Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam read by Ethan Herrise

​Sixteen-year-old Amal Shahid is a young black man with a promising future. A talented visual artist, his large-scale works feature innovative design and bold use of color. He recently earned a coveted spot for a prestigious high school art exhibition. His talent is not limited to visual expression. He is also a poet. One night he finds himself in a situation he never considered possible. A combination of wrong place, wrong skin, wrong time set him up for criminal conviction and subsequent incarceration that should never have happened. The only witness who knows the truth is in a comma.

Additional Resources

28 Days: Moments in Black History That Changed the World by Charles R. Smith ill by Shane W. Evans full cast narration

A handsome volume of intertwined poetry, prose, and direct quotations honors Black History Month by using the February calendar format with twenty eight entries. Subjects include individuals, federal laws, and milestone events that have positively influenced United States’ Black history. A nod to Leap Year adds a twenty ninth entry that encourages readers to create their own significant moments in history. Beginning with Crispus Attucks and bookending with Barak Obama, a selection of outstanding Black individuals are featured. Notables include Harriet Tubman, Hank Aaron, Malcolm X, Matthew Henson, Shirley Chisholm, and Oprah Winfrey. Lyrical verse combines with informational text to highlight the contributions of these Black change agents.

Free audiobook. Listen here.

Bonus

King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender

It begins with dragonflies. Dragonflies flitting everywhere in a sultry Louisiana town. Kingston James, known as King, has become fixated with dragonflies. There’s a reason for his obsession. After his older brother Khalid suddenly and tragically dies, King is convinced that his brother has morphed into a dragonfly. Whenever he sees one of these large-eyed iridescent insects he feels that Khalid is nearby. Callender tells a compelling story of grief and the oppressive burden that death places on a family. The loss of his brother has cast a pall over King’s home. Familiar family routines have been set aside. There is now an empty place at the table. The family dynamic is fractured. One of the few constants for King is Sandy Sanders. Sandy is the friend he can confide in, can talk with about things that really matter. The two friends share a love for anime and manga, spending spend hours sketching characters and discussing their favorite stories. To please his brother, King has severed this treasured friendship because Sandy is gay. Khalid convinced King that he should not associate with gays.

Black is a Rainbow Color
​by Angela Joy ill by Ekua Holmes

A picture book blending images and text to describe and define a color,  Black is a Rainbow Color is rhythmical verse punctuated with rhyme.  The poetry has a singing quality, inviting reading and responding aloud. It’s a jubilant affirmation of identity. It’s a lyrical homage to history. It’s soul-stirring, thought-provoking. It’s a gorgeous array of colors. Individuals pictured throughout the pages have a variety of skin tones and physical features. All share a noble heritage.  my color is black.

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Picture This: Celebrating Black Color & Culture

Shubh Diwali! by Chitra Soundar ill by Charlene Chua

Diwali, a five-day Hindu festival, commences with the new moon on the darkest night of fall. The picture book Shubh Diwali! introduces young readers to this festival of light. A multigenerational family dressed in western clothing prepare and decorate their home in anticipation of the holiday. Observance includes wearing new traditional clothing, telling stories, ringing bells, and lighting lamps. Soundar's rhyming couplets provides a glimpse into the celebration. Back matter includes an Author's Note which introduces Diwali in more detail with her personal recollections, a brief description of each of the Five Days of Diwali and a Glossary.

​​Dessert Over Darkness

​Shrikhand (Strained Sweet Yogurt) ​Shrikhand is a creamy yogurt-based dessert from western India made simply by straining yogurt and sweetening it. The yogurt is traditionally strained by pressing it between newspaper (to soak up extra whey), but if you can find thick, full-fat Greek yogurt at the grocery store, then the process is even simpler: Hang it in a mesh strainer over a bowl for a day, and let the excess whey drip out. You can substitute slivered almonds for pistachios, if that's more your speed, or even skip the nuts altogether for a smooth shrikhand flavored only with sugar, cardamom and a celebratory sprinkle of saffron threads.

INGREDIENTS 32 ounces plain full-fat Greek yogurt 1 ½ cups loosely packed confectioners’ sugar 1 cup roasted unsalted or lightly salted pistachios, roughly chopped, plus ⅓ cup for garnish, roughly chopped 1 teaspoon saffron threads, finely chopped, plus a pinch for garnish, finely chopped ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder PREPARATION Put yogurt in a fine-mesh strainer suspended over a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge. Let excess whey strain for 24 hours. Transfer yogurt to a large mixing bowl, and gently stir in sugar, pistachios, saffron and cardamom. When they are combined, transfer mixture into a serving dish, using an offset spatula to smooth out the top. Evenly sprinkle reserved pistachios and pinch of saffron over the top, and chill for an hour before serving. Shrikhand will keep covered in the fridge for a few days (though the pistachios will soften).

A Likkle Miss Lou:
​How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice
by Nadia L. Hohn ill by Eugenie Fernandes

A picture book brimming with poetry, rhythms, and song, A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice introduces young readers to the early years of a native poet and performance artist.  Nadia L. Hohn describes Louise's fascination with the speech she that was an integral part of her daily life. Jamaican patois, an English-based creole language with a West African influence is spoken by the most Jamaicans. At school, she was required to restrict her language to what was considered "proper" English. Louise was reprimanded by her teacher when she included words and phrases from Jamaican dialect in her assignments. ​Fortunately, she became a student at Excelsior College, where acceptance and appreciation for her native tongue was encouraged. ​Hohn's narrative is rich and colorful. She captures the flavor and cadence of the language in this sumptuous feast of poetic expression.

Fernandes' illustrations tell their own tale. Louise's face moves from doubt and discouragement to wonder and joy. The animated faces of her classmates and native storytellers feature a variety of warm shades of brown. Back matter includes an extensive Note from the Author with details on the life and works of Coverley. Hohn describes her own introduction to the works of this poet. A glossary, with photos of peanut drops and water crackers, is helpful. References contains a citation list.

Spread out youself deh, Liza. Dress ooman a come.

Home is a Window
by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard ill by Chris Sasaki

Home is a Window is a quiet little treasure. wrapping youngsters who face change in a reassuring embrace.  ​Title page features a busy urban neighborhood, filled with homes and shops, pets and people. Observant readers will notice a young girl walking her dog. With the first page turn, she steps off the street and enters her home. Stephanie Parsley Ledyard's descriptive text enumerates the comforting familiarity of simple things: a basket for your shoes, someone to help, a blanket all your own.

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander ill by Kadir Nelson

When times are tough and faith gives only the thinnest glimmer of light, there is hope, there are heroes. Newbery Award-winner Kwame Alexander's poetry pays tribute to Black Americans who with determination, persistence, dignity, courage, and vision have survived and thrived. The Undefeated honors some of the individuals, past and present, who embody the struggle to dream and achieve. Authors, artists, athletes, poets, politicians, Civil Rights leaders, and musicians are among those referenced through soaring verses which capture the dignity and grace of the human spirit.  ​Alexander also pays tribute to those who suffered, sacrificed, and lost their lives.

Be Inspired

Recently, several books about menstruation have been published for young readers. Most are collections of information presented in an engaging manner. The Moon Within takes a refreshing approach. Salazar weaves poetry, astronomy, and mythology together with Mexican and Caribbean culture in this intimate view of a young girl anticipating and experiencing her first menses. The book is divided into sections mirroring the lunar cycle: New Moon, First Quarter Moon, Full Moon, and Last Quarter Moon. This journey from childhood to maidenhood is like the moon: at times dark, at other times shimmering with reflected light.  Twelve-year-old Celestina Rivera lives in East Oakland with her father of Puerto Rican heritage, mother of Mexican ancestry, and younger brother Juju. Magda, a drummer in her bomba class is "better than my best friend," and "my best echo." The two are inseparable.

Culture, Identity, and Menstruation

Contrary Creatures: Unique Animal Opposites
​by James Weinberg

Weinberg uses bold graphic design to compare animal characteristics. The cover sets the stage with a wave-like separation between life on land and life underwater. The title font remains the same for both words. However, color and text position offer important informational cues. The demarcation between the two environments is neatly pierced with shafts of light streaming from the sky and penetrating the deep water.  ​Interior pages include comparisons of animal size, habitat, as well as distinguishing features and behaviors. There is even a nod to imaginary animals found in stories and legends. A listing of the creatures along with a brief description of each can be found at the back of the book.

Home for a Penguin, Home for a Whale
​by Brenda Williams   ill Annalisa Beghelli      

Images of ocean life, both in the water and near the shore, follow a wave-like motion across two-page spreads. Brenda Williams’ rhythmic couplets undulate along with these animals, visually reinforcing the text’s aquatic theme. Annalisa Beghelli uses various shades of blue as the primary background. Generally the deeper blues are at the bottom of the spreads, with color values becoming lighter near the page top. Animals are depicted with a light whimsical touch.  Sharks and barracudas to not appear particularly menacing. A fun read aloud with a bonus: a tiny sea snail is hidden on each page, waiting to be discovered.