Each November, we celebrate the joy of National Picture Book Month that offers an opportunity to diversify our bookshelves. These Diverse Books for Picture Book Month illuminate the everyday lives of complex cultures represented both in the United States, and all over the world.
Comment below with other new titles to help our readers
find new favorites for their bookshelves at home
and in the classroom!
•Diverse Books for Picture Book Month•
A gentle look at transitions and new beginnings through the eyes of a child in foster care–Chloe and the Fireflies is a warm picture book that expands the view of what a family can be.
It's always hard to be the new kid–Chloe knows that better than anyone. But for the first time, in her new foster home, Chloe feels like she doesn't have to hide. Suddenly her life is full of sleepovers with friends, baking cookies, and living room dance parties. With the support of her dads and her community, Chloe is able to thrive like never before. When Chloe catches a firefly, she can only think of one wish: she wishes she'll be able to stay. But even if her wish doesn't come true, Chloe knows she will always treasure the time they spent together.
This gentle picture book is an expansive celebration of family love and community care.
CHLOE AND THE FIREFLIES
Written by Chris Clarkson and Illustrated by Julie Jarema
Published by Abrams Books
CICELY TYSON
From New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Renée Watson and quilt artist Sherry Shine comes a biography for children chronicling the life of an iconic and trailblazing actress who left an indelible mark on the world through her roles onscreen, from The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman to Sounder, Roots, and more.
Cicely Tyson was born in New York City to parents originally from the Islands. No matter where she was, Cicely always carried light within her, a light that she let shine. After many years of discovering herself, Cicely finally found where her light could shine the brightest and touch others: in film.
Spinning gorgeous verse, and weaving in the history of Black America, Watson beautifully introduces children to Cicely's world–the world that shaped a woman who went on to bring unparalleled grace to the stage and screen. Young readers will be inspired by Cicely Tyson's life and adult fans will marvel at this stunning keepsake.
CICELY TYSON
Written by Renée Watson and Illustrated by Sherry Shine
Published by Amistad Books for Young Readers
ALL THE GREATNESS IN YOU
Bursting with warmth and words of encouragement, this lyrical picture book celebrates growing up and believing in yourself–the perfect gift for graduations, birthdays, the first day of school, and beyond.
You are brave.
You are enough.
You are your own best thing.
All the Greatness in You is a sweet and affirming story told from the perspective of a loving mother as she recounts all the things she admires about her young son and his burgeoning independence–from his boundless curiosity and his can-do attitude to his resilience when times get tough. When faced with a daunting challenge–like a solo in his church's choir–she encourages him to find his inner strength and courage.Award-winning author Tameka Fryer Brown and up-and-coming artist Alleanna Harris craft a joyful ode to the milestones and special moments in every little one's life, empowering them with the confidence to try new things, ask questions, make mistakes, and most of all, believe in their own greatness.
ALL THE GREATNESS IN YOU
Written by Tameka Fryer Brown and Illustrated by Alleanna Harris
Published by Macmillan Publishers
ELI AND THE UNCLES
Say hello and good night to Uncle Hanif, Uncle Rashin, Uncle Nooru . . and five more uncles, along with their spectacular beards!
Young Eli gets to spend a whole day with his eight adoring uncles–each one bigger and taller than the last, and each with an outsized personality to match, from Aman the dancer to Riz the joke teller. Even better, every one of the uncles sports his own unique set of whiskers!
Short or long, curly or straight, bristly or soft, whatever the style or texture, every especially elegant beard is a sight to behold (and a sleepy-time aid for Eli as he says his good-nights one by one). With delightful warmth and whimsy, author Jehan Madhani and award-winning illustrator Rashin Kheiriyeh present a hilarious, hirsute countdown to bedtime that will have young readers and listeners dreaming of woolly beards instead of woolly sheep.
ELI AND THE UNCLES
Written by Jehan Madhani and Illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh
Published by Candlewick Press
UMM KULTHUM:
THE STAR OF THE EAST
A picture book about the life and career of an unforgettable Arab icon, Umm Kulthum, the most powerful voice in the Arab world.
Umm Kulthum was an Arab icon, whose powerful voice defined an entire region for more than five decades. The famous Soprano Maria Callas praised her voice as “incomparable.” Bob Dylan, Robert Plant and Bono are said to be among her many fans.
The daughter of a poor Egyptian village sheikh, Umm Kulthum rose to fame at a time when young girls didn't go to school and when “respectable” girls did not perform on stages. But Umm Kulthum was no ordinary girl. As a little girl, she convinced her parents to send her to school so that she could learn to read and recite the Qur'an. When her father discovered her powerful voice, he dressed her as a boy and toured the Egyptian countryside, performing at religious ceremonies to make extra money for the family. When she could no longer hide the fact that she was a girl, Umm Kulthum shed her costume and became known throughout the Nile Delta as the little girl with the powerful voice.
As she grew older, Umm Kulthum knew her future awaited her in Cairo. But her father still worried about her reputation. City theaters were definitely no place for a sheikh's daughter. Stubborn and persistent, Umm Kulthum convinced her father to move Cairo. But life in the big city wasn't easy. The city elite mocked the village girl and her religious folk songs. Umm Kulthum, nonetheless, persisted and worked harder than she had ever worked before. With help from famous singers, she learned to control her powerful voice and taught herself how to play musical instruments. The most important poets and musicians in Egypt and the Arab world wrote lyrics and composed music for her. Soon, record companies competed for her contracts. She held sold-out concerts that ran late into the night, and she sang songs that often lasted more than an hour.
Umm Kulthum was more than a singer. She helped reclaim the story and voice of an entire region. People took pride in her perfect pronunciation of the Arabic language, which they attributed to her knowledge of the Qur'an. More than a century after her birth, Umm Kulthum's music can still be heard in taxis, cafes, and homes from Rabat to Baghdad and Damascus to Sana'a, giving her the nicknames The Lady (Al-Sit), Egypt's Fourth Pyramid (Al Haram al-Rabe‘), the Mother of the Arabs (Umm al-Arab)–and, unequivocally, The Star of the East (Kawkab al Sharq).
With stunning illustrations by renowned Egyptian artist Ahmed Abdelmohsen, Umm Kulthum is brought to life with each spread that sings in honor of the voice of this unforgettable icon.
UMM KULTHUM: THE STAR OF THE EAST
Written by Rhonda Roumani and Illustrated by Ahmed Abdelmohsen
Published by Crocodile Books
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Bethany Edwards is an elementary educator as well as a reading and literacy specialist. On Biracial Bookworms, she focuses on multiracial and multicultural resources for teaching literacy skills using reading, travel, and learning multiple languages. Additionally, she offers online and self-paced courses for parents and caregivers on Biracial Bookworms Academy.
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