Hardcover
Welcome to the Party. (Author: Gabrielle Union Illustrator: Ashley Evans. A wonderful welcome of new life and a celebration of life to come. EyeSeeMe Link
The Night is Yours. (Author: Abdul-Razak Zachariah) A dad inspired by his daughter playing with her friends underneath the moonlight. EyeSeeMe Link
Watch Me. (Author: Doyin Richards. Illustrator: Joe Cepeda) A son shares his father’s story of being an African immigrant in the United States. EyeSeeMe Link
Hair, It’s a Family Affair. (Author: Mylo Freeman) A child explains how all of the different types and styles of hair unite her family. EyeSeeMe Link
Saturday. (Author: Oge Mora) A mother and daughter spend their favorite day together – Saturday – only to find that all of their plans are ruined. Or, are they? EyeSeeMe Link
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family. (Author: Ibtihaj Muhammad. Illustrator: S. K. Ali) A little girl admires her sister as she wears her hijab for the first time to school. Plus, the author grew up in Maplewood! EyeSeeMe Link
100 Days Inside. (Author: Madison Martin & Fiona Wright. Illustrator: Karan Chhimwal) A child navigates her new reality due to the Coronavirus pandemic and relies on her mother to help her learn how to deal with her emotions. Amazon Link
Hair Love. (Author: Matthew A. Cherry. Illustrator: Vashti Harrison) Daddy has to do his daughter’s hair to help her get ready for a very important day. EyeSeeMe Link
Papa, Daddy, & Riley. (Author: Seamus Kirst. Illustrator: Devon Holzwarth) When asked which of her two daddies is her real daddy, a child gets upset because she doesn’t want to choose. Her daddies teach her that all families are different and what unites them is love. Amazon Link
Full, Full, Full of Love. (Author: Trish Cooke. Illustrator: Paul Howard) A child and his grandmother prepare for the family Sunday dinner. EyeSeeMe Link
Best in Me. (Author: Natalie McDonald-Perkins. Illustrator: Mary Ibeh) To confront bullying, a school counselor encourages children to write poetry celebrating their differences. A beautiful book showing diverse children including a number of black and brown children who show pride in their differences. Amazon Link
Lullaby (For a Black Mother). (Author: Langston Hughes. Illustrator: Sean Qualls) Beautiful art illustrates Hughes’s lullaby capturing the love of mothers. EyeSeeMe Link
I am Perfectly Designed. (Author: Karamo Brown. Illustrator: Jason “Rachel” Brown) A boy walks with his father throughout the city and learns to be proud of who he is and that he and his father are perfectly designed for each other. EyeSeeMe Link
Grandma’s Purse. (Author: Vanessa Brantley-Newton) While exploring her grandmother’s purse, a little girl’s day goes from ordinary to extraordinary. EyeSeeMe Link
My Brother Charlie. (Author: Holly Robinson Peete) A sister lovingly describes her brother with autism. EyeSeeMe Link
I am Enough. (Author: Grace Byers. Illustrator. Keturah A. Bobo) An inspiring and lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind to one another. EyeSeeMe Link
My Nana and Me. (Author: Irene Smalls. Illustrator: Cathy Ann Johnson) A child shares a fun day with her grandmother and describes the different ways in which she loves her nana. EyeSeeMe Link
Loretta’s Gift. (Author: Pat Zietlow Miller. Illustrator: Alea Marley) While searching for the right gift for the new baby in her family, a little girl learns that she had the perfect gift all along. Amazon Link
Early Sunday Morning. (Author: Denene Millner. Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley-Newton) A little girl is nervous before she has to sing her big solo in the church choir. Will she have the courage to sing in time? EyeSeeMe Link
Ezra’s Big Shabbat Question. (Author: Aviva Brown. Illustrator: Anastasia Kanavaliuk) While celebrating Shabbat, a young boy asks everyone in his family and even his rabbi if they can answer his really big question. Will he finally get the answer? Amazon Link
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut. This book pays tribute to the role and importance of the barbershop in the black community. The barbershop is where the magic happens. EyeSeeMe Link
When Aidan Became a Brother. (Author: Kyle Lukoff. Illustrator: Kaylani Juanita) A transgender child excitedly prepares for the new baby and works hard to make sure that the baby feels loved and accepted from the very beginning. EyeSeeMe Link
I’m Gonna Push Through. (Author: Jasmyn Wright. Illustrator: Shannon Wright) Third-grade teacher Jasmyn Wright encourages children to push through obstacles and recognize their own power. Amazon Link
The Message in the Mirror. (Author: Katrina Denise. Illustrator: Fanny Liem) A smart and talented child confronts daily bullying, struggles with self-esteem, and learns how remarkable she is and to believe in herself. Amazon Link
Who’s Got the Etrog? (Author: Jane Kohuth. Illustrator: Elissambura) Auntie Sanyu celebrates the harvest holiday of Sukkot with animal friends and family in Uganda. Amazon Link
Shopping with Dad. (Author: Matt Harvey. Illustrator: Miriam Lattimer) A child shops with dad until a simple mistake leads to a bigger accident. Amazon Link
Don’t Touch My Hair. (Author: Sharee Miller) A child who is proud of her travels all over to try to get away from hands that always want to touch her hair without asking for her permission. EyeSeeMe Link
In the Small, Small Night. (Author: Jane Kurtz. Illustrator: Rachel Isadora) New to the United States, a child tells her brother stories of Ghana, their home country, to help him feel less homesick. Amazon Link
The Lord’s Prayer. (Author: Tim Ladwig) Beautiful images illustrate the Lord’s Prayer and show a father and child helping a senior neighbor. EyeSeeMe Link
Santa’s Husband. (Author: Daniel Kibblesmith. Illustrator: A P Quach) Santa (black) and his husband (white) keep everything running smoothly in the North Pole to bring happiness to children all over the world. Amazon Link
Jabari Jumps (Author: Gaia Cornwall) In a sweetly appealing tale of overcoming your fears, Gaia Cornwall captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy you can’t help but root for. If you like this book, see Jabari Tries by the same author. 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. EyeSeeMe Link
Julián is a Mermaid. (Author: Jessica Love) A wonderful story about a little boy who is true to himself and his Abuela who loves him. Like this book? Please read Julián at the Wedding, too. Julián goes to a wedding with his Abuela and makes a new friend. See the beautiful and joyful illustrations for this party for love! Amazon Link
A Chair for My Mother. (Author: Vera B. Williams) After their home is destroyed by a fire, Rosa, her mother, and grandmother save their coins to buy a really comfortable chair for all to enjoy. EyeSeeMe Link
I Like Myself. (Author: Karen Beaumont. Illustrated by David Catrow) High on energy and imagination, this ode to self-esteem encourages kids to appreciate everything about themselves--inside and out. EyeSeeMe Link
Hiking Day. (Author: Anne Rockwell. Illustrator. Lizzy Rockwell) A family goes hiking up a nearby mountain to discover what nature offers. EyeSeeMe Link
My Family Plays Music. (Author: Judy Cox. Illustrator: Elbrite Brown) A young child’s family is filled with musicians who celebrate playing different instruments and genres of music. Amazon Link
All Because You Matter. (Author: Tami Charles. Illustrator: Bryan Collier) A poetic tribute to black and brown children reminding them how much they matter not only to people in their lives today but also to their ancestors who dreamed of what they could become. EyeSeeMe Link
Red Shoes. (Author: Karen English. Illustrator: Ebony Glenn) Nana surprises her granddaughter with a new pair of red shoes. The girl loves and wears the red shoes to various special family events until she outgrows them and they go to a second-hand shop. An auntie visiting the United States sees the shoes and brings them to a little girl in Africa who deserves a treat for fasting during Ramadan and the shoes have another life. EyeSeeMe Link