Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King

by Coretta Scott King with the Reverend Dr. Barbara Reynolds Adapted by Julia Sooy Illustrated by Ekua Holmes 5 stars A powerful adaptation of King’s memoir in a format suitable for young readers. I love to see so many more books focusing on the life and work of Coretta Scott King. The book covers King’s…

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I Am My Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams by Tanisia Moore

Illustrated by Robert Paul Jr. 5 stars A wonderful celebration of Black men as role models, from entertainment to law, activism to sports. The narrator finds inspiration through different famous men, which inspires him to take an active role in his community. Told through lyrical text and a powerful refrain, this book celebrates both contemporary…

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A Library by Nikki Giovanni

Illustrated by Erin K. Robinson 5 stars A gorgeous, soothing homage to libraries and reading. As a librarian, I may be a little bias, but this book is absolute perfection. The lyrical text celebrates the different versions of ourselves we live out when we read and the wonderful places our imagination can take us. The…

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Parker’s Big Feelings by Parker Curry & Jessica Curry

Illustrated by Brittany Jackson & Tajae Keith 4 stars Parker’s day is not going well. She’s missing her friend and her siblings are being too loud. Her mother helps her remember ways to feel better by breathing, exercising, and having some quiet time. A great example of how to deal with big feelings. This is…

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Sydney’s Big Speech by Malcolm Newsome

Illustrated by Jade Orlando 5 stars Sydney wants to grow up to be a great leader, but public speaking makes her nervous and she can’t get the words out. To help her gain the confidence to give a speech to her class, her father teaches her about famous Black women in history including Kamala Harris,…

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Goodnight Racism by Ibram X. Kendi

Illustrated by Cbabi Bayoc 5 stars A lyrical book that dreams of an equitable world for all. Beautiful representations of different people and families living together in a vibrant community. Lush, dynamic artwork. A nice place to start introducing ideas of activism, equity, antiracism, and justice. Inspiring and hopeful. A beautiful book. Goodreads

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Seoul Food by Erin Danielle Russell

Illustrated by Tamisha Anthony 5 stars A delightfully sweet and delicious story of family, love, culture, and food. Hana is excited for all her grandparents to visit. But one set is from South Korea and the other set is from South Carolina, which leaves Hana wondering what to make for dinner for them all to…

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Ghostwriter: A Match of Wills by Eric Weiner

Illustrated by Eric Velasquez 3 stars There’s a mystery and the Ghostwriter team is on the case. Jamal receives a mysterious inheritance from a woman he befriended at the community center. But he has to solve the clues and retrieve it before the woman’s greedy son can snatch it away. Help Jamal and the team…

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Ghostwriter: Courting Danger and Other Stories

by Dina Anastasio Illustrated by Eric Velasquez 4 stars Just started rewatching this show that I loved as a kid. Was definitely fun to dive into a few of the books. This one was really fun. Each story is presented as its own mystery and the Ghostwriter team collects clues. At the end, they solve…

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Big by Vashti Harrison

5 stars A touching and empowering picture book about the associations attached to words, the way our words affect others and ourselves, and the freedom of allowing yourself to take up space. Simple narration with a powerful message. The story shows the shift in childhood from when “big” is seen as a good thing (“What…

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