Illustrated by Violeta Encarnación 5 stars A beautiful picture book that celebrates a young girl’s connections to her grandmother, her ancestors, nature, and hoodoo. It’s the end of the school year and Juniper can’t wait to get away from the bullies at her school and visit her grandmother for the summer. There she will connect…
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5 stars Another one of those books it took me way too long to get around to reading, but I am so glad I finally did. Such a sweet, simple story about being yourself and accepting others. I loved the soothing artwork. Beautiful colors. I also love the diversity of the characters in terms of…
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5 stars It took me way too long to start reading this but I am so glad I finally did. A hard-hitting and heartfelt book of family, human connection, grief, activism, and empowerment. Wonderfully written. This book evokes so many emotions: joy, sorrow, guilt, anger. There are so many difficult topics including death, police shootings,…
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Illustrations by Jan Spivey Gilchrist 5 stars A fun story about four friends coming together for one epic summer. I really enjoyed this picture book in verse. Drum can’t wait for summer to be over so he can see his friends at school. But when a new family moves into his neighborhood, his summer gets…
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Illustrated by Reggie Brown 3 stars A sweet book celebrating the uniqueness and style of wearing glasses. Join Brea as she looks for the perfect pair of glasses to reflect her individuality, personality, and spec-tacularness. Nicely written with great rhythm. Adorable and fun illustrations. A great way to get kids excited about picking new glasses…
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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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Illustrated by Daniel J. O’Brien 5 stars A heartfelt story, fantastically told. This joyful picture book depicts the celebration of Juneteenth, highlights the symbolism used, and emphasizes Juneteenth’s historical significance. Well-written, heartwarming, and hopeful. Join a family on a sensory experience as they come together to celebrate Juneteenth and remember their history. The story highlights…
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Illustrated by Dia Valle 3 stars A sweet story that follows a family attending DC Black Pride. Join the trio as they get ready, travel to the event, and take part in all the joy of pride and community. Adorable illustrations. I really enjoyed the art style. Loved the bright colors, cute designs, and sweet…
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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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