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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26 matching books
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My Mother’s Tongues
“Sumi’s mother can speak two languages, Malayalam and English. And she can switch between them at the speed of sound: one language when talking to Sumi’s grandmother, another when she addresses the cashier. Sometimes with Sumi she speaks a combination of both. Could it be she possesses a superpower? With awe and curiosity, young Sumi recounts the story of her mother’s migration from India and how she came to acquire two tongues, now woven together like fine cloth.”–publisher
Marie Curious: Undercover Gamer
“When Marie’s tech-genius mentor Sterling Vance invests in an eSports tournament, 12-year-old Marie and her three best friends get the chance to compete and travel to China for the tournament. But when they arrive, they soon discover that one of the teams is cheating, and everyone is in a bad mood … and it’s not long before they find themselves acting strangely too. Can Marie discover who’s plotting to bring out the worst in everyone, and stop it before it brings disastrous consequences, for the teams … and the world?” — publisher
The Only Girl on a Motorcycle
“This is a book about a girl who was told that girls couldn’t ride motorcycles. After a family trip to Thailand, she learned that many girls ride motorcycles and that she could be one of them someday.” — publisher
Brave Mrs. Sato
“When a little girl has to move away, her babysitter helps her feel brave through food, stories, and traditions. In a little Hawaiian house with a mango tree, Cathy and her babysitter Mrs. Sato spend their afternoons arranging flowers, cooking, and having adventures. When Cathy has to move away, Mrs. Sato comforts her by sharing her own story of immigrating from Japan to Hawaii. Lori Matsukawa’s debut children’s book tells a heartwarming story of intergenerational friendship, immigration, and bravery. She shows readers how heritage, food, traditions, and stories can help them feel at home wherever they are.” — publisher
Snitchers
“When the grownups can’t do it, three friends join together to figure out who killed a little boy in their neighborhood in this stunning debut YA by award-winning playwright Stephane Dunn. Nia Barnes is preparing to enter high school and trying to stay on her mama’s good side. Life in her small Midwestern city hasn’t been the same since her father’s unsolved murder, driving Nia’s love of detective novels and true crime stories. When the little boy she babysits is caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting, Nia and her best friends Dontay and Miracle Ruth secretly set out to get him justice. They look up police reports and listen to the conversations of their elders; they try to follow suspects the way Nia’s favorite teen detectives might. But the search for truth isn’t straightforward, especially when you’re somewhere between being kids and adults, and people want peace but are afraid to talk. Writer and filmmaker Stephane Dunn makes her YA debut with this endearing, heart-wrenching novel about loss, truth, and the reality of violence in communities everywhere.” — publisher
Asha and the Toymaker
A heartwarming story about the value of art. Asha’s papa makes and sells wooden toys to pay for her to go to school. But Papa struggles to find buyers. And this makes him worry. He worries Asha’s life will also be a struggle unless she focuses on her schoolwork, which he never had the chance to do. Can Asha’s art help Papa? Will he let her try? Kid artists will be inspired by the power of art to change minds and hearts! Asha’s papa makes and sells wooden toys to pay for her to go to school. But Papa struggles to find buyers. And this makes him worry. He worries Asha’s life will also be a struggle unless she focuses on her schoolwork, which he never had the chance to do. Can Asha’s art help Papa? Will he let her try?
I Am Kavi
“Caught between two worlds—a poverty-stricken village and a fancy big-city school—a young Sri Lankan girl must decide who she really is and where she really belongs. 1998, Colombo. The Sri Lankan Civil War is raging, but everyday life must go on. At Kavi’s school, her friends talk about the weekly Top 40, the Backstreet Boys, Shahrukh Khan, Leo & Kate… and who died—or didn’t—in the latest bombing. But Kavi is afraid of something even scarier. She fears that if her friends discover her secret—that she is not who she is pretending to be—they’ll stop talking to her. Kavi’s scholarship to her elite new school was supposed to be everything she ever wanted, but as she tries to find some semblance of normalcy in a country on fire, nothing is going according to plan. In an effort to fit in with her wealthy, glittering, and self-assured new classmates, Kavi begins telling lies, trading her old life—where she’s a poor girl whose mother has chosen a new husband over her daughter—for a new one, where she’s rich, loved, and wanted. This dazzling novel-in-verse from an astonishing new talent introduces readers to a world rarely seen in middle grade, and stars a deeply moving everygirl each and every one of us can relate to.” — publisher
Starlet Rivals
Twelve-year-old Bela has always dreamed about becoming a famous Bollywood star, and now the opportunity might finally be within her grasp. When a reality TV show gives her the chance to dance in front of the nation, she knows that she is performing for a place at the most prestigious stage school in Mumbai. Can Bela win the Dance Starz competition to score a place at the Bollywood Academy and move one step closer to her dreams of stardom? And will child star Monica, the most “in” girl at school, see her as a friend or a rival?
The Very Best Story Ever Told
“The Very Best Story Ever Told shares the Gospel story in a unique and creative way, from God’s love for the world to Jesus’ life to the Spirit surrounding us today. Each line of this story includes important words reinforced with American Sign Language to engage the whole child. As kids learn the signs and repeat the words, visual learning, auditory learning, and kinesthetic learning are fully engaged to equip them to retell the Gospel story again and again.” — publisher
The Grandmaster’s Daughter
“Imagination and determination fuel a young black belt as she leads her friends on a mission to protect their dojang. Author-illustrator Dan-ah Kim’s debut is a celebration of teamwork, friendship, and martial arts and will be adored by fans of The Three Ninja Pigs and Hello, Ninja. Sunny is the grandmaster’s daughter. She sweeps the floors, waters the plants, and practices with her nunchucks—sometimes she even makes mistakes. She teaches other young students how to kihap. But when their kihaps grow loud and bold enough to shake the mountains, Sunny leads her friends in defending the dojang against magical creatures . . . or perhaps that’s just in their imaginations. It’s up to the reader to decide! Dan-ah Kim’s debut is a spirited story about martial arts that celebrates teamwork, imagination, and perseverance—and that centers around a young girl. The simple text and vivid artwork make this picture book accessible and appealing to all readers. The Grandmaster’s Daughter is an irresistible read-aloud and features backmatter explaining Tae Kwon Do and outlining the five tenets of the practice.” — publisher
