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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Merry Christmas, Anna Hibiscus!
“Anna Hibiscus has never been away from her big white house in Nigeria, where baby brothers, many cousins, parents, aunties, uncles, and grandparents are always nearby. But now she’s flying overseas on her own to visit Granny Canada and see snow for the first time! When she lands at the airport, Anna finds herself amid a sea of white faces in a place that is breathtakingly cold. Canada is very different, but Anna learns how to pull on toasty layers of clothing, warms up to Granny’s large dog (who does not live in a pack and bite people), hones her new talent for sledding, and celebrates cozy Christmas rituals—all while keenly missing her cousins.” — publisher
Becoming a Ballerina: The Story of Michaela Mabinty DePrince
In a Sierra Lione dust storm, ballet swooped into Michaela Mabinty DePrince’s life and never let her go. After her adoption brought her to the US, ballet continued to be the consoling hand that filled Michaela with a joy and hope that flowed from the crown of her head to the tips of her toes. Over time, Michaela’s love for ballet only grew, and with it, her dream of becoming a ballerina. However, there were peers who told Michaela she didn’t belong in the ballet world, that her skin and vitiligo made her too different. However, ballet had stirred in Michaela a faith and determination that would help her turn her dreams into a reality.
Waiting to Welcome
“A little girl and her Ghanaian extended family joyfully prepare to celebrate the arrival of a new baby in this warm, inviting picture book. In Ghana and some other West African countries, when a baby is born, the extended family prepares for a whole week to welcome the little one at a celebration called an outdooring. Andani can’t wait to meet her new baby cousin, but a week is so long! As her aunties and uncles prepare cassava, tuo zaafi, fufu, and other delicious food for the outdooring, Andani will have to patiently (well, okay, sometimes not so patiently) wait to perform the most important job of all: being the first to greet the little one by name.” — publisher
African Town
“In 1860, long after the United States outlawed the importation of enslaved laborers, 110 men, women and children from Benin and Nigeria were captured and brought to Mobile, Alabama aboard a ship called Clotilda. Their journey includes the savage Middle Passage and being hidden in the swamplands along the Alabama River before being secretly parceled out to various plantations, where they made desperate attempts to maintain both their culture and also fit into the place of captivity to which they’d been delivered. At the end of the Civil War, the survivors created a community for themselves they called African Town, which still exists to this day. Told in 14 distinct voices, including that of the ship that brought them to the American shores and the founder of African Town, this powerfully affecting historical novel-in-verse recreates a pivotal moment in US and world history, the impacts of which we still feel today.” — publisher
I’ll See You in Ijebu
“A Catholic girl growing up in the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria takes a trip to spend a week with her Muslim extended family in the countryside town of Ijebu to celebrate Eid al-Adha. Her days in Ijebu are filled with celebrations, traditions and special time connecting with family. ” -publisher
Where We Come From
“In this collaboration, four authors explore where they each come from—literally and metaphorically—as well as what unites all of us as humans. Layered illustrations connect past and present, making for an accessible and striking look at history, family, and identity.” — publisher
The Little Regent
“A little girl is tasked with ruling her West African village in this empowering story about breaking from tradition and leading with your heart.” — publisher
Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls
“Too Small Tola lives in an apartment with her clever sister, Moji; her big brother, Dapo; and Grandmommy, who is very bossy. In the first of three endearing new adventures, Tola is sized just right to wriggle under the bed and rescue Grandmommy’s prized possession when it goes missing. Her savvy and math skills save the day when Grandmommy gets sick, and when the family can’t afford new clothes, industrious Tola finds a way—with a little help from Grandmommy—to be just as fine as the three fine girls she so greatly admires. Richly patterned black-and-white art and Atinuke’s captivating wit evoke an authentic and close-knit urban community and the vibrant energy of Lagos, Nigeria, through the eyes of a tiny but resolute heroine with something to teach us all.” — publisher
I’m Going to Be a Princess
“What will Maya be when she grows up? A rocket scientist like Annie Easley? An Olympic athlete like Alice Coachman? A brain surgeon like Alexa Canady?” — publisher
Earth, Sea & Stars: Inspiring Tales of the Natural World
“In this collection of 20 stories from many global cultures readers will journey all around Earth: across the wide savanna, into deep forests, over majestic mountains, into the ocean depths, and high into the skies above. These unique tales feature bold, adventurous characters as they sail to the moon, create the first fire, and grow orchards of friendship. The ancient wisdom in these stories resonates today more than ever, highlighting the need to care for and respect Earth.” — publisher
