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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Daniela and History’s Women Pirates
“Daniela discovers her grandmother’s old book with stories of ten brave pirate women. From the seas of China to the shores of New York, from ancient Greece to modern times, these female pirates sailed the oceans in search of riches. Explore the lives of some of the notable female pirates: Awilda, Mary Read, Lai Choi San, Grace O’Malley, Ching Shih… Although they were often forbidden from sailing, they refused to accept their destinies. Their lives and deeds inspired Daniela.” — publisher
The Monster in the Bathhouse
“The bathhouse is always busy the day before Nowruz. Everyone wants to be clean for the new year! As three boys enjoy their day at the bathhouse with their fathers, they hear a strange sound and decide to investigate. There’s a big mess, and they hear the sound of someone—or something—large splashing in the baths. What could it be? An unruly guest? A four-legged intruder? Or perhaps…a monster?”–publisher
Nour’s Secret Library
“Forced to take shelter when their Syrian city is plagued with bombings, young Nour and her cousin begin to bravely build a secret underground library. Based on the author’s own life experience and inspired by a true story, Nour’s Secret Library is about the power of books to heal, transport and create safe spaces during difficult times. Illustrations by Romanian artist Vali Mintzi superimpose the colorful world the children construct over black-and-white charcoal depictions of the battered city.” — publisher
If You See a Bluebird
“For young Ali, a former refugee from Afghanistan, “home” is where his family is together. Although his family is safe in their new country, Ali finds himself wishing he could go back to Afghanistan. A day spent picking blackberries with Nana reminds him of their old house with the mulberry tree he loved, and the day the soldiers came. He recalls their nighttime flight and the crowded buses and airplane that took him to this beautiful but unfamiliar place. When Ali and Nana spot a bluebird, she tells him to make a wish. Ali wishes to go home, but, as he comes to learn, home is not a place. Home is the love his family has for each other.” — publisher
Fireworks (Eureka! The Biography of an Idea series)
From the first gunpowder-filled bamboo stalk thrown on a bonfire to dazzling overhead multicolor displays of today, Fireworks is a fun and informative look at the development of an invention that sparks joy. This STEAM nonfiction title is part of the Eureka! series, each book focusing on one groundbreaking, world-changing discovery that millions of people use every single day.
Sitti’s Bird: A Gaza Story
“Malak is a little girl who lives in Gaza with her parents. She goes to school, plays in the ocean, and visits Sitti’s house on Fridays. One day while she is in school, bombings begin. She spends the next 50 days at home with her parents worrying and feeling scared, until one day she picks up her paintbrush …” — publisher
Memory Garden
“Working side by side in a garden, a young girl’s playful adventures with her grandmother tell a larger story of immigration and change. An afternoon at Grandma’s house is full of laughter, gardening, and so much more. In lyrical text that blends the past and present, Memory Garden is a nod to the places we leave behind but never forget.” — publisher
Baba’s Gift
Baba enchants his six daughters with his stories, transporting them to his childhood in Iran as they play on the flowering vines of the Persian carpet in California. He tells the story of a determined young man who comes to the United States, the challenges of leaving his Persian family, and the unfolding of his new American life.
These Olive Trees
“It’s 1967 in Nablus, Palestine. Oraib loves the olive trees that grow outside the refugee camp where she lives. Each harvest, she and her mama pick the small fruits and she eagerly stomp stomp stomps on them to release their golden oil. Olives have always tied her family to the land, as Oraib learns from the stories Mama tells of a home before war. But war has come to their door once more, forcing them to flee. Even as her family is uprooted, Oraib makes a solemn promise to her beloved olive trees. She will see to it that their legacy lives on for generations to come.” — publisher
Rumi: Poet of Joy and Love
“Even the greatest poet was once a child. And so it was with Rumi. When he was young he was enchanted by birds and books. He later became a scholar, but it was the loss of his best friend, Shams, that inspired Rumi to his most important realization: Love is in us and everywhere. The Persian mystic and poet Rumi is one of the best known and most widely read poets in the world. The renowned illustrator Rashin Kheiriyeh herself comes from Iran. With this picture book she creates a touching memorial to Rumi’s wisdom and warmth. The strong colors and ornamental details transport us to the Persian Empire in the 13th century. Yet Rumi’s story and his poetry are timeless.” — publisher
