Book Finder

As seventh grader Tony was bullied, but eventually finds comfort and strength in art, anime, and friendship with other nerdy Black kids. This graphic memoir is honest in its portrayal of tough middle school relationships but is accessible and hopeful.

Sophisticated readers will appreciate the poetic examination of family and the life of one woman, her past, and the influence on the members of her family. All new poems by Nye remind us of that we all have family and a community, as we meet and empathize with the poet’s late mother.

What happens when a crackerjack softball player and the only girl on the team wants to give it up?  Who is she without her brother and team buddies? Attractive art and a recognizable dilemma make this an appealing graphic novel. 

Isabel Beane is a quiet girl who lives with five siblings in a home with hubbub, hullabaloo, and “too muchness.” At school, Isabel feels anxious in class when a new girl behaves unkindly. Find out how Isabel learns to speak up for herself in this accessibly told novel. Resources about autism and anxiety are included.

Reluctantly, a child dons itchy winter clothes to accompany her mother to see ice sculptures being created. While there, she loses her beloved toy horse. Magic occurs when they return that evening to see the ice figures at night and the narrator’s horse is found. 

Evocative illustrations and lyrical language follow a young Cherokee child as she cheerfully moves from an urban area to a home where there’s “room to run.” 

A bear and cub share special moments throughout the day, beginning as the sun rises and continuing until a nighttime snuggle. 

Can a road trip to odd places, with a bit of adventure and a touch of friendship help Pia heal from the loss of her brother and her family problems? This poignant story told in graphic format is visually delightful, both sad and humorous.

Henry decides to share his love of dancing at the school talent show. A sweet, easier-to-read book just right for newly independent readers. Also available in Spanish: Las muestra de talentos (opens in a new window). Look for other titles in the Confetti Kids series.

Dan and Aki live different lives — one here on land, the other lives there at sea. While they may seem unalike, when they come together, they discover more than similarities. They find friendship and community, shown on a double gatefold complemented by warm-toned, slightly abstract illustrations.

A young artist is asked to paint in her favorite color and starts with red, yellow, and blue only. She discovers that her favorite color is hidden within them! Warm illustrations call to mind batik to effectively demonstrate variations within hues and color mixing, leading to Jo’s self-portrait.

Mavis, a hen that knits, saves her friend the sheep (not to mention wool for her knitting) proving that even the most chicken of us can find a spark of bravery when needed. Madcap humor in this delightful romp is sure to hold up to many readings.

Aurora is nervous before a class presentation where she will use sign language to tell her story. When she makes the butterfly sign, it goes round the world and back, providing the needed confidence. Created by a Deaf author and illustrator, this magical tale will resonate with all.

Unique and quite handsome fish in this small, sturdy edition present a range of emotions accompanied by sophisticated descriptive word — sure to encourage conversation with young children.

The story of a little girl and a duckling who both grow to understand what it means to care for each other as they learn that love is as much about letting go as it is about holding on. When a little girl finds a duckling who has wandered away from the park onto the city streets, she takes it home to care for it. The baby duck requires constant attention — early morning feedings, bathing, and tidying — until the time comes to say goodbye. When her pet has grown too big for the bath, the girl takes the full-grown duck back to the pond. Afterward, she misses it and wonders if it remembers her … until one day, the duck comes back — with six ducklings of her own.

Hedgehog, Bunny, and Squirrel are best friends. One day, they each find a letter. But not just any letter…  love letter. Someone loves them. But who? The answer may surprise you! This tale about a wonderful mix-up reminds us of the joys of friendship.

Jade is a girl who lives in two worlds and, coming from a multicultural family, she’s on a quest to understand her identity and where she truly belongs. She is trying to find her place in the world but feels different from the other kids at school. Jade’s parents have their unique approach to love and care. Sometimes Jade is embarrassed by Mama’s accent and she can’t understand why she is not just like any other mother she knows. Jade starts rebelling against her mother’s traditional ways of showing love, especially through food. It’s a struggle that takes her on a path of discovery, as she learns about her family’s rich heritage and her mother’s challenging past in Vietnam and as an immigrant. Jade then discovers that even though Mama doesn’t hug or say I love you, the healing aroma of ginger, green onions, and chicken broth does.

A sweet and playful bedtime and read-aloud picture book that reminds young readers just how loved they are. “I love you like yellow. I love you like green. Like flowery orchid and sweet tangerine …” Love comes in many forms. It can feel tart as lemonade or sweet as sugar cookies. Slow as a lazy morning or fast as a relay race. Love is there through it all: the large and small moments, the good times and bad. And at the end of the day, love settles us down to bed with a hug and kiss goodnight.

A celebration of family love and Black joy, told through gentle rhyming text and colorful illustrations. “The sun is calling us outside. Mama cheers me down the slide! We wish on puffs and sift through sand. We hike together hand in hand.” This book showcases the special role Mama plays in children’s lives and explores the many ways love can be shown!

This warmly-told story teaches us that love really does grow everywhere, in all shapes, forms, and sizes. Through gentle, rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, feel the love in a close-knit family who grow plants and sell them in their local market, and discover the types of love that exist in the many homes of their diverse community. There are kisses from Dad, songs with Grandma, charity from neighbors and playtime with friends. There’s old love, new love and everything in between! But there’s a new kid who is not quite so sure… Can the gardeners’ daughter be brave and extend the love to him?

Introduce your little ones to the colorful ways we see love around us in both English and Spanish! Amor de colores will introduce your little ones to all the colorful ways we see love in the world around us, through the colors of the rainbow and more.

There is nothing more important to a child than to feel loved, and this wonderful gathering of poems celebrates exactly that. The illustrations add a flourish of color, shape, and movement, and a visual layering that helps impart the most important message of all to young, old, parent, child, grandparent, and friend alike: You are loved. One page is mirrored, so children reading the book can see exactly who is loved — themselves!

“I love you” may sound different around the world, but the meaning is the same. From China, to France, to Russia, to Brazil, and beyond, this charming board book features “I love you” in 10 different languages. Tapping into the emotions that parents feel for their children, the rhyming text is accompanied by sweet artwork that depicts different cultures around the world.

An Asian American girl shares how her family expresses their love for one another through actions rather than words. How do you tell your family that you love them? For Hana, love is all around her: Mom stirs love into a steaming pot of xifan. Dad cheers with love at her soccer game. Hana says good night with love by rubbing her grandma’s feet and pouring her grandpa his sleepy tea. And as the light fades, Hana’s parents tuck her into bed and give her a good night kiss. So many families express their love in all they do for one another, every day. Here is a book that wraps you in a hug and invites your family to share their own special ways of showing love.