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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23 matching books
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Kariba
“The daughter of a river god, raised by a human father and bound to a tragic destiny. An African fantasy-adventure graphic novel inspired by the mythology of the Zambezi River and the history of the Kariba Dam, one of the largest dams ever constructed. Siku has always called the Zambezi River her home. She understands the water – and strangely enough, it seems to understand her, too, bending to her will and coming to her aid in times of need. But things are changing on the river – a great dam is being built, displacing thousands of Shonga people – and things are changing in Siku, too, as her ability to manipulate water grows out of control, and visions of a great serpent pull her further from reality and her loving father, Tongai. When Tongai ventures to the Kariba Dam to find a cure for Siku and never returns, she sets off to find him with the help of Amedeo, the young son of Kariba’s chief engineer. Together, they traverse elephant graveyards, rugged jungles, and ancient ruins, outrunning pirates, bootleggers, and shape-shifting prophets ready to use Siku to their own advantage. But Siku soon discovers that her father has been shielding a terrible secret: Siku is actually the daughter of the Great River Spirit, Nyaminyami, and the only way to bring about the necessary rumuko – a ritual which has brought balance to the Zambezi for centuries – is for Siku to give up the only life she’s ever known. With the future of the Shonga resting on her shoulders, Siku must journey to the source of the river to understand the ancient power hidden within her. ” — publisher
The Day Gogo Went to Vote
“Illustrated in rich pastels, this child’s-eye view of an important milestone in South African history allows young readers to experience every detail of this eventful day.” — publisher
Africa is Not a Country
“From the tiny island nations of Comoros, Seychelles, and São Tomé and Príncipe, to its largest country, Africa is the only continent with land in all four hemispheres. Unlike any other continent, it is divided into two almost equal lengths by the equator, and it is nearly as wide as it is long. Enter into the daily life of children in the many countries of modern Africa. Countering stereotypes, Africa Is Not a Country celebrates the extraordinary diversity of this vibrant continent as experienced by children at home, at school, at work, and at play.” — publisher
Wanda
“Skipping Stones Honor Award Winner 2021. An empowering picture book from South Africa about a young girl who overcomes endless teasing. Meet Wanda, with her beautiful head full of hair. She is brave and strong, but she’s unhappy because of the endless teasing by the boys at school for her “thorn bush” and “thunderstorm cloud.” Through Grandma Makhulu’s hair secrets and stories she finds the courage to face her fears and learn to appreciate that her hair is a crown‚ “not a burden‚” and it is something to be proud of. This book is about identity and beauty, celebrating how cultural pride is learned and passed on over generations.” — publisher
Goldilocks and the Three Rhinos: A South African Retelling
“Goldilocks was not supposed to be in the forest alone, but she didn’t always do as she was told. Join Goldilocks as she stumbles across the Rhino family’s home, unknowingly dabbling in their daily activities, and the hilarity that follows.” — publisher
The Walking School Bus
“Every morning, Shaka and his little sister Nandi walk with their father to school. Though the journey is long and hot, they arrive at school happy to see their friends and ready to learn. Then one day, their father gives them terrible news: he has to go work in a mine far away, and they won’t be able to go to school anymore. The route is too dangerous for them to walk alone, so they’ll have to stay home. But when they discover a yellow toy bus in the dirt, Shaka and Nandi let their imaginations run wild. Could they buy their own school bus? Or build one themselves? Their plans prove much harder than they thought—but just when they’re about to give up, Shaka and Nandi come up with an ingenious solution to get to school, one that will take the whole community to help.” — publisher
Nelson Mandela
“Little Nelson’s given name was Rolihlahla, which means ‘troublemaker’ in Xhosa, his native language. But his rebellious nature would lead him to become one of the world’s most inspirational civil rights leaders and anti-apartheid revolutionaries. Despite the many years of imprisonment and adversity he faced, Nelson remained firm in his mission to end the racist system of apartheid in South Africa. His bravery and resilience was rewarded when he was released from prison and later voted in to become South Africa’s first Black president. This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the activist turned president’s life.” — publisher
Once upon a time
Sarie struggles when she reads aloud in class in her South African school, but then she and her friend Auntie Anna find a book about Cinderella in Auntie Anna’s old car and begin to read together.
Nyambura waits for the bus
Nyambura is going to visit her Gogo! She arrives at the bustling market place to find that she is last in the queue and that the bus has not yet arrived. While she waits for the bus, Nyambura remembers the fun things that she and her Gogo have done together. Meanwhile, the queue of people is getting shorter and shorter because of disaster that strikes each of the waiting passengers. Will Nyambura’s generous spirit help them to get on the bus in time? –publisher
Dudu’s basket
When Dudu finishes weaving her first basket, by the light of the plump full moon, her uncle Jojo tells her that a first basket should always be given away … Baskets, woven from locally sourced materials are widely used and re-used in African society. Read award-winning author Dianne Stewart’s story about Dudu’s basket and its journey through a number of cultures, beautifully illustrated by awardwinning illustrator, Elizabeth Pulles. — publisher
