Ada Twist, Scientist by
"Ada Twist is a very curious girl who shows perseverance by asking questions and performing experiments to find things out and understand the world." ~Catalog
The Airport Book by
"An exploratory journey through the airport." ~Catalog
All Are Welcome by
"Celebrate diversity and inclusion with this New York Times bestselling picture book about a school where all are welcome! "
Baby Loves Gravity! by
"A baby discovers the concept of gravity by picking things up from the floor and dropping them again." ~Catalog
The Book Itch by
"Relates the story of the National Memorial African Bookstore, founded in Harlem by Louis Michaux in 1939, as seen from the perspective of Louis Michaux Jr., who met famous men like Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X while helping there." ~Catalog
The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County by
"A young farm girl tries to catch her favorite chicken, until she learns something about the hen that makes her change her ways. Meet one smart chicken chaser. She can catch any chicken on her grandmother's farm except one - the elusive Miss Hen. In a hilarious battle of wits, the spirited narrator regales readers with her campaign to catch Miss Hen, but this chicken is "fast as a mosquito buzzing and quick as a fleabite." Our chicken chaser has her mind set on winning, until she discovers that sometimes it's just as satisfying not to catch chickens as it is to catch them. A fresh voice full of sass and inventive, bold collage illustrations full of surprises create a childlike escapade brimming with funny high jinks that leads the reader on a merry, memorable chase." ~Catalog
Circle Unbroken by
"A grandmother tells the tale of Gullahs and their beautiful sweetgrass baskets that keep their African heritage alive." ~Catalog
Coming on Home Soon by
"After Mama takes a job in Chicago during World War II, Ada Ruth stays with Grandma but misses her mother who loves her more than rain and snow" ~Catalog
The Day You Begin by
"Other students laugh when Rigoberto, an immigrant from Venezuela, introduces himself but later, he meets Angelina and discovers that he is not the only one who feels like an outsider" `Catalog
Freedom on the Menu by
"The 1960 civil rights sit-ins at the Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, are seen through the eyes of a young Southern black girl. Includes brief author's note about the Greensboro Sit-Ins and other peaceful protests" ~Catalog
Goin' Someplace Special by
"There's a place in this 1950s southern town where all are welcome, no matter what their skin color... and 'Tricia Ann knows exactly how to get there" ~Catalog
Hair Love by
"A little girl's daddy steps in to help her arrange her curly, coiling, wild hair into styles that allow her to be her natural, beautiful self." ~Print book description
Hula-Hoopin' Queen by
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Kameeka yearns to continue her hula hooping competition with her rival, Jamara, rather than help prepare for Miz Adeline's birthday party, and "the itch" almost ruins the party before the girls learn who the real winner " ~Catalog
I Am Enough by
"Shares a story of loving who you are, respecting others and being kind to one another." ~Print record description
I Am Human by
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A child recognizes his own humanity, his capacity for doing harm and being harmed, his ability to feel joy and sadness, and his belief in hope and promise to keep learning." ~Catalog
A Is for Activist by
"The bestselling ABC book for families who want their kids to grow up in a space that is unapologetic about activism, environmental justice, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and everything else that we believe in and fight for." ~Catalog
Jabari Jumps by
"In a sweetly appealing tale of overcoming your fears, newcomer Gaia Cornwall captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy you can't help but root for" ~Catalog
Just Ask! by
"A group of children with different abilities and strengths come together to build a community garden" ~Catalog
Last Stop on Market Street by
"A young boy rides the bus across town with his grandmother and learns to appreciate the beauty in everyday things." ~Catalog
Layla's Happiness** by
"Seven-year-old Layla divulges many things that make her happy, especially her family and their community garden." ~Catalog
Looking Like Me by
"Jeremy sets out to discover all of the different "people" that make him who he is, including brother, son, writer, and runner." ~Catalog
Maybe Something Beautiful by
"Mira lives in a gray and hopeless urban community until a muralist arrives and, along with his paints and brushes, brings color, joy, and togetherness to Mira and her neighbors" ~Catalog
Mommy's Khimar by
"A young Muslim girl puts on a head scarf and not only feels closer to her mother, she also imagines herself as a queen, the sun, a superhero, and more." ~Catalog
My Hair Is a Garden by
"After being teased yet again about her unruly hair, MacKenzie consults her neighbor, Miss Tillie, who compares hair care with tending her beautiful garden and teaches MacKenzie some techniques." ~Catalog
The New Small Person by
"Elmore Green likes being an only child, so when his parents bring a new small person, his baby brother, into the house he is not pleased and does his best to keep the new small person out of his life." ~Catalog
Night Boat to Freedom by
"At the request of his fellow slave Granny Judith, Christmas John risks his life to take runaways across a river from Kentucky to Ohio. Based on slave narratives recorded in the 1930s." ~Catalog
Over and under the Pond by
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Celebrates the forms of life that live above and under a pond, including turtles, red-winged blackbirds, blue herons, minnows, frogs, and catfish." ~Catalog
Ruth and the Green Book by
"When Ruth and her parents take a motor trip from Chicago to Alabama to visit her grandma, they rely on a pamphlet called "The Negro Motorist Green Book" to find places that will serve them." ~Catalog
Show Way by
"The making of "Show ways," or quilts which once served as secret maps for freedom-seeking slaves, is a tradition passed from mother to daughter in the author's family" ~Catalog
The Snowy Day Board Book by
"The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day" ~Catalog
Something Happened in Our Town by
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After discussing the police shooting of a local Black man with their families, Emma and Josh know how to treat a new student who looks and speaks differently than his classmates. Includes an extensive Note to Parents and Caregivers that provides general guidance about addressing racism with children, child-friendly vocabulary definitions, conversation guides, and a link to additional online resources for parents and teachers" ~Catalog
Sulwe by
"When five-year-old Sulwe's classmates make fun of her dark skin, she tries lightening herself to no avail, but her encounter with a shooting star helps her understand there is beauty in every shade" ~Catalog
Thank You, Omu! by
"When the aroma of Omu's homemade stew fills the air, her neighbors arrive, one by one, for a taste until all is gone except for her generous spirit" ~Catalog
**Andover Note: the author is an alum of the Institute for the Recruitment of Teachers (IRT) at Andover. The IRT "empowers talented underserved and underrepresented future educators to teach and serve as leaders in American education because diversity is essential to excellence" (https://www.andover.edu/about/outreach/irt/about-irt).
Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants by
"When Rosie Revere's Uncle Ned gets a little carried away wearing his famous helium pants, it's up to Ada and friends to chase him down. As Uncle Ned floats farther and farther away, Ada starts asking lots of questions: How high can a balloon float? Is it possible for Uncle Ned to float into outer space? And what's the best plan for getting him down?" ~Catalog
As Brave As You by
"When two brothers decide to prove how brave they are, everything backfires--literally" ~Catalog
Blended by
"Piano-prodigy Isabella, eleven, whose black father and white mother struggle to share custody, never feels whole, especially as racial tensions affect her school, her parents both become engaged, and she and her stepbrother are stopped by police." ~Catalog
Bud, Not Buddy by
"Ten-year-old Bud, a motherless boy living in Flint, Michigan, during the Great Depression, escapes a bad foster home and sets out in search of the man he believes to be his father--the renowned bandleader, H.E. Calloway of Grand Rapids." ~From Record for Print Book
Class Act (Comes Out October 2020) by
"Eighth grader Drew Ellis is no stranger to the saying “You have to work twice as hard to be just as good.” His grandmother has reminded him his entire life. But what if he works ten times as hard and still isn’t afforded the same opportunities that his privileged classmates at the Riverdale Academy Day School take for granted." ~Amazon
Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by
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Clayton feels most alive when he's with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, and the band of Bluesmen -- he can't wait to join them, just as soon as he has a blues song of his own. But then the unthinkable happens. Cool Papa Byrd dies, and Clayton's mother forbids Clayton from playing the blues. And Clayton knows that's no way to live. Armed with his grandfather's brown porkpie hat and his harmonica, he runs away from home in search of the Bluesmen, hoping he can join them on the road. But on the journey that takes him through the New York City subways and to Washington Square Park, Clayton learns some things that surprise him" ~Catalog
The Crossover by
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Fourteen-year-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court as their father ignores his declining health" ~Catalog
Feathers by
"When a new, white student nicknamed "The Jesus Boy" joins her sixth grade class in the winter of 1971, Frannie's growing friendship with him makes her start to see some things in a new light." ~Catalog
The First Rule of Punk by
"Twelve-year-old María Luisa O'Neill-Morales (who really prefers to be called Malú) reluctantly moves with her Mexican-American mother to Chicago and starts seventh grade with a bang--violating the dress code with her punk rock aesthetic and spurning the middle school's most popular girl in favor of starting a band with a group of like-minded weirdos." ~Catalog
Flying Lessons and Other Stories by
"From basketball dreams and family fiascoes to first crushes and new neighborhoods, this anthology, written by award-winning children's authors, celebrates the uniqueness and universality in all of us" ~Catalog
Genesis Begins Again by
"Thirteen-year-old Genesis tries again and again to lighten her black skin, thinking it is the root of her family's troubles, before discovering reasons to love herself as is." ~Catalog
Ghost by
"Ghost, a naturally talented runner and troublemaker, is recruited for an elite middle school track team. He must stay on track, literally and figuratively, to reach his full potential" ~Catalog
Ghost Boys by
"After seventh-grader Jerome is shot by a white police officer, he observes the aftermath of his death and meets the ghosts of other fallen black boys including historical figure Emmett Till" ~Catalog
Gone Crazy in Alabama by
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Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern are off to Alabama to visit their grandmother, Big Ma, and her mother, Ma Charles. Across the way lives Ma Charles's half sister, Miss Trotter. The two half sisters haven't spoken in years. As Delphine hears about her family history, she uncovers the surprising truth that's been keeping the sisters apart. But when tragedy strikes, Delphine discovers that the bonds of family run deeper than she ever knew possible." ~Catalog
Hurricane Child by
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Born on Water Island in the Virgin Islands during a hurricane, which is considered bad luck, twelve-year-old Caroline falls in love with another girl--and together they set out in a hurricane to find Caroline's missing mother" ~Catalog
I Survived Hurricane Katrina 2005 by
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Eleven-year-old Barry Hunter and his family attempt to ride out Hurricane Katrina at home in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans when his little sister gets ill, but when the levees break, Barry gets swept away from his family." ~Catalog
The Jumbies by 
The Kane Chronicles, Book Two the Throne of Fire by
"
Ever since the gods of Ancient Egypt were unleashed in the modern world, Carter Kane and his sister Sadie have been in trouble. As descendants of the House of Life, the Kanes have some powers at their command, but the devious gods haven't given them much time to master their skills at Brooklyn House, which has become a training ground for young magicians. And now their most threatening enemy yet -- the chaos snake Apophis -- is rising. If they don't prevent him from breaking free in a few days' time, the world will come to an end" ~Catalog
The Kane Chronicles, Book Two the Throne of Fire by
"In this exciting second installment of the three-book series, Carter and Sadie, offspring of the brilliant Egyptologist Dr. Julius Kane, embark on a worldwide search for the Book of Ra, but the House of Life and the gods of chaos are determined to stop them" ~Catalog
Let the Circle Be Unbroken by
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Four black children growing up in rural Mississippi during the Depression experience racial antagonisms and hard times, but learn from their parents the pride and self-respect they need to survive." ~Catalog
Look Both Ways by
"A collection of ten short stories that all take place in the same day about kids walking home from school" ~Catalog
My Life As an Ice Cream Sandwich by
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In the summer of 1984, twelve-year-old Ebony-Grace of Huntsville, Alabama, visits her father in Harlem, where her fascination with outer space and science fiction interfere with her finding acceptance" ~Catalog
One Crazy Summer by
"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." ~Catalog
P. S. Be Eleven by
"Eleven-year-old Brooklyn girl Delphine feels overwhelmed with worries and responsibilities. She's just started sixth grade and is self-conscious about being the tallest girl in the class, and nervous about her first school dance. She's supposed to be watching her sisters, but Fern and Vonetta are hard to control. Her uncle Darnell is home from Vietnam and seems different. And her pa has a girlfriend. At least Delphine can write to her mother in Oakland, California, for advice. But why does her mother tell her to 'be eleven' when Delphine is now twelve?" ~Catalog
The Parker Inheritance by
"Twelve-year-old Candice Miller is spending the summer in Lambert, South Carolina, in the old house that belonged to her grandmother, who died after being dismissed as city manager for having the city tennis courts dug up looking for buried treasure--but when she finds the letter that sent her grandmother on the treasure hunt, she finds herself caught up in the mystery and, with the help of her new friend and fellow book-worm, Brandon, she sets out to find the inheritance, exonerate her grandmother, and expose an injustice once committed against an African American family in Lambert." ~Catalog
Patina by
"A newbie to the track team, Patina "Patty" Jones must learn to rely on her family and teammates as she tries to outrun her personal demons" ~Catalog
The Porcupine of Truth by
"Seventeen-year-old Carson Speier is bored of Billings, Montana, and resentful that he has to help his mother take care of his father, a dying alcoholic whom he has not seen in fourteen years--but then he meets Aisha, a beautiful African American girl who has run away from her own difficult family, and together they embark on a journey of discovery that may help them both come to terms with their lives." ~Catalog
Rebound by
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In the summer of 1988, twelve-year-old Chuck Bell is sent to stay with his grandparents, where he discovers jazz and basketball and learns more about his family's past." ~Catalog
The Red Pyramid by
"Brilliant Egyptologist Dr. Julius Kane accidentally unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes the doctor to oblivion and forces his two children to embark on a dangerous journey, bringing them closer to the truth about their family and its links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs." ~Catalog
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by
"The story of one African American family fighting to stay together and strong in the face of brutal racist attacks, illness, poverty, and betrayal in the Deep South of the 1930s." ~Catalog
The Serpent's Shadow by
"In their exciting final adventure, Carter and Sadie Kane are the mortal world's only hope of defeating the forces of chaos." ~Catalog
Spirit Week Showdown by
"Nine-year-old Mya is excited about participating in School Spirit Week, even making a pinky promise with her best friend Naomi to be her partner, but when she accidentally gets paired with the biggest bully in school, Mean Connie, Naomi is mad at Maya for breaking her promise, so she must learn to work with Mean Connie and try and get her friend back." ~Catalog
The Stars Beneath Our Feet by
"Unable to celebrate the holidays in the wake of his older brother's death in a gang-related shooting, Lolly Rachpaul struggles to avoid being forced into a gang himself while constructing a fantastically creative LEGO city at the Harlem community center" ~Catalog
Stay True by
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A collection of short stories by various authors, including Andrea Davis Pinkney, M.E. Kerr, and Anne Mazer, about adolescent girls coming of age" ~Catalog
Stella by Starlight by
"When a burning cross set by the Klan causes panic and fear in 1932 Bumblebee, North Carolina, fifth-grader Stella must face prejudice and find the strength to demand change in her segregated town." ~Catalog
Swing by
"Noah and his best friend Walt want to become cool, make the baseball team, and win over Sam, the girl Noah has loved for years. When Noah finds old love letters, Walt hatches a plan to woo Sam. But as Noah's love life and Walt's baseball career begin, the letters alter everything" ~Catalog
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by
"Seventh-grader Tristan Strong tumbles into the MidPass and, with allies John Henry and Brer Rabbit, must entice the god Anansi to come out of hiding and seal the hole Tristan accidentally ripped in the sky." ~Catalog
Zane and the Hurricane by
"A twelve-year-old boy and his dog become trapped in New Orleans during the horrors of Hurricane Katrina." ~Catalog
Brown Girl Dreaming by
"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" `Catalog
Coretta Scott by
About the life of Coretta Scott
Firebird by
"
American Ballet Theater soloist Misty Copeland encourages a young ballet student, with brown skin like her own, by telling her that she, too, had to learn basic steps and how to be graceful when she was starting out, and that some day, with practice and dedication, the little girl will become a firebird, too" ~Catalog
Freedom over Me by
"Using original slave auction and plantation estate documents, contrasts the monetary value of a slave with the priceless value of life experiences and dreams that a slave owner could never take away" ~Catalog
Gordon Parks by
"Gordon Parks is most famous for being the first black director in Hollywood. But before he made movies and wrote books, he was a poor African American looking for work. When he bought a camera, his life changed forever. He taught himself how to take pictures and before long, people noticed" ~Catalog
Harlem's Little Blackbird by
"A tribute to lesser-known Harlem Renaissance performer Florence Mills includes coverage of her youth as a child of former slaves, her singing and dancing performances that inspired songs and entire plays, and the struggles with racism that prompted her advocacy of all-black theater and musical" ~Catalog
Henry's Freedom Box by
"A fictionalized account of how in 1849 a Virginia slave, Henry "Box" Brown, escapes to freedom by shipping himself in a wooden crate from Richmond to Philadelphia." ~Catalog
Hidden Figures by
"Explores the previously uncelebrated but pivotal contributions of NASA's African American women mathematicians to America's space program, describing how Jim Crow laws segregated them despite their groundbreaking successes. Includes biographies on Dorothy Jackson Vaughan (1910-2008), Mary Winston Jackson (1921-2005), Katherine Colman Goble Johnson (1918- ), Dr. Christine Mann Darden (1942- )" ~Catalog
Hidden Figures Young Readers' Edition by
"Before John Glenn orbited the earth, or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as "human computers" used pencils, slide rules, and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space. This book brings to life the stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, four African-American women who lived through the civil rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War, and the movement for gender equality, and whose work forever changed the face of NASA and the country." ~Catalog
I Am Harriet Tubman by
"A biography of Harriet Tubman, the abolitionist leader who played a key role in helping enslaved people escape via the Underground Railroad." ~Catalog
I Am Jackie Robinson by
"Jackie Robinson always loved sports, especially baseball. He could run, leap, and throw better than any other kid around. But he lived at a time when the rules weren't fair to African Americans: Even though Jackie was a great athlete, he wasn't allowed on the best teams just because of the color of his skin. Jackie knew that sports were best when everyone, of every color, played together. He became the first black baseball player on a major-league team, and his bravery helped lead the way to equality in all sports in America." ~Catalog
I Have a Dream by
"Presents illustrations and the text of the speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on August 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, in which he described his visionary dream of equality and brotherhood for humankind." ~Catalog
The Legendary Miss Lena Horne by
"Surveys the life of the actress and civil rights activist, describing her childhood, early years in vaudeville, and achievements as the first African American actress to be offered a studio contract." ~Catalog
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by
"Dr. Mae Jemison -- Bessie Coleman -- Sojourner Truth -- Ida B. Wells -- Augusta Savage -- Wilma Rudolph -- Zora Neale Hurston -- Gwendolyn Brooks -- Audre Lorde -- Mary Bowser -- Harriet Tubman -- Florence "FloJo" Joyner -- Althea Gibson -- Alma Woodsey Thomas" ~Catalog
Mae among the Stars by
The story of the first Africa-American woman to travel to space
Malcolm Little by
"Malcolm X grew to be one of America's most influential figures. But first, he was a boy named Malcolm Little." ~Catalog
Martin's Big Words by
"In this elegant pictorial biography of Martin Luther King Jr., author Doreen Rappaport combines her spare, lyrical text with King's own words for an effective, age-appropriate portrayal of one of the world's greatest civil rights leaders" ~Catalog
My Brother Martin by
"Looks at the early life of Martin Luther King, Jr., as seen through the eyes of his older sister." ~Catalog
Of Thee I Sing by
"In this tender, beautiful letter to his daughters, President Barack Obama has written a moving tribute to thirteen groundbreaking Americans and the ideals that have shaped our nation. From the artistry of Georgia O'Keeffe, to the courage of Jackie Robinson, to the patriotism of George Washington, President Obama sees the traits of these heroes within his own children, and within all of America's children" ~Catalog
Our Children Can Soar by
"A poem of African American history enhanced by illustrations. George Washington Carver -- Jesse Owens -- Hattie McDaniel -- Ella Fitzgerald -- Jackie Robinson -- Rosa Parks -- Ruby Bridges -- Martin Luther King, Jr. -- Thurgood Marshall -- Barack Obama." ~Catalog
Preaching to the Chickens by
"John wants to be a preacher when he grows up a leader whose words stir hearts to change, minds to think, and bodies to take action. But why wait? When John is put in charge of the family farm's flock of chickens, he discovers that they make a wonderful congregation! So he preaches to his flock, and they listen, content under his watchful care, riveted by the rhythm of his voice" ~Catalog
Ron's Big Mission by
"One summer day in 1959, nine-year-old Ron McNair, who dreams of becoming a pilot, walks into the Lake City, South Carolina, public library and insists on checking out some books, despite the rule that only white people can have library cards. Includes facts about McNair, who grew up to be an astronaut" ~Catalog
Rosa by
"Rosa Parks's personal story moves quickly into a summary of the Civil Rights movement in this striking picture book" ~Catalog
Schomburg by
"Amid the scholars, poets, authors, and artists of the Harlem Renaissance stood an Afro-Puerto Rican named Arturo Schomburg. This law clerk's life's passion was to collect books, letters, music, and art from Africa and the African diaspora and bring to light the achievements of people of African descent through the ages." ~Catalog
This Little Trailblazer by
"This board book highlights ten memorable female trailblazers." ~Catalog "Ada Lovelace -- Florence Nightingale -- Coco Chanel -- Rose Parks -- Maria Tallchief -- Wilma Rudolph -- Sonia Sotomayor -- Ruby Bridges -- Maya Lin -- Malala Yousafzai." ~Catalog
The Undefeated by
"The Newbery Award-winning author of The Crossover pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time Caldecott Honoree" ~Catalog
Voice of Freedom by
"Presents a collage-illustrated treasury of poems and spirituals inspired by the life and work of civil rights advocate Fannie Lou Hamer" ~Catalog
What Was the March on Washington? by
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Describes the 1963 March on Washington, helmed by Martin Luther King, Jr., where over two hundred thousand people gathered to demand equal rights for all races, and explains why this event is still important in American history today" ~Catalog
When the Beat Was Born by
"From his childhood in Jamaica to his youth in the Bronx, Laban Carrick Hill's book tells how Kool Herc came to be a DJ, how kids in gangs stopped fighting in order to breakdance, and how the music he invented went on to define a culture and transform the world" ~Catalog
Who Was Harriet Tubman? by
"A biography of the ninteenth-century woman who escaped slavery and helped many other slaves get to freedom on the Underground Railroad" ~Catalog
Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr. ? by
"An introduction to the life Martin Luther King, Jr. Including how he organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott and African American people across the country in support of the right to vote, desegregation, and other basic civil rights." ~Catalog
Who Was Rosa Parks? by
"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"." ~Catalog
The Youngest Marcher by
"Presents the life of nine-year-old Audrey Faye Hendricks who became the youngest known child to be arrested for picketing against Birmingham segregation practices in 1963." ~Catalog