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Gender: Boy/Man

Characters whose self-identity as a boy or man is made explicit in the story, or whose gender expression (appearance, clothing, how they present themselves to others), pronoun (he/him), and name align with prevailing masculine norms.

Bare Tree and Little Wind

2022

by Mitali Perkins and Khoa Le

"A lyrical, captivating retelling of the Palm Sunday and Easter story from National Book Award nominee Mitali Perkins, author of Rickshaw Girl, that is sure to become a beloved tradition for families of faith. Little Wind and the trees of Jerusalem can’t wait for Real King to visit. But Little Wind is puzzled when the king doesn’t look how he expected. His wise friend Bare Tree helps him learn that sometimes strength is found in sacrifice, and new life can spring up even when all hope seems lost. This story stands apart for its imagination, endearing characters, and how it weaves Old Testament imagery into Holy Week and the promise of Jesus’s triumphant return. While the youngest readers will connect to the curious Little Wind, older children and parents will appreciate the layers of meaning and Scriptural references in the story, making it a book families can enjoy together year after year." -- publisher

Incidental

Grasshopper Girl

2022

by Teresa R Peterson and Jordan Rodgers

"A story within a story about Psipsi, a young Dakota girl, whose father shares a traditional Uŋktomi story with her. Uŋktomi stories have been shared in Dakota families and communities for a very long time. This tradition continued into the childhood of my mother’s generation. Depending upon location and community, variations of this Uŋktomi story have been told. This Uŋktomi story is a local version my mother and her siblings heard from their father, primarily when they were ill, perhaps to lend comfort in addition to impart lessons to a captive audience." -- publisher

Beautiful Life

Hank Aaron

2022

by Percy Leed

"Baseball legend Hank Aaron was a stand-out from the start. After playing in the Negro Leagues for less than a year, Aaron had Major League Baseball teams fighting to have him in their lineups. In 1954, he joined the Milwaukee Braves and started making history. Aaron shattered Babe Ruth's all-time home run record in 1974. Learn about the life of home run king Hammerin' Hank." -- publisher

Biography

I am Thinking My Life

2022

by Allysun Atwater and Stevie Lewis

Bursting with imagination, this ode to positive thought demonstrates a young girl’s ability to use the power of her mind to transform her world. Follow along as a young girl discovers the relationship between her thoughts, actions, and her place in the world. This empowering story is all about dreaming, doing, and becoming, and how the power of positive thinking can transform our lives—and the lives of those around us—forever. " -- 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

I Love My Family!

2022

by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley and Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

"Natasha Anastasia Tarpley returns with a breakout new picture book series all about Keyana, the protagonist of her bestselling title I Love My Hair!, and the people and places she adores. Keyana’s always full of big ideas. Her latest and greatest plan is to host a perfect family movie night. From aunts to uncles to her five favorite cousins, everyone is invited! She knows the best way to impress her guests is with a fabulous soiree, and there’s a lot on her to-do list. But when the night doesn’t go as planned, she’ll have to rely on a little help from the people she loves most. With warm illustrations by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow, this character-centric new picture book series from Natasha Anastasia Tarpley will give Keyana a fresh, commercial update that's perfect for today's young readers." -- publisher

Any Child

Kat Hats

2022

by Daniel Pinkwater and Aaron Renier

"A wild picture book starring a world-renowned cat, his trainer, a cast of quirky characters from award-winning creators Daniel Pinkwater and Aaron Renier Thermal Herman 6-7/8 is the top Kat Hat in Matt Katz’s company. A trained cat who is able to form himself into specialty hats, Thermal Herman is world-renowned for his warmth and agility. When a friend wanders off with a brain freeze and finds themself in peril, Thermal Herman must rush in to save the day in this zany and cleverly illustrated picture book, sure to make young readers giggle with every page." -- publisher

Incidental

Leah’s Star

2022

by Margaret Bateson-Hill and Karin Littlewood

"A beautiful, fresh new telling of the Nativity story, through the eyes of a young girl, the innkeeper's daughter Leah, brings a wonderful humanity to this familiar tale." -- publisher

Beautiful Life

Love Grows Everywhere

2022

by Barry Timms and Tisha Lee

"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

Any Child

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

Many of the cover images on this site are from Google Books.

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