H is for Harlem

Dinah Johnson

Discover the Harlem icons that have defined generations of American culture. Harlem is full of remarkable treasures, including museums, performance spaces, community centers, and more—all of which come to life in this lavish celebration of Harlem as an epicenter of African American history and a vibrant neighborhood that continues to shape our world. At once a love letter and a rich alphabetical archive, H Is for Harlem highlights communities and traditions that connect our past and present. 

PUBLISHED: June 2022

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall

THEMES: Black history, Harlem, Biography

Bravo Anjali! 

Sheetal Sheth

For Anjali, playing the tabla is something that comes naturally. She loves the feel of the drum beneath her fingers and getting lost in the music. But when a boy in her class gives her a hard time for being better than him, she messes up on purpose. When her teacher announces a contest where the winner will get to perform with him at his next concert, Anjali is distraught. Winning the contest would be a dream for Anjali. But it seems like the better she gets, the meaner some of the kids are. Anjali realizes that she should never let anyone make her feel bad for being good at something.

PUBLISHED: September 2021

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY : Fall, Winter, Spring

THEMES: SEL

Anjali Can! 

Sheetal Sheth

Anjali is back and ready to prove there’s nothing she can’t do! When a beloved community center is threatened with shutting down, Anjali must quickly find a way to save the space or risk losing it.

Unwilling to let the center shut down for good, Anjali is determined to keep the place open. Some people may say there's nothing she can do, but Anjali knows better--she can and must take action! There is no stopping her.

PUBLISHED: September 2025

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY : Fall, Winter, Spring

THEMES: SEL

Ten Blocks to the Big Wok

Ying-Hwa Hu

This charming bilingual English/Mandarin counting book uses a stroll through Chinatown to introduce readers to the numbers one through ten in Chinese .

As Mia and her uncle Eddie travel the ten blocks from their apartment to the Big Wok restaurant, Mia spies one giant panda ride, two lion statues, three swimming turtles, four bonsai trees, five tai chi practitioners ... There are so many things to see in Chinatown! And when they reach the Big Wok, they find ten yummy dim sum dishes to eat. 

PUBLISHED: January 2022

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: Cultural Affirmation, STEM

I Absolutely, Positively Love My Spots

Lid’ya C. Rivera

A young girl with vitiligo celebrates her skin in this joyful picture book.

This lyrical celebration of self-esteem, perseverance, and loving the skin you're in will inspire all children to appreciate their spots or what makes them different. 

Includes a personal letter from the author and facts about vitiligo.

PUBLISHED: June 2023

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Spring

THEMES: SEL, Identity

When Julia Danced Bomba

Raquel Ortiz

Julia is having a hard time at dance class. When Julia hears she will have to compete in the bombazo, she's scared. But after she feels the drums and loses herself in the beat, she has fun.

PUBLISHED: October 2019

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring

THEMES: Bilingual, Cultural Affirmation

PROJECT OPTIONS

Explore How Your Family Traditions May Be Rooted In Dance, Music, And Art

Caterpillars: What Will I Be When I Get to be Me?

Kevin McCloskey 

Is it a worm? Is it a snake? No! It’s a caterpillar . . . and it’s on its way to one of the most magical transformations in the insect world, from a crawling digestive tube to a fluttering glasswing, luna moth, or monarch on its journey across thousands-of-miles. Young readers will explore how caterpillars morph into the many different moths and butterflies that help pollinate our world. Growing up is scary, but caterpillars can lead the way!

PUBLISHED: January 2023

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: STEAM, change, metamorphosis

The Real Poop on Pigeons

Kevin McCloskey 

Did you know a pigeon can fly faster than a car and farther than a small airplane? Or that they have something unusual in common with penguins, flamingos, and even the dodo? With his trademark mix of humor, well-researched facts, and artistry, Kevin McCloskey delivers the straight poop on these humble creatures, which turn out to be...coo, coo, COOL!

PUBLISHED: January 2019

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: STEAM, selective mutations

 Ants don't wear Pants!

Kevin McCloskey 

Let yourself be captivated by these tiny, fascinating creatures that you can find in any backyard near you! They hear with their legs and smell with their antennae—some even explode! Author Kevin McCloskey points his magnifying glass for a close-up look at an anthill, shrinking young readers down, down, down into the underground colonies that ants call home. 

PUBLISHED: January 2019

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: STEAM, insects, anatomy

Mural Island 

Katie Yamasaki

Minoru Yamasaki described the feeling he sought to create in his buildings as “serenity, surprise, and delight.” Here, Katie Yamasaki charts his life and work: his childhood in Seattle’s Japanese immigrant community, paying his way through college working in Alaska’s notorious salmon canneries, his success in architectural school, and the transformative structures he imagined and built. A Japanese American man who faced brutal anti-Asian racism in post–World War II America and an outsider to the architectural establishment, he nonetheless left his mark on the world, from the American Midwest to New York City, Asia, and the Middle East.

PUBLISHED: Oct 2022

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: Immigrant, overcoming obstacles/adversity, Determination

Bonnie's Rocket

Emeline Lee

• Bonnie is an engineer, just like her Baba who works far away for the Apollo 11 space mission 

• Bonnie is making her own rocket and her Baba encourages her to keep going even if she makes mistakes through letters 

• Baba comes home just in time to see her rocket launch  

PUBLISHED: October 2022

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: STEM

PROJECT OPTIONS

Try some fun science and art projects

Joy Takes Root 

Gwendolyn Wallace

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. 

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.

PUBLISHED: January 2023

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Winter, Spring

THEMES: Cultural Affirmation, SEL, Environment/Stewardship

Jabari Tries

Gaia Cornwall 

Jabari is making a flying machine in his backyard! “It’ll be easy. I don’t need any help,” he declares. But it doesn’t work! Jabari is frustrated. Good thing Dad is there for a pep talk and his little sister, Nika, is there to assist, fairy wings and all. With the endearing father-child dynamic of Jabari Jumps and engaging mixed-media illustrations, Gaia Cornwall’s tale shows that through perseverance and flexibility, an inventive thought can become a brilliant reality.

PUBLISHED: January 2020

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Winter, Spring

THEMES: Perseverance, Problem solving; Experimenting

Together We Are Sunshine

Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow  

Haala, the middle sister, loves to follow along behind her older sister, Sanaa, on their outdoor adventures. But her little sister, Munira, always seems to get in the way. Munira blocks the sun’s kiss, interrupts the wind’s song, and scares away the goldfish’s secrets. Haala can’t keep up with Sanaa when Munira’s on her heels. But when the sisters take a moment to work as a team, they realize that together they can achieve anything--and that together they are sunshine.

In this celebration of the natural world, three sisters learn to help one another.

PUBLISHED: January 2025

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring

THEMES: Collectivism, Working together, Family

Hold Them Close: A Love Letter to Black Children

Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow  

As affirming as it is touching and warm, Hold Them Close encourages young children to hold close their joy, the words of their ancestors and elders, as well as their power to change the world. A perfect book for shared story time, this book will inspire young people to march forth with pride, glow, and happiness.

PUBLISHED: January 2022

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring

THEMES: Ancestors, Black history, Positive change, Personal power

The Golden Hoops

Jen Hayes Lee 

Golden hoops are magic. That’s what Mommy says.

And Janey has always wanted her own pair of glowing golden hoops, just like the ones her mother wears.

Finally, the day comes when Janey gets her own. With her hoops, Janey can do anything. She feels like a million bucks! But when she gets home, Janey discovers that one of her hoops has gone missing.

Without her special hoops, can Janey find her magic again?

PUBLISHED: September 2025

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring

THEMES: Inner beauty, Sisterhood, Black culture

Ramadan Rain

Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow 

Haneen's Momma says that during Ramadan raindrops bring blessings and answer prayers. As they travel through the streets on a slow bus ride, rain drips down the window, and Haneen prays for new shoes and bright dresses--gifts she really, really wants to receive for Eid.

When they arrive at the masjid, Haneen makes Eid cards with the twins, Safa and Marwa, helps give out dates and water and spread tarps for dinner, and whispers duas--and, as she does, she begins to wish for something different. Something she wants more than anything. After all, the most precious gifts are not shoes and dresses, but the kindness of friends and the magic of faith. And, of course, the love of your Momma.

PUBLISHED: March 2026

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: fall, Winter, Spring

THEMES: Collectivism, Working Together, Friendship

Over in the Mangroves

Jyoti Rajan Gopal

Over in the mangroves by the river in the sun, slinks a fierce mama tiger and her little tiger one.

Inspired by the classic nursery rhyme, Over in the Mangroves is a fresh take that layers counting and social emotional moments into a beautiful interactive tale. From dawn to dusk, this enchanting story follows forest animals as they fish, swim, dig, and bask before a storm sends them all searching for shelter among the mangrove trees.

PUBLISHED: July 2025

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring

THEMES: Ecosystems, SEL

The Sand Beneath the Waves

Danette Vigilante

The Sand Beneath the Waves invites young readers on a lyrical journey through coral reefs, swirling currents, burrowing clams - and even a dancing octopus - all while exploring the ocean's role in shaping the sand we walk on.

Blending playful rhyme with real elements of ocean science, this gentle and imaginative picture book inspires curiosity about the natural world. With vivid illustrations and poetic language, it's a perfect read-aloud for classrooms, beach lovers, and budding marine explorers.

PUBLISHED: June 2025

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Spring

THEMES: Conservation, Ocean

Dad Bakes

Katie Yamasaki

Dad wakes early every morning before the sun, heading off to work at the bakery. He kneads, rolls, and bakes, and as the sun rises and the world starts its day, Dad heads home to his young daughter. Together they play, read, garden, and―most importantly―they bake.

This lovely, resonant picture book was inspired by muralist Katie Yamasaki’s work with formerly incarcerated people. With subtle, uncluttered storytelling amplified by her monumental and heartfelt paintings, she has created a powerful story of love, of family, and of reclaiming a life with joy.

PUBLISHED: Oct 2021

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: Family, Formerly incarcerated, Father/daughter relationships

A Boy Named Isamu: A Story of Isamu Noguchi

James Yang 

Winner of the Theordor Seuss Geisel Award in 2020 for Stop! Bot!, James Yang imagines a day in the boyhood of Japanese American artist, Isamu Noguchi. Wandering through an outdoor market, through the forest, and then by the ocean, Isamu sees things through the eyes of a young artist . . .but also in a way that many children will relate. Stones look like birds. And birds look like stones.

PUBLISHED: June 2021

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter

THEMES: Isamu Noguchi, Creativity, Design, Intentionality

A Universe Big & Small: A Story About Carl Sagan

James Yang 

When Carl stared out the window, he had many questions.

Astronomer and scientist Carl Sagan loved asking questions—he wanted to learn about everything from the smallest atoms to the vastness of the galaxy. And by using his imagination and allowing himself to dream up questions big and small, he inspired others to keep exploring the mysteries of the universe and our place in it.

PUBLISHED: July 2025

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter

THEMES: Astrophysics, Carl Sagan, Astronomy, STEM, Biography

A Vaisakhi to Remember

Simran Jeet Singh

When a Sikh family moves from their village in India to a faraway city on the other side of the world, a girl yearns for her grandmother's hugs, her goat Ramu, and the lush fields filled with yellow flowers and wheat. How will they celebrate Vaisakhi in her new and unfamiliar surroundings?

But the girl soon discovers soothing touchstones—a special outfit, a trip to gurdwara, delicious food, and new friends—that make gathering for Vaisakhi still the best day of all.

PUBLISHED: March 2025

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: Heritage, Community, Newcomer, Cultural celebrations

First Day Around the World 

Ibi Zoboi 

How do children around the world spend their first day of school?

Some eat warm akara for breakfast in Nigeria, while others unwrap lunches of kluski in Poland. In China, they practice intricate characters in special notebooks, and in Argentina, they learn each other's names in a sing-song memory game. No matter where in the world, every student has something new to look forward to on their first day!

PUBLISHED: June 2025

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: Multicultural, Cultural Similarities, Identity, Community

The ABCs of Women's History

Rio Cortez

In a beautiful picture book brimming with G for Groundbreaking women, National Book Award nominee Rio Cortez and illustrator Lauren Semmer celebrate all the joys, challenges, and historic forward movement of women’s history in the United States, with a special focus on the Black women, brown women, transwomen, and others who make change happen. This is a book about Artists, Activists and Allies, about Civil Rights and Choice, about Freedom Fighters, Headliners, Labor -- and Librarians! It’s about historic moments—Kamala Harris being sworn in as the first African-American and first Asian-American Vice President of the United States; Title IX passing through Congress; Seneca Falls, where the first women’s rights convention was held; the Riot Grrrls movement; and so much more. 

PUBLISHED: Jan 2025

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Spring, Summer

THEMES: Female historical figures, Social Justice, Change makers

One Sweet Song

Jyoti Rajan Gopal

In a quiet neighborhood, a single note trills through the air. Another note joins, and then another. One by one, curious people are drawn to their windows, doorways, and balconies to support the medley. Professional musicians play instruments from around the world, while others bang pots and pans. All are welcome as the notes swirl and dip and crescendo, coming together to make one sweet song. And when the music fades and this diverse neighborhood is once again silent, the reverberations of unity remain. .

PUBLISHED: Jan 2024

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring

THEMES: Music, Collectivism, Community

Mural Island 

Katie Yamasaki

On the front steps, inside the fridge, across the bathroom mirror, atop the cafeteria tables, even on the roll of toilet paper. Kengi’s parents are frustrated, and their principal tells them they need to stop. But Ms. Beatriz tells Kengi there’s somewhere in the neighborhood that they should visit.

When Kengi arrives at Mural Island, they discover a place where people can paint safely, freely, and joyfully. So Kengi does. But they’re not the only one painting each day, and soon Kengi recognizes that their art doesn’t have to be permanent to be monumental.

PUBLISHED: March 2025

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: Mural, Community

The Bronx Is My Home

Alyssa Reynoso-Morris 

There's only one place where you can see bodegas and businesses bustling on every street, taste the most delicious empanadas in the world, smell the salty sea air of Pelham Bay, and pet horses at the Bronx Equestrian Center. From sunrise to sunset, Santiago and Mami have many treasures to enjoy in their neighborhood on a beautiful Saturday, including colorful birds on the Siwanoy Trail and fresh cannolis on Arthur Avenue. This energetic and joyful family story offers both a journey through and a love letter to this special borough.  

PUBLISHED: Oct, 2023

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: Neighborhood pride, Multigenerational, Family, Community

It Must Be Make-Believe

Shedia Smalls-Douglas 

Kai is convinced that Daddy's fantastical stories of New Orleans, filled with parades, snowballs, and gators CANNOT be true. Join Kai on her very first family trip to the Big Easy where she learns that things aren't always what they seem.

PUBLISHED: Feb 2023

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring

THEMES: Travel, Imagination, Family, Make Believe, Cultural Affirmation

My Paati's Saris

Jyoti Rajan Gopal

done in preparation for tonight’s party; threading flowers into garlands for decoration, going to the market, and helping her in the kitchen with the scent of sambar in the air.

Through it all the boy finds comfort in Paati’s sari, whether he’s wrapped in its colors for dress-up or clutching its folds for comfort. Each sari holds a story—ones that speak to him, but most important of all they allow him just to be.

PUBLISHED: Nov 2022

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring

THEMES: Multicultural, Identity, Self Expression, Cultural Affirmation

Halal Hot Dogs

Susannah Aziz

Every Friday after Jummah prayer at the masjid, Musa's family has a special Jummah treat. They take turns picking out what the treat will be, but recently the choices have been . . . interesting. Week one, Mama made molokhia. It's perfect for sharing, but gives us molokhia teeth for days! Week two, Baba burned the kufte kebabs on the grill. Week three, Seedi made his favorite riz b'haleeb-creamy rice pudding with pistachio sprinkled on top with an unexpected ingredient. Last week, Maryam brought jellybeans. . . . Finally, it's Musa's turn to pick, and he picks his favorite-halal hot dogs! But actually getting to eat this deliciousness turns into a journey riddled with obstacles. Will he ever get his favorite tasty treat?

PUBLISHED: May 2021

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: heritage foods, cultural pride, Muslim experiences

Salon Saturday 

Janelle Harper

A little girl’s first trip to the salon is a rite of passage, but choosing a new hairstyle is feeling like an impossible task! There are so many styles to choose from—bobs, buns, coils, fros, and more. And according to Grandma, Momma, and Sissy, choosing the best one means thinking about ease, lifestyle, and personality…It’s A LOT to think about!

When the options seem overwhelming, the young girl decides to search for what feels right today, and that there’s always a future salon visit to try something new. While admiring the three loving women who have guided her through this big day, she finally sees it…her own kind of beautiful!

PUBLISHED: Sept 2025

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY (local): Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: Family, SEL, identity, self-love

My Block Looks Like

Janelle Harper

A lyrical and proud picture book that recognizes the beauty of the bodegas, subways, and playgrounds that characterize everyday life in the Bronx and pays homage to the ways that its residents have shaped pop culture through music, visual art, and dance. 

PUBLISHED: Jan 2024

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: NYC, Bronx culture, neighborhood pride, identity

These Olive Trees

Aya Ghanameh 

It’s 1967 in Nablus, Palestine. Oraib loves the olive trees that grow outside the refugee camp where she lives. Each harvest, she and her mama pick the small fruits and she eagerly stomp stomp stomps on them to release their golden oil. Olives have always tied her family to the land, as Oraib learns from the stories Mama tells of a home before war.

But war has come to their door once more, forcing them to flee. Even as her family is uprooted, Oraib makes a solemn promise to her beloved olive trees. She will see to it that their legacy lives on for generations to come.

PUBLISHED: August 2023

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY (virtual): Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: Culture, Refugees, Palestine, Displacement, Love for homeland

I Is for Immigrants

Selina Alko

What do African dance, samosas, and Japanese gardens have in common? They are all gifts the United States received from immigrants: the vibrant, multifaceted people who share their heritage and traditions to enrich the fabric of our daily lives. From Jewish delis to bagpipes, bodegas and Zen Buddhism, this joyful ABC journey is a celebration of immigrants: our neighbors, our friends.

PUBLISHED: June 2021

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: Immigrants; Diversity; Culture; Multicultural; Ancestors

Hold Them Close: A Love Letter to Black Children

Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow  

Abdul loves to tell stories. But writing them down is hard. His letters refuse to stay straight and face the right way. And despite all his attempts, his papers often wind up with more eraser smudges than actual words. Abdul decides his stories just aren’t meant to be written down…until a special visitor comes to class and shows Abdul that even the best writers—and superheroes—make mistakes

PUBLISHED: March 2022

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring

THEMES: SEL, Neurodiversity, Growth Mindset

Freedom, We Sing

Amyra León

As powerful as it is beautiful, Freedom, We Sing is a lyrical picture book designed to inspire and give hope to readers around the world. Molly Mendoza's immersive, lush illustrations invite kids to ponder singer/songwriter Amyra León's poem about what it means to be free. It's the perfect book for parents who want a way to gently start the conversation with their kids about finding hope in these very tense times we are living in.

PUBLISHED: July 2020

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: Freedom/liberation, SEL, Social Justice, Poetry, Collectivism

My Chinatown

Kam Mak

My Chinatown explores a boy's first year in the United States. After emigrating from China, as he grows to love his new home in Chinatown through food, games, and the people surrounding him. Through Kam Mak's spare verse and richly detailed artwork, the streets of Chinatown come vividly alive.

PUBLISHED: January 2016

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY (local): Spring

THEMES: Cultural Affirmation, gentrification, newcomers, Chinatown

PROJECT OPTIONS

Write a Sensory Description of Your Favorite Food; Share about your neighborhood and its changes

Everything Grows in Jiddo's Garden

Jenan Matari

Jiddo’s garden is a wonder. In it grows so many amazing things—to see, smell, and taste. But helping him to tend the garden teaches this young girl about even more than fig trees. It gives her a chance to discover just who she is.

Many years ago, like so many Palestinians, her family was forced to leave their homeland. But Jiddo shows her how, until they can return, tending a garden can connect them to home—and to each other!

PUBLISHED: Sept 2025

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY:  Winter 

THEMES: Land sovereignty, heirloom seeds, Palestinian diaspora, Liberation, intergenerational relationships, family

Harlem Grown

Tony Hillery

Harlem Grown tells the inspiring true story of how one man made a big difference in a neighborhood. After seeing how restless they were and their lack of healthy food options, Tony Hillery invited students from an underfunded school to turn a vacant lot into a beautiful and functional farm. By getting their hands dirty, these kids turned an abandoned space into something beautiful and useful while learning about healthy, sustainable eating and collaboration. Five years later, the kids and their parents, with the support of the Harlem Grown staff, grow thousands of pounds of fruits and vegetables a year. All of it is given to the kids and their families. 

PUBLISHED: August 2020

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: STEM, Social Justice, Environment, Agriculture, Community, Harlem

Saturdays at Harlem Grown

Tony Hillery

Mr. Tony and Nevaeh, a student, planted a farm. And then the word got out. Every Saturday people came to help: moms, dads, neighbors, shopkeepers. Everyone pitched in and raked, tiled, dug, and planted. It was beautiful in spring and summer, and when the weather turned to fall, it was time to harvest so everyone could experience the fruits (and vegetables) of their labor. Together they composted, recycled, and enjoyed. They built a garden. They built a community, too.

PUBLISHED: July 2024

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: STEM, Social Justice, Environment, Agriculture, Community, Harlem

Plátanos Are Love

Alyssa Reynoso-Morris

Abuela says, “plátanos are love.” I thought they were food. But Abuela says they feed us in more ways than one.

With every pop of the tostones, mash of the mangú, and sizzle of the maduros, a little girl learns that plátanos are her history, they are her culture, and—most importantly—they are love.

PUBLISHED: 2023

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY: Winter, Spring, Summer

THEMES: Cooking, Recipe, Family, Identity, Heritage, Multicultural

Just Right

 Torrey Maldonado 

Toby’s mom always says there are people that make you feel just right. And while his dad can be hard to please, it’s a different story with his uncle. Uncle showers Toby with smiles, hugs, and kind words, and his garage is like a second home to Toby—there’s even a chair with Toby’s name on it next to Uncle’s desk! Yes, Toby can always count on Uncle to make him feel just right.

Torrey Maldonado’s heartwarming picture book celebrates loving caregivers and highlights the powerful impact they can have on the life of a child.

PUBLISHED: Jan 2026

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY:  Fall, Winter, Spring

THEMES: relationships, chosen family, role models, diverse families

Nina: A Story of Nina Simone 

Traci N. Todd

Ella Jenkins is an American folk singer and living legend dubbed “The First Lady of Children’s Music.” For nearly 70 years, she has been writing and performing music that has entertained and engaged generations of young listeners. In Make a Pretty Sound, Ella’s life and legacy are captured in vibrant sights, sounds, and stories that leap right off the page.

Ella’s journey—from the gritty streets of Chicago to the classrooms where she found her calling to an opportunity to raise her voice for freedom alongside Martin Luther King, Jr., to the spotlight of the world’s stage—is rhythmically, joyfully, brilliantly illuminated. For readers familiar with Ella Jenkins or new to her work, this nonfiction picture book offers a treasury of inspiration that touches on American history, civil rights, cultural awareness, and the incredible power of music.

PUBLISHED: Jan 2025

AUTHOR AVAILABILITY:  Winter 

THEMES: Equality, Social justice, Historical Black female figures, Civil Rights, Arts, Community