Quiet Karima by Nidhi Chanani

3 stars “Without silence, there’s no music.” A sweet story celebrating sound and silence. Follow Karima as she goes about her day, taking in the sounds of the world. Though everyone calls her Quiet Karima, that is not all she is. Being quiet allows her to hear the music all around her and to create…

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The Girl Who Figured It Out: The Inspiring True Story of Wheelchair Athlete Minda Dentler Becoming an Ironman World Champion

by Minda Dentler Illustrated by Stephanie Dehennin 5 stars A fantastically told story of Dentler’s journey to becoming the first female wheelchair athlete to complete the Ironman World Championship. The book follows major events in Dentler’s life including her childhood in India, contracting polio, being adopted and living in America, pushing herself to do things…

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Cooler Than Lemonade by Harshita Jerath

Illustrated by Chloe Burgett 3 stars An adorable story of perseverance, ingenuity, and creative problem solving. One summer day Eva starts a lemonade stand with roaring success. But as the competition mounts, she isn’t sure she’s cut out for the business world. With a little encouragement from her brother, Eva comes up with a brand…

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Bhangra Baby by Kabir Sehgal & Surishtha Sehgal

Illustrated by Ani Bushry 4 stars A vibrant picture book told in catchy rhymes and an infectious beat. Bhangra Baby wants to join in the fun of the Punjabi folk dance. With the help of his family and friends, he learns the moves and spends the night dancing and celebrating. Bold, colorful illustrations. An adorable…

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I Love My Body Because by Shelly Anand and Nomi Ellenson

Illustrated by Erika Rodriguez Medina 5 stars A wonderfully sweet and empowering book, celebrating bodies and what they can do. The illustrations are beautiful. Loved the soft lines and diversity of characters. The artwork contains people with different skin tones, sizes, hair textures, and heights. There are characters that wear glasses, use wheelchairs, wear hijab,…

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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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The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name by Sandhya Parappukkaran

Illustrated by Michelle Pereira 4 stars A sweet picture book about practice, confidence, identity, and friendship. Zimdalamashkermishkada is starting a new school and is worried about his long name. He tries to shrink it down to make it easier for his classmates and teacher to say. But through practice and repetition, a new friend helps…

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A Garden in My Hands by Meera Sriram

Illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat 4 stars It’s the day before a wedding and a young girl patiently waits as her mother applies henna designs to her hands. While she does, she shares stories and memories to pass the time. Rich, lush illustrations and a heartwarming story of celebration, spending time together, and sharing family history….

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Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic

Edited by g. haron davis Stories by Saundra Mitchell, Sonora Reyes, Renée Reynolds, A. R. Capetta, Cory McCarthy, Francesca Tacchi, Ayida Shonibar, Nik Traxler, g. haron davis, Jonathan Lenore Kastin, Mason Deaver, Ash Nouveau, Cam Montgomery, Dove Salvatierra, and Emery Lee 5 stars Generally with anthologies, there are some stories that resonate with a reader…

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Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon

4 stars An excellent starting point in understanding gender nonconforming identities. In the first half of the book, Vaid-Menon discusses various issues experienced by the gender nonconforming community, connecting them to their own life, and making the case for why a rigid gender binary is harmful. The second half goes into specific arguments against gender…

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