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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210 matching books
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Any Child 133
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Biography 24
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Cross Group 56
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Folklore 3
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Incidental 30
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Afghan 1
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Cuban 1
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German 1
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Haitian 1
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Indian 2
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Korean 2
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Multiethnic 12
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Russian 1
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Unspecified 210
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Fiction 155
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Non-Fiction 55
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Boy/Man 131
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Girl/Woman 162
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Unspecified 67
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Background 31
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Dominant Main 148
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Joint Main 52
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Secondary 145
My Words Flew Away Like Birds
"A poetically told immigration story that fosters understanding and beautifully articulates how the desire to belong and the need for human connection are universal. A little girl learns some words in a new language to prepare for her move to a new country. But when she, her mother and her father arrive, “all her words fly away like birds.” The girl waits, and watches, and listens, trying to figure things out. Only, it's hard. Then one day the girl meets someone who needs her help. And as she makes a new friend, she finds that the new words start to come easier --- becoming her words, at last. Beautifully written in engaging and accessible free verse, this poignant story offers a powerful lesson in empathy for children everywhere. The story is inspired by the many newcomer families Debora Pearson has met in her work as a children's librarian in a bustling urban center. Both timely and universal, it provides young children with an opportunity to expand their worldview and be inspired by how the heroine prevails and finds connection. Shrija Jain's simple, whimsical illustrations add playfulness and warmth to the narrative. A perfect read-aloud, this sweet and sensitive picture book encourages all children to celebrate inclusion and highlights the character education traits of resilience, kindness and empathy. There are links here to social studies lessons on community, global awareness and cultural awareness." -- publisher
My City Speaks
"A young girl, who is visually impaired, finds much to celebrate as she explores the city she loves. A young girl and her father spend a day in the city, her city, traveling to the places they go together: the playground, the community garden, the market, an outdoor concert. As they do, the girl describes what she senses in delightfully precise, poetic detail. Her city, she says, “rushes and stops, and waits and goes.” It “pitters and patters, and drips and drains.” It “echoes” and “trills,” and is both “smelly” and “sweet.” Her city also speaks, as it “dings and dongs, and rattles and roars.” And sometimes, maybe even some of the best times, it just listens. Darren Lebeuf uses his keen observational skills as an award-winning photographer to poetically capture sensory experiences in this charming ode to city life. The rhythmic, lyrical text makes for an appealing read-aloud. Ashley Barron's vividly hued cut-paper collage illustrations add compelling visual interest to the text's descriptions. Though the main character is visually impaired, she travels around the city and enthusiastically enjoys its many offerings, and actively contributes to the lyrical bustle of city life by putting on a violin performance in the park. The author's use of limited but evocative language can help children develop an aesthetic awareness and can serve as a perfect jumping-off point for children to use their senses to specifically describe, and appreciate, their own surroundings. The story and illustrations were reviewed by a blind sensitivity reader." -- publisher
We Listen to Our Bodies
"Deja helps young children recognize their emotions by listening to their bodies. Body awareness is a key foundation of consent. We Listen to Our Bodies gives children a vocabulary to understand and communicate their feelings, develop personal boundaries, and build their social and emotional skills. Through body awareness and recognizing how emotions physically manifest, young children can listen to their bodies for clues about how they’re feeling. Their bodies might feel shaky when worried or like one big sigh when calm and relaxed. By recognizing that physical sensations are trying to communicate something, children can understand when they feel unsafe, calm, or in need of healthy touch. We Listen to Our Bodies follows Deja and her preschool classmates as they learn to build emotional self-awareness by listening to the physical cues of their bodies. Using the book as a read-aloud, educators and families can model the language Deja’s teachers use to support children as they learn body awareness. The author, who hosts workshops and trainings on teaching consent for families and early childhood educators around the country, offers additional activities in the back of the book." -- publisher
Liam Conquers Fort Grudge
"Liam and his dad are building a fort to share with his neighborhood friends. When Liam gets his feelings hurt, he becomes angry and makes changes to the fort that exclude others. Holding a grudge only hurts himself, as he becomes isolated and lonely. Can Liam conquer his grudge and find freedom in forgiveness? Learn with Liam how Forgiveness, Open communication, Reconciliation, and Trust build a strong foundation for a true friendship FORT! Childhood friendships can be full of challenges, social pressure, and both intentional and unintentional hurts. Readers will learn with Liam how to recognize when they are holding a grudge and understand the impact of the hurt on their friendships and themselves. Forgiveness is not just a response to an apology, but rather a personal decision to let go of past hurts and move forward with good will. Children will learn that small arguments are a normal experience in friendships, and they will gain skills to restore friendships and rebuild trust over time. Consideration is also given to ceasing unsafe relationships even when forgiveness has taken place. 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. Social and emotional learning picture books guide elementary readers to control emotions and learn social skills. This education resource features the MVP Kids; includes Discussion Guides for parents and educators. Part of a helpful character building program." -- publisher
It’s Not Little Red Riding Hood
"Little Red likes to play by the rules. So when the narrator comes along and asks her to follow the story set out in her fairy tale, she grabs the basket for Grandma and goes. After all, she loves her grandma. But unfortunately, none of the other characters are quite what they’re expecting.… As Little Red attempts to follow the narrator’s directions (which, frankly, seem kind of dangerous!), she is beset by fill-in characters, confusing instructions, and even a fierce battle! Will Little Red ever make it to Grandma’s house? And who will she find when she gets there? Complete with some unusual “guest appearances,” this laugh-out-loud Little Red Riding Hood retelling will have kids giggling all the way to Grandma’s house! Ding-dong!" -- publisher
Charlotte Wants a B.F.F.
"Meet Charlotte and Taylor. Like most kids, they have a lot in common, and also a lot of differences. In this charming story about their friendship, they become fast friends. BFF, best friends forever. And they also have challenges as they go through daily life as kids. For parents, caregivers, and educators, this story opens up the door for conversations about differences and how they make us stronger together as friends and allies. It is a story kids and adults will want to read together time and time again." -- publisher
Love Grows Everywhere
"Love Grows Everywhere is a gentle and lyrical story that connects the love that nurtures plants with the love that nurtures our relationships with one another. With lushly colored illustrations that tug at your heart, this lyrical picture book connects the love that nurtures plants with the love that nurtures our relationships. In Love Grows Everywhere, through gentle, rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, feel the love in a close-knit family who grows plants and sells them in their local market, and discover the types of love that exist in the many homes of their diverse community. But there’s a new kid who is not quite so sure... Can the gardeners’ daughter be brave and extend the love to him? Beautiful and characterful illustrations from the exceptionally talented Tisha Lee help bring this book to life, and the gentle rhyming text from Barry Timms helps underscore the message of kindness, charity, and love. In this warm and charming tale, perfect for Valentine’s Day and beyond, there is love between friends, family, neighbors, romantic partners, and so much more. Love truly does grow everywhere." -- publisher
Amara and the Bats
"Environmental activism gets a nocturnal twist in this utterly charming picture book about a young girl and her mission to save the bats! Amara loves bats! Her favorite thing to do is to collect bat facts and watch the amazing mammals fly at night by her house. But when Amara moves to a new town, she learns that her beloved bats no longer roost nearby because so many trees are being cut down. Amara is upset. What can she do to help? She’s just one person, and the problem feels so much bigger than her. But after doing some research, she discovers that there are many young people making big changes all around the world. Inspired to take action, Amara gathers her new friends to help save the bats. Together, she knows they can make a difference! Emma Reynolds crafts an inspiring story about community action, perseverance, and what to do in the face of climate anxiety. At its heart, this is a story about hope and finding a place to call home." -- publisher
The Grandmaster’s Daughter
"Imagination and determination fuel a young black belt as she leads her friends on a mission to protect their dojang. Author-illustrator Dan-ah Kim’s debut is a celebration of teamwork, friendship, and martial arts and will be adored by fans of The Three Ninja Pigs and Hello, Ninja. Sunny is the grandmaster’s daughter. She sweeps the floors, waters the plants, and practices with her nunchucks—sometimes she even makes mistakes. She teaches other young students how to kihap. But when their kihaps grow loud and bold enough to shake the mountains, Sunny leads her friends in defending the dojang against magical creatures . . . or perhaps that’s just in their imaginations. It’s up to the reader to decide! Dan-ah Kim’s debut is a spirited story about martial arts that celebrates teamwork, imagination, and perseverance—and that centers around a young girl. The simple text and vivid artwork make this picture book accessible and appealing to all readers. The Grandmaster’s Daughter is an irresistible read-aloud and features backmatter explaining Tae Kwon Do and outlining the five tenets of the practice." -- publisher
The Wall and the Wild
"An exploration of the healing power of gardens and the importance of a healthy ecosystem. When Ana tries to take control by creating a perfect garden, she comes to realize that nature is inherently wild. In a plot of land at the edge of town, Ana grows only perfectly sized plants and perfect-looking flowers; she throws all the irregular shoots and uneven seeds over the wall into the disorderly Wild. But as her garden gets tidier, neater and more constrained, the Wild begins to grow…" -- publisher