A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection Expert quilter Kim Taylor shares a unique and powerful story of the celebration of the first Juneteenth, from the perspective of a young girl.On June 19, 1865, in Galveston, General Gordon Granger of the Union Army delivered the message that African Americans in Texas were free. Since then, Juneteenth, as the day has come to be known, has steadily gained recognition throughout the United States. ln 2020,a powerful wave of protests and demonstrations calling for racial justice and equality brought new awareness to the significance of the holiday.A Flag for Juneteenth depicts a close-knit community of enslaved African Americans on a plantation in Texas, the day before the announcement is to be made that all enslaved people are free. Young Huldah, who is preparing to celebrate her tenth birthday, can’t possibly anticipate how much her life will change that Juneteenth morning. The story follows Huldah and her community as they process the news of their freedom and celebrate together by creating a community freedom flag. Debut author and artist Kim Taylor sets this story apart by applying her skills as an expert quilter. Each of the illustrations has been lovingly hand sewn and quilted, giving the book a homespun, tactile quality that is altogether unique. BIO Kim Taylor is a speech language pathologist and Department Supervisor at a large school for deaf children on Long Island. She is also an expert quilter whose works have been exhibited at several venues throughout the Midatlantic region. Taylor’s quilts reflect African American life, and she tells stories through her materials (visit Kim’s website to see her quilts). After researching the origins of the Juneteenth celebration, she created a Juneteenth story quilt which she has exhibited and presented in dozens of local schools. Realizing that few teachers and students had ever heard of the holiday, she was moved to write the book A Flag for Juneteenth. REVIEWS “The picture book . . . not only reveals Taylor’s considerable talents as an inspiring raconteur but as a self-taught quilter whose creations uniquely and symbolically illustrate the historically based narrative.” -- Newsday★ ”Kim Taylor’s portrayal of a girl witnessing the first Juneteenth, accompanied by exquisite quilted artwork, is filled with a spirit of jubilation and freedom. . . . her textile art perfectly complements her evocative prose. . . .” -- BookPage, Starred Review “The illustrations quilted by Taylor display strong artistic use of color, texture, movement, stitching, and symbols. Each page has vibrant colors that grab readers at first glance. . . . Taylor effectively breathes life into the characters, even those muddled in the background, by showing their humanity in each page.” -- School Library Journal“Both lyrical and descriptive, Huldah’s voice conveys the joy that is found in freedom. . . . A great introduction to the federal holiday.” -- The Horn Book“Taylor aptly depicts this story through colorful woven fabrics and folk art-style, quilted scenes.” -- Booklist“[A] moving debut. . . . It’s a discussion-starting, personal-feeling portrait of a communal celebration.” -- Publishers Weekly“The art in this work from quilter Taylor is stunning. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are breathtaking. . . . Visually dazzling. . . .” -- Kirkus Reviews [H] Neal Porter Books / January 03, 2023 0.39" H x 10.24" L x 9.92" W (0.92 lbs) 40 pages

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In this lyrical picture book, world-renowned poet, New York Times bestselling author, and Coretta Scott King Honor winner Nikki Giovanni and fine artist Erin Robinson craft an ode to the magic of a library as a place not only for knowledge but also for imagination, exploration, and escape. In what other place can a child "sail their dreams" and "surf the rainbow" without ever leaving the room? This ode to libraries is a celebration for everyone who loves stories, from seasoned readers to those just learning to love words, and it will have kids and parents alike imagining where their library can take them. This inspiring read-aloud includes stunning illustrations and a note from Nikki Giovanni about the importance of libraries in her own childhood. BIO Nikki Giovanni, poet, activist, mother, and professor, is a seven-time NAACP Image Award winner and the first recipient of the Rosa Parks Woman of Courage Award, and holds the Langston Hughes Medal for Outstanding Poetry, among many other honors. The author of twenty-eight books and a Grammy nominee for The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection, she is the University Distinguished Professor of English at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. Erin Robinson is a Fashion Designer by trade but also a trained fine artist from Parsons School of Design and the Corcoran School of Art. Her daydreamy, magical imagination is inspired by travel, color, texture, the feminine shape and the many shades and coifs of Brooklyn. She currently splits her time between New York City and Washington, D.C. Find her at brooklyndolly.com and on Instagram @brooklyndolly. REVIEWS “Powerful.... Playful and inspiring. Every lover of books, young or old, will see themselves in this story.” -- Booklist (starred review) “Vibrant, carefully composed digital illustrations, with bright colors that invite readers in.... A lushly illustrated homage to librarians.” -- Kirkus Reviews “In this picture-book celebration of libraries and reading, poet Giovanni writes about the Carnegie Library, which she regularly visited as a child. Robinson’s digital art resembles vibrant collages.” -- Horn Book Magazine “Poetic text and evocative, textured illustrations work in concert to show how books and libraries enable people to imagine other lives—including other versions of their own selves.... A must-have.” -- School Library Journal [H] Versify / September 27, 2022 0.3" H x 11.1" L x 9.0" W (0.95 lbs) 32 pages

A Library /// Nikki Giovanni, illustrations by Erin K. Robinson

﻿THIS BOOK IS CURRENTLY OUT OF STOCK. Born in 1923 in Madisonville, Louisiana, Leah Chase would marry into the Chase restaurant family in nearby New Orleans, but that small geographic move would end up taking her worlds away. Today she is a national-award-winning cook and civic figure. This novel, told in the form of letters to God, shares her inspirational journey with middle-grade readers. BIO Carol Allen was born in Elton, Louisiana, part of Cajun country. As a young girl, she traveled across the state with her father and became fascinated with the richness of Louisiana culture and her own unique heritage. In 1968, she began teaching at Oakdale High School, where she experienced the switch to the integrated school system. Soon after, she became an elementary-school principal and completed her doctorate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. After a year as an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina, she returned home to become the superintendent of curriculum and instruction for New Orleans Public Schools. In 1985, Allen married a Frenchman and moved to France. There, she volunteered for various service organizations, served on boards for international schools, and worked for an educational institute in Paris that was affiliated with the American College in Paris. Allen helped plan and direct an international conference designed to address the needs and interests of expatriate women. The conference, organized and conducted entirely by volunteers, attracted four hundred conferees representing nineteen different nationalities from twenty-one different countries of residence. She went on to create the Paris Writers Workshop, now an internationally respected program that allows aspiring writers to develop their talents. Allen has written articles for the Writer's Chronicle, Washington Post, Epicurean Magazine, and the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Allen compiled and edited They Only Laughed Later: Tales of Women on the Move, a book of humorous essays written by women about their experiences living abroad. In 1996, she received honorable mention from Writer’s Market for a self-published book in the children's-literary category. She has been a guest lecturer at the Geneva Writers' Conference and is a motivational speaker for the European Speakers Bureau. Allen has been close friends with Leah Chase, the subject of her biography, Leah Chase: Listen, I Say Like This, for more than twenty years. For the book, she spent hours with Chase herself, in the woman's kitchen, reminiscing her own Louisiana childhood and the diverse background and joie de vivre that both the author and her subject share. In addition to writing, Allen loves to cook. Much to the surprise of her French neighbors, she garnered the grand prize in what is known as Les Journées Gourmandes in the region of the Vaucluse, Provence, where she lives most of the time. Her winning recipes were for jams and jellies in 1995 and for Wild-Mushroom Soup in 2001. [P] Pelican Publishing Company / August 24, 2020 0.6" H x 8.4" L x 5.4" W (0.65 lbs) 160 pages

﻿THIS BOOK IS CURRENTLY OUT OF STOCK.
<meta charset="utf-8">Born in 1923 in Madisonville, Louisiana, Leah Chase would marry into the Chase restaurant family in nearby New Orleans, but that small geographic move would end up taking her worlds away. Today she is a national-award-winning cook and civic figure. This novel, told in the form of letters to God, shares her inspirational journey with middle-grade readers.
BIO
<meta charset="utf-8">Carol Allen was born in Elton, Louisiana, part of Cajun country. As a young girl, she traveled across the state with her father and became fascinated with the richness of Louisiana culture and her own unique heritage. In 1968, she began teaching at Oakdale High School, where she experienced the switch to the integrated school system. Soon after, she became an elementary-school principal and completed her doctorate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. After a year as an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina, she returned home to become the superintendent of curriculum and instruction for New Orleans Public Schools. In 1985, Allen married a Frenchman and moved to France. There, she volunteered for various service organizations, served on boards for international schools, and worked for an educational institute in Paris that was affiliated with the American College in Paris. Allen helped plan and direct an international conference designed to address the needs and interests of expatriate women. The conference, organized and conducted entirely by volunteers, attracted four hundred conferees representing nineteen different nationalities from twenty-one different countries of residence. She went on to create the Paris Writers Workshop, now an internationally respected program that allows aspiring writers to develop their talents. Allen has written articles for the Writer's Chronicle, Washington Post, Epicurean Magazine, and the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Allen compiled and edited They Only Laughed Later: Tales of Women on the Move, a book of humorous essays written by women about their experiences living abroad. In 1996, she received honorable mention from Writer’s Market for a self-published book in the children's-literary category. She has been a guest lecturer at the Geneva Writers' Conference and is a motivational speaker for the European Speakers Bureau. Allen has been close friends with Leah Chase, the subject of her biography, Leah Chase: Listen, I Say Like This, for more than twenty years. For the book, she spent hours with Chase herself, in the woman's kitchen, reminiscing her own Louisiana childhood and the diverse background and joie de vivre that both the author and her subject share. In addition to writing, Allen loves to cook. Much to the surprise of her French neighbors, she garnered the grand prize in what is known as Les Journées Gourmandes in the region of the Vaucluse, Provence, where she lives most of the time. Her winning recipes were for jams and jellies in 1995 and for Wild-Mushroom Soup in 2001.
[P]  Pelican Publishing Company  /  <meta charset="utf-8">August 24, 2020
<meta charset="utf-8">0.6" H x 8.4" L x 5.4" W (0.65 lbs) 160 pages

A Long Way from the Strawberry Patch: The Life of Leah Chase /// Carol Allen with Leah Chase

Paperback

Femi and her friends planned to leave traditional Caribbean treats out for Santa, including Black Cake. The children shared warm wishes for their favorite dishes while enjoying winter activities at the Christmas fair. This book includes a Black Cake recipe for all to enjoy! BIO Yolanda T. Marshall is a Guyanese-born Canadian Author. The daughter of a Jazz musician, she began writing poems at eight. A cross-genre writer, world traveller, jazz lover and devoted mother, she embodies art and takes her readers on adventurous, cultured journeys. This author is Agented. Titles since 2020 have been traditionally published in Canada. She is also a proud member of CANSCAIP (Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers) and The Writer's Union of Canada. [H] Garnalma Press / November 18, 2019 0.25" H x 8.5" L x 11.0" W (0.89 lbs) 32 pages

A Piece of Black Cake for Santa /// Yolanda T. Marshall, illustrations by Subi Bosa

The newest novel by the author of Akata Witch and the forthcoming Marvel comic book series about Shuri, Black Panther's sister! "The most imaginative, gripping, enchanting fantasy novels I have ever read!" --Laurie Halse Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Speak A year ago, Sunny Nwazue, an American-born girl Nigerian girl, was inducted into the secret Leopard Society. As she began to develop her magical powers, Sunny learned that she had been chosen to lead a dangerous mission to avert an apocalypse, brought about by the terrifying masquerade, Ekwensu. Now, stronger, feistier, and a bit older, Sunny is studying with her mentor Sugar Cream and struggling to unlock the secrets in her strange Nsibidi book. Eventually, Sunny knows she must confront her destiny. With the support of her Leopard Society friends, Orlu, Chichi, and Sasha, and of her spirit face, Anyanwu, she will travel through worlds both visible and invisible to the mysteries town of Osisi, where she will fight a climactic battle to save humanity. BIO Much-honored Nnedi Okorafor, winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards, merges today's Nigeria with a unique world she creates. Akata Warrior blends mythology, fantasy, history and magic into a compelling tale that will keep readers spellbound. REVIEWS "★ Akata Warrior swiftly synthesizes the lessons and knowledge of the first book into a heart-racing story of resilience and a determination to save the world. This title is a unique coming of age story, coupling the distinct experience of the cultural duality as both African and African-American with lessons of love, loyalty, and the pains of adolescent insecurities." -- BCCB, starred review "There's more imagination on a page of Nnedi Okorafor's work than in whole volumes of ordinary fantasy epics." --Ursula K. Le Guin, award-winning author of A Wizard of Earthsea "The voice of Nnedi Okorafor does not obey the rules of distance, time, or place. Hers is the voice that fuses matter and imagination. She shows us just how close we are to that alternate reality." --Tchidi Chikere, Nigerian award-winning film director and screenwriter [H] Viking Books for Young Readers / October 03, 2017 1.7" H x 8.3" L x 5.4" W (1.3 lbs) 496 pages [P] Speak / October 16, 2018 1.4" H x 8.2" L x 5.4" W (0.94 lbs) 512 pages

Akata Warrior /// Nnedi Okorafor

Affectionately dubbed the Nigerian Harry Potter, Akata Witch weaves together a heart-pounding tale of magic, mystery, and finding one's place in the world. Twelve-year-old Sunny lives in Nigeria, but she was born American. Her features are African, but she's albino. She's a terrific athlete, but can't go out into the sun to play soccer. There seems to be no place where she fits in. And then she discovers something amazing--she is a free agent with latent magical power. Soon she's part of a quartet of magic students, studying the visible and invisible, learning to change reality. But will it be enough to help them when they are asked to catch a career criminal who knows magic too? Ursula K. Le Guin and John Green are Nnedi Okorafor fans. As soon as you start reading Akata Witch, you will be, too! BIO Nnedi Okorafor is a novelist of African-based science fiction, fantasy, and magical realism for both children and adults. Born in the United States to Nigerian immigrant parents, Nnedi is known for weaving African culture into creative evocative settings and memorable characters. In a profile of Nnedi's work, the New York Times called Nnedi's imagination "stunning." Nnedi has received the World Fantasy Award, the Hugo Award, and the Nebula Award, among others, for her novels. She holds a PhD in English and is a professor at SUNY Buffalo. She divides her time between Buffalo and the suburbs of Chicago, where she lives with her daughter. Learn more at nnedi.com or follow her on Twitter @nnedi. REVIEWS "Okorafor's novels tend to reflect both her West-African heritage and American experiences, but in this series she creates a stunningly original world of African magic that draws on Nigerian folk beliefs and rituals instead of relying on the predictable tropes of Western fantasy novels." -- Time Magazine "There's more imagination on a page of Nnedi Okorafor's work than in whole volumes of ordinary fantasy epics." --Ursula K. Le Guin, award-winning author of A Wizard of Earthsea "I always loved science fiction, but I didn't feel I was part of it--until I read first Octavia Butler, and now Nnedi Okorafor." --Whoopi Goldberg [H] Viking Books for Young Readers / April 14, 2011 1.35" H x 8.58" L x 5.82" W (1.05 lbs) 368 pages [P] ﻿Speak / July 17, 2017 1.1" H x 8.1" L x 5.4" W (0.75 lbs) 384 pages

Akata Witch /// Nnedi Okorafor

#1 New York Times Bestselling and award-winning author of The Undefeated, Kwame Alexander, pens a powerful picture book that tells the story of American slavery through the voice of a teacher struggling to help her students understand its harrowing history. From the fireside tales in an African village, through the unspeakable passage across the Atlantic, to the backbreaking work in the fields of the South, this is a story of a people’s struggle and strength, horror and hope. This is the story of American slavery, a story that needs to be told and understood by all of us. A testament to the resilience of the African American community, this book honors what has been and envisions what is to be. With stunning mixed-media illustrations by newcomer Dare Coulter, this is a potent book for those who want to speak the truth. Perfect for family sharing, the classroom, and homeschooling. BIO Kwame Alexander is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books, including his Newbery Medal-winning novel The Crossover and The Undefeated, winner of the Caldecott Medal and Newbery Honor. He is the founding editor of Versify, which aims to change the world one word at a time. REVIEWS An Indie Next List Pick "Beautifully crafted and brutally honest, this offers a thoughtful introduction to a necessary topic." -- Booklist, starred review "With powerful art from a bold new talent, this is a probing and sensitive take on a devastating chapter of U.S. history." -- Kirkus, starred review "Alexander and Coulter have created a powerful counternarrative in their efforts to answer the question, “How do you tell a story about slavery?” -- Horn Book, starred review "A layered, compassionate telling that considers how to relay difficult truths, and as the art converges into a visual of past and present together, stirring concluding lines suggest a route forward." -- Publisher's Weekly, starred review [H] Little, Brown Books for Young Readers / January 03, 2023 0.6" H x 10.1" L x 10.1" W (1.28 lbs) 56 pages

An American Story /// Kwame Alexander

A West African story about the much-loved trickster, Anansi, retold and reimagined for a new generation by award-winning author Taiye Selasi“Allow me to introduce myself.” But he needed no introduction. “Anansi the spider!” said Anansi the boy. “The tales were true!” “Traditional tales are always true,” the spider answered, laughing. “Nothing lasts so long as truth, nor travels quite so far.” Award-winning author of Ghana Must Go, Taiye Selasi, reimagines the story of Anansi, the much-loved trickster, for a new generation. Kweku has grown up hearing stories about the mischievous spider Anansi. He is given the nickname Anansi by his father because of his similarly cheeky ways. On a holiday to visit his beloved Grandma in Ghana, Anansi the spider and Anansi the boy meet, and discover a magical pot that can be filled with whatever they want. Anansi fills it again and again with his favorite red-red stew, and eats so much that he feels sick. Will he learn to share this wonderful gift? This charming retelling of a West African story teaches readers about the dangers of greed, and the importance of being kind. Tinuke Fagborun’s colorful illustrations bring the magic and wonder of the tale to life. When you’ve finished sharing the story, you can also find out more about the origins of Anansi folktales. This is a beautiful storybook that little ones will treasure forever. BIO Taiye Selasi was born in London and raised in Massachusetts. She holds a BA in American studies from Yale and an MPhil in international relations from Oxford University. “The Sex Lives of African Girls” (Granta, 2011), Selasi’s fiction debut, appears in Best American Short Stories 2012. Author of Ghana Must Go, she lives in Rome. REVIEWS “A great choice to introduce young readers to West Africa’s wonderful Anansesem storytelling tradition.” --Kirkus Reviews“Selasi brilliantly explores family, tradition, and sharing with a stylish telling and grand show of humanity.” --School Library Journal [H] DK Publishing (Dorling Kindersley) / February 15, 2022 0.4" H x 9.6" L x 9.6" W (0.9 lbs) 32 pages

Anansi and the Golden Pot /// Taiye Selasi, illustrated by Tinuke Fagborun

B is for Baby. B is for Brother. B is for going to see Baba! One morning after breakfast, Baby's big brother is getting ready to take the basket of bananas all the way to Baba's bungalow in the next village. He'll have to go along the bumpy road, past the baobab trees, birds, and butterflies, and all the way over the bridge. But what he doesn't realize is that his very cute, very curious baby sibling has stowed away on his bicycle! Little ones learning about language will love sounding out the words in this playful, vibrantly illustrated story set in West Africa. BIO Atinuke is a Nigerian-born author who started her career doing traditional oral storytelling. Her books include a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Winner, a Notable Book for a Global Society, a Cybils Award Winner, and an Africana Award Winner. She lives in Wales. Angela Brooksbank worked as a designer and art director in children's book publishing before turning her hand to her own illustration. Baby Goes to Market is her debut picture book. She lives in London. REVIEWS "A circular tale of family love with visual rewards. . . . There's no denying the joy in this book." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) [H] Candlewick Press (MA) / March 12, 2019 0.4" H x 11.1" L x 10.0" W (1.2 lbs) 40 pages [B] Candlewick Press (MA) / March 09, 2021 0.6" H x 7.1" L x 6.3" W (0.62 lbs) 28 pages

B is for Baby. B is for Brother. B is for going to see Baba! 
One morning after breakfast, Baby's big brother is getting ready to take the basket of bananas all the way to Baba's bungalow in the next village. He'll have to go along the bumpy road, past the baobab trees, birds, and butterflies, and all the way over the bridge. But what he doesn't realize is that his very cute, very curious baby sibling has stowed away on his bicycle! Little ones learning about language will love sounding out the words in this playful, vibrantly illustrated story set in West Africa. 
BIO
Atinuke is a Nigerian-born author who started her career doing traditional oral storytelling. Her books include a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Winner, a Notable Book for a Global Society, a Cybils Award Winner, and an Africana Award Winner. She lives in Wales.
Angela Brooksbank worked as a designer and art director in children's book publishing before turning her hand to her own illustration. Baby Goes to Market is her debut picture book. She lives in London.
 REVIEWS
"A circular tale of family love with visual rewards. . . . There's no denying the joy in this book." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
 
[H] Candlewick Press (MA)  /  <meta charset="utf-8">March 12, 2019
<meta charset="utf-8">0.4" H x 11.1" L x 10.0" W (1.2 lbs) 40 pages
[B] Candlewick Press (MA)  /  <meta charset="utf-8">
March 09, 2021
<meta charset="utf-8">0.6" H x 7.1" L x 6.3" W (0.62 lbs) 28 pages

B Is for Baby /// Atinuke with illustrations by Angela Brooksbank

Board Book

Join Baby and his doting mama at a bustling southwest Nigerian marketplace for a bright, bouncy read-aloud offering a gentle introduction to numbers. Market is very crowded.Mama is very busy.Baby is very curious. When Baby and Mama go to the market, Baby is so adorable that the banana seller gives him six bananas. Baby eats one and puts five in the basket, but Mama doesn't notice. As Mama and Baby wend their way through the stalls, cheeky Baby collects five oranges, four biscuits, three ears of sweet corn, two pieces of coconut . . . until Mama notices that her basket is getting very heavy! Poor Baby, she thinks, he must be very hungry by now! Rhythmic language, visual humor, and a bounty of delectable food make this a tale that is sure to whet little appetites for story time. BIO Atinuke is a Nigerian-born author who started her career doing traditional oral storytelling. Her books include a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Winner, a Notable Book for a Global Society, a Cybils Award Winner, and an Africana Award Winner. She lives in Wales. Angela Brooksbank worked as a designer and art director in children's book publishing before turning her hand to her own illustration. Baby Goes to Market is her debut picture book. She lives in London. REVIEWS The smiling, all-black cast sort through myriad wares, while the text keeps up its rhythm, introducing both typical items bought in a West African market and a gentle lesson in arithmetic as Baby alternately snacks and stashes his gifts. Indeed, no one will be able to resist this baby. --Kirkus Reviews The vibrant marketplace is filled with color, texture, and patterns created using a mixed-media palette. The opening and ending endpapers feature the same pattern that is on the wrap Mama uses to hold Baby on her back. Young listeners will delight in getting to know Baby and his Mama as they shop throughout the market. Consider for first purchase in larger collections. --School Library Journal Brooksbank's illustrations, based on her own childhood memories of going to market in Nigeria, are full of colours, patterns and prints, and varieties of local transport. Repetition and variation make the book especially good for the young, and its wealth visual detail promises many satisfying rereadings.--Saturday Star [H] Candlewick Press (MA) / September 05, 2017 0.5" H x 11.3" L x 10.0" W (1.13 lbs) 32 pages [B] Candlewick Press (MA) / March 12, 2019 0.6" H x 7.2" L x 6.2" W (0.65 lbs) 26 pages

Baby Goes to Market /// Atinuke with illustrations by Angela Brooksbank

An exuberant picture book written by Alliah L. Agostini and illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice is about a Black boy with big dancing dreams who learns the meaning of courage and community. It’s the weekend, first in June; speaker’s blasting out big tune!Cousins, aunties, uncles, friends pack the house, and fun begins.Shane is shy but loves to dance—and all year long, he’s picked up cansto earn some money toward his goal: high-tops with a pump-up sole.But then the speaker blows—it’s done! Will this stop his family’s fun?Can Shane come through to save the day and bring back Big Tune Saturday?Set within a vibrant Caribbean American neighborhood and told to a rhythmic beat, Big Tune is a story of Black boy joy that touches on determination, confidence to express who you are, selflessness, and community gratitude. BIO Alliah L. Agostini is an author and the founder of Grownesque, a blog and social media destination for Xennial women. She has an AB and MBA from Harvard and currently resides in New Jersey, where she enjoys impromptu dance parties and making up corny jokes with her husband and two children. Big Tune is her first fiction picture book. Shamar Knight-Justice is an illustrator based in Atlanta, Georgia. He grew up with a crayon in his hand and a love for patterns. He currently serves as the principal of an elementary school in Southwest Atlanta, where his scholars’ stories and personalities inspire him to create illustrations that honor their identities. When not drawing, Shamar loves to spend time hoarding collage materials, going on long walks with his family, and devouring the nearest pancake. REVIEWS This lively, vibrant narrative has an infectious spirit, and Shane is irresistible. Grounded in a tightknit Jamaican American community, the story deftly incorporates visual and textual references to dance styles, food, and other cultural touchstones... Themes of joy, solidarity, and artistic expression are effortlessly woven throughout the words and images... An exuberant celebration of community that leaps off the page." -- Kirkus, starred review"Portrayals of diasporic Caribbean culture and a child’s selflessness distinguish Agostini’s 1990s Brooklyn-set story celebrating connection and community... Agostini’s buoyant rhyming verse pulses with details, and Knight-Justice’s stylized illustrations layer bold patterns and textures with typewritten text, sheet music, and images of the Jamaican flag, building a joyfully immersive portrait of neighborhood gatherings where 'Swaying hips wine fast and slow./ Brown skin shines with black light’s glow.'" -- Publishers Weekly, starred review"The vibrant beat of the rhyming text makes a splendid complement to the energetic art. Rich textures evocative of cutpaper collage and dynamic patterns give enthusiastic life to the more geometric backgrounds, and figures are always in movement, with poses swinging, swaying, and bopping." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"The picture book stresses the importance of community and selflessness, essential lessons for a picture book audience. Distinctive and vibrant collage-style illustrations depict a Black community of various skin tones and hair textures. This unique picture book’s celebration of Jamaican culture and community is a great addition to every ­library." -- School Library Journal [H] Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) / March 28, 2023 1.0" H x 11.0" L x 9.0" W (1.0 lbs) 40 pages

Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince /// Alliah L. Agostini; illustrations by Shamar Knight-Justice

A little girl helping her grandmother prepare a holiday meal learns about the origins of soul food in this powerful picture book that celebrates African American cuisine and identity from an award-winning author.Know what I like most about Grandma’s kitchen?More than jambalaya? More than sweet potato pie? Even more than pralines?Grandma’s stories! Every meal Grandma cooks comes with a story.What will today’s story be?While visiting her grandma in Louisiana, nine-year-old Frances is excited to help prepare the New Year’s Day meal. She listens as Grandma tells stories—dating back to the Atlantic Slave Trade—about the food for their feast. Through these stories, Frances learns not only about the ingredients and the dishes they are making but about her ancestors and their history as well. A celebration of the stories that connect us, this picture book urges us to think about the foods we eat and why we eat them. This book was inspired by the author’s own childhood and includes her family’s very own recipe for pralines in the back! BIO GLENDA ARMAND has had a long career as a teacher and school librarian and enjoys writing picture-book biographies that inspire children to dream big. Glenda is the author of the award-winning Love Twelve Miles Long, Ira’s Shakespeare Dream, and Song in a Rainstorm: The Story of Musical Prodigy Thomas “Blind Tom” Wiggins. Her picture book Black-Eyed Peas and Hoghead Cheese will be published by Crown Books for Young Readers in Fall 2022. When not writing or practicing the piano, Glenda tends a garden full of succulents and roses. She lives in Los Angeles, and you can learn more about her at glenda-armand.com. [H] Crown Books for Young Readers / September 06, 2022 0.4" H x 10.1" L x 10.35" W (1.03 lbs) 40 pages

Black-Eyed Peas and Hoghead Cheese: A Story of Food, Family, and Freedom /// Glenda Armand, illustrations by Steffi Walthall

A celebration of the color black, from the team who created Brown: The Many Shades of Love Black is a wonderful color. Black is special. It is true. It’s the sky when the morning is new. In this loving and lovely ode to the color black, a girl describes the many wonders of her world—from the black of starry nights to her own black eyes, clear and bright. BIO Nancy Johnson James is a writer and educator based in Oakland, California. She is the author of Brown: The Many Shades of Love, illustrated by Constance Moore, published by Cameron Kids. Constance Moore is an artist and educator based in Oakland, California. She loves teaching elementary school art and shares her students’ love of color. REVIEWS An eye-opening tribute to an often underrated color." --Kirkus Reviews "The text discusses positive examples of the color black, deliberately diminishing its stereotypical associations with danger, negativity, and sadness. Childlike collage illustrations layer images on abstract or earth-toned backgrounds, successfully conveying black’s ubiquitous presence in the world, along with its beauty." --Booklist [H] Harry N. Abrams / April 12, 2022 0.4" H x 10.0" L x 7.8" W (0.65 lbs) 32 pages

Black: The Many Wonders of My World /// Nancy Johnson James, illustrated by Constance Moore

Jacqueline Woodson’s National Book Award and Newbery Honor winner is a powerful memoir that tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing verse.A President Obama “O” Book Club pickRaised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson’s eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become.Includes 7 additional poems, including “Brown Girl Dreaming.” BIO Jacqueline Woodson is the recipient of a 2020 MacArthur Fellowship, the 2020 Hans Christian Andersen Award, the 2018 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, and the 2018 Children’s Literature Legacy Award. She was the 2018–2019 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, and in 2015, she was named the Young People’s Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation. She received the 2014 National Book Award for her New York Times bestselling memoir Brown Girl Dreaming, which was also a recipient of the Coretta Scott King Award, a Newbery Honor, the NAACP Image Award, and a Sibert Honor. She wrote the adult books Red at the Bone, a New York Times bestseller, and Another Brooklyn, a 2016 National Book Award finalist. Born in Columbus, Ohio, Jacqueline grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from college with a B.A. in English. She is the author of dozens of award-winning books for young adults, middle graders, and children; among her many accolades, she is a four-time Newbery Honor winner, a four-time National Book Award finalist, and a three-time Coretta Scott King Award winner. Her books include Coretta Scott King Award winner Before the Ever After; New York Times bestsellers The Day You Begin and Harbor Me; The Other Side, Each Kindness, Caldecott Honor book Coming On Home Soon; Newbery Honor winners Feathers, Show Way, and After Tupac and D Foster; and Miracle’s Boys, which received the LA Times Book Prize and the Coretta Scott King Award. Jacqueline is also a recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement for her contributions to young adult literature and a two-time winner of the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York. REVIEWS A National Book Award WinnerA Coretta Scott King Award WinnerA Newbery Honor BookOne of TIME MAGAZINE’s 100 Best YA Books of All Time“Brown Girl Dreaming, Jacqueline Woodson’s highly lauded collection of free-verse poems about her childhood in New York and South Carolina, has language simple enough to be accessible to tweens and young teenagers and more than enough complexity to engage older readers. The winner of a Newbery Honor, NAACP Image Award, National Book Award and Coretta Scott King Award, Brown Girl Dreaming presents the story of Woodson’s experiences living with the remnants of Jim Crow during the 1960s and 1970s. The author confronts issues like faith, racism and sexual abuse using the elegant, spare language and powerful imagery she has come to be known for.” -- TIME MAGAZINE“Gorgeous.” -- Vanity Fair“A radiantly warm memoir.” -- The Washington Post“Moving and resonant . . . captivating.” -- The Wall Street Journal“This is a book full of poems that cry out to be learned by heart. These are poems that will, for years to come, be stored in our bloodstream.” -- The New York Times Book Review“A profoundly moving memoir.” -- San Francisco Chronicle“The writer’s passion for stories and storytelling permeates the memoir, explicitly addressed in her early attempts to write books and implicitly conveyed through her sharp images and poignant observations seen through the eyes of a child. Woodson’s ability to listen and glean meaning from what she hears lead to an astute understanding of her surroundings, friends, and family.” -- Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW "Ms. Woodson writes with a sure understanding of the thoughts of young people, offering a poetic, eloquent narrative that is not simply a story, but a mature exploration of grown-up issues and self-discovery." -- The New York Times Book Review [H] Nancy Paulsen Books / August 28, 2014 1.2" H x 8.75" L x 5.89" W (1.04 lbs) 352 pages [P] Nancy Paulsen Books / October 11, 2016 1.1" H x 8.1" L x 5.6" W (0.75 lbs) 368 pages

Brown Girl Dreaming /// Jacqueline Woodson

D is for dance! E is for emancipation! From A to Z, this is a rhyming alphabet book that celebrates Canada’s Caribbean Carnival. This engaging and educational book features a diverse cast of children in vibrant costumes as they ‘play mas’ while dancing to Soca and Calypso music. A glossary at the end makes it easy for readers, including parents and teachers, to review what they have learned. BIO Yolanda T. Marshall is a Guyanese-born Canadian author. In 2015, after becoming a mom, Yolanda was inspired to write her first children’s book named Keman’s First Carnival. Yolanda is also the author of, A Piece of Black Cake for Santa, Sweet Sorrel Stand, and Miles Away In The Caribbean. A world traveller, a jazz lover and a devoted mother, she embodies art and takes her readers on adventurous, cultured journeys. Yolanda lives in Toronto, Canada with her family. [H] Chalkboard Publishing / May 01, 2023 0.25" H x 8.5" L x 11.0" W (0.9 lbs) 34 pages [P] Chalkboard Publishing / April 20, 2023 0.09" H x 8.5" L x 11.0" W (0.3 lbs) 34 pages

C is for Carnival /// Yolanda T. Marshall, illustrations by Daria Lavrova

In this heartwarming tale inspired by her childhood, superstar chef and TV host Carla Hall shares the story of young Carla, who eats a sugar cookie meant for Santa on the night before Christmas and tries to make things right. Christmas is Carla's favorite holiday of the year. She goes to her grandparents' house and eats grandma's special recipe--a perfectly delicious cornbread. She listens to her grandpa Doc's marvelous stories about traveling the world. And, best of all, she spends lots of time with her family. But when Carla accidentally takes a bite out of Santa's sugar cookie, she thinks she's ruined Christmas. How will Santa know to stop at their house if they don't leave him a midnight snack? With her grandmother's help, Carla comes up with a plan, but will it be enough to save Christmas? BIO Carla Hall attended L'Academie de Cuisine in Maryland. She gained her audience when she competed on Bravo's Top Chef and Top Chef: All Stars. She has been a TV personality since then, cohosting on the ABC talk show The Chew, contributing on Good Morning America, and featuring as a judge on Crazy Delicious on Netflix and on Bakeaway Camp on the Food Network. She is the author of Carla's Comfort Foods, Cooking with Love, and Carla Hall's Soul Food, which received an NAACP Image Awards nomination. She lives in Washington D.C. with her husband. Visit carlahall.com for more. Cherise Harris is an illustrator from Barbados. Her work centers around an interest in fairy tale and its role in telling deep and meaningful stories. Cherise uses pencil, watercolor, and clay, exploring her ideas in both 2D and 3D form. She also uses Photoshop to create digital art and gifs. She received her associate's degree in visual arts at the Barbados Community College, her BFA in illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and most recently completed her master's in illustration at Falmouth University in the UK. Cherise currently lives back home in Barbados with her husband, Ryan, and her daughter. REVIEWS "With expressive illustrations that set the story in the early 1970s and evoke the Christmas mood in the context of a loving Black family, this tale reminds readers that love and good intentions can almost always save the day. Readers will be eager to try out the cornbread recipe included in the endmatter...[h]eartwarming and cozy." --Kirkus Reviews Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers / November 02, 2021 0.41" H x 10.28" L x 11.4" W (1.18 lbs) 40 pages

Carla and the Christmas Cornbread /// Carla Hall, illustrated by Cherise Harris

The team behind Baby Goes to Market and B Is for Baby visit a Nigerian village for a humorous ode to childhood ingenuity. Lami is the best chicken catcher in the whole village. Her sister may be speedy at spelling, her friend fast at braiding hair, and her brother brave with bulls, but when it comes to chickens, nobody is faster or braver than Lami. That is, until the day when Lami chases a little too fast, up the baobab tree, and reaches a little too far . . . ow! How can she catch chickens with an ankle that's puffed up like an angry lizard? Could it be, as Nana Nadia says, that quick thinking is more important than quick running? Award-winning author Atinuke celebrates Nigerian village life in a story vibrantly illustrated by Angela Brooksbank with a universal message at its heart. BIO Atinuke is a Nigerian-born author who started her career doing traditional oral storytelling. Her books include a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Winner, a Notable Book for a Global Society, a Cybils Award Winner, and an Africana Award Winner. She lives in Wales. Angela Brooksbank, a former designer and art director in children's book publishing, is the illustrator of B Is for Baby and Baby Goes to Market, both by Atinuke. She lives in London. REVIEWS "Living in a small African village compound, perhaps in the author's home country of Nigeria, Lami is cheerfully energetic, always ready to take off chasing a chicken, with beaded hair bouncing happily. The text is lively and snappy, full of well chosen verbs and adverbs punctuated with smooth alliteration. The mixed-media illustrations portray sunny scenes of family life."--Booklist "Humorous and colorful mixed-media illustrations depict a tightknit community, with entertaining details about how Lami's poultry obsession plays out in daily life; even while getting her hair braided, for example, she lunges for a chicken passing by. A thoughtful mix of double-page spreads, single pages, and occasional panel-style illustrations allows for quicker or slower pacing throughout. Lively chase scenes and funny poultry antics make for a laugh-out-loud preschool adventure." --The Horn Book "Atinuke's well-paced text uses repetition, alliteration and seamless bilingual text to draw her audience into the story. It's nicely paired with Atinuke's previous illustrative partner (B Is for Baby; Baby Goes to Market) Angela Brooksbank's brightly colored, patterned and energetic mixed-media illustrations, which convey a strong sense of life within the bustling compound." --Shelf Awareness for Readers (starred review) [H] Candlewick Press (MA) / July 07, 2020 0.5" H x 11.2" L x 9.9" W (1.15 lbs) 32 pages

Catch That Chicken! /// Atinuke with illustrations by Angela Brooksbank

A lyrical picture book debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author and presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman and #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Loren Long I can hear change hummingIn its loudest, proudest song.I don't fear change coming,And so I sing along. In this stirring, much-anticipated picture book by presidential inaugural poet and activist Amanda Gorman, anything is possible when our voices join together. As a young girl leads a cast of characters on a musical journey, they learn that they have the power to make changes--big or small--in the world, in their communities, and in most importantly, in themselves. With lyrical text and rhythmic illustrations that build to a dazzling crescendo by #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Loren Long, Change Sings is a triumphant call to action for everyone to use their abilities to make a difference. BIOS ﻿Amanda Gorman is the youngest presidential inaugural poet in US history. She is a committed advocate for the environment, racial equality, and gender justice. Amanda's activism and poetry have been featured on The Today Show, PBS Kids, and CBS This Morning, and in the New York Times, Vogue, Essence, and O, The Oprah Magazine. In 2017, Urban Word named her the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States. After graduating cum laude from Harvard University, she now lives in her hometown of Los Angeles. The special edition of her inaugural poem, "The Hill We Climb," was published in March 2021 and debuted at #1 on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. Her debut picture book, Change Sings, will be published in September 2021. Please visit theamandagorman.com. Loren Long is the author and illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Otis series which is in development as an animated television series. He's also the illustrator of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Of Thee I Sing by Barack Obama and Love by Matt de la Pena. He recently illustrated a modern edition of the Clement C. Moore classic The Night Before Christmas. He lives near Cincinnati with his wife and rescue hound, Charlie. Visit him online at LorenLong.com or on Twitter @lorenlong. REVIEWS "In rich language and vivid art, this hopeful celebration of the life-affirming power of change to ripple out into a better future is irresistible. Text and poetry work together to regulate a careful reading of this beautiful work. One to keep, to read, and to reread." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "This uplifting serenade will instill readers of any age with hope for the future and the initiative to improve it." --Publishers Weekly, (starred review) "A lovely and loving call to action and kindness." --Booklist "So rich are both the art and the verses in uplifting imagery that it's hard to imagine any young audience remaining unstirred by this call to be the change they want to see." --School Library Journal Viking Books for Young Readers / September 21, 2021 0.5" H x 11.1" L x 10.3" W (1.2 lbs) 32 pages

Change Sings: A Children's Anthem /// Amanda Gorman

A warm and inviting picture-book portrait of African American culinary legend Edna Lewis, who brought Southern cooking to the masses Edna loved to cook. Growing up on a farm in Freetown, Virginia, she learned the value of fresh, local, seasonal food from her Mama Daisy, how to measure ingredients for biscuits using coins, and to listen closely to her cakes to know when they were done. Edna carried these traditions with her all the way to New York, where she became a celebrated chef, who could even turn traditional French food into her signature Southern style. The author of several cookbooks and the recipient of numerous awards, Chef Edna introduced the world to the flavors of her home. BIO Melvina Noel loves to write and to bake cakes. Thanks to Edna, she listens to her cakes to tell her when they are done. Noel lives in Virginia. This is her debut picture book. Cozbi A. Cabrera is an award-winning illustrator whose gorgeous books—including Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks, published by Abrams—have garnered a Coretta Scott King Honor as well as a Caldecott Honor for illustration. She lives in Illinois. REVIEWS “This tribute to a dedicated champion of traditional Southern food and culture makes a wonderful read-aloud." -- Booklist "Cabrera’s vivid paintings are equally at home depicting the glamour of New York society and the closeness of Freetown’s community." -- The Horn Book Magazine [H] Cameron Kids / April 18, 2023 ﻿0.42" H x 11.22" L x 10.17" W (1.07 lbs) 32 pages

Chef Edna: Queen of Southern Cooking, Edna Lewis /// Melvina Noel, illustrations by Cozbi A. Cabrera

Ada Ruth's mama must go away to Chicago to work, leaving Ada Ruth and Grandma behind. It's war time, and women are needed to fill the men's jobs. As winter sets in, Ada Ruth and her grandma keep up their daily routine, missing Mama all the time. They find strength in each other, and a stray kitten even arrives one day to keep them company, but nothing can fill the hole Mama left. Every day they wait, watching for the letter that says Mama will be coming on home soon. Set during World War II, Coming On Home Soon has a timeless quality that will appeal to all who wait and hope. BIO Jacqueline Woodson (www.jacquelinewoodson.com) is the recipient of a 2020 MacArthur Fellowship, the 2020 Hans Christian Andersen Award, the 2018 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, and the 2018 Children's Literature Legacy Award. She was the 2018-2019 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, and in 2015, she was named the Young People's Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation. She received the 2014 National Book Award for her New York Times bestselling memoir Brown Girl Dreaming, which was also a recipient of the Coretta Scott King Award, a Newbery Honor, the NAACP Image Award, and a Sibert Honor. She wrote the adult books Red at the Bone, a New York Times bestseller, and Another Brooklyn, a 2016 National Book Award finalist. Born in Columbus, Ohio, Jacqueline grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from college with a B.A. in English. She is the author of dozens of award-winning books for young adults, middle graders, and children; among her many accolades, she is a four-time Newbery Honor winner, a four-time National Book Award finalist, and a three-time Coretta Scott King Award winner. Her books include Coretta Scott King Award winner Before the Ever After; New York Times bestsellers The Day You Begin and Harbor Me; The Other Side, Each Kindness, Caldecott Honor book Coming On Home Soon; Newbery Honor winners Feathers, Show Way, and After Tupac and D Foster; and Miracle's Boys, which received the LA Times Book Prize and the Coretta Scott King Award. Jacqueline is also a recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement for her contributions to young adult literature and a two-time winner of the Jane Addams Children's Book Award. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York. E. B. Lewis has illustrated more than fifty picture books, including Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner Talkin' About Bessie (by Nikki Grimes) and Caldecott Honor winner Coming On Home Soon (by Jacqueline Woodson). He taught art in public schools for twelve years, and currently teaches at the University of Arts in Philadelphia. He lives in Folsom, New Jersey. REVIEWS "Woodson and Lewis tell a moving historical story of longing and separation. [The] period and place are wonderfully specific; the yearning is timeless." --Booklist, starred review "Perfectly matched words and illustrations masterfully bring to life all the emotions that the girl is experiencing as she, her grandmother, and a stray kitten that has come to stay all try to comfort and console one another." --School Library Journal, starred review G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers / October 07, 2004 0.4" H x 11.0" L x 8.8" W (0.9 lbs) 32 pages

Coming On Home Soon /// Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

The stunning new picture book by presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman and Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Christian RobinsonYou’re told thatThis won’t work,But how will you knowIf you never try?Presidential inaugural poet and #1 New York Times bestselling author Amanda Gorman and Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor winner Christian Robinson have created a timeless message of hope.Sometimes the world feels broken. And problems seem too big to fix. But somehow, we all have the power to make a difference. With a little faith, and maybe the help of a friend, together we can find beauty and create change.With intimate and inspiring text and powerfully stunning illustrations, Something, Someday reveals how even the smallest gesture can have a lasting impact. BIO Amanda Gorman is the youngest presidential inaugural poet in US history. She is a committed advocate for the environment, racial equality, and gender justice. Amanda’s activism and poetry have been featured on The Today Show, PBS Kids, and CBS This Morning, and in the New York Times, Vogue, Essence, and O, The Oprah Magazine. In 2017, Urban Word named her the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States. After graduating cum laude from Harvard University, she now lives in her hometown of Los Angeles. The special edition of her inaugural poem, “The Hill We Climb,” was published in March 2021 and debuted at #1 on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. Her debut picture book, Change Sings, will be published in September 2021. Please visit theamandagorman.com. Christian Robinson received a Caldecott Honor and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor for his art in Last Stop on Market Street. He is the author and illustrator of the picture books Another and You Matter, and he has illustrated many more, including Carmela Full of Wishes, the Gaston and Friends series, School’s First Day of School, and The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade. You can visit Christian at theartoffun.com, or follow him on Twitter @theartoffunnews and on Instagram @theartoffun. REVIEWS ﻿★ ”Gorman immerses readers in the experience, assuring them that they are not alone in their longings for a better world.” -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review ★ “[A] soaring poem about change… Together, the creators chronicle a child trusting their inner voice and working out how to address what feels in need of care, while Robinson’s neighborhood scenes, portraying a community of varying abilities, ages, and skin tones, model collaboration as a means for metamorphosis.” -- Publishers Weekly, starred review★ “The picture book’s second-person point of view invites the audience to feel as if they’re a part of the story and empowered to change something within their community. The use of collage perfectly communicates the idea of what once was trash being transformed anew… This picture book’s timely message about coming together to make a change is a perfect addition to all libraries.” -- School Library Journal, starred review“Award-winning Robinson and lauded poet Gorman are a perfect match, and fans of both will be eager to read their collaboration.” -- Booklist“The text is lyrical but accessible, and Gorman brings a compassionate commiseration and firm determination to her call to action.” -- BCCB [H] Viking / September 26, 2023 ﻿0.2" H x 10.28" L x 8.39" W (0.89 lbs) 40 pages

Something, Someday /// Amanda Gorman, illustrations by Christian Robinson /// new

This rhythmic, joyous picture book from Natalie Daise, the co-star of the hit Nickelodeon show "Gullah Gullah Island," celebrates a special day of father-son cooking, and serves up a love letter to food, family, Gullah Geechee culture, and tradition—and includes the author's own recipe! For fans of Fry Bread, My Papi Has a Motorcycle, and Thank You, Omu!Papa has something special planned for tonight’s family dinner—and Bobo can’t wait! Excited to learn how to make okra stew like his ancestors, Bobo helps Papa pick veggies from the garden, catch shrimp from the creek, rain down rice in the pot, simmer the stew, and even make a tasty side of cornbread. When the stew begins to bubble and pop, Bobo and his family gather around for a mouthwatering feast. BIO Natalie Daise is a magnetic performer, speaker, and artist who has long connected with young people in her community and beyond, sharing Gullah songs and traditions. Best known as the co-star of the hit Nickelodeon show "Gullah Gullah Island," Natalie is embarking on a new form of storytelling with her debut picture book, Okra Stew, and hopes to continue to entertain, educate, empower and inspire. She has been married to Ron Daise, her cheerleader, supporter, and committed partner in creativity and life since 1985. They have two children, Sara and Simeon, by birth, and one, Sabrina, by heart. REVIEWS "A loving family, a verdant garden, and Gullah Geechee traditions are key ingredients to this delightful stew of a story. Delicious from 'dayclean' to 'when the sun red fa down.'" -- Kirkus, starred review [H] Henry Holt & Company / October 10, 2023 ﻿1.0" H x 10.0" L x 10.0" W (1.0 lbs) 40 pages

Okra Stew: A Gullah Geechee Family Celebration /// Natalie Daise /// pre

An inspiring picture book about how children can combine art and activism in their daily lives.“They say I’m an artist. They say I’m an activist.”When a young boy realizes the scope of inequities in the wider world, he’s seized with the urge to do more. He decides to bring together the different parts of himself—the artist and the activist—to become. . . an Artivist. After his mural goes viral, he sets out to change the world one painting at a time.With inspiring text and stunning illustrations by Nikkolas Smith, The Artivist is a call to action for young readers to point out injustice in their lives and try to heal the broken bones of the world through their art. BIO ﻿Nikkolas Smith is an Artivist, picture book author, and Hollywood film illustrator. He is the author-illustrator of The Golden Girls of Rio and My Hair Is Poofy & That’s Okay. He also illustrated the picture books I Am Ruby Bridges, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: The Courage to Dream, That Flag, and the New York Times bestselling The 1619 Project: Born on the Water. Many of Nikkolas’s viral and globally published sketches that have sparked important conversations and inspired meaningful change are included in his book Sunday Sketch: The Art of Nikkolas. He speaks on his Artivism at conferences, workplaces, and schools around the world, and he also leads workshops about digital painting. Born in Houston, Texas, Nikkolas lives in Los Angeles, California. Learn more here: NIKKOLAS.art REVIEWS * “A powerful read-aloud to share and discuss.” -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review. * “A meaningful portrait of artistic advocacy.” -- Publishers Weekly, starred review. [H] Kokila / September 5, 2023 0.6" H x 10.3" L x 10.3" W (1.25 lbs) 40 pages

The Artivist /// Nikkolas Smith /// new

From the New York Times bestselling creator of the Questioneers, Andrea Beaty, and author Theanne Griffithcomes The Science of Baking (Ada Twist, Scientist: The Why Files), a nonfiction early-reader book based on the Netflix series!How does a cake bake? What’s the difference between baking soda and baking powder? And why is it so important to measure the different ingredients in a recipe?Ada Twist, Scientist: The Why Files is the perfect nonfiction resource for all these questions and more. Based on the bestselling series and the Netflix show, this nonfiction series is perfect for the youngest scientists of tomorrow as they learn along with Ada. Designed in a scrapbook format, these books combine art from the show, illustrations, and photography to bring simple science concepts to life. BIO Theanne Griffith is a neuroscientist and the author of the Magnificent Makers chapter book series. Since she was a little girl, she’s loved both storytelling and science, and her books combine those two passions. Griffith received her BA in neuroscience and Spanish from Smith College and earned her doctorate in neuroscience from Northwestern University. She is an assistant professor at the University of California, Davis. Andrea Beaty is the author of the bestselling Questioneers series, among other children’s titles. She lives just outside Chicago.[H] Harry N. Abrams / September 06, 2022 ﻿ 0.4" H x 9.2" L x 6.1" W (0.7 lbs) 80 pages

The Science of Baking (Ada Twist, Scientist: The Why Files #3) /// Andrea Beaty and Theanne Griffith

What makes a great juice that keeps everyone healthy? Art and his dad discover it takes carrots... collards... cayenne... and community! When Art's father can't get over a cold, Art knows exactly what his daddy needs: some delicious sick-fighting juice! After looking through the fridge and cupboards, they discover they're missing a key ingredient—ginger. But finding some ginger will take them downtown, to the farmers' market, to the food co-op, to the West African grocery... to an unexpected encounter that brings everyone together, and results in a tasty celebration. Author-illustrator Rob Liu-Trujillo's warm and vibrant watercolor illustrations are a celebration of mixed families and the many individuals who help make a neighborhood feel like a community. Fresh Juice is a delightful, kid- and community-centered picture book that will leave you thirsty for more! BIO Robert Liu-Trujillo is the author-illustrator of Furqan's First Flat Top and the illustrator of many picture books, including Alejandria Fights Back. When he was a kid, his dad made fresh wheatgrass juice and his stepfather juiced fruits and vegetables. Now as a husband and father, Robert makes fresh juice for his family. He lives in Oakland, California, with his wife and two kids. Visit him online at work.robdontstop.com. REVIEWS "This essential story conveys the warmth of community in just one serving." -- School Library Journal (starred review)"An ode to city life and community, this jaunt through public transit, urban farmer's markets, and corner shops highlights the interconnectedness both of Art's neighborhoods and the people in his life, as he sees friendly faces along his journey and eventually comes home to a full house of neighbors and family ready to help Art and his dad. " -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"Liu-Trujillo evokes the warmth of a father-son bond in this food and family story…Art and his community model living in a compassionate world full of realistic diversity…With a recipe included at the end, this heartwarming story emphasizes the healing power of fresh food and a strong community." -- Booklist"Liu-Trujillo's watercolor-esque illustrations add verve and specificity to each character and convey the closeness both of this extended family and the vibrant, predominantly Black and brown neighborhood in which they live. A wonderful story of a community that takes care of its own." -- Kirkus Reviews [H] Lee & Low Books / July 25, 2023 0.7" H x 9.9" L x 8.7" W (0.85 lbs) 32 pages

Fresh Juice /// Robert Liu-Trujillo /// new

What do you see from your window? This #OwnVoices picture book from Brazil offers a first-hand view of what children growing up in the favelas of Rio de Janiero see everyday. A vibrant and diverse celebration of urban community living, brought to life by unique, colorful illustrations that juxtapose brick buildings with lush jungle plants. BIO Otávio Júnior is a Brazilian writer, actor, storyteller and theater producer. He opened the first library in the favelas of Complexo de Penha and Alemao in Rio de Janiero. [H] Barefoot Books / March 15, 2020 0.4" H x 10.0" L x 10.3" W (1.05 lbs) 40 pages [P] Barefoot Books / March 15, 2020 ﻿0.3" H x 9.7" L x 10.0" W (0.5 lbs) 40 pages

From My Window /// Otávio Júnior, illustrations by Vanina Starkoff

Now a Netflix film starring and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, this is a gripping memoir of survival and perseverance about the heroic young inventor who brought electricity to his Malawian village.When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba’s tiny village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season’s crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. William began to explore science books in his village library, looking for a solution. There, he came up with the idea that would change his family’s life forever: he could build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William’s windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land.Retold for a younger audience, this exciting memoir shows how, even in a desperate situation, one boy’s brilliant idea can light up the world. Complete with photographs, illustrations, and an epilogue that will bring readers up to date on William’s story, this is the perfect edition to read and share with the whole family. BIO William Kamkwamba is a graduate of Dartmouth College. His memoir The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind was a New York Times Bestseller and a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. He divides his time between Malawi and San Francisco, California. Bryan Mealer is the author of Muck City: Winning and Losing in Football’s Forgotten Town and the New York Times bestseller The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, which he wrote with William Kamkwamba, in addition to the children’s book of the same title. He’s also the author of All Things Must Fight to Live, which chronicled his years covering the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo for Harper’s and the Associated Press. His work has appeared in the anthology Best American Travel Writing and was chosen for an Overseas Press Club Award Citation. He and his family live in Austin, Texas. REVIEWS "[An] inspiring story of curiosity and ingenuity." -- Publishers Weekly"This book will appeal to adults eager to impart an uplifting Third World human-interest story, but it is also sure to resonate with children who will simply love the curiosity, resilience and resourcefulness of this doughty African youth." -- Wall Street Journal"A powerful, gorgeously illustrated children’s picture book." -- The Boston Globe"This is a dynamic portrait of a young person whose connection to the land, concern for his community, and drive to solve problems offer an inspiring model." -- School Library Journal"Zunon illustrates handsomely, with contrasting cut-paper-collage details and broad, sere landscapes painted in visibly textured oils." -- Kirkus"This picture book in accessible free verse will draw kids who love to construct their own engineering gadgets." -- Booklist [H] Rocky Pond Books / February 05, 2015 1.0" H x 8.5" L x 5.9" W (1.0 lbs) 304 pages [P] Rocky Pond Books / January 05, 2016 0.9" H x 7.5" L x 5.0" W (0.5 lbs) 304 pages

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Young Readers Edition /// William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, illustrations by Anna Hymas

The sights, sounds and tastes of vibrant Saint Lucia come to life in this cumulative tale of a girl’s journey to Carnival. When a series of unexpected delays disrupts her journey to the big parade, Melba must adjust both her expectations and her route to the festivities. Who will she meet and what will she learn along the way? BIO Baptiste Paul is a children’s picture book author. His first book for NorthSouth, The Field, received 3 starred reviews and won the Sonia Lynn Sadler Award, was a Junior Library Guild selection, and also appeared on the Horn Book Fanfare Best of 2018, the School Library Journal Best of 2018, and the CCBC 2018 Choices lists. Baptiste loves sports, likes to roast his own coffee, and grills. He lives in Wisconsin with his family. REVIEWS ★ ‘‘A must-have picture book that educates while it thoroughly entertains’’ -- Kirkus Reviews“Young readers are transported to the Caribbean in this introduction to its culture and wildlife . . . Paul and Glatt’s characters sparkle on the page as they add to their group of friends and realize that they, too, can shine in their own parade” -- Booklist“Imagine a celebration that lasts for 2 ½ months. You don’t have to if you have this book” -- Betsy Bird, Librarian, @FuseEight“The vibrant rainbow of Carnival is reflected in illustrations that marry digital art with childlike drawings, and a section at the back educates children on the culture of Saint Lucia and the history of Carnival” -- Foreword Reviews [H] Barefoot Books / April 01, 2021 0.4" H x 10.8" L x 8.6" W (0.85 lbs) 32 pages [P] Barefoot Books / April 01, 2021 ﻿ 0.2" H x 10.5" L x 8.5" W (0.3 lbs) 32 pages

To Carnival!: A Celebration in Saint Lucia /// Baptiste Paul, illustrations by Jana Glatt

A celebration of family roots from award-winning children's author Carole Boston Weatherford! I've got my brother's ears And my sister's big bright eyes. I've got my grandpa's hands Though mine are a smaller size. As a young girl reflects on the characteristics she shares with members of her family, she also notices and appreciates what makes her unique. This sweet and inclusive board book is the perfect way for kids to reflect on the love and security of family and to celebrate the many wonderful features and qualities that make us each special! BIO Carole Boston Weatherford is an African-American author and critic, now living in North Carolina, United States. She is the winner of the 2022 Coretta Scott King Award for Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre. She writes children's literature and some historical books, as well as poetry and commentaries REVIEWS "A pitch-perfect ode to shared ancestry and the bonds of family." -- starred review, Booklist [B] Sourcebooks Jabberwocky / October 04, 2022 ﻿0.49" H x 6.86" L x 7.06" W (0.57 lbs) 24 page

Me and the Family Tree /// Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrations by Ashleigh Corrin

Board book

Selam! It’s a beautiful day in Ethiopia with Babi (Daddy). Have a breakfast of spicy chechebsa together, ride horses in the park and gather around the mesob for dinner. Ethiopian author Fitsum Tesfaye Habtemariam and illustrator Netsanet Tesfay draw on their personal experiences of life in Ethiopia to create this sweet board book as part of the Our World series for very young readers. BIO Fitsum Tesfaye Habtemariam grew up in Ethiopia and raised his children in the bustling city of Addis Ababa. He works in the communications field to contribute to the world's Sustainable Development Goals. Fitsum loves to travel and has been to over 30 countries. He lives outside of Washington, D.C. with his family. REVIEWS ﻿Even though board books are usually intended for very young children, it would also be appropriate to include this one in younger elementary school settings as part of a global awareness unit.” -- School Library Journal [B]﻿ Barefoot Books / October 03, 202320 pages

Our World: Ethiopia /// Fitsum Tesfaye Habtemariam, illustrations by Netsanet Tesfay /// pre

Boardbook

Written by Kelly Starling Lyons and illustrated by Tonya Engel. My Hands Tell a Story is about a little girl who becomes transported by the tales her grandmother’s hands tell, while baking bread with her. Tales that spring from the rose-painted nails, a flower-banded wedding ring, and the way her fingers move and glide, show just how these hands have many tales to tell, but only if you listen. This best seller is an impactful tale that honors family and self-love. It beautifully shows how you carry memories within yourself that are meant to be shared with your loved ones. Children will discover that their own hands have the power to shape the start of their life story, and for generations to come! BIO Kelly Starling Lyons is a writer and children's book author. She is also one of the founding members of the blog The Brown Bookshelf, which raises awareness of Black children's book creators and features author and illustrator spotlights. REVIEWS ★ School Library Journal Starred Review ★ Publishers Weekly Starred Review ★ BCALA Best of the Best Booklist ★ Charlotte Huck Award Recommended Book for Outstanding Fiction for Children ★ New York Public Library Best Books for Kids "Hands and the stories they tell become the means through which a Black child bonds with a beloved grandmother in this expressive, painterly picture book. While showing Zoe how to bake cinnamon bread like her mother taught her (“Ingredients are only part of it. You’ve got to get the rhythm”), Zoe’s grandma describes some of what her hands have seen and done—from dancing onstage to growing a vegetable garden early in her marriage—prompting Zoe to reflect on the future. “I look at my hands, really look at them, for the first time./ I can see memories in every line.// Clapping games with friends./ Drawing my dreams./ Building and baking,” Zoe describes. When the bread is finished, the pair high five, and Grandma remarks upon the physical similarity between their hands, while also musing about the different life experiences Zoe is sure to have. With big brushstrokes, Engel’s thickly textured paintings lend a timeless feel to Lyons’s heartwarming portrait of grandparent-child love." -- Publishers Weekly "In this heartwarming story, Zoe, a young Black girl, shares reflective conversation with her grandma, inspired by Zoe's observations of her grandma's skillful, graceful hands as they bake bread together. The grandmother reveals how her hands hold memories, love of family, and a life lived with purpose, all of which reassure Zoe that her own hands hold strength to shape the start of her own life story. This sincere relationship of trust and care is beautifully captured in oil-painted illustrations, where quiet, personal moments within the kitchen are accompanied by an elegant, symbolic focus on hands. Engel's painterly brush strokes in captivating scenes create textured grooves, an integral element transforming the hands and scenes depicted into sculpted lines and lively colors that appear almost tangible to readers. Vivid blended layers and gentle swirls outline the figures for a glowing effect that echoes the thoughtful tone of the story. VERDICT Readers will pause to share in the happiness and sense of peace that bloom on the family's faces; the spirit of finding one's calling in this expressively illustrated book honoring family and self-love." -- Rachel Mulligan, School Library Journal [H] Reycraft Books / May 15, 2022 0.35" H x 11.6" L x 9.25" W (0.45 lbs) 32 pages

Written by Kelly Starling Lyons and illustrated by Tonya Engel. My Hands Tell a Story is about a little girl who becomes transported by the tales her grandmother’s hands tell, while baking bread with her. Tales that spring from the rose-painted nails, a flower-banded wedding ring, and the way her fingers move and glide, show just how these hands have many tales to tell, but only if you listen.
This best seller is an impactful tale that honors family and self-love. It beautifully shows how you carry memories within yourself that are meant to be shared with your loved ones. Children will discover that their own hands have the power to shape the start of their life story, and for generations to come!
BIO
<meta charset="utf-8">Kelly Starling Lyons is a writer and children's book author. She is also one of the founding members of the blog The Brown Bookshelf, which raises awareness of Black children's book creators and features author and illustrator spotlights.
REVIEWS
★ School Library Journal Starred Review <meta charset="utf-8"> ★ Publishers Weekly Starred Review <meta charset="utf-8"> ★ BCALA Best of the Best Booklist <meta charset="utf-8"> ★ Charlotte Huck Award Recommended Book for Outstanding Fiction for Children <meta charset="utf-8"> ★ New York Public Library Best Books for Kids
"Hands and the stories they tell become the means through which a Black child bonds with a beloved grandmother in this expressive, painterly picture book. While showing Zoe how to bake cinnamon bread like her mother taught her (“Ingredients are only part of it. You’ve got to get the rhythm”), Zoe’s grandma describes some of what her hands have seen and done—from dancing onstage to growing a vegetable garden early in her marriage—prompting Zoe to reflect on the future. “I look at my hands, really look at them, for the first time./ I can see memories in every line.// Clapping games with friends./ Drawing my dreams./ Building and baking,” Zoe describes. When the bread is finished, the pair high five, and Grandma remarks upon the physical similarity between their hands, while also musing about the different life experiences Zoe is sure to have. With big brushstrokes, Engel’s thickly textured paintings lend a timeless feel to Lyons’s heartwarming portrait of grandparent-child love." -- Publishers Weekly
"In this heartwarming story, Zoe, a young Black girl, shares reflective conversation with her grandma, inspired by Zoe's observations of her grandma's skillful, graceful hands as they bake bread together. The grandmother reveals how her hands hold memories, love of family, and a life lived with purpose, all of which reassure Zoe that her own hands hold strength to shape the start of her own life story. This sincere relationship of trust and care is beautifully captured in oil-painted illustrations, where quiet, personal moments within the kitchen are accompanied by an elegant, symbolic focus on hands. Engel's painterly brush strokes in captivating scenes create textured grooves, an integral element transforming the hands and scenes depicted into sculpted lines and lively colors that appear almost tangible to readers. Vivid blended layers and gentle swirls outline the figures for a glowing effect that echoes the thoughtful tone of the story. VERDICT Readers will pause to share in the happiness and sense of peace that bloom on the family's faces; the spirit of finding one's calling in this expressively illustrated book honoring family and self-love." -- Rachel Mulligan, School Library Journal 
[H]  Reycraft Books  /  May 15, 2022
<meta charset="utf-8">0.35" H x 11.6" L x 9.25" W (0.45 lbs) 32 pages

My Hands Tell a Story /// Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrations by Tonya Engel

Winner of the 2021 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award! In this moving story that celebrates cultural diversity, a shy girl brings her West African grandmother—whose face bears traditional tribal markings—to meet her classmates. This is a perfect read for back to school!It is Grandparents Day at Zura's elementary school, and the students are excited to introduce their grandparents and share what makes them special. Aleja's grandfather is a fisherman. Bisou's grandmother is a dentist. But Zura's Nana, who is her favorite person in the world, looks a little different from other grandmas. Nana Akua was raised in Ghana, and, following an old West African tradition, has tribal markings on her face. Worried that her classmates will be scared of Nana—or worse, make fun of her—Zura is hesitant to bring her to school. Nana Akua knows what to do, though. With a quilt of traditional African symbols and a bit of face paint, Nana Akua is able to explain what makes her special, and to make all of Zura's classmates feel special, too. BIO Tricia Elam Walker is the author of the novel Breathing Room, among other publications. She is an award-winning fiction and nonfiction writer, cultural and fashion commentator, and blogger who has written for National Public Radio, the Washington Post, Essence magazine, HuffPost, and more. She practiced law for sixteen years prior to teaching writing in Washington, DC, and Boston. Tricia is an assistant professor of Creative Writing at Howard University and is working on several projects, including children's books, plays, and a second novel.April Harrison, a renowned folk artist, is the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award-winning illustrator of Patricia C. McKissack's final picture book, What Is Given from the Heart, which received four starred reviews and which the New York Times Book Review called an "exquisite story of generosity." Her work appears in the public collections of Vanderbilt University, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, the Atlanta Housing Authority, and the Erskine University Museum and in many private collections. Learn more at aprilsonggallery.com REVIEWS “This lovely story explores the perennial fear of being different, while showcasing the great love between a grandparent and grandchild.” -- School Library Journal, starred review “An open-hearted tribute to children with immigrant parents or grandparents.” -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review"This beautiful picture book offers a helpful perspective on cultural differences within a heartening family story." -- Booklist, starred review"Walker writes convincingly about how difference can cause unease among children, and her story offers a compelling portrait of a grandmother whose pride and poise put that concern to rest.” -- Publishers Weekly, starred review“Offers viewers both the comfort of the familiar and, for those unfamiliar with West African arts, a tantalizing introduction to interpreting symbols. Most importantly, this calls for readers and listeners to have faith in youngsters to embrace a new concept with an open mind and enthusiastic spirit.” -- The Bulletin [H] Anne Schwartz Books / June 16, 2020 0.5" H x 10.7" L x 10.8" W (1.15 lbs) 40 pages

Nana Akua Goes to School /// Tricia Elam Walker, illustrations by April Harrison

In her grandmother’s garden, a young Black girl learns about mindfulness and herbal medicine in this soothing intergenerational story about our connection to nature.It’s Joy’s first summer in her grandmother’s South Carolina garden—a rite of passage. In the midst of okra, spinach, and strawberries, Grammy teaches Joy that plants are friends with many uses. Herbs, for example, can be turned into medicine. There in Grammy’s abundant backyard, Joy learns to listen for the heartbeat of the earth and connect it to her own as she takes deep breaths and puts her intentions into the soil. By the story’s end, she learns to grow seeds in her own garden, honoring all that her grandmother taught her. With sensory-rich illustrations from award-winning illustrator Ashleigh Corrin, Joy Takes Root is a blissful reminder of all that might bloom. BIO Gwendolyn Wallace was born and raised in Connecticut and recently graduated with a degree in the history of science and medicine from Yale University. She is currently a fellow at the International African-American Museum in Charleston, SC. Additionally, Gwendolyn is a writer of both creative nonfiction and children’s literature, with two forthcoming picture books. Her creative non-fiction has been published in Wear Your Voice, Foglifter Press, and Meridians. She was also the winner of the 2021 Elizabeth Alexander Creative Writing Award. Her art practices and research are based in Black feminisms, health justice, and ecomemory work. Gwendolyn can usually be found gardening, exploring used bookstores, or listening to the radical impulses of young children. REVIEWS "A quiet, thoughtful tale that promotes mindfulness, intentionality, gratitude, and connection.” -- Kirkus Reviews “Moving… a reap-what-you-sow telling that considers what’s been given and what’s yet to come.” -- Publishers Weekly“A beautiful ode to both the natural world and intergenerational cultural wisdom that imbues the sequential steps of planting a garden with a deeply felt spirituality.” -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books [H] Kokila / June 20, 2023 0.5" H x 8.7" L x 11.2" W (0.95 lbs) 32 pages

Joy Takes Root /// Gwendolyn Wallace, illustrations by Ashleigh Corrin /// new

A Smithsonian Magazine Best Children’s Book of the YearA BCCB Blue Ribbon BookA Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection How does this city garden grow? With help from L’il Sissy and her siblings–and love, love, love! A celebration of nature, family, and food.Visiting the city from her home in the suburbs, an African American girl sees how a few packets of seeds, some helping hands, and hard work transform an empty lot in a housing project into a magical place where vegetables grow and family gathers. It’s the magic of nature in the heart of the city!Bernette Ford’s autobiographical story is a loving glimpse at a girl, her siblings, and her uncle, and their shared passion for farming. L’l Sissy’s fascination with measurement, comparison, and estimation introduces children to STEM concepts. And the progress of Uncle John’s garden introduces readers to the life cycle of plants.Frank Morrison, winner of multiple Coretta Scott King awards and an NAACP Image Award, depicts dramatic cityscapes as well as the luscious colors and textures of Nature. BIO Bernette Ford was an American author, editor and publisher. She worked as editor-in-chief at Grosset & Dunlap and later Scholastic Books, where she was vice-president of the Cartwheel imprint, which she helped launch. Frank Morrison started his journey as a graffiti artist in New Jersey, tagging walls with spray paint. However, it was the opportunity to tour with music artist Sybil as a breakdancer, an influential high school art teacher, and a visit to the Louvre Museum in Paris that opened him up to new artistic and creative avenues. An early indoctrine into hip-hop culture can be seen through Morrison’s work, which has been dubbed a mash-up of urban mannerism, graffiti and abstract contemporary, and reflects deeply on the lost of human stories from past eras. Morrison strives to capture people as they are, translating emotions through his paintings and leaving a memoir of our life and times today. His work depicts African-American livelihood in a way that is both familiar and comforting to those who often feel histories have been forgotten and culture has been usurped. REVIEWS ★ “Capturing the togetherness as well as the wonder of working side by side in the garden, brown faces glisten and elongated limbs rise up toward the sun, just as the garden itself rises. . . . . An inviting story that is also a fine example of using everyday life to exemplify science and success. A joy to experience!” -- Booklist, Starred Review“This visually lush story paints a memorable, sensory-rich portrait of family bonding through gardening” -- The Horn Book“The madly saturated colors of picture-perfect plants bring vibrancy, and the body language of the siblings is both sturdy and dynamic.” -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books“Aptly partnered, the creators present a moving picture of how food can bind people and communities.” -- Publishers Weekly“Ford’s lovingly remembered autobiographical tale highlights the power of urban gardening to foster community, revive decaying property, create food resiliency, and even promote STEM learning. The figures in Morrison’s oil-and–spray-paint paintings emote pride and quiet joy, challenging the negative association between African American people and farming.” -- Kirkus Reviews [H] Holiday House / May 03, 2022 0.38" H x 11.25" L x 8.18" W (0.82 lbs) 32 pages

Uncle John's City Garden /// Bernette G. Ford, illustrations by Frank Morrison

There are signs all throughout town telling eight-year-old Connie where she can and cannot go. But when Connie sees four young men take a stand for equal rights at a Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, she realizes that things may soon change. This event sparks a movement throughout her town and region. And while Connie is too young to march or give a speech, she helps her brother and sister make signs for the cause. Changes are coming to Connie's town, but Connie just wants to sit at the lunch counter and eat a banana split like everyone else. BIO Carole Boston Weatherford is an African-American author and critic, now living in North Carolina, United States. She is the winner of the 2022 Coretta Scott King Award for Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre. She writes children's literature and some historical books, as well as poetry and commentaries REVIEWS "Simple and straightforward, the first-person narrative relates events within the context of one close-knit family." -- Booklist "Together, author and artist translate a complex issue into terms youngest readers can understand, in a resonant meshing of fact and fiction." -- Publishers Weekly [P] Puffin Books / December 27, 2007 0.2" H x 8.8" L x 9.8" W (0.3 lbs) 32 pages

Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins /// Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrations by Jerome Lagarrigue

A lyrical picture book about our newest national holiday, Juneteenth follows the annual celebration in Galveston, Texas—birthplace of Juneteenth—through the eyes of a boy coming to understand his place in Black American history in a story from three Texan creators. A young Black child experiences the magic of the Juneteenth parade for the first time with their family as they come to understand the purpose of the party that happens every year—and why they celebrate their African American history! The poetic text includes selected lyrics from “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the unofficial Black National Anthem, and the vibrant art illuminates the beauty of this moment of Black joy, celebrated across the nation. This vibrant adventure through the city streets invites young readers to make a joyful noise about freedom for all. BIO Van G. Garrett is the winner of The Poetry Question National Chapbook Contest for his book Scrap. He is also the winner of the Best Book of African American Poetry for his book 49: Wings and Prayers, as announced by the Texas Association of Authors. He writes poetry, picture books, and fiction, and (in his spare time) he is also a musician and a visual artist. Reginald C. Adams is a public artist whose studio, based in Houston, Texas, is world-renowned for award-winning murals, sculptures, and art installations strategically located in historic and underserved communities across the U.S. He was the lead artist and Creative Director for Absolute Equality, the new Juneteenth mural in Galveston, Texas. REVIEWS “An unfolding of the senses—sights, sounds, and scents of a parade—with the added enlightenment of the important history and significance of the celebration… A perfect read-aloud and an excellent platform for discussing African American history.” -- School Library Journal (starred review) “Vibrant, highly textured watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations depict the sense of community the author conveys through the simple, poetic text. An ideal read-aloud… A stirring introduction to an important holiday -- Kirkus Reviews [H] Versify / May 02, 2023 0.38" H x 8.53" L x 11.05" W (0.8 lbs) 40 pages

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Juneteenth /// Van G. Garrett, with illustrations by Reginald C. Adams and Samson Bimbo Adenugba

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Introduce children to the history of Juneteenth with the Let’s Celebrate Juneteenth Board Book from Mudpuppy. Featuring rhyming text and colorful, bold artwork, this board book is a beautiful celebration of this important holiday. A wonderful addition to your child’s bookshelf! BIO Mudpuppy curates the wonders of the world for kids – scaled and interpreted in artful ways that inspire discovery and exploration — and always cast through a thoughtful and positive lens of kindness. We create toys, puzzles and games that delight kids with color, design, and ideas about the world, sparking imagination and creating experiences that engage the whole family. We’re an innovative team with a “design-first” sensibility. We’re in constant collaboration with artists and illustrators – from household names to emerging talents – who help make everything we do beautiful, interesting, high-quality, high-utility and eco-responsible. Tonya Abari is a former teacher turned multigenre writer and editor. A National Endowment of the Humanities grant-funded award recipient and Language Matters facilitator, Tonya has given worldwide workshops and lectures on strategies for teaching the writings of Toni Morrison, Richard Wright, Margaret Walker, and other Black authors. She has recently written essays, profile articles, and has contributed to a vast array of educational materials for children. An alumna of the historic Baltimore City College High School and the University of Maryland at College Park, Abari now calls Nashville home. In addition to SCBWI, EFA, and #BlackCreatorsinKidlit, she has participated in the 12x12 picture book challenge as well as creative nonfiction intensives with Carnegie Hall’s NeOn Arts program and the Hurston Wright Foundation. When Tonya isn't writing or editing, she can be found reading; visiting historic sites; attempting a handstand; or in and around town with her spouse and daughter, both whose names also begin with "T." Tabitha Brown is an illustrator based in Illinois. By blending hand drawing, scanned papers, and vintage botanical illustrations, she creates digital collages full of color. Her goal is to make art featuring women surrounded by nature, happiness, and love. [B] Galison / April 11, 2023 0.55" H x 6.93" L x 6.93" W (0.61 lbs) 1 pages

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