100 Best Multicultural Books of All Time

We've ranked the best multicultural books using expert recommendations, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. At Shortform, we know books. Our book guides are the best in the world. Learn why.

1

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

Vashti Harrison, Robin Miles, Bahni Turpin

5.0
Featuring forty trailblazing black women in American history, Little Leaders educates and inspires as it relates true stories of breaking boundaries and achieving beyond expectations. Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, poli
It's OK to be Different: A Children's Picture Book About Diversity and Kindness book cover2

It's OK to be Different: A Children's Picture Book About Diversity and Kindness

Sharon Purtill

5.0
*Gold Award Winner, Literary Titan

It's OK to be Different written by Sharon Purtill and illustrated by Sujata Saha presents individuality. Everything about it is inspiring. Children will enjoy the fun and clever rhymes, as they are drawn in by the bright and cheerful illustrations. It is one of those books that both children and adults can enjoy, as it delivers the perfect message to young reader
3

The Undefeated

Kwame Alexander, Kadir Nelson

4.9
This poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into
We're Different, We're the Same book cover4

We're Different, We're the Same

Bobbi Kates and Joe Mathieu

4.9
Who better than Sesame Street to teach us that we may all look different on the outside--but it's important to remember that deep down, we are all very much alike. We all have the same needs, desires, and feelings. Elmo and his Sesame Street friends help teach toddlers and the adults in their lives that everyone is the same on the inside, and it's our differences that make this wonderful world, wh
Hair Love book cover5

Hair Love

Matthew A. Cherry, Vashti Harrison

4.7
When mommy is away, it’s up to daddy to do his daughter’s hair in this ode to self-confidence and the love between fathers and daughters from former NFL wide receiver Matthew A. Cherry and New York Times bestseller Vashti Harrison.

Zuri’s hair has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Zuri knows it’s beautiful. When mommy does Zuri’s hair, she feels like a superhero. But wh
The Name Jar book cover6

The Name Jar

Yangsook Choi

4.7
The new kid in school needs a new name! Or does she?

Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by t
Booked book cover7

Booked

Kwame Alexander

4.7
New York Times Bestseller∙ National Book Award Longlist ∙ ILA-CBC Children's Choice List∙ ALA Notable Children’s Book ∙ Book Links’ Lasting Connections ∙ Kirkus Best Book ∙ San Francisco Chronicle Best Book ∙ Washington Post Best Book∙ BookPage Best Book

"A novel about a soccer-obsessed tween boy written entirely in verse? In a word, yes. Kwame Alexander has the magic to pull off this unlikely
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story book cover8

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story

Kevin Noble Maillard, Juana Martinez-Neal

4.7
Fry bread is food.
It is warm and delicious, piled high on a plate.

Fry bread is time.
It brings families together for meals and new memories.

Fry bread is nation.
It is shared by many, from coast to coast and beyond.

Fry bread is us.
It is a celebration of old and new, traditional and modern, similarity and difference.
Front Desk (Scholastic Gold) book cover9

Front Desk (Scholastic Gold)

Kelly Yang

4.6
Winner of the Asian / Pacific American Award for Children's Literature!

* "Many readers will recognize themselves or their neighbors in these pages." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Mia Tang has a lot of secrets.

Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its gue
10

Julián Is a Mermaid

Jessica Love

4.6
In an exuberant picture book, a glimpse of costumed mermaids leaves one boy flooded with wonder and ready to dazzle the world.

While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic
The Dot book cover11

The Dot

Peter H Reynolds

4.6
With a simple, witty story and free-spirited illustrations, Peter H. Reynolds entices even the stubbornly uncreative among us to make a mark -- and follow where it takes us.

Her teacher smiled. "Just make a mark and see where it takes you."

Art class is over, but Vashti is sitting glued to her chair in front of a blank piece of paper. The words of her teacher are a gentle invitation to express herse
Ada Twist, Scientist book cover12

Ada Twist, Scientist

Andrea Beaty, David Roberts

4.5
Scientist Ada has a boundless imagination and has always been hopelessly curious. Why are there pointy things stuck to a rose? Why are there hairs growing inside your nose? When her house fills with a horrific, toe-curling smell, Ada knows it’s up to her to find the source. What would you do with a problem like this? Not afraid of failure, Ada embarks on a fact-finding mission and conducts scienti
Don't Touch My Hair! book cover13

Don't Touch My Hair!

Sharee Miller

4.5
An entertaining picture book that teaches the importance of asking for permission first as a young girl attempts to escape the curious hands that want to touch her hair.

It seems that wherever Aria goes, someone wants to touch her hair. In the street, strangers reach for her fluffy curls; and even under the sea, in the jungle, and in space, she’s chased by a mermaid, monkeys, and poked by aliens…un
14

I Love My Hair!

Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, E.B. Lewis

4.5
No matter how gently Mama pulls as she combs Keyana's hair, it still hurts. Keyana doesn't feel lucky to have such a head of hair, but Mama tells her she is because she can wear it any way she chooses.
Jabari Jumps book cover15

Jabari Jumps

Gaia Cornwall

4.5
Working up the courage to take a big, important leap is hard, but Jabari is almost absolutely ready to make a giant splash.

Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He's finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he's a great jumper, so he's not scared at all. "Looks easy," says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Ja
Dream Big, Little One book cover16

Dream Big, Little One

Vashti Harrison

4.5
This beautifully illustrated book showcases women who changed the world.

Featuring 18 trailblazing black women in American history, Dream Big, Little Leader is the irresistible board book adaptation of Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History.

Among these women, you'll find heroes, role models, and everyday women who did extraordinary things -- bold women whose actions and beliefs contributed to
Genesis Begins Again book cover17

Genesis Begins Again

Alicia D. Williams

4.5
A Newbery Honor Book
Winner of the Correta Scott King - John Steptoe for New Talent Author Award
A Morris Award Finalist
An NPR Favorite Book of 2019
A School Library Journal Best Middle Grade Book of 2019
A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of 2019

This deeply sensitive and powerful debut novel tells the story of a thirteen-year-old who must overcome internalized racism and a verbally abusive fami
Esperanza Rising book cover18

Esperanza Rising

Pam Muñoz Ryan

4.5
Esperanza thought she'd always live with her family on their ranch in Mexico--she'd always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home, and servants. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California during the Great Depression, and to settle in a camp for Mexican farm workers. Esperanza isn't ready for the hard labor, financial struggles, or lack of acceptance she now faces. When thei
19

Sulwe

Lupita Nyong'o and Vashti Harrison

4.4
A picture book about colorism, self-esteem, and learning that true beauty comes from within.

Sulwe has skin the color of midnight. She is darker than everyone in her family. She is darker than anyone in her school. Sulwe just wants to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything.
Those Shoes book cover20

Those Shoes

Maribeth Boelts, Noah Z. Jones

4.4
"In this witty, wise picture book, Boelts presents a kid’s-eye view of a
consumer fad that rages through school at gale force." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)


All Jeremy wants is a pair of those shoes, the ones everyone at school seems to be wearing. Though Jeremy’s grandma says they don’t have room for "want," just "need," when his old shoes fall apart at school, he
21

Whoever You Are

Mem Fox and Leslie Staub

4.4
Every day all over the world, children are laughing and crying, playing and learning, eating and sleeping. They may not look the same. They may not speak the same language. Their lives may be quite different. But inside, they are all alike. Stirring words and bold paintings weave their way around our earth, across cultures and generations. At a time when, unfortunately, the lessons of tolerance st
22

Inside Out & Back Again

Thanhhà Lai

4.4
For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its strangers, the dullness of
Last Stop on Market Street book cover23

Last Stop on Market Street

Matt de la Peña, Christian Robinson

4.4
Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around the
I Am Enough book cover24

I Am Enough

Grace Byers, Keturah A. Bobo

4.3
I Am Enough is the picture book everyone needs

This is a gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind to one another—from Empire actor and activist Grace Byers and talented newcomer artist Keturah A. Bobo.

This is the perfect gift for mothers and daughters, baby showers, and graduation.

We are all here for a purpose. We are more than enough. We just need to believe i
25

Brave Men in Black History

Vashti Harrison

4.3
New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Vashti Harrison shines a bold, joyous light on black men through history.
This beautifully illustrated volume educates and inspires as it relates true stories of black men in history. Illuminating text paired with irresistible full-color art bring to life both iconic and lesser-known figures.
Among these biographies, readers will find aviators and arti
Brown Girl Dreaming book cover26

Brown Girl Dreaming

Jacqueline Woodson

4.3
Jacqueline Woodson, one of today's finest writers, tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing verse.

Raised 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. Touchi
I Like Myself! book cover27

I Like Myself!

Karen Beaumont, David Catrow

4.3
High on energy and imagination, this ode to self-esteem encourages kids to appreciate everything about themselves--inside and out. Messy hair? Beaver breath? So what! Here's a little girl who knows what really matters.

At once silly and serious, Karen Beaumont's joyous rhyming text and David Catrow's wild illustrations unite in a book that is sassy, soulful--and straight from the heart.

About the Au
Ish book cover28

Ish

Peter H. Reynolds

4.3
A creative spirit learns that thinking "ish-ly" is far more wonderful than "getting it right" in this gentle new fable from the creator of the award-winning picture book THE DOT.

Ramon loved to draw. Anytime. Anything. Anywhere.

Drawing is what Ramon does. It¹s what makes him happy. But in one split second, all that changes. A single reckless remark by Ramon's older brother, Leon, turns Ramon's care
29

Teach Your Dragon About Diversity: Train Your Dragon To Respect Diversity. A Cute Children Story To Teach Kids About Diversity and Differences. (My Dragon Books)

Steve Herman

4.3

Having a pet dragon is very fun.

He can sit, roll over, and play…

He can candle a birthday cake, lit a campfire, or so many other cool things…

But what if your dragon is sad because he is DIFFERENT than his friends?

What if he feel bad that his skin is red, and is not like any of his friends?

What if he’s worried that none of his friend has wings, tails and scales like him?

What if he’s so nervous

30

The Colors of Us

Karen Katz

4.3
A positive and affirming look at skin color, from an artist's perspective.

Seven-year-old Lena is going to paint a picture of herself. She wants to use brown paint for her skin. But when she and her mother take a walk through the neighborhood, Lena learns that brown comes in many different shades.

Through the eyes of a little girl who begins to see her familiar world in a new way, this book celebrat
We Are Water Protectors book cover31

We Are Water Protectors

Carole Lindstrom

4.3
Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth's water from harm and corruption--a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade.

Water is the first medicine.
It affects and connects us all . . .

When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth
And
The Going to Bed Book book cover32

The Going to Bed Book

Sandra Boynton

4.3
Getting ready for sleep is tons of fun in this special anniversary edition of a Sandra Boynton classic.

The sun has set not long ago.
Now everybody goes below
to take a bath in one big tub
with soap all over—SCRUB SCRUB SCRUB!

This classic bedtime story is just right for winding down the day as a joyful, silly group of animals scrub scrub scrub in the tub, brush and brush and brush their teeth, and fi
Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You book cover33

Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You

Sonia Sotomayor, Rafael López

4.3
Feeling different, especially as a kid, can be tough. But in the same way that different types of plants and flowers make a garden more beautiful and enjoyable, different types of people make our world more vibrant and wonderful.

In Just Ask, United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor celebrates the different abilities kids (and people of all ages) have. Using her own experience as a child
34

National Parks of the U.S.A.

Kate Siber, Chris Turnham

4.3
Take a tour of America's great outdoors and discover the beauty and diversity of its most iconic and majestic national parks. Explore Florida's river-laced Everglades, travel down the white water rapids of the Grand Canyon, trek across the deserts of Death Valley and scale the soaring summits of the Rocky Mountains with this book that brings you up close to nature's greatest adventures. Packed wit
35

For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai's Story

Rebecca Langston-George

4.3
She grew up in a world where women were supposed to be quiet. But Malala Yousafzai refused to be silent. She defied the Taliban's rules, spoke out for education for every girl, and was almost killed for her beliefs. This powerful true story of how one brave girl named Malala changed the world proves that one person really can make a difference.
Paletero Man: A Heartwarming Bilingual Picture Book about Neighborhood Generosity and Friendship for Children (Ages 4-8) book cover36

Paletero Man: A Heartwarming Bilingual Picture Book about Neighborhood Generosity and Friendship for Children (Ages 4-8)

Lucky Diaz

4.3

A vibrant picture book celebrating the strength of community and the tastes of summer from Latin Grammy-winning musician Lucky Diaz and celebrated artist Micah Player.Ring! Ring! Ring! Can you hear his call? Paletas for one! Paletas for all!What’s the best way to cool off on a hot summer day? Run quick and find Paletero José!Follow along with our narrator as he passes through his busy neighborhood

Tiana's Cookbook book cover37

Tiana's Cookbook

Disney

4.2

Get ready to cook just like Tiana with this beautiful cookbook, featuring fifty easy and delicious recipes inspired by the Disney Princess and her New Orleans restaurant.You're never too young to start cooking! Tiana learned the basics from her daddy when she was just a little girl--and with this cookbook for kids, aspiring young chefs can follow in her footsteps. Featuring simple step-by-step ins

38

Coloring and Activity Fun Book by J.D.Wright

J. D. Wright

4.2
39

Full, Full, Full of Love

Trish Cooke and Paul Howard

4.2
Warm, welcoming illustrations spice up this rhythmical ode to the joys of family and food - full, full, full of pleasures for all.


For the youngest member of an exuberant extended family, Sunday dinner
at Grannie’s can be full indeed - full of hugs and kisses, full of tasty dishes, full to the brim with happy faces, and full, full, full of love. With a special focus on the bond between little Jay J
Thank You, Omu! book cover40

Thank You, Omu!

Oge Mora

4.2
A generous woman is rewarded by her community in this remarkable author-illustrator debut that's perfect for the Thanksgiving season, perfect for fans of Last Stop on Market Street.

Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu's delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses toward the scrumptious scent. And one by one, Omu offers a portion of her meal. Soon the pot is empty. Has she
Abuela book cover41

Abuela

Arthur Dorros

4.2
While riding on a bus with her grandmother, a little girl imagines that they are carried up into the sky and fly over the sights of New York City.
42

Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Bonnie Bader, Who HQ, Elizabeth Wolf

4.2
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was only 25 when he helped organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott and was soon organizing black people across the country in support of the right to vote, desegregation, and other basic civil rights.

Maintaining nonviolent and peaceful tactics even when his life was threatened, King was also an advocate for the poor and spoke out against racial and economic injustice until
Chains (Seeds of America, #1) book cover43

Chains (Seeds of America, #1)

Laurie Halse Anderson

4.2
As the Revolutionary War begins, thirteen-year-old Isabel wages her own fight...for freedom. Promised freedom upon the death of their owner, she and her sister, Ruth, in a cruel twist of fate become the property of a malicious New York City couple, the Locktons, who have no sympathy for the American Revolution and even less for Ruth and Isabel. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the Pa
44

Listening With My Heart: A Story of Kindness and Self-Compassion

Gabi Garcia and Ying Hui Tan

4.2
When Esperanza finds a heart-shaped rock, she sees it as a reminder to spread kindness and love in the world. But when the school play doesn’t go the way she’d imagined, will she remember to give it to herself?

In today’s hypercompetitive world, kids often internalize the message that their worth is attached to their accomplishments and that messing up is something to be ashamed of, rather than a n
45

I Can Do Hard Things: Mindful Affirmations for Kids

Gabi Garcia

4.2
Introduces children to the practice of listening to their quiet voice inside and using mindful affirmations to support them in navigating hard situations.
46

Kindness Snippet Jar

Diane Alber

4.2
Hidden Figures book cover47

Hidden Figures

Margot Lee Shetterly

4.2

Based on the New York Times bestselling book and the Academy Award–nominated movie, author Margot Lee Shetterly and illustrator Laura Freeman bring the incredibly inspiring true story of four black women who helped NASA launch men into space to picture book readers!

Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden were good at math…really good.

They participated in some of N

48

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Méndez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation

Duncan Tonatiuh

4.2
Almost 10 years before Brown vs. Board of Education, Sylvia Méndez and her parents helped end school segregation in California. An American citizen of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage who spoke and wrote perfect English, Méndez was denied enrollment to a “Whites only” school. Her parents took action by organizing the Hispanic community and filing a lawsuit in federal district court. Their success
Round Is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes book cover49

Round Is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes

Roseanne Thong and John Parra

4.2
In this lively picture book, children discover shapes all around them: rectangles are ice-cream carts and stone metates, while triangles are slices of watermelon and quesadillas. Many of the featured objects are Latino in origin, and all are universal in appeal. With rich illustrations, a fun-to-read rhyming text, and an informative glossary, this playful concept book will reinforce the shapes fou
Who Is Michael Jordan? book cover50

Who Is Michael Jordan?

Kirsten Anderson

4.2
Grab your Js and hit the court with this Who Was? biography about NBA superstar Michael Jordan.

Meet the man who changed the game forever. Michael Jordan has always been competitive--even as a young boy, he fought for attention. His need to be the best made him a star player on his college basketball team and helped him become an NBA legend, both for his skills and his endorsements. His Nike cont
Sofia Valdez, Future Prez book cover51

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez

Andrea Beaty and David Roberts

4.2
52

A Girl Named Misty: The True Story of Misty Copeland (American Girl: A Girl Named)

Kelly Starling Lyons and Melissa Manwill

4.2
The A Girl Named series tells the stories of how ordinary American girls grew up to be extraordinary American women. Misty Copeland became the first African American Female Principal Dancer for the American Ballet Theatre, but how did she get there? A Girl Named Misty describes the defining moments that made up her childhood and adolescence with full-color illustrations throughout. In addition to
Brown Sugar Baby Board Book - Beautiful Story for Mothers and Newborns, Ages 0-3 book cover53

Brown Sugar Baby Board Book - Beautiful Story for Mothers and Newborns, Ages 0-3

Kevin Lewis

4.2

"Brown sugar baby, dark eyes spark bright with glee...Pie of my eye, stay right here with me." This lyrical first book in the Brown Sugar Baby series is a celebration of the powerful love and protective, comforting instincts of a mother for her child. Its soothing rhythm and tender rhymes are highlighted by whimsical and charming illustrations that are perfect for storytime.Poetic rhythm and rhyme

Dreamers book cover54

Dreamers

Yuyi Morales

4.2
Yuyi Morales tells her own immigration story in this picture-book tribute to the transformative power of hope . . . and reading.

In 1994, Yuyi Morales left her home in Xalapa, Mexico and came to the US with her infant son. She left behind nearly everything she owned, but she didn't come empty-handed.

She brought her strength, her work, her passion, her hopes and dreams...and her stories.
55

Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad

Ellen Levine, Kadir Nelson

4.2
A stirring, dramatic story of a slave who mails himself to freedom by a Jane Addams Peace Award-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist.

Henry Brown doesn't know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves' birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Henry grows up
Dancing in the Wings book cover56

Dancing in the Wings

Debbie Allen, Kadir Nelson

4.2
Sassy worries that her too-large feet, too-long legs, and even her big mouth will keep her from her dream of becoming a star ballerina. So for now she's just dancing in the wings, watching from behind the curtain, and hoping that one day it will be her turn to shimmer in the spotlight. When the director of an important dance festival comes to audition her class, Sassy's first attempts to get his a
57

The Other Side

Jacqueline Woodson, E. B. Lewis

4.2
Clover's mom says it isn't safe to cross the fence that segregates their African-American side of town from the white side where Anna lives. But the two girls strike up a friendship, and get around the grown-ups' rules by sitting on top of the fence together.

With the addition of a brand-new author's note, this special edition celebrates the tenth anniversary of this classic book. As always, Woodso
Ghost Boys book cover58

Ghost Boys

Jewell Parker Rhode

4.2
Twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat. As a ghost, he observes the devastation that’s been unleashed on his family and community in the wake of what they see as an unjust and brutal killing.

Soon Jerome meets another ghost: Emmett Till, a boy from a very different time but similar circumstances. Emmett helps Jerome process what has happened, o
Canticos Happy! ¡Feliz! 8 Bilingual Songs (English and Spanish Edition) (Nick Jr. Canticos) book cover59

Canticos Happy! ¡Feliz! 8 Bilingual Songs (English and Spanish Edition) (Nick Jr. Canticos)

Susie Jamarillo

4.2

If you're happy and you know it, sing along! From the Emmy-nominated, award-winning bilingual preschool series Canticos, comes Happy Feliz. Enjoy eight favorite songs, sung by your Canticos friends. Flip the switch in this bilingual song book to change from English to Spanish, and sing along again! Learn a new language with friends like the little chicks, Ricky, Kiki, and Nicky with Little Chickie

Amari and the Night Brothers: An Exhilarating Fantasy Adventure About Magic, Secrets, and Finding the Truth (Supernatural Investigations, 1) book cover60

Amari and the Night Brothers: An Exhilarating Fantasy Adventure About Magic, Secrets, and Finding the Truth (Supernatural Investigations, 1)

B. B. Alston

4.2

New York Times bestseller! Artemis Fowl meets Men in Black in this exhilarating debut middle grade fantasy, the first in a series filled with #blackgirlmagic. Perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, the Percy Jackson series, and Nevermoor. Amari Peters has never stopped believing her missing brother, Quinton, is alive. Not even when the police told her otherwise, or when she

Where Are You From? book cover61

Where Are You From?

Yamile Saied Méndez

4.1
This resonant picture book tells the story of one girl who constantly gets asked a simple question that doesn’t have a simple answer. A great conversation starter in the home or classroom—a book to share, in the spirit of I Am Enough by Grace Byers and Keturah A. Bobo.

When a girl is asked where she’s from—where she’s really from—none of her answers seems to be the right one.

Unsure about how to r
Bud, Not Buddy book cover62

Bud, Not Buddy

Christopher Paul Curtis

4.1
It's 1936, in Flint, Michigan. Times may be hard, and ten-year-old Bud may be a motherless boy on the run, but Bud's got a few things going for him:

He has his own suitcase full of special things.

He's the author of Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself.

His momma never told him who his father was, but she left a clue: flyers advertising Her
63

Skin Like Mine

LaTashia M. Perry

4.1
From the Creators of Hair Like Mine, Skin Like Mine, the second book in the Kids Like Mine Series, is a fun, easy-to- read for beginners as well as advanced readers. An entertaining yet creative way to address and celebrate diversity among young children. Guaranteed to make you smile and a bit hungry.
64

One Crazy Summer (Gaither Sisters, #1)

Rita Williams-Garcia

4.1
In the summer of 1968, after travelling from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to spend a month with the mother they barely know, eleven-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters arrive to a cold welcome as they discover that their mother, a dedicated poet and printer, is resentful of the intrusion of their visit and wants them to attend a nearby Black Panther summer camp.

In a humorous and brea
Señorita Mariposa book cover65

Señorita Mariposa

Ben Gundersheimer (Mister G), Marcos Almada Rivero

4.1
66

Piecing Me Together

Renée Watso

4.1
A timely and powerful story about a teen girl from a poor neighborhood striving for success, from acclaimed author Renée Watson.

Jade believes she must get out of her neighborhood if she’s ever going to succeed. Her mother says she has to take every opportunity. She has. She accepted a scholarship to a mostly-white private school and even Saturday morning test prep opportunities. But some opportuni
The Crossover book cover67

The Crossover

Kwame Alexander, Dawud Anyabwile

4.1
Kwame Alexander's The Crossover is brought to life as a graphic novel with illustrations by Dawud Anyabwile.

"With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . . The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. ’Cuz tonight I’m delivering," raps twelve-year-old Josh Bell. Thanks to their dad, he and his twin brother, Jordan, are kings on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in
68

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (Tristan Strong #1)

Kwame Mbalia

4.1
Seventh-grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Tristan is dreading the month he’s going to spend on his grandparents’ farm in Alabama, where he’s being sent to heal from the tragedy. But on his first night there, a sticky creature sho
69

I Am Rosa Parks

Brad Meltzer, Christopher Eliopoulos

4.1
"We can all be heroes" is the message entertainingly told in this picture-book biography series from #1 New York Times Bestselling author Brad Meltzer.

"Kids always search for heroes, so we might as well have a say in it," Brad Meltzer realized, and so he envisioned this friendly, fun approach to biography - for his own kids, and for yours. Each book tells the story of one of America's icons in a v
A Good Kind of Trouble book cover70

A Good Kind of Trouble

Lisa Moore Ramée

4.1
Twelve-year-old Shayla is allergic to trouble. All she wants to do is to follow the rules. (Oh, and she’d also like to make it through seventh grade with her best friendships intact, learn to run track, and have a cute boy see past her giant forehead.)

But in junior high, it’s like all the rules have changed. Now she’s suddenly questioning who her best friends are and some people at school are sayi
71

Seeds and Trees

Brandon Walden

4.1
Words are powerful. They can hurt or they can heal.

It’s time to tell a special tale that will warm the hearts of readers of all ages. Seeds and Trees revels in the power of words. It explores their effects on feelings and emotions. And it does so though the journey of two different seeds.

In Seeds and Trees, discover a young prince who gathers seeds both green and dark from those he encounters,

Paletero Man/¡Que Paletero tan Cool!: Bilingual English-Spanish (Spanish Edition) book cover72

Paletero Man/¡Que Paletero tan Cool!: Bilingual English-Spanish (Spanish Edition)

Lucky Diaz

4.1

With the English and Spanish text side by side on the page, this bilingual edition of the vibrant picture book celebrating the strength of community and the tastes of summer is ideal for bilingual readers as well as Spanish speakers learning English and vice versa. By Latin Grammy-winning musician Lucky Diaz and celebrated artist Micah Player!Ring! Ring! Ring! Can you hear his call? Paletas for on

The Sign of the Beaver book cover73

The Sign of the Beaver

Elizabeth George Spear

4.1
Twelve-year-old Matt is left on his own in the Maine wilderness while his father leaves to bring the rest of the family to their new settlement. When he befriends Attean, an Indian chief's grandson, he is invited to join the Beaver tribe and move north. Should Matt abandon his hopes of ever seeing his family again and go on to a new life?
A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America book cover74

A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America

Ronald Takaki

4.1
The "brilliant revisionist history of America" (Publishers Weekly) that dramatically retells our nation's story from the perspective of minorities.
Upon its first publication, A Different Mirror was hailed by critics and academics everywhere as a dramatic new retelling of our nation's past. Beginning with the colonization of the New World, it recounted the history of America in the voice of the n
Patina (Track, #2) book cover75

Patina (Track, #2)

Jason Reynolds

4.1
Patina, or Patty, runs like a flash. She runs for many reasons—to escape the taunts from the kids at the fancy-schmancy new school she’s been sent to since she and her little sister had to stop living with their mom. She runs from the reason WHY she’s not able to live with her “real” mom any more: her mom has The Sugar, and Patty is terrified that the disease that took her mom’s legs will one day
The 50 States book cover76

The 50 States

Gabrielle Balkan

4.1
Be inspired by the inventiveness, beauty and diversity of the United States in this curious collection of fact-filled maps. Explore thousands of wondrous locations and be awed by the achievements of hundreds of people who helped make America what it is today. Celebrate, explore, enjoy!
77

Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment

Parker Curry

4.1
A New York Times bestseller!

A visit to Washington, DC’s National Portrait Gallery forever alters Parker Curry’s young life when she views First Lady Michelle Obama’s portrait.

When Parker Curry came face-to-face with Amy Sherald’s transcendent portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama at the National Portrait Gallery, she didn’t just see the First Lady of the United States. She saw a queen—one with dyn
78

Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13

Helaine Becker, Tiemdow Phumiruk

4.1
The story of Katherine Johnson, an African-American mathematician who worked for NASA during the space race and was depicted in the book and film Hidden Figures.

You've likely heard of the historic Apollo 13 moon landing. But do you know about the mathematical genius who made sure that Apollo 13 returned safely home?

As a child, Katherine Johnson loved to count. She counted the steps on the road, th
79

Happy in Our Skin

Fran Manushkin and Lauren Tobia

4.1
Is there anything more splendid than a baby's skin? For families of all stripes comes a sweet celebration of what makes us unique--and what holds us together.

Look at you!
You look so cute
in your brand-new birthday suit.

Just savor these bouquets of babies--cocoa-brown, cinnamon, peaches and cream. As they grow, their clever skin does too, enjoying hugs and tickles, protecting them inside and out,
The King of Kindergarten book cover80

The King of Kindergarten

Derrick Barnes, Vanessa Brantley-Newton

4.1
A confident little boy takes pride in his first day of kindergarten.

The morning sun blares through your window like a million brass trumpets.It sits and shines behind your head--like a crown. Mommy says that today, you are going to be the King of Kindergarten!

Starting kindergarten is a big milestone--and the hero of this story is ready to make his mark! He's dressed himself, eaten a pile of pancak
81

I am Martin Luther King, Jr.

Brad Meltzer

4.1
We can all be heroes. That’s the inspiring message of this New York Times Bestselling picture book biography series from historian and author Brad Meltzer.

Even as a child, Martin Luther King, Jr. was shocked by the terrible and unfair way African-American people were treated. When he grew up, he decided to do something about it—peacefully, with powerful words. He helped gather people together for
82

Amazing Grace

Mary Hoffman, Caroline Binch

4.1
Grace loves stories, whether they're from books, movies, or the kind her grandmother tells. When her school decides to perform Peter Pan, Grace longs to play the lead, but her classmates point out that Peter was a boy. Besides, he wasn't black.

With the support of her family, Grace learns that she can be anything she wants to be, and the results are amazing!

Remarkable watercolor illustrations give
83

Saturday

Oge Mora

4.1
In this warm and tender story by the Caldecott Honor-winning creator of Thank You, Omu!, join a mother and daughter on an up-and-down journey that reminds them of what’s best about Saturdays: precious time together.

Today would be special. Today would be splendid. It was Saturday! But sometimes, the best plans don’t work out exactly the way you expect….

In this heartfelt and universal story, a mothe
Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two book cover84

Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two

Joseph Bruchac

4.0
Throughout World War II, in the conflict fought against Japan, Navajo code talkers were a crucial part of the U.S. effort, sending messages back and forth in an unbreakable code that used their native language. They braved some of the heaviest fighting of the war, and with their code, they saved countless American lives. Yet their story remained classified for more than twenty years.

Joseph Bruchac
85

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut

Derrick Barnes, Gordon C. James

4.0
The barbershop is where the magic happens. Boys go in as lumps of clay and, with princely robes draped around their shoulders, a dab of cool shaving cream on their foreheads, and a slow, steady cut, they become royalty. That crisp yet subtle line makes boys sharper, more visible, more aware of every great thing that could happen to them when they look good: lesser grades turn into As; girls take n
86

Multicultural Literature for Latino Bilingual Children: Their Words, Their Worlds

. Clark

4.0
While there are volumes that fall into the category of children s literature, there appears to be relatively few that explore the needs of bilingual learners and the linguistic and sociocultural context of Latino children s literature. This volume makes a needed contribution by addressing the social, cultural, academic, and linguistic needs of Latino bilingual learners who are still underserved th
87

The Princess and the Pea

Rachel Isadora

4.0
When a prince sets out to find a princess to marry, he soon discovers this is not a simple task. There is no shortage of so-called princesses, but how can he tell whether or not they are what they claim to be? Then one night a great storm rages, there comes a knock on the palace gate, and the prince?s life is never the same . . .
88

Let the Children March

Monica Clark-Robinson

4.0
I couldn't play on the same playground as the white kids.
I couldn't go to their schools.
I couldn't drink from their water fountains.
There were so many things I couldn't do.

In 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, thousands of African American children volunteered to march for their civil rights after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak. They protested the laws that kept black people separate from whi
Sing the 50 United States! (Classic Seuss) book cover89

Sing the 50 United States! (Classic Seuss)

Dr. Seuss

4.0

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • With this newly discovered and never-before-seen picture book by Dr. Seuss himself, celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America! From Alabama to Wyoming, learn the names of all 50 states with a little help from the Cat in the Hat.To sing the 50 United Statesyou have to use your brain.Massachusetts. Minnesota.Missouri and Montana.M-i-s-s-Mississipp

90

What Was the Underground Railroad?

Yona Zeldis McDonough

4.0
No one knows where the term Underground Railroad came from--there were no trains or tracks, only "conductors" who helped escaping slaves to freedom. Including real stories about "passengers" on the "Railroad," this book chronicles slaves' close calls with bounty hunters, exhausting struggles on the road, and what they sacrificed for freedom. With 80 black-and-white illustrations throughout and a s
91

Who Was Rosa Parks?

Yona Zeldis McDonough, Who HQ, et al.

4.0
In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. This seemingly small act triggered civil rights protests across America and earned Rosa Parks the title "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement." This biography has black-and-white illustrations throughout.
Curious George at the Aquarium/Jorge el curioso visita el acuario (bilingual edition) book cover92

Curious George at the Aquarium/Jorge el curioso visita el acuario (bilingual edition)

H. A. Rey

4.0
93

Have You Thanked an Inventor Today?

Patrice McLaurin, Dian Wang, et al.

4.0
Have You Thanked an Inventor Today? is a journey into the often forgotten contributions of African-American inventors, that contributed to the American landscape. It chronicles the school day of a little boy, highlighting different inventions that he uses throughout the day, all of which were invented by African-Americans. The book comes complete with brief biographies about each inventor as well
94

Who Was Harriet Tubman?

Yona Zeldis McDonough

4.0
Born a slave in Maryland, Harriet Tubman knew first-hand what it meant to be someone's property; she was whipped by owners and almost killed by an overseer. It was from other field hands that she first heard about the Underground Railroad which she travelled by herself north to Philadelphia. Throughout her long life (she died at the age of ninety-two) and long after the Civil War brought an end to
95

We Are Human Diversity & Acceptance Coloring Book (8.5 x 11)

ColoringBook.com

4.0
96

Juneteenth for Mazie (Fiction Picture Books)

Floyd Cooper

4.0
Mazie is ready to celebrate liberty. She is ready to celebrate freedom. She is ready to celebrate a great day in American history — the day her ancestors were no longer slaves. Mazie remembers the struggles and the triumph, as she gets ready to celebrate Juneteenth.This beautiful story by award-winning author and illustrator Floyd Cooper will captivate both children and adults.
97

Mae Among the Stars

Roda Ahmed, Stasia Burrington

4.0
Inspired by the life of the first African American woman to travel in space, Mae Jemison.

When Little Mae was a child, she dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering.

She wanted to be an astronaut.

Her mom told her, "If you believe it, and work hard for it, anything is possible.”

Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determ
Heat book cover98

Heat

Mike Lupica

4.0
The #1 Bestseller!

Michael Arroyo has a pitching arm that throws serious heat along with aspirations of leading his team all the way to the Little League World Series. But his firepower is nothing compared to the heat Michael faces in his day-to-day life. Newly orphaned after his father led the family's escape from Cuba, Michael's only family is his seventeen-yearold brother Carlos. If Social Servi
Who Were the Tuskegee Airmen? book cover99

Who Were the Tuskegee Airmen?

Sherri L. Smith

4.0
It's up, up, and away with the Tuskegee Airmen, a heroic group of African American military pilots who helped the United States win World War II.

During World War II, black Americans were fighting for their country and for freedom in Europe, yet they had to endure a totally segregated military in the United States, where they weren't considered smart enough to become military pilots. After acquirin
100

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People (ReVisioning American History for Young People Book 2)

Jean Mendoza, Debbie Reese, et al.

4.0