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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4 stars I really enjoy this series and the way it breaks down complex topics to introduce to young readers. This one focuses on the fluidity of gender and how nonbinary can mean different things to different people. Includes information on the traditional gender binary, gender versus biological sex, and what to do if you…
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Illustrated by Markia Jenai 4 stars A nonfiction board books presenting the history of Juneteenth for young children. Includes important historical events such as the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, and Juneteenth becoming a national holiday. Nice illustrations. Does include depictions of enslaved Africans in chains being taken on ships and enslaved people working in…
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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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Illustrated by Ellen Weinstein 3 stars A nice, kid-friendly introduction to Yayoi Kusama’s life and art that gives some basic information about her childhood in Japan, life in New York, and struggle to get her work recognized. Great illustrations. Despite the length, there isn’t a ton of detail about Kasama’s life. The information presented is…
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Illustrated by Kip Alizadeh 3 stars A lovely, affirming book about the power of pronouns in terms of gender expression. Includes different pronouns such as he, she, they, ze, hir, fae, and per. Loved the emphasis on pronouns being something your choose, that they can change over time, and that it’s okay if you don’t…
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Illustrated by Alexandra Badiu 3 stars An early reader introduction to the life and work of Yayoi Kusama. The book goes through Kusama’s childhood in Matsumoto, her experience with hallucinations, living in the United States, interactions with other well-known artists, and her impact as an artist, including her various types of work and exhibitions. I…
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Illustrated by Jamey Christoph Following the lead of multiple reviewers before me, I will not be giving this book a star review. I am thrilled a book like this exists, showcasing the importance of the Stonewall Uprising, but even for a picture book it feels sadly incomplete. I enjoyed the idea of the book being…
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Illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler 3 stars I checked this out from the library because I love reading about Maathai’s work and activism. This book is an expansion of Sadler and Johnson’s picture book, Seeds of Change: Wangari’s Gift to the World. This is the first of Lee & Low’s The Story Of series that I’ve…
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