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Calvin

2021

by JR Ford, Vanessa Ford and Kayla Harren

"In this joyful and impactful picture book, a transgender boy prepares for the first day of school and introduces himself to his family and friends for the first time. Calvin has always been a boy, even if the world sees him as a girl. He knows who he is in his heart and in his mind but he hasn't yet told his family. Finally, he can wait no longer: "I'm not a girl," he tells his family. "I'm a boy--a boy in my heart and in my brain." Quick to support him, his loving family takes Calvin shopping for the swim trunks he's always wanted and back-to-school clothes and a new haircut that helps him look and feel like the boy he's always known himself to be. As the first day of school approaches, he's nervous and the "what-ifs" gather up inside him. But as his friends and teachers rally around him and he tells them his name, all his "what-ifs" begin to melt away. Inspired by the authors' own transgender child and accompanied by warm and triumphant illustrations, this authentic and personal text promotes kindness and empathy, offering a poignant and inclusive back-to-school message: all should feel safe, respected, and welcomed." -- publisher

Any Child

Secret, Secret Agent Guy

2021

by Kira Bigwood and Celia Krampien

"Send little spies to sleep with this hilarious, tongue-in-cheek lullaby set to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Dear Fellow Agents: Your mission—should you choose to accept it—is to join Secret, Secret Agent Guy on his bedtime assignment, code name: Operation Lollipop. Equipped with night-vision goggles, a jetpack, and grappling hook, he is prepared for every eventuality...or is he? Will this 007-year-old complete his covert quest, or will he be outsmarted by an adversary he never saw coming?" -- publisher

Any Child

A Flood of Kindness

2021

by Ellen Leventhal and Blythe Russo

"Perfect for all children experiencing loss or grief, A Flood of Kindness gracefully confronts difficult feelings and celebrates the healing power of kindness. 'The night the river jumped its banks, everything changed.' So begins A Flood of Kindness, a poignant picture book that addresses grief and loss and demonstrates how kindness can bring hope. Written in spare prose and told from an intimate first-person point of view, the story follows Charlotte, a young girl who watches floodwaters rise in her home and is forced to evacuate to a shelter with her parents. Kind people she doesn't know give her food, socks and shoes to keep her feet warm, and a place to sleep. As Charlotte adjusts to the shelter—a strange, crowded place that is not home—she grapples with feelings of anger and sadness. But as the days go by, Charlotte starts to realize how grateful she is for the things that she does have—her parents, a cot to sleep on, food to eat—and starts looking for ways to help others in the shelter. All children deal with sadness and loss in some way, whether it stems from a natural disaster, the death of a pet, or moving to a new place. A Flood of Kindness acknowledges those difficult feelings and helps readers process them in a healthy way. Children will be encouraged to be kind to those who need a friend and to help others in whatever way they can, no matter how small." -- publisher

Any Child

My Friend!

2021

by Taye Diggs and Shane W. Evans

"A picture book about what it means to be a friend from the team that brought us Chocolate Me! and Mixed Me. Two best friends do almost everything together. They have each other's backs. But when one friend sees the other treating someone unkindly, he steps in to show that everyone wants to be treated as they would treat others. From the popular picture book team—longtime friends themselves—comes a real and rhythmic look at friendship that any child will relate to." -- publisher

Any Child

I Color Myself Different

2022

by Colin Kaepernick and Eric Wilkerson

"An inspiring story of identity and self-esteem from celebrated athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick. When Colin Kaepernick was five years old, he was given a simple school assignment: draw a picture of yourself and your family. What young Colin does next with his brown crayon changes his whole world and worldview, providing a valuable lesson on embracing and celebrating his Black identity through the power of radical self-love and knowing your inherent worth. I Color Myself Different is a joyful ode to Black and Brown lives based on real events in young Colin's life that is perfect for every reader's bookshelf. It's a story of self-discovery, staying true to one's self, and advocating for change... even when you're very little!" -- publisher

Beautiful Life Biography Race/Culture Concepts

The McClure Twins: Make It Fashion

2021

by Alexis McClure and Ava McClure

"A fun character-driven picture book about embracing differences written by everyone’s favorite kid-fluencers, the McClure Twins! Ava and Alexis are twins. So, when the twins find out they were born a WHOLE minute apart and that they don’t agree on what to wear for their fashion show, the girls start to wonder… “Can twins be “mismatched?!” Just in time, the twins remember their twinship pinky promise to “strut together and make it fashion” as they mix and match their unique styles to create one twintastic outfit. With lively illustrations by the brilliant Courtney Dawson, this picture book drives home the very important lesson of embracing what makes us similar and different. It captures the kid-fluencers' glamorous fashion sense, outgoing personalities, signature humor, and other aspects of their real-life personas—making it the perfect picture book for their built-in audience and new fans alike." -- publisher

Any Child

Zuri Ray Tries Ballet

by Tami Charles and Sharon Sordo

"For fans of Fresh Princess, Fancy Nancy, and Lola Dutch comes the first book in a charming picture book series about a spunky girl with big ideas and an even bigger heart. Meet Zuri Ray! She’s always willing to go the extra mile for family and friends, and is up for any challenge. At least, that was before her BFFD (best friend from diapers), Jessie, asked her to join a ballet camp. Now Zuri isn’t sure if she’s up for everything. Ballet calls for pointed toes, tight hair buns, and frilly tutus. And while Jessie can’t wait to chassé and plié on the dance floor, that doesn’t sound like Zuri at all! But she can’t let her friend down. Maybe classical ballet just needs a new spin . . ." -- publisher

Any Child Cross Group

Sing with Me

2021

by Diana López and Teresa Martinez

"An exuberant picture book celebrating the life and legacy of Selena Quintanilla, beloved Queen of Tejano music. From a very early age, young Selena knew how to connect with people and bring them together with music. Sing with Me follows Selena's rise to stardom, from front-lining her family's band at rodeos and quinceañeras to performing in front of tens of thousands at the Houston Astrodome. Young readers will be empowered by Selena's dedication--learning Spanish as a teenager, designing her own clothes, and traveling around the country with her family--sharing her pride in her Mexican-American roots and her love of music and fashion with the world." -- publisher

Biography Oppression & Resilience

Cars! Cars! Cars!

2021

by Kimi Weart

"A lively picture book tie-in to Automania, The Museum of Modern Art’s new exhibition on cars and car culture. Rosario Abigail Bergen Delgado loves cars. She knows everything there is to know about cars. And she can’t wait until she can drive a car. But which one should she choose? A race car? A spy car? A purple, green, or blue car? It’s impossible to pick just one! Featuring 10 cars from the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, New York, this book invites young readers to share Rosario's adventures and to think about what car is best for them, the environment, and the future. Rosario’s final choice may surprise you!" -- publisher

Any Child Informational

Luna Loves Dance

2022

by Joseph Coelho and Fiona Lumbers

"When Luna dances, she feels like the world’s volume turns up, like all colors brighten, like sunlight sparkles behind every cloud. But when she ducks, dives, spins and... falls in her class test, Luna thinks she can’t be a real dancer. The third delightful book about the appealing Luna." -- publisher

Any Child