Prepared by
Laela T
Laela T
Revised
May 8, 2023

Fiction
Kwame Alexander
An American Story
2023
This picture book in verse threads together past and present to explore the legacy of slavery during a classroom lesson.
Joy Harjo and Michaela Goade
Remember
2023
The picture book adaptation of the U.S. Poet Laureate's iconic poem urges readers to pay close attention to who they are, the world they were born into and how everyone on Earth is connected.
Chaz C loved this! Find out why »
Katy Hudson
Waiting On Mr. Sloth
2022
Sasha cannot wait to go swimming with her best friend Mr. Sloth, but when his very slow pace causes Sasha to lose her patience, she decides to go into the pool without him.
Melissa Iwai
Gigi and Ojiji
2022
Gigi can't wait for her Ojiji-- Japanese grandpa-- to move in. Gigi plans lots of things to do with him, but her plans don't work out quite the way she'd hoped.
Maple Lam
Dim Sum, Here We Come!
2023
In this yummy celebration of togetherness, love, family and food, a Chinese American girl and her younger sister attend their weekly dim sum family gathering.
Lily D loved this! Find out why »
Ibtihaj Muhammad
The Kindest Red
2023
On picture day, Faizah wears her special red dress with matching hair ribbons, then realizes she and her older sister, Asiya, don't match like her classmates and their siblings do, until a random act of kindness fixes all that.
Sandhya Parappukkaran
The Boy Who Tried To Shrink His Name
2023
When Zimdalamashkermishkada shortens his name, deep down it doesn't feel right, and with the help of a new friend who sees him for who he truly is, Zimdalamashkermishkada finds the confidence to step proudly into his long name.
Tom Percival
Milo's Monster
2023
Feeling left out when his best friend Jay makes a new friend, Milo must find a way to free himself from the grip of his jealousy, manifested as a green-eyed monster, and repair his friendship.
Benson Shum
Anzu the Great Listener
2023
When Anzu the kaiju's healing flowers seem to lose their power, hurting more than they help, he's not sure where to turn-- until he remembers some valuable lessons he learned from his bonsai tree.
Lexile level
AD 580
Ana Siqueira
Abuela's Super Capa
2023
Saturdays are superhero days. Equipped with their milkshakes and capas, Luis and his abuela can turn anything into an adventure. But when Abuela gets sick, Luis has to learn a new way to be a hero.
John Sullivan
Stanley's Secret
2023
Stanley is a shy boy with a secret: he loves to tap dance, but only for his pet mice. When the principal insists he try out for the talent show, Stanley has to overcome his shyness and summon the confidence to perform for the school.
Graphic novels
Beth Ferry
Stick and Stone: On the Go
2023
When Stick and Stone go spelunking underground, they meet all sorts of new friends, including a big, fluffy monster.
Paul Gilligan
Pluto Rocket, New in Town
2023
The self-proclaimed king of his neighborhood, know-it-all pigeon Joe Pidge takes new-to-town Pluto Rocket under his wing, but instead learns a thing or two from this alien on a secret mission.
Charise Mericle Harper
Pepper & Boo: Paws Up for Joy!
2023
While their suspicious housemate Cat is outside, dogs Pepper and Boo find joy in the small things until Cat returns at the end of the day, bringing about a surprise for all of them-- the feeling of family.
Jarrett Lerner
Snack Cabinet Sabotage
2022
Meet the Hunger Heroes: Toots the Bean, Chip Ninja, Tammy the Tomato and Leonard, a wedge of cheddar cheese. Flying around in their taco hovercraft, these superheroes are ready to save kids the world over.
Kaz Windness
Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends
2023
When Caterpillar disappears for a while and comes back as Butterfly, he wonders if Worm will still want to be his best friend.
Nonfiction
Roberta Flack
The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music
2023
JB FLACK ROBERTA
The multiple Grammy Award-winning singer recounts her childhood in a home surrounded by love and music that all started with an old, beat-up piano her father found in a junkyard that helped her become a legend in the music industry.
Traci N. Todd
Holding Her Own
2023
JB ORMES JACKIE
A picture-book biography of Jackie Ormes, the first Black woman cartoonist to be nationally syndicated in the U.S. In post-World War II America, Ormes stayed true to her art while remaining honest about the inequalities Black people had been fighting.
Carole Boston Weatherford
All Rise
2023
JB JACKSON KETANJI
Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, is an inspiration and role model to children of all ages.
Recommended for
Laela T
I work in youth services. I like to read all kinds of books, although I have a soft spot for dog stories. I spend a good portion of my time rooting for the Reds and visiting ballparks all around the country. I have been known to walk my basset hound, watch Disney movies, ride my scooter and sing silly songs.
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