Ages 0 - 4

Baby Dance. (Author: Ann Taylor) A father dances with his baby daughter to the tune of Hush Little Baby.

Girl of Mine. (Author: Jabari Asim) Inspired by Rock-A-Bye-Baby, a father sings his baby daughter to sleep.

Jazz Baby. (Author: Lisa Wheeler) A little baby inspires his entire family to join in and sing and dance.

Sugar Pie Lullaby. (Author: Carole Boston Weatherford) Motown lyrics combined with heartwarming photos of families help little ones drift off to sleep.

Lullaby (for a Black Mother). (Author: Langston Hughes) Illustration of a Langston Hughes poem celebrates the love between a mother and her baby.  

Ages 4 - 8

Sam and the Incredible African and American Food Fight. (Author: Shannon Gibney) Half and half, stuck in-between, Sam and his sister love his African-American mother’s cooking and his African father’s and Auntie’s cuisine, but they are often forced to choose. Can Sam find a way to stop this African and American food fight so that everyone in his family can enjoy eating together?

Edward’s Rhythm Sticks. (Author: Franklin Jamar Willis.) Edward’s grandparents give him brand-new rhythm sticks. Edward shows his family and friends how music is all around. This story uses rhythm, pattern, and sequence to engage young listeners.

What is a tape?(Author: Vincent Marable) A father answers his son’s question by sharing his memories of the role that hip-hop played in his life.

Song in the City. (Author: Daniel Bernstrom) A little girl, who is blind, struggles to convince her grandmother that the city is filled with music until her grandmother finally hears the music all around her.

Build a House. (Author: Rhiannon Giddens) This book illustrates lyrics commemorating the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth while showing the family’s struggles to build their own home after slavery.

The Electric Slide and Kai. (Author: Kelly Baptist) Kai struggles to learn the electric slide before a family wedding. Will he leave his nerves behind and find his own special dance moves in time?

Marley and the Family Band. (Author: Cedella Marley) New in town, Marley and her family decide to give their neighbors a concert until the weather threatens to end their plans. Can Marley find a way for the family to have the concert?

Nesting Dolls. (Author: Vanessa Brantley-Newton) A little girl is in awe of her gorgeous Gullah Geechee family tree, but feels that she does not share their talent. She sees nesting dolls at her grandmother’s art studio and learns that what’s on the outside does not always tell the complete story.

Daddy and Me and the Rhyme to Be. (Author: Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and Halcyon Person) A girl loves spending time with her dad making music, but when she wants to write a hip-hop song for him on his birthday, she can’t find the right rhymes.

I Got the Rhythm. (Author: Connie Schofield-Morrison) A little girl celebrates the music of the world around her on a walk to the park with her mom.

Lovely Day. (Author: Bill Withers) This book’s touching illustrations to the Bill Withers song shows a brother’s and sister’s love for one another.

Parker Shines On. (Author: Parker & Jessica Curry) Parker shows her family that she can not only be a great dancer, but also can be a great, supportive friend.

Ruby’s Reunion Day Dinner. (Author: Angela Dalton) Each year, Ruby’s family gathers to have a reunion day feast. Can Ruby create her own signature dish?

Soul Food Sunday. (Author: Winsome Bingham) A grandmother teaches her grandson how to cook the family’s traditional Sunday meal.

Hello, Mister Blue. (Author: Daria Peoples) A little girl meets her father’s friend who does not have a home and they play music together for the community.

Stitchin’ and Pullin’. (Author: Patricia McKissack) A little girl learns her family’s quilting traditions from her grandmother and hears the personal, cultural, and historical significance of each piece of fabric.

Sing a Song. (Author: Kelly Starling Lyons) This book shows how “Lift Every Voice and Sing” has inspired families for generations.   

My Oh My, I Can’t Wait to Eat This Pie! (Author: Chef Shavown Cox & Brittany Young)  Vonnie and Antonio can’t wait to eat their grandmother’s sweet potato pie. As they drive from farm stand to farm stand searching for fresh sweet potatoes, they learn all about sweet potatoes and their role in black cuisine. 

Blues Journey. (Author: Walter Dean & Christopher Myers) Father and son write and illustrate this beautiful tribute to the poetry of blues music.