Personal rating of 5 out of 5 stars
Illustrated by Diane and Leo Dillon 5 stars A fantastic collection of poetry. Covering topics such as music, death, play, siblings, and history, the poems are paired with expressive illustrations. A perfect balance of joy and relatable issues that are relevant to young readers. I started listing some of my favorites, but honestly each poem…
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Illustrated by Stephanie Laberis 5 stars Absolutely adorable. A fun retelling of Cinderella starring Cinderelliot, a talented baker who jumps at the chance to bake for the prince. Such a sweet book. Loved the baking-based humor. I also love that Cinderelliot was recognized for his baking talent. Cinderelliot got to showcase his baking while his…
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Illustrated by Tabitha Brown 5 stars A joyful read celebrating Juneteenth. The rhyming text showcases different aspects of Juneteenth celebrations, from parades and picnics to supporting Black businesses. Sweet, colorful illustrations. Includes a note at the end explaining the history of Juneteenth and how it has been celebrated. Such a sweet book. Joyful, colorful, and…
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By Zora Neale Hurston Adapted by Ibram X. Kendi Illustrated by Jazzmen Lee-Johnson 5 stars A fantastic historical text adapted for young readers. Barracoon tells the story of Kossola (Cudjo Lewis), one of the men who was brought to America on the last slave ship, Clotilda. The story follows Kossola’s life in Africa, his capture,…
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Narrated by Joshua Quinn 5 stars Jaw-droppingly good. The best of modern mythology retellings. Kwame just wants to have a normal summer. Instead his family is taking him to Ghana for his grandmother’s celebration of life. Still grieving the loss of his grandmother and having never felt Ghanaian enough at family events, Kwame is dreading…
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Foreword by Oprah Winfrey 5 stars Beautiful, empowering, inspiring, timeless. A compact little book that allows readers to visit Gorman’s iconic poem again and again. A stunning call to action and an encouragement to hope, to dream, and to put in the work. A breathtaking moment that leaves the chest aching. Goodreads
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Illustrated by Vali Mintzi 5 stars A beautiful story of hope and light in dark times and the power of books. When war reaches their home in Damascus, cousins Nour and Amir band together to create a secret library. Together with their friends and neighbors, they collect books from abandoned homes and bombed buildings to…
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Illustrated by Sophie Bass 5 stars Absolutely stunning. Weaving together a Rapunzel narrative with the history of enslaved Africans using cornrow patterns to navigate their journey to freedom, Cooke creates a compelling, empowering, and magical tale. Wonderfully written with flowing narration. A lengthy text but certainly worth the read. I love how empowering the narrative…
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Illustrated by Xindi Yan 5 stars A touching story filled with sweet moments and delightful humor. Laila is used to translating things from English to Chinese for her parents. But one day, she decides to do something bigger. She sets out to teach them English. Together, the family learns from one another, figuring out all…
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5 stars A sweet, heartwarming, humorous collection of poetry focusing on the ups and downs of parenting. Accompanied by charming line art, these touching and hilarious poems explore the chaos and joys of raising children, from the endless laundry and cleaning to the never-ending tiredness to experiencing every wonderful little thing children do as they…
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