of relevant organizations for children to explore.” ~publisher
