A grandmother introduces her granddaughter to indigenous traditions while berry-picking: they sing to not only alert bear of their presence but to thank the land for its gifts. Rhythmic language and lush illustrations are hallmarks of this first book written and illustrated by the Caldecott Medalist and Tlingit illustrator Michaela Goade (We Are Water Protectors (opens in a new window)).
Berry Song
See the world through the eyes of a child in evocative illustrations by a Cree-Métis artist who brings new meaning and joy to Cree singer/songwriter Buffy Sainte Marie’s lyrics. Indigenous traditions echo throughout the seasons and goings-on, but always return to those we care most about, because “still, this love goes on.”
Still This Love Goes On
Josie dreams of dancing at next summer’s powwow. But first she needs many special things: a dress, a shawl, a cape, leggings, moccasins, and, perhaps most important of all, her spirit name. To gather all these essential pieces, she calls on her mom, her aunty, her kookum, and Grandma Greatwalker. They have the skills to prepare Josie for her powwow debut. In this Ojibwe girl’s coming-of-age story, the Native author highlights her own daughter’s experience at powwow.
Josie Dances
Dia receives a camera as a Diwali gift and uses it to capture her memories of this special day. She takes photos of her family decorating clay lamps, creating unique rangoli designs, preparing sweets called ladoos, setting off firecrackers and more. While Dia explores the rituals of Diwali with her camera, children learn about a Prince named Rama who was exiled into a forest for 14 years. After fighting off a demon, he is welcomed back into his city with a “row of lights.” Children learn about how Diwali teaches us that light will overcome darkness and good will conquer evil.
Lights, Camera, Diwali!
Told in the words of a child, this picture book shows how an Indian family prepares for the festival of Diwali. Young and old participate equally in these preparations. Everyone helps clean the house and decorate it with buntings and vibrant, colorful art. Traditional foods and sweets are made, and new clothes are bought. When Diwali begins, families come together to worship, sing hymns, and tell stories of gods. It’s time to visit friends and neighbors. Fireworks brighten the skies, and gifts are exchanged. (School Library Journal)
Shubh Diwali!
A young girl, filled with the sounds of her beloved city, shares a song with her grandmother that changes the two forever. After helping Grandma realize that the city makes music as beautiful as the sounds they hear in church on Sunday morning, the two sit down and take in all the sounds of the city … together.
Song in the City
A celebration of the beauty, history, and magic behind names. Frustrated by a day full of teachers and classmates mispronouncing her beautiful name, a little girl tells her mother she never wants to come back to school. In response, the girl’s mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names on their lyrical walk home through the city. Empowered by this newfound understanding, the young girl is ready to return the next day to share her knowledge with her class.
Your Name Is a Song
A joyful, expressive sing-along, slurping noodles, squishing tofu, and tapping chopsticks as a multigenerational family sings along to this familiar tune. Rhythmic text and vibrant, playful illustrations bring the story to life, and informative back matter includes a food glossary and etiquette guidelines that are sure to delight and engage young readers.
The Rice in the Pot Goes Round and Round
Aref flies with his mother from Oman to rejoin his father in Michigan so his parents can attend graduate school. While the boy misses his much-loved grandfather, Sidi, he gradually adjusts to his life and enjoys several surprises. Aref and Sidi were first introduced in The Turtle of Oman, though this book stands alone. The hallmark of both novels is the lyrical language and loving relationships.
The Turtle of Michigan
Is hiding who you are worth staying invisible? That’s what Jillian confronts as she navigates 5th grade. Can Jillian break out of her shell as fast as her chick in the classroom experiment? Readers will relate to the plausible characters in a realistic setting in this debut novel.
Just Right Jillian
Two boys, best friends, live next-door to each other. Marco is academically talented and short; Isaac is a basketball whiz but struggles with his studies. How the boys help each other cope with school, parents, and more is realistic, plausible, and totally engaging.
Falling Short
Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa, beautiful Africa, with her large and happy family. The sparkling language echoes the Nigerian author’s storytelling background and reads well independently but also makes a good read aloud. This is the first in a series of realistic stories about Anna and her marvelous family.
Anna Hibiscus
A child wonders as she wanders on the beach while visiting grandparents. Lush, textured illustrations echo and expand the child’s musings on a glorious day. Husband and wife creators capture this joy-filled experience.
Little Houses
When the family takes a short vacation, Granny comes to stay to care for the family cat. Granny loses her glasses and accidentally lets a mischievous racoon inside and the indoor cat out. Animated chaos follows Granny’s mistaken identity for a comedy of errors starring one clever racoon.
Kitty
An’s grandmother’s memory is fading. Her grandfather thinks that a special fruit will help her remember. When the special gấc rice is made, An’s grandmother recalls their wedding wish — the title of the book. Lush illustrations tenderly depict the Vietnamese family and their love for each other. A recipe is included.
Hundred Years of Happiness
Gigi can’t wait for her mother’s father, her grandfather, to arrive from Japan to live with them. But Ojiisan isn’t at all what the biracial girl expected. How grandfather and granddaughter learn about the other is affirming and heartwarming in this easier to read tale.
Gigi and Ojiji
Ralph, a dog, led a quiet life until a nearby egg hatched. The duckling saw Ralph and knew he was his dad. Life was no longer quiet but filled with cuddles and chaos just as the duck’s life was with its puppy horde. Comical illustrations depict the pleasures of a huge, blended family.
Duck, Duck, Dad?
The sun is up and so is the baby along with the dog, the teddy and finally, mama and papa. When the moon is up, everyone is sleepy except for the baby; that is until the baby falls asleep. Families with young children will appreciate the humor and the simple, playful illustrations.
I’m Up!
Count along with the families as they make dumplings from their own culture and share them as a community. The rhyming tale can be shared on several levels with children of various ages, from the youngest to cooks who want to try their hand at the recipes included.
Dumpling Day
Punky Aloha is a Polynesian girl who carries her culture in her heart and in everything she does. Punky loves to do a lot of things — except meeting new friends. She doesn’t feel brave enough. So when her grandmother asks her to go out and grab butter for her famous banana bread, Punky hesitates. But with the help of her grandmother’s magical sunglasses, and with a lot of aloha in her heart, Punky sets off on a big adventure for the very first time.
Punky Aloha
When a young boy and his mother travel overseas to her childhood home in Korea, the town is not as he imagined. The boy feels like an outsider — until they visit the river where his mother used to play, and he sees that the spirit and happiness of those days remain. Told through a child’s-eye view, the story honors the immigrant experience and the timeless bond between parent and child, past and present.
Mommy’s Hometown
A tender ode to fathers and to the many families working behind shop counters. Juna enjoys helping her father (her Appa) in their dry-cleaning shop on Saturdays. It’s their special time together. One day Juna sees a customer yelling at Appa about a lost jacket. Juna has never seen her father look so worried and becomes determined to help. She sets off on a magical journey in search of the jacket, and along the way meets remarkable animals that show her the different ways that fathers care for their young.
Juna and Appa
Dayeon wants to be a haenyeo just like Grandma. The haenyeo dive off the coast of Jeju Island to pluck treasures from the sea — generations of Korean women have done so for centuries. To Dayeon, the haenyeo are as strong and graceful as mermaids. And when Grandma suits up for her next dive, Dayeon grabs her suit, flippers, and goggles. A scary memory of the sea keeps Dayeon clinging to the shore, but with Grandma’s guidance, Dayeon comes to appreciate the ocean’s many gifts.
The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story
Every day, everywhere, babies are born. They’re kissed and dressed and rocked and fed — and completely adored by the families that love them. With rhyming text and charming illustrations, this board book is an exuberant celebration of playing, sleeping, crawling, and, of course, very noisy babies doing all the wonderful things babies do best.