Our collection of picture books featuring Black and Indigenous people and People of Color (BIPOC) is available to the public. *Inclusion of a title in the collection DOES NOT EQUAL a recommendation.* Click here for more on book evaluation.
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Chaos! : How the Dog Got His Dinner in Afaan Oromo and English
"They say dogs are man's best friend, but in this story, a dog creates...Chaos! Based on a traditional Ethiopian “teret,” a wise Ethiopian saying that rhymes in Afaan Oromo, the story follows a hungry dog as it disrupts the daily life of its family to get a taste of chicken wat, leaving a trail of chaos in his wake. Side by side bilingual translations support emerging readers as they develop vocabulary and fluency in indigenous Ethiopian languages like Amharic, Tigrinya and Afaan Oromo." -- publisher
Wise and Foolish: A Parable in English and Amharic
"When older brother chooses a location to build his home, his father calls him foolish. But older brother is stubborn and builds his home there anyway. With the help of his community, older brother works hard and the home is built. But when the rains come and wash his home away, older brother must learn from his foolish mistake. Will he be wise enough to build a sturdier home on a more solid foundation?" -- publisher
The Party / ድግሱ
"Help your young bilingual reader learn to read Amharic with this beautifully illustrated picture book about how Ethiopians work and rest. From the bustling city markets to dusty country roads, there is always work to be done or shared. Side by side text in English and Amharic support young learners of indigenous Ethiopian languages. Colorful watercolor illustrations bring the people of Ethiopia to life with rich details and supportive context." -- publisher
The Party / Affeerraa
"As an Ethiopian family prepares for a party, the house is full of relatives and excitement. Little girls try to sit still as older family members braid their hair according to tradition and diverse cultural tastes. A sweet tale of female bonding through mutual beautification with a look at some of the traditions and styles that make Ethiopian culture so unique and beautiful. Side by side bilingual text supports emerging readers in developing vocabulary and fluency." -- publisher
Planting Peace
"This picture book tells the inspiring story of Wangari Maathai, women’s rights activist and one of the first environmental warriors. Wangari began the Green Belt Movement in Kenya in the 1960s, which focused on planting trees, environmental conservation, and women’s rights. She inspired thousands across Africa to plant 30 million trees in 30 years and was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize." -- publisher
I Hide / Taḥābiʼa ʼĀlaxu
"Join a curious child as they play a game of discovery and concealment in the towns and fields of Ethiopia. As she observes her surroundings from her hiding spots, she notices many interesting and beautiful things around her. The people and animals who fill the streets and landscape with color and mystery come to life through banana plant collages made by the Ethiopian women of Jimma Banana Art. Most of the illustrations were created from different parts of the banana plant that have been dried, ironed and cut into shapes." -- publisher
I Hide / Dhokadheera
"Join a curious child as they play a game of discovery and concealment in the towns and fields of Ethiopia. As she observes her surroundings from her hiding spots, she notices many interesting and beautiful things around her. The people and animals who fill the streets and landscape with color and mystery come to life through banana plant collages made by the Ethiopian women of Jimma Banana Art. Most of the illustrations were created from different parts of the banana plant that have been dried, ironed and cut into shapes." -- publisher
A Feast for Joseph
"Joseph misses sharing meals with lots of people like he did back in the refugee camp, so when the neighbors finally come over, it’s a feast! When Joseph and Mama lived in a refugee camp in East Africa, everyone cooked and ate together. And Joseph could always hear someone playing the awal. It’s much too quiet and lonely in his new home. Though Whoosh, the girl who lives upstairs, is friendly, Joseph misses having more people around, especially his grandmother, who still lives across the ocean. So he invites his relatives in the city to come for dinner, then he invites his teacher, then Whoosh and her mami — but everyone is too busy. Ever hopeful, Joseph picks the last greens from the garden. At least he and Mama will be ready to cook if someone comes. The next night Whoosh and her mami appear at the door with a big cake, and Whoosh and Joseph cook up a feast. A touching story about adjusting to a new home and the pleasure of cooking and sharing food with friends." -- publisher
Spirit of the Cheetah
"Young Roblay runs through his Somali village practicing for the big race, where only the fastest runners will be declared men. He turns for advice to his grandfather, who tells Roblay of the mighty Shabelle River, which is strong and swift like a cheetah. Roblay must capture that spirit if he is to finish among the winners of the race and become a man. Inspired by her father’s storytelling, Khadra Mohammed joins Karen Lynn Williams in retelling this Somali coming-of-age tale, beautifully illustrated by artist Julia Cairns. The story of a proud people who once lived together peacefully and drew wisdom from the animals, it is sure to generate enthusiastic discussion in the classroom. An appendix provides further information on the cheetah—the fastest land animal on earth and now an endangered species." -- publisher
My rows and piles of coins
A Tanzanian boy saves his coins to buy a bicycle so that he can help his parents carry goods to market, but then he discovers that in spite of all he has saved, he still does not have enough money