Text by Terrance Crawford Illustrated by Ronaldo Barata 2 stars Nice to get a longer adventure about the Afro Unicorns. This one focuses on Unique and Divine as they make their way to the Festival of Crowns. Along the way, they learn one of the crowns has gone missing. The story itself was okay. A…
Read More
Illustrated by Anthony Conley 3 stars A sweet introduction to the Afro Unicorns and their magical world. Fun characters, high energy, and nice reminders of how unique, divine, and magical the reader is. The illustrations are adorable. A nice little read. I really enjoy the Afro Unicorn characters. Goodreads
Read More
by Monica Edinger and Lesley Younge 5 stars A biography in verse using found poetry from Olaudah Equiano’s own autobiography. I absolutely adored this format. Fantastically constructed. The found verse format was done in a way that made the text and narrative more accessible to a modern reader without losing the original intent. Throughout the…
Read More
Illustrated by Brianna McCarthy 4 stars A truly fantastical story of an expectant mother imagining the place where her unborn child waits and dreaming of their adventures together. The artwork is stunning. Beautiful colors and imaginative scenes. They pair perfectly with the otherworldly images of the lyrical text. While the themes of the story will…
Read More
Illustrated by Kaylani Juanita 4 stars Another fantastic book from Doyon and Juanita. An absolutely gorgeous story that celebrates the value of different ways of thinking, neurodiversity, and challenging the status quo. This lyrical story follows a mother and child as they communicate and interact with each other throughout the day, spending time together and…
Read More
Illustrated by Kaylani Juanita 5 stars Absolutely gorgeous. A beautiful celebration of heritage, family, nature, and the self. Told through accessible, poetic language, Doyon paints beautiful images of memories and little moments of celebration and joy, from watching a river to tasting a caramel apple, jumping in leaf piles to the marvel of a family…
Read More
Illustrated by Natasha Nayo 3 stars It’s Kwame’s first year at Nkonyaa School, where children learn about their innate magic and how to use it with the help of magical calabashes. But when he arrives, his teachers can’t figure out the magic of his calabash. A fun adventure inspired by Akan beliefs and practices. Mensah…
Read More
2 stars Cinnamon has a quiet life on her family’s spice farm. But when a hot demon shows up and reveals a sinister plot, Cin is forced on a quest to take down an evil witch, putting her in close proximity to said demon and making her life anything but quiet. Fun humor and all…
Read More
Illustrated by Geneva Bowers 5 stars A gorgeous, lush celebration of Black hair and self-confidence. Told through lyrical narration, a young girl shares some of her favorite hairstyles as she waits for her mother to reveal her latest creation. I loved the different facets expressed through different hair styles, from whimsical to majestic, mischievous to…
Read More
5 stars A modern-day Monster with a story all its own. Told through powerful verse and emotive visuals, this is the story of Amal Shahid, a teenage artist and poet sent to prison for a crime he did not commit. I love Zoboi’s writing and this one did not disappoint. Packed with raw emotion, this book is…
Read More