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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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Immigration

Character Prominence

Delphine Denise and the Mardi Gras Prize

2022

by Brittany Mazique and Sawyer Cloud

"Every year, Delphine Denise Debreaux and her friends ride their bikes together in the New Orleans Mardi Gras parade. But this year, there's a shiny prize for best float—and Delphine Denise just has to win it. How can her friends remind Delphine Denise what the parade is really all about? This joyful picture book, inspired by the author's own experience celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans as a child, explores the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the holiday. Full of vibrant and festive illustrations, this story reminds readers that winning isn't everything, and the best way to let the good times roll is in the company of friends." -- publisher

Beautiful Life Cross Group

Harley the Hero

2021

by Peggy Collins

"An exciting picture book inspired by a real-life classroom service dog with themes of friendship, neurodivergence, and courage An exciting picture book inspired by a real-life classroom service dog with themes of friendship, neurodivergence, and courage Harley the service dog is on the job! He goes to school every day with Ms. Prichard to make sure she feels safe. Their students are a lot of fun, but Harley can’t play with them while he’s wearing his work vest. They write him lots of letters instead, and everything is perfect in the best, most quiet class in the whole school. Until the day the old stage curtains catch fire. As the fire alarm blares and chaos erupts, Harley remembers that Ms. Prichard isn’t the only human in his class who gets upset by loud noises. Inspired by a true story, Harley the Hero celebrates the work of service animals and the normalization of neurodivergence. Author-illustrator Peggy Collins brings Harley and his class to charming life and concludes with an Author’s Note about the real dog behind the fictional Harley." -- publisher

Incidental

Samuel’s Choice

2012

by Richard Berleth and James Watling

"Samuel is a fourteen-year-old enslaved African American in Brooklyn in 1776 when the fighting between the British and the colonists reaches his doorstep. "Liberty ain't for Africans," says fellow servants. "It got nothin' to do with us." But his friend Sana says, "Nobody here's gonna be free unless they take the risk." Soon the well-equipped Redcoats have trapped ragged American soldiers, who have no boats to escape, and a terrible storm blows up. Samuel, a strong boatman, must decide what he should do." -- publisher

Beautiful Life Cross Group Oppression & Resilience

Down on James Street

2021

by Nicole McCandless and Byron Gramby

"The moon lit the riverbank as George and Dorothy each made their way to the teen dance hall. It’s 1935, and sons and daughters of black and white workers in Pittsburgh look forward to having some fun dancing the Lindy Hop, until the police come in and break up the dance…with their bully clubs.The teens all scatter, but Dorothy has a plan to save the dance. Is George ready to join the fight? Or will he play it safe and just go home to his family? Down on James Street is based on a real historical incident in 1930’s Pittsburgh. Today, young and old can take inspiration from this wonderful story of courage and solidarity, with gorgeous illustrations by Byron Gramby that summon up the style and the cool of that long-gone era." -- publisher

Cross Group Oppression & Resilience Race/Culture Concepts

Spell it Like Samar

2020

by Shifa Saltagi Safadi and Saliha Caliskan

"An empowering story of persistence and believing in yourself! Samar has recently moved to America from Syria, and everything is new. Even the jump rope games at recess are unfamiliar. It doesn't help that Jenna, the class bully, keeps making fun of Samar's accent. Samar decides to enter the school spelling bee to prove once and for all that she's smarter than everyone thinks! But learning the words turns out harder than she thought. Can Samar be persistent and compete in the school spelling bee?" -- publisher

Beautiful Life Cross Group

A New York Year

2016

by Tania McCartney and Tina Snerling

"Five little children take you on a fun-filled journey through twelve months in the life of New York's kids. Meet Madison, Alexander, Fabian, Sophia, and Jayla — New York kids representing a blend of culture and race that typifies this impressive state. They’ll take you through a year in the life of children living in New York, from celebrations, traditions and events, to the everyday way of life and the little things that make childhood so memorable. Its pages are laid out clearly by month, showcasing five New York children at play, at school, at home, and enjoying the sights and sites of New York. Feature meandering text and gorgeous illustrations, it pinpoints the highlights of a young person’s New York year in vibrant and lively detail. A New York Year is a picture book showcasing the cultural diversity of the state. It’s a snapshot of New Yorkers, blending modern-day culture and lifestyle with longstanding traditions. Children and adults alike will be swept up in this beautiful depiction of life in another culture. From the spectacular Niagara Falls and Adirondack Mountains to the beaches of Long Island, and the dazzling lights of Manhattan, this is a New York childhood." -- publisher

Beautiful Life Race/Culture Concepts

The Doll

2021

by Nhung N. Tran-Davies and Ravy Puth

"Two little girls come to North America as refugees, a generation apart, and both are welcomed with the gift of a doll. A young girl and her family arrive in an airport in a new country. They are refugees, migrants who have travelled across the world to find safety. Strangers greet them, and one of them gives the little girl a doll. Decades later, that little girl is grown up and she has the chance to welcome a group of refugees who are newly arrived in her adopted country. To the youngest of them, a little girl, she gives a doll, knowing it will help make her feel welcome. Inspired by real events." -- publisher

Beautiful Life Cross Group

Pura’s Cuentos

2021

by Annette Bay Pimentel and Magaly Morales

"A lyrical, vibrant tribute to the amazing life and legacy of Pura Belpré, a lauded storyteller, librarian, and pioneer of bilingual storytimes Pura’s abuela always has a cuento to share. She crows ¡Qui-qui-ri-quí! for Señor Gallo, booms Borom, Borom for Señor Zapo, and tells of a beautiful cockroach who loves a mouse. Pura clings to these stories like coquíes cling to green leaves. When Pura grows up and moves from Puerto Rico to Harlem, she gets a job at the library, where she is surrounded by stories—but they’re only in English. Where is Señor Gallo? Where is Pérez the mouse? Where is Puerto Rico on these shelves? She decides to tell children the tales of her homeland in English and in Spanish. Lyrically written, with lively illustrations, Pura’s Cuentos captures the exuberant spirit and passion of Pura Belpré: celebrated storyteller, author, folklorist, and the first Latina librarian in New York City. A pioneer of bilingual storytimes, she welcomed countless new families to the library, formed cultural bridges in her community, and broke the rules by telling stories that weren’t printed in books—at least, not yet." -- publisher

Biography Cross Group

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