Recommended Reads: African American “Own Voices” Books Brown Sugar Baby Kevin Lewis
BB 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.
Nesting Dolls Vanessa Brantley-Newton
P BRAN, V A little girl struggling to find her place within her family is shown how special she is through a set of nesting dolls.
Mahogany: A Little Red Riding Hood Tale JaNay Brown-Wood
P BROW, J When taking cornbread to Grandma, Mahogany encounters a hungry wolf and outsmarts him by cleverly hiding in the woods and using her sewing skills to trap him.
Bros Carole Boston Weatherford
P WEAT, C From sunrise to sunset, a group of young Black boys joyously spend the day together as they live their best lives freely in their community. With confidence and a touch of swag, these friends do everything with one another.
Family Reunion Chad Richardson
P RICH, C A young boy dreads attending his family reunion, convinced it will be boring – until he sees his beloved PopPop. As the day goes on, he’s swept up in the fun, dancing and sharing food with relatives, and discovering the joy of family togetherness.
Keyana Loves School Natasha Anastasia Tarpley
P TARP, N Second grader Keyana and her classmates celebrate their school's one hundredth anniversary by making quilt squares showcasing what they love most about their school.
My Hair is Like a Sun St. Clair Detrick-Jules
BB In rhyming text, celebrates the natural hairstyles of African American children, encouraging them to see themselves relected in the wonders of nature.
Ty’s Travels: Showtime! Kelly Starling Lyons
E LYON, K Ty loves playing the instruments, but something's missing--his friends! With the help of his vivid imagination, Ty and his friends are onstage in a band making great music together.
Liline and Pepper: Best Friends Samanka Dumond-Desir
E DUMO, S When she and her family find a cat and, after no luck finding its owner, decide to keep her, Haitian American kindergartener Liline must come up with the perfect name.
Miles Lewis: Pet Sitter Kelly Starling Lyons
YF LYON, K Miles babysits two pets to prove he's responsible enough for one of his own, but things don't go according to plan.
Abby in Orbit: Blast Off! Andrea J. Loney
YF LONE, A It is Abby Baxter's first day of third grade on the OASIS International Space Station and she is determined not to make any mistakes, but getting used to microgravity, watching her little brother, Nico, and meeting her new classmates, causes her to almost mess up Mami's big experiment.
Boy 2.0 Tracey Baptiste
J BAPT, T When thirteen-year-old African American Coal discovers he can turn invisible, he searches for answers about his past with the help of his friends and his new foster family.
The Braid Girls Sherri Winston
J WINS, S Three girls start a hair-braiding business at their summer camp to make money, while competing against a rival business that threatens their plans.
Curlfriends: New in Town Sharee Miller
J GN MILL, S Eager to make a good first impression at her new middle school, thirteen-year-old Charlie does her best to fit in until she meets a group of diverse Black girls who show her the importance of authenticity.
Gamerville Johnnie Christmas
J GN CHRI, J A video gamer’s championship aspirations are dashed when his parents send him to Camp Reset, where electronics are forbidden and you're forced to socialize, eat healthy, and spend time outside.