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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

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

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

Gabby Bears with Embarrassment

2019

by Sophia Day, Megan Johnson and Stephanie Strouse

"Gabby goes to summer camp, but starts it off with an embarrassing moment. Her best friend encourages her to be confident and use funny jokes to laugh off the embarrassment. Gabby has fun canoeing, playing sports, doing arts and crafts, roasting marshmallows and building true friendships the rest of camp. Your child can learn how to use perspective, humor, and compassion to keep embarrassment from becoming an obstacle to fun and friendship. This book showcases diversity in positive ways with characters that span various cultures, ethnicities, family situations, physical challenges and more. Readers of all backgrounds will see themselves in these pages while learning to value the diversity within their own community and being exposed to differences from around the world." -- publisher

Any Child Cross Group

When Mom’s Away

2021

by Layla Ahmad and Farida Zaman

"A little girl copes with her mother being a frontline healthcare worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. Things are changing for one little girl whose mom is a busy doctor. When her mom has to be in quarantine—sleeping on a cot in their garage to keep the family safe from the virus—the girl does her best to be brave. She and her dad spend time together, she goes to school online, and she helps her grandparents too…making sure to wave so they know it's her! They join their neighbours outside to thank the doctors and nurses around the world for their hard work. But of course the highlight of the day is when mom comes home, and they wave to each other through the window. A great story to inspire hope and confidence in both little ones and big ones when times may seem uncertain." -- publisher

Any Child

Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down

2021

by Lindsey Rowe Parker and Rebecca Burgess

"Follow a young girl with heightened sensory experiences through her day with fun, interactive sounds and motions This is a story about sensory differences and how some children experience their world, told from a child's perspective. The vibration in her feet when she runs, the tap-tap-tap of her fork on the table at mealtime, the trickle of cool water running over her hands---these are the things that calm her jitters down. This book is for anyone who has ever felt the need for a wiggle, stomp, or squeeze!" -- publisher

Any Child

Usha and the Big Digger

2021

by Amitha Jagannath Knight and Sandhya Prabhat

"When sisters Usha and Aarti look up at the stars, they see different things. Aarti sees the Big Dipper, but Usha sees the Big DIGGER. And cousin Gloria sees the Big Kite! Could they all be right? A playful introduction to geometry and spatial relationships, featuring Indian American characters and a note about cultures and constellations. Storytelling Math celebrates children using math in their daily adventures as they play, build, and discover the world around them. Joyful stories and hands-on activities make it easy for kids and their grown-ups to explore everyday math together. Developed in collaboration with math experts at STEM education nonprofit TERC, under a grant from the Heising-Simons Foundation." -- publisher

Any Child