This resource list is a labor of love that includes publisher's descriptions along with links for more information. Publishing dates may change for a variety of reasons. These books were submitted to us by publishers, authors, and the Helping Kids Rise community.
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Related Reading: Check out our previous lists here: Gigantic List of Diverse Books Published
From Plant Doctor Maryah Greene, as seen on Good Morning America, Vogue and The Cut, comes a beautiful and necessary picture book about a little boy who loses his father and pays homage to his life through the growth and love of plants.
Malcolm loves everything about his dad, "Pops"; the way he looks out for everyone in the neighborhood; the way he always seems to know the right thing to say, and especially, the way he cares for his plants. Malcolm has dreamed of having plants that will grow as big and healthy as Pop's but making that into a reality is turning out to be much harder than he thought. To keep him going, Pops reminds Malcolm that "Good things take time." But when Pops unexpectedly passes away, and his plants are left to Malcolm; Malcolm feels like there is too much responsibility on his shoulders and hurt in his heart.
With Good Things, Maryah Greene tells a tender and honest story about loss, hope and memory. While gorgeous and colorful illustrations by Alleanna Harris bring this world to life.
A joyful, encouraging ode to a mother and son's relationship and the unforgettable experience of a child's first swimming lessons.
Jumping into the water can be more than a little scary! But with Mom's steady arms there's no fear of sinking. With a kick, a splash, and his family's cheers of encouragement, one determined boy finds his groove, making waves in this fun-filled day at the pool.
Embrace the feeling of accomplishment in this joyous, reassuring story about perseverance and new experiences. With lyrical rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, Together We Swim is destined to become a family read-aloud favorite!
An alphabet board book inspired by the bestselling HAIR LOVE, with new spot illustrations and text from the original award-winning author and illustrator duo--and perfect for baby gift baskets.
A is for Afro, N is for Natural, and W is for Waves. Letter by letter, follow Zuri and her father in their joy-filled journey through the kinks and curls of Black hair.
This 7x7 board book is perfect as a baby gift, for existing fans of HAIR LOVE, young readers embracing their natural hair, and toddlers learning their ABCs!
Meet Jerry Lawson, the Black engineer who revolutionized the video game industry, in this engaging picture book biography perfect for fans of Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions and Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History.
Before Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch, there was a tinkerer named Jerry Lawson. As a boy, Jerry loved playing with springs, sprockets, and gadget-y things. When he grew up, Jerry became an engineer--a professional tinkerer--and in the 1970s, he turned his technical know-how to video games.
Back then, if players wanted a new video game, they had to buy an entire new console, making gaming very expensive. Jerry was determined to fix this problem, and despite roadblocks along the way and having to repeat a level or two, it was never game over for his mission. Eventually, he leveled up and built a brand-new kind of video game console: one that allowed players to switch out cartridges! He also founded Video Soft, Inc., the first African American-owned video game company in the country.
Jerry's tinkering and inventions changed the video gaming world forever. Today, gamers have access to hundreds of video games at the push of a button, all thanks to him. Game on!
From the bestselling author of Curls, Glow, Bloom, and Ours comes a counting board book about ten friends who add up to something wonderful!
One
only one
but now we are two
and now we are three
Introduce young ones to the concept of counting from one to ten while celebrating themes of friendship and community.
Written on a napkin and released just months after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the song "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)" became an anthem and rallying cry for the civil rights movement, as well as a celebration of Black culture and community.
The song was penned in 1968 by singer James Brown in response to the rising racial tensions throughout the United States.
Now, in first-person lyrical text, the iconic song speaks for itself, narrating the elements and moments that inspired its creation. The song continues to inspire and resonate today. It's been covered by artists like Usher and anchored Spotify's Black Lives Matter playlist. Readers of all ages will be encouraged to lift their own voices in a celebration of Black pride and identity.
Upon learning that the books with kids who look like her have been banned by her school district, Kanzi descends into fear and helplessness.
But her classmates support her, and together--with their teacher's help--they hatch a plan to hold a bake sale and use the proceeds to buy diverse books to donate to libraries. The event is a big success; the entire school participates, and the local TV station covers it in the evening news.
Prodded by her classmates to read the poem she has written, Kanzi starts softly but finds her voice. "You have banned important books, but you can't ban my words," she reads. "Books are for everyone." The crowd chants, "No banned books! No banned books!" and the next week, the ban is reversed.
Aya Khalil appends a note about how The Arabic Quilt was briefly banned from the York, Pennsylvania school system, and the backmatter also includes a recipe for baklawa, the Egyptian pastry that Kanzi prepares for the bake sale.
A family remembers their beloved pet dog through the traditions of Día de Muertos in this poignant and brightly illustrated picture book from Pura Belpré Honor-winning team Xelena González and Adriana M. Garcia.
A child and their family observe the customs of Día de los Angelitos, one of the ritual celebrations of Día de Muertos, to celebrate the life of their beloved dog who passed away. They build a thoughtful ofrenda to help lead the pet's soul home and help the little one process their grief in this moving reminder that loved ones are never really gone if we take the time to remember them.
Discover the rise of Ketanji Brown Jackson, from a young girl growing up in Florida to the first Black woman to be confirmed to the United States Supreme Court.
Ketanji Brown Jackson knew from the very beginning that "You can do anything. You can be anything." Driven by those powerful words and her parents' love, Ketanji refused to let naysayers stop her from rising to the top, whether it was participating in her high school debate team, applying to her dream college, or excelling at Harvard. Her perseverance and her wits led her to become the first Black female U.S. District Judge and eventually the first Black female Supreme Court Justice. Ketanji's remarkable journey proves how she is a Justice for all.
With Denise Lewis Patrick's empowering prose and Kim Holt's vibrant illustrations, this picture book delves into the life of a trail-blazing contemporary figure, whose work shows that with determination and support, we can do and be anything.
A gently powerful story about taking your time with new experiences.
"When we went to a beach, my tummy felt tight. but it still felt wrong inside.
Definitely... possibly... Perhaps I'd swim - next time."
At first the big blue sea makes them feel small and scared. Then the child visits a lake and a river, and their fear of water gradually starts to ebb as curiosity begins to flow.
A wonderful book for any child who is feeling nervous about new experiences, with lyrical words by Emily Joof and bold, dynamic illustrations by Matilda Ruta.
Inspired by the skateboarding revolution in India, Girls on Wheels follows three friends who support one another through the ups and downs of learning to skateboard.
Anila is on her way to her favorite place: the skate park. She longs to glide on her board and feel the thrill of catching air. But when she arrives, the ramp looks like a concrete sea monster! Fear creeps in, making her once-broken arm ache. But Sana's smile and Damini's laugh wrap Anila in courage. Her friends remind her that in skateboarding, sometimes you fall--but sometimes you fly!
Srividhya Venkat's lyrical text and Kate Wadsworth's vibrant illustrations capture the energy and movement that make this picture book soar.
Coupled with Sayada Ramdial's bright and colorful artwork, Julie and the Mango Tree by Sadé Smith will have readers of all ages giggling--and craving a mango of their own! Julie loves all kinds of fruit, but mangoes are her absolute favorite. One sticky summer afternoon, Julie goes to the big mango tree in her yard to ask for a snack.
But no matter how nicely she asks or how patient she tries to be, the tree just won't drop a single sweet, juicy mango! Will Julie ever be able to convince the tree to let her have just a taste of her favorite treat?
This definitive guide to hip-hop teaches kids about the history and world-wide cultural impact of the genre, covering everyone from early heroes like The Sugar Hill Gang, Kurtis Blow, and Run D.M.C., to modern day titans like Kanye West, Cardi B, and Kendrick Lamar.
In the 1970s, a musical and cultural movement was sparked in the Bronx neighborhood of New York City. Led by three DJs who performed at local block parties, DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Flash become known as the "Holy Trinity" of hip-hop and they helped establish the four main pillars of the genre: deejaying, mc'ing, break dancing, and graffiti art.
From these early days, acclaimed journalist and music critic Jordannah Elizabeth takes kids on a journey through the history of hip-hop, helping young readers understand how and why it was invented, and how it evolved into a powerful platform that gave (and still gives) a voice to the often-ignored Black community in America. From Tupac Shakur and Ms. Lauryn Hill to Drake and Tyler the Creator, kids will celebrate some of hip-hop's biggest names while learning about the roots of their musical sounds, and the community that propelled them into stardom.
Packed with modern, charming illustrations, including a pull-out poster for kids to color, A Child's Introduction to Hip-Hop features age-appropriate descriptions of a musical genre that is changing the world and dominating the airwaves. This is the perfect book for young students who want to know more about the world of hip-hop and rap, as well as for parents who want to introduce their children to some of their favorite artists.
A joyful, rhyming celebration of music and community
Sounds soar!
Tunes galore.
Music trance . . .
Gotta dance!
This upbeat picture book--a companion to Ride, Roll, Run: Time for Fun!--follows the nine children from the first book as they help plan a big, musical block party. Author and educator Valerie Bolling's rhyming text makes for a rollicking read-aloud and features instruments from all around the world including the agogô, banjo, daegeum, djembe drums, double bass, erhu, maracas, piano, steel drums, and trumpet. Sabrena Khadija's stunning illustrations depict the joy of dancing, playing music, and feasting with neighbors and friends. Readers will clamor to plan jam sessions of their own!
Meet Charles S. Parker, an unsung yet trailblazing Black scientist who made major contributions to the fields of botany (the study of plants) and mycology (the study of fungi) in this inspiring STEM/STEAM picture book biography.
In 1882, Black botanist and mycologist Charles S. Parker sprouted up in the lush, green Pacific Northwest. From the beginning, Charles's passion was plants, and he trudged through forests, climbed mountains, and waded into lakes to find them. When he was drafted to fight in World War I, Charles experienced prejudice against Black soldiers and witnessed the massive ecological devastation that war caused. Those experiences made him even more determined to follow his dreams, whatever the difficulties, and to have a career making things grow, not destroying them.
As a botanist and teacher, Charles traveled the United States, searching for new species of plants and fungi. After discovering the source of the disease killing peach and apricot trees, Charles was offered a job at Howard University, the famed historically Black college where he taught the next generation of Black scientists--men and women--to love plants and fungi as much as he did.
Hair Love, an Oscar®-winning animated short film from Matthew A. Cherry, tells the heartfelt story of an African American father learning to do his daughter’s hair for the first time.
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