Illustrated by Tom Knight 4 stars A delightful rhyming picture book that leans into the cuteness of Halloween rather than the frightening. Told with humor and engaging illustrations, this is such a sweet book. Nicely written. I really enjoyed the rhyme scheme. Great rhythm. I also love the inclusion of baking with pumpkins, not just…
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Illustrated by Chasity Hampton 5 stars A sweet story celebrating hair and the power of words. Selah is excited to show off her newly loc’ed hair at school. But when kids use words like “dreadlocks” to describe her hair, Selah starts to wonder if there’s something scary about her locs. With the help of her…
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Illustrated by Ana Latese 5 stars An engaging and fun resource for learning about various aspects of Juneteenth including its history and cultural significance. The book opens with a great introduction to Juneteenth. From there, different concepts are explored for each letter of the alphabet. The text highlights ways Juneteenth is celebrated, important figures in…
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5 stars A stunning book both for its lyrical exploration of human history and for its magnificent visuals. The book flows through the history of humanity, touching on human’s development of language, art, music, dance, inventions, exploration, medicine, and more. The backmatter contains more information on the history presented on each page, pairing the topics…
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Illustrated by Elle Pierre 3 stars A sweet book about being true to yourself. Everyone has a rainbow inside them made up of everything that makes them who they are. The story encourages readers to let that rainbow shine. Adorable illustrations packed with bright colors and cuteness. Nicely written. Wonderful messages about being yourself, talking…
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3 stars A beautiful collection of poetry that encourages the reader to reflect on the state of the world and their role within it. The poems explore various topics and themes such as politics, spirituality, death, and human interaction. Beautiful, spiritual, and reflective. Goodreads
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Illustrated by Loveis Wise 5 stars A fantastic book that blends the principles of Kwanzaa, Black history, poetry, and breathtaking artwork. Through moving verse, Zoboi takes the reader though time, recounting significant events in American history. The book remembers the joyful and freeing times as well as the dark and violent ones. From the Transatlantic…
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4 stars A fantastic informational read. Provides a great detailed look at the history of Juneteenth for children and adults to read together. I love that this book doesn’t just end with emancipation but also discusses the years following, recognizing the continued inequalities and discrimination. The book covers important events in history including chattel slavery,…
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Illustrated by DeAndra Hodge 3 stars As a young girl enjoys the Juneteenth block party, she wonders what the first Juneteenth celebration was like. She talks to family and friends about their Juneteenth memories as they all share in the joy of the celebration. A nice look at some of the foods and activities associated…
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3 stars A sweet story following a young girl as her father explains the history and importance of Juneteenth. I loved that the book didn’t just stop with the news of the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, Texas. It recognizes the continued inequality afterward and those who fought and continue to fight for equality. The story…
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