88 Books Published by Just Us Books, Inc. on AALBC — Book Cover Collage

On a humid March night in 1957, Kwame Nkrumah made history. While thousands of people, including dignitaries from around the world cheered, he announced his country’s independence. After many decades of British rule, Ghana, formerly the Gold Coast, became the first sub-Saharan African nation to break free from colonial rule.

Kwame Nkrumah’s Midnight Speech for Independence shares the story of Nkrumah’s declaration of Ghana’s independence and the tremendous history that led to that celebrated moment.

Johnnie wants to celebrate her Papa’s birthday, but Papa doesn’t know exactly when that special day is. Johnnie doesn’t understand how that could be. Then she learns about Papa’s childhood—how he built a new life in the all-Black town of Boley, Oklahoma. Inspired by her father’s incredible story, Johnnie decides to throw Papa a different kind of party—one to recognize her Father’s Day of freedom. Based on a true story about the author’s grandfather, Papa’s Free Day Party is a powerful celebration of storytelling, strength, and the importance of family.

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Being a big sister is a big job. It takes a lot of work, and patience, but it’s a lot of fun, too. This charming picture book explores the anticipation, excitement, and pride a young girl experiences as she helps to welcome a new baby to the family. (Companion title to I’m A Big Brother Now)

In this engaging, multicultural series, see, feel and explore the world Illustrated by Laura Freeman of irresistible youngsters from different cultural backgrounds as they share people, places and things that are important to them. Friends can be our next door neighbors, classmates, or someone new in the community. They can be introduced to us through books, social gatherings or by other friends. A friend is a person whose company we enjoy. Read along and recognize Friends I Love to Keep!

Being a big brother is a big job. It takes a lot of work and patience, but it’s a lot of fun, too. This charming picture book explores the anticipation, excitement, and pride of a young boy who takes on this important new role as he helps to welcome a new baby into the family. (Companion title to I’m A Sister Now)

In this middle grade novel by Derrick Barnes (Ruby & the Booker Boys), two thirteen- year-old African-American boys become friends during a three-day stint in an after-school suspension. They were both involved in two unrelated incidents with the same person, the resident menace at Alain Locke Middle, Tariq Molten. Robeson Battlefield is from a two-parent household, where both parents are highly successful and educated. Academic achievement, social consciousness and responsibility are reinforced daily in the Battlefield household. Pacino Clapton comes from a single parent household; his mom works two fulltime jobs. Pacino has a ton of responsibilities, including cutting hair to help pay bills, and taking care of his twin five- year-old sisters. During this three-day span, the young men visit each other’s home, and chop it up on a multitude of subjects including respect of self and Black women, the dire state of hip-hop music, the use of the dreaded N word, and masculinity. Before long, the three boys are on a collision course. And when they do intersect, their lives are changed forever. We Could Brothers addresses the presence and lack of positive male leadership in the home, and how it dictates the way young African American men view themselves, each other, and the world around them. Mentorship, brotherhood, and an emphasis on that old adage each-one-teach-one; are very real and tangible themes in this middle grade literary masterpiece.

In this engaging, multicultural series, see, feel and explore the world
of irresistible youngsters from different cultural backgrounds as
they share people, places and things that are important to them.
Share a close-up view of nature through the eyes of a little girl as she
goes about her daily activities in Sights I Love to See.

The highly anticipated fourth installment of the Book of Black Heroes series, Political Leaders Past and Present, spotlights African American who have made valuable contributions in U.S. government leadership. Included are Hiram Revels, P.B.S. Pinchback and Robert Smalls, among the first African Americans to hold political offices, Oscar De Priest and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr,, who served during the Jim Crow period as well as Edward M. Brooke, Shirley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan, John Lewis, John Conyers, Carl Stokes , and others who emerged during the 1960s on the heels of major civil rights legislation that gave millions of African American the right to vote. New political leaders are also featured, including Keith Ellison, Kamala Harris, Mia Love and Tim Scott. Book of Black Heroes: Political Leaders Past and Present celebrates 150 years of African-American political leadership, profiling more than four dozen Black U.S. local and state representatives, mayors, members of Congress, and the nation;s first Black president - all of whom helped make and shape history.

Tap dancing on sidewalks, especially in the city’s French Quarter, is a New Orleans tradition as familiar to some as Jazz, Creole and Cajun food and Mardi Gras. For generations, Black youngsters have danced for tourists on the streets of New Orleans some because they enjoy it, but many others to earn money for their families. Instead of dancing in store bought tap shoes, young boys and girls stamp and grind bottle caps into the soles of their sneakers until the bottle caps stay firmly in place at the toe. And they don’t miss a beat! Clickity-clack, Clack……tipity-tap, tap tap……tipity-tap, tap In Bottle Cap Boys Dancing on Royal Street, award-winning author Rita Williams-Garcia introduces two bottle cap dancers, brothers Randy and Rudy. Through rich and upbeat rhyme, Williams-Garcia gives voice to the dancing and the youngsters who keep this unique New Orleans tradition alive. Damian Ward’s exuberant illustrations are perfect complements to Williams Garcia s perfectly pitched poetry.

In this engaging multicultural series, see, feel, and explore the world of irresistible youngsters from different cultural backgrounds as they share people, places and things that are important to them. Feelings I Love to Share explores the many feelings youngsters experience: among them happiness, sadness, disappointment, boredom and sheer joy - all feelings that help them learn and grow. This delightful title will resonate with children everywhere.

In this engaging multicultural series, see, feel and explore the world of irresistible youngsters from different cultural backgrounds as they share people, places and things that are important to them. Music makes us happy and there are plenty of familiar tunes in this book that will make children want to sing along. Join the fun while you hum, clap or simply carry a tune in Songs I Love to Sing.

Evans paints an intimate portrait of the Black experience in the more than 100 poems shared in this impressive volume.

The distinguished poet Mari Evans writes unabashedly for and about African Americans, yet in this collection, readers from all backgrounds can find profound insight into the human experience. Written without the flourish of fancy language, the poems are full of Evans’s brilliance, humor, and musical expression. Included are signature poems such as “I am a Black Woman” as well as new works that paint an intimate portrait of contemporary African American life. First released in 2007, this is a new, revised edition with several new poems added.

Evans’ poetic voice helped defined the 1960s Black Arts Movement. A moment in time that brought to fore the work of poets like Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka and Evans with their young Black fiery voices that spoke to the need to make Blackness both beautiful and powerful. In the first of four sections in Continuum are many of the poems written during that period such as the poet’s signature poems ’Speak the Truth to the People,’ ’To Be Born Black,’ and ’I am a Black Woman’

I am a black woman
the music of my song
some sweet arpeggio of tears
is written in a minor key
and I
can be heard humming in the night

Youngsters can learn the alphabet with the engaging AFRO-BETS Kids in this concept book that has become a classic in pre-school classrooms.

Part of the popular Afro-Bets series, the ABC book includes playful illustration with a twist that make learning the alphabet fun and engaging for young readers.

The Afro-Bets kids, Langston, Nandi, Glo, Stef, Tura, and Robo, are a fun and flexible group. Children will enjoy learning their ABC’s as the Afro-Bets kids take turns stretching and bending into the letters A-Z. Every page includes colorful pictures and words to help reinforce each letter. Join the Afro-Bets in their acrobatic, alphabet adventure!

Christmas and Kwanzaa are right around the corner and Willimena is usually excited about her favorite time of the year. There are fun decorations, yummy food, the seven principles of Kwanzaa and, of course, gifts for both holidays. But this year, no one feels much like celebrating. Aunt Laura lost her job and Dad and Mom say that big changes are coming for the family—changes that mean Willie may not get that bike she wanted. Willie thinks she has it bad until she sees how these big changes are affecting her cousin Teddy. He’s usually nice, friendly, and greets Willie with a grin. But lately, he’s sad, mad, and downright rude.He doesn’t seem to want to celebrate the holidays at all, and nothing Willie does to cheer him up is working. Christmas and Kwanzaa are supposed to be joyful, but this year is turning out to be the worst. Can Willie find a way to bring "happy" back to the holidays?

On October 16, 1995, Black men of all ages, religions and backgrounds gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. They were there on a mission - to mobilize and motivate, as part of what would become the largest event of its kind in U.S. history: the Million Man March. The Million Man March was a movement like no other. It brought together Black men who were committed to inspiring and empowering themselves and each other to make positive and lasting changes in their families and communities. The March was widely covered by news media across the country and the world. Now, this new picture book shares the story of the March in a new light: through the eyes of a little girl who was with her father the day Black men made history.

This engaging book celebrates that historic event with a little girl who shares it with her father!

Olivia has a secret - a BIG secret. It’s a secret that she tells only to her very best friend. And her friend promises she won’t say a word. But the secret is really BIG and really Juicy. What happens when a trusted friend slips and the secret gets out?

NEW EDITION From science to politics, civil rights to entertainment, historic times to present day, men and women across the African diaspora have made important contributions to our world. Book of Black Heroes from A to Z shares with young readers the stories 54 pioneers whose courage, strength and lasting accomplishments have earned them the title hero. Read about: Arctic explorer Matthew Henson South African human rights advocate Nelson Mandela Liberian President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson Pioneering Black historian Benjamin Quarles Discover how: Jackie Robinson integrated Major League Baseball Richard Allen went from enslavement to co-founder and Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Jean Baptiste DuSable, a Haiti-born fur trader, founded the city of Chicago Constance Baker Motley helped James Meredith become the first black person to go to the University of Mississippi First published in 1988 and with more than 400,000 copies in print, Book of Black Heroes from A to Z has become a go to black history staple in classrooms, homes and libraries. This updated edition includes expanded biographies, quotes and factoids, a two-page narrative honoring the 150th anniversary of the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation and several new entries including a profile of President Barack Obama, the first African American elected President of the United States. Whether their names are familiar or new, the journeys and many achievements of Book of Black Heroes honorees are truly inspiring and can help all children realize that even in the face of obstacles, they too can make important contributions to our world.

The election of Barack Obama, the first African-American President of the United States, marked a pivotal point in the history of a nation too often preoccupied with race, color and identity. Millions of people around the world have been inspired by Mr. Obama’s historic victory and his personal story of determination and success - especially children of color; In The President Looks Like Me and Other Poems, Tony Medina celebrates the diversity that President Obama symbolizes through poems that are multicultural in scope and wide-ranging in style. With distinctly urban settings and an urban flavor, the collection covers a myriad of themes that include childhood, family, friendship, identity, spirituality, social justice and Hip Hop. Medina’s poems realistically capture the impact of what it means to be young in a complex world. Yet, they offer hope that resounds more prominently when a child of color can say, the president looks like me.

Allie has waited and waited. Finally the day of the big neighborhood block party has come. At a block party there are so many exciting things to do. Jump rope, play freeze-tag and hide and seek with friends. Taste the yummy dishes that the neighbors bring. Listen to the musicians play the bongos, trumpet and guitars. Cool off with an icy piragua. But the weatherman has forecasted rain. Will the rain stay away so Allie can enjoy all the fun that she has been waiting for?

Beautiful palm trees, pretty flowers and a warm breeze are all waiting to welcome 8-year-old Carol Ann to her new school in Hawaii. But Carol Ann doesn t want a new school. She doesn t want new friends, or palm trees or a warm breeze. She wants her old friends. She wants her old home. She wants things the way they used to be. How will she remember her new classmates names? Who will she play with at recess? How will she ever feel at home in this new place? Then the teacher introduces Carol Ann to the term, aloha. She says the little word means hello, welcome and a lot more. Carol Ann finds out for just how much aloha means as she makes a place for herself at her new school.

It was summer of 1937 in Southern Georgia—a summer that nine-year-old Peach Lucas would never forget. Peach and his family had been able to make it through the Great Depression. Times had been hard. But like millions of other Americans, they made do. But now, the Lucases and the folks of Georgia were facing yet another catastrophe, one much more difficult than the Depression: a drought of end time proportions. Crops dried up and died. So did flowers and plants. Animals went thirsty, too. There wasn’t even enough water for people to drink. And, if things could get worse, they did. A forest fire raged and Peach’s friend High-Pants is accused of starting it. But the summer of 1937 would also be the time that Peach proved himself to a family that had always taken him for granted. He and High-Pants would find an answer to the worst drought of all time. In this coming of age story, Peach stands tall when the well runs dry.

Eight-year-old Conrad loves Pinger Park. He knows it’s a special place. It’s where he and his friends play. It’s where colorful fish swim and where pretty flowers grow. It’s where people who live in the city go to enjoy the outdoors. The park is even where Conrad lost his first tooth. Then, one day the mayor of the city announces plans to have the park replaced with apartment buildings. Conrad knows he has to act fast. But what can he do to save Pinger Park? You can be sure that a creative and resourceful Conrad will find an answer. Also featured in the back of Conrad Saves Pinger Park are Green tips to help youngsters play a role in helping to save the planet.

Marvelous Martin Mitchell is a ten-year-old neighborhood private investigator. If something is lost or stolen, if a bully is taking advantage of someone, Marvelous Martin is on the case. He is good at solving mysteries, including everything from stolen lunches to missing pets. He usually gets paid for his detective work, too. No one likes a bully, and Martin and his friends are no different. When mean Mark Beeks, the school bully, steals little Freddie Freeman’s bike, it is the last straw. Martin and his crew decide to put an end to Mark’s bullying days once and for all in this first installment of the Marvelous Martin series.

Allie loves Sunday dinners with her family. She loves the yummy arroz and pollo they eat. She loves spending time with her granddad and grandma, Abuelo and Abuela. And she loves the funny stories everyone shares at the table. But when Abuela tells stories in Spanish, Allie feels left out because she’s the only one in the family who doesn’t understand the language. Allie is anxious to know What did Abuela say? And Abuela is going to help her learn. This is the first book in a series called Allie’s World, which focuses on little Allie and her Puerto Rico-American family.

He came from modest beginnings. Born in South Carolina in 1811 to free people of color, he was orphaned by age 9, and raised by a great aunt. At that time slavery ruled the South, but he believed in the power of education and the promise of faith, and he wanted to make a positive difference in the world. Often teaching himself, he conquered physics, Latin, and geometry. At the age of 18, he started his first school. He went on to study in the North, become an ordained minister, and later a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. Untimately, he became one of the most influential religious leaders in Black America. He also made history as the first Black president of an African American college - Wilberforce University. MEET EDUCATOR, MINISTER, AUTHOR DANIEL A. PAYNE.

This inspirational book of prayers and scripture references for children is a must-have for parents who want to give their kids an easy-to-understand book of faith. Illustrated with color photographs of children from different ethnic backgrounds.

From Where I Stand by Cheryl Willis Hudson

Best-selling author Omar Tyree makes his children’s book debut with 12 Brown Boys, a collection of short stories for middle readers that focus on the lives of Black pre-teen boys. Readers will connect with Tyree’s engaging characters. There is Red Head Mike who hates his nickname, but hates his red hair even more, and Chestnut, who is sent to live with relatives down south to keep him out of trouble in his Brooklyn neighborhood. There is Santa Monica super kid William, whose status as a scholar and entrepreneur has even his best friends hating him, and Wayne, who resents his role as the oldest child until a tragedy strikes the family. Tyree has assembled a wide range of characters that reflect the diversity of experiences of Black boys - characters that are funny, serious, edgy, street-wise, studious, and all unforgettable.

Tony’s big sister explains that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday and that his parents tried to do as much as they could for the new baby, just as their parents do for their new baby brother.

As they get ready for church, Taj’s grandmother explains that she is so happy on Sunday mornings because that is when she goes to church to give thanks to God and to share in worship services.

African America author, illustrator. Board Book. Suitable for pre-schoolers.

The Black Arts Movement spanned less than two decades, but left an undeniable mark on American literature and Black America. Considered one of the single most controversial periods in the history of African-American literature, it inspired and reflected the political and social activism of the 1960s and 1970s and challenged societal ideals, producing the powerful works of poets Nikki Giovanni, Haki Madhubuti, Sonia Sanchez, Quincey Troup and the Last Poets. In this volume the dynamic Black Arts Movement is explored through selections of poetry from the most significant poets of the period, complemented by biographies that discuss the scope and content of each writer’s work, as well as his or her historical significance and impact to the literary world. This is the second volume in the Poetry from the Masters series.

More about the Black Art’s Movement

Clothes I Love to Wear follows a vivacious young girl as she tries on various clothes in attic and enters a world of her imagination and personal creativity.

Marimba Books

When her father is transferred from his position as a professor at a Capetown, South Africa university to Buena Vista, California, Thandie Sobukwe says goodbye to her friends, family and favorites places and hello to self-doubt, rejection and cultural confusion. Everything from the way she looks to the way she speaks, and even the way she thinks is questioned, mocked or simply misunderstood. Thandie’s struggling to be confortable in her skin, but between her California girl dreams, ambivalent feelings about Black American culture, and sensitivity about the ethnic background she thinks makes her stand out too much, she doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere. Thandie’s facing a real dilemma: How can you be true to yourself when you’re trying to discover who you are?

On October 16, 1995, Black men of all ages, religions and backgrounds gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. They were there on a mission - to mobilize and motivate, as part of what would become the largest event of its kind in U.S. history: the Million Man March. The Million Man March was a movement like no other. It brought together Black men who were committed to inspiring and empowering themselves and each other to make positive and lasting changes in their families and communities. The March was widely covered by news media across the country and the world. Now, this new picture book shares the story of the March in a new light: through the eyes of a little girl who was with her father the day Black men made history.

Twelve-year-old Margie Carson loves hearing stories. And her daddy loves to tell them. One hot summer night Daddy, Margie, and her seven-year-old cousin Ethel troop over to the old one-room school for round of special storytelling. Daddy tells the girls about the time Aunt Daisy was chased by a scary, eight-foot-tall shadow one Sunday night in her backyard…about the flood that nearly washed away the whole town and left a catfish on a neighbor’s pillow…stories about rocks that bite and walnut wars…stories about Mary McLeod Bethune and the time Eleanor Roosevelt came to town…ten wonderful stories in all.

The exciting adventures of Black cowboys, pioneers, soldiers, and other frontiersmen join the celebrated folklore of the wild West in the Reflections of a Black Cowboy series. Through colorful, masterfully crafted vignettes that rival tall tales of the old frontier, author Robert H. Miller shares stories of important real life heroes - men and women whose bravery and adventurous spirits helped make the American West possible. Pioneers introduces York, a childhood friend of famed explorer William Clark, who accompanied Clark on the legendary Lewis and Clark expedition; Ed "Cut Nose" Rose, hunter and fur trapper who helped build the fortune of one of America’s first millionaires; Alvin Coffey, a gold miner whose hard work out West earned his freedom; and Biddy Mason, a female sheep herder who walked from Mississippi to California behind 300 ox-drawn wagons, and after suing for her freedom. became one of California’s most wealthy and respected entrepreneurs.

The exciting adventures of Black cowboys, pioneers, soldiers, and other frontiersmen join the celebrated folklore of the wild West in the Reflections of a Black Cowboy series. Through colorful, masterfully crafted vignettes that rival tall tales of the old frontier, author Robert H. Miller shares stories of important real life heroes - men and women whose bravery and adventurous spirits helped make the American West possible. Mountain Men spotlights Essteban, who came to America from Morocco as a slave aand was the first African to land in New Mexico and Arizona territory; Jean Baptiste Point duSable, founder of the city of Chicago; James Beckwourth, who discovered a shorter path (which bares his name) over the mountains to California; George McJunkin, whose discover of the Folsom Site in New Mexico proved Native Americans presence in North America dated back 10,000 years.

Book by Evans, Mari

Six-year-old Brian loves to play football. But everyone thinks he’s too small. When he finally gets a chance, he proves that he’s got what it takes to succeed, even against the big boys. Drawing from his own experiences as a youngster, former Major League Baseball player Brian Jordan has written a heartwarming story about an empowered little boy who exudes confidence, self assurance and a sense of humor, the same characteristics that helped Jordan become one of only a few athletes to play both Major League Baseball and professional football.

Harlem teen Imamu Jones begins his summer out on bail, helping his mother overcome her alcoholism and trying to stay out of trouble. But this period of calm doesn’t last long, especially after he meets Olivette and Pierre, two new guys on the block.

“Rosa Guy has shown that she was not afraid to be tough while examining the very fine webs of love.”—Maya Angelou

Ruby Cathy feels left without friends, without comfort and without love. Then she meets Daphne Duprey, who is “cool, calm, cultured, sophisticated and refined”—everything that Ruby is not. Together, Ruby and Daphne build a relationship that gives each young woman a new understanding of strength, friendship and love.

"The Freedom Rides were a brief moment in the civil rights movement, but they captured the attention of the nation in a way that few other campaigns in the struggle had. They especially inspired southern Blacks. For several years afterward, anytime a southern Black encountered a civil rights worker, he or she was likely to ask, "Are you one of [the] Freedom Riders?" It didn’t matter if the worker was registering voters or leading a sit-in demonstration. The term "Freedom Rider" came to mean civil rights worker, especially to southern Blacks."—James Haskins Freedom Rides: Journey to Justice is a thorough review of the monumental struggle to end segregation in public transportation in America. James Haskins’ vivid detail and moving descriptions bring to life the sacrifice and bravery of the people who tested the Supreme Court decisions that legally desegregated U.S. buses and trains. In presenting famous civil rights leaders and introducing lesser-known heroes, this volume provides a balanced and insightful discussion of what the Freedom Rides were, and why they were so important to the civil rights movement, and to the history of our nation.

from Sakofa Books, an imprint of Just Us Books… Will the Real West Please Stand Up?! The exciting adventures of Black cowboys, pioneers, soldiers, and other frontiersmen join the celebrated folklore of the wild West in the Reflections of a Black Cowboy series. Through colorful, masterfully crafted vignettes that rival the tall tales of the old frontier, author Robert H. Miller shares stories of important real life heroes—men and women whose bravery and adventurous spirits helped make the American West possible. Buffalo Soldiers introduces men who served in the Ninth and Tenth Calvaries (whom Native Americans named "Buffalo Soldiers"), including Emmanuel Stance, the first Black soldier to be awarded the medal of honor; and Lieutenant Henry O. Flipper, the first Black officer to graduate from West Point.

All of us have special places in our childhood memories. They are happy places, fun places. They are places where unique people live. They are places that elicit warm, comforting and safe feelings. They are places we want to visit again and again. MaDear’s old green house is such as place. There, Sunday morning breakfast is an event. Hide and go seek is more than just a game. The tall pecan tree isn’t just a familiar landmark. It’s a place to rest and dream. At MaDear’s old green house nurturing relatives come and go. You’re surrounded by a nourishing and caring community. And there is freedom to jump, to skip, to run and to grow. Denise Lewis Patrick’s own childhood memories of visits with her grandmother are the inspiration for this poignant story. Through heartwarming and lyrical prose, Patrick shares memories of summers at her special place: MaDear’s old green house. It is a place all children should have a chance to visit at least once. Patrick’s moving story is beautifully illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler’s bold and vibrant scratchboard images. Much may change around us. We grow older. We move. A special place, however, lives forever—-just like MaDear’s old green house.

from Sankofa Books, an imprint of Just Us Books… Will the Real West Please Stand Up?! The exciting adventures of Black cowboys, pioneers, soldiers, and other frontiersmen join the celebrated folklore of the wild West in the Reflections of a Black Cowboy series. Through colorful, masterfully crafted vignettes that rival the tall tales of the old frontier, author Robert H. Miller shares stories of important real life heroes—men and women whose bravery and adventurous spirits helped make the American West possible. Cowboys introduces figures such as Nat Love, a freed slave-turned teenage cowboy who became Deadwood Dick—champion roper of the western cattle country; Bill Pickett, the inventor of the rodeo sport of steer wrestling, and Mary Fields, who spent 50 years as a slave, then found a new life as a Western crime fighter.

Tamika is a member of a special club: the Sweet Fruit of the African Family Tree Club. She loves being a Sweet Fruit. Tamika also loves to wonder. But sometimes wondering gets Tamika into trouble, especially when she doesn’t think before she acts. So Mama and Daddy share words of wisdom with Tamika. Love yourself. Carry yourself with dignity. Use your mind freely, but always think before you act. And they give her sparkling, colorful rings, so whenever Tamika starts wondering, she can look at the rings and remember. But lately Tamika and her family’s safety has been in danger. Then eight year old Tamika suffers the biggest tragedy of her life. Will the wisdom rings keep her strong and help her do the right thing?

Thirteen year old Eddie Delaney loves his dad. But sometimes he wishes that he’d lighten up. His father, a lawyer who grew up during the civil rights movement expects nothing but the best from his only son. And with Eddie’s success as a starter on the basketball team, and his good grades, Mr. Delaney’s been getting it. Then Eddie brings home a D in language arts and everything changes. His parents make him quit the team. And now Eddie’s lost the one thing he knows he’s good at, the very thing that had helped bring him and his dad together. Why is his dad so hard on him? Eddie’s friends decide to find out. But when they dig into Mr. Delaney’s past they uncover a secret that rocks the foundation of the already unsteady father-son relationship, and changes Eddie’s life forever.

The West is indeed wild for kid detective Caramel Parks. Kid Caramel’s history teacher has decided to take his students on a class trip to the old western town of Boseville. Kid is eager to learn more about this historical Black cowboy settlement, especially since Boseville is said to be haunted by a ghost named "Mad Jake." When the school bus pulls to a strange sign that says "Hayes’s Ranch," Caramel knows the mystery’s just beginning. Who is this Mad Jake, and why is he so mad? It doesn’t take Kid and his partners too long to find out, but can they give Mad Jake what he wants before it’s too late? The fourth book in the series.

This book discusses the people and events connected with the 1963 March on Washington, as well as the consequences of this well-known civil rights demonstration.

Every Christmas, millions of children wait impatiently for the arrival of the man in the red suit: Santa Claus. But Christmas is not always a happy time for children who are poor, alone or have to grow up to soon. Poet Tony Medina takes readers into the world of children who are speaking from the heart and want Santa to bring them real answers and practical solotions to the issues that they face daily.

Surveying more than 200 years of poetic creativity in Black America, Poetry from the Masters: The Pioneers introduces the work of early Black poets who helped to establish an African-American poetic tradition. Readers will explore the poetry of eleven talented women and men, including Phillis Wheatley, Francis Ellen Harper, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and Countee Cullen. Poems are complemented by a biography that discusses the scope and content of each writer’s work, as well as his or her historical significance and impact on the literary world.

In this volume of the popular Book of Black Heroes series, readers will learn about the many contributions Black men and women have made in the areas of science, medicine and creative invention. Short entry biological sketches herald the ground breaking work of well-known Black heroes such as scientist, George Washington Carver and surgeon, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, and introduce the trailblazing accomplishments of other Black heroes such as inventor Lewis Latimer and Halle Johnson.

Zambia Brown is facing yet another boring summer in Deacons Neck, South Carolina, so she sets her sights on big city fun: money, clothes, cars and parties. But in her pursuit of the fast life, will she jeopardize her family, friends, and even her life?

Biographical sketches, photos and 101 different activities, games and ideas help young readers celebrate the legacy of Langston Hughes while encouraging them to begin developing legacies of their own. Great for classroom, group or individual use.

Come By Here Lord: Everyday Prayers for Children is a unique collection of 18 simple, yet powerful prayers for children. Illustrated with realistic color photos of African American children, each prayer is reference to a Bible verse and a suggested time of day, morning, afternoon and evening. The book contains some familiar prayers such as the Lord’s Prayer and A Child’s Grace and other original prayers by the author.

Book by Brown, Margery

This book offers a unique, multicultural spin on classic nursery rhymes. Excellent for pre-school.

Corinne has changed, and Annie, her best friend, is alarmed. Corinne has become withdrawn. She doesn’t visit Annie anymore, and she doesn’t want Annie to visit her. She doesn’t even want to talk. What has happened? Frustrated by her friend’s reluctance to communicate, Annie begins to send Corinne letters. "Dear Corinne," she writes, "you’re hiding somewhere inside yourself, and I can’t find you… . I’m sorry, because I’m your friend, and I love you anyhow." Corinne responds with letters of her own, but at first they don’t reveal much. Annie doesn’t give up. Slowly she encourages her friend to reveal her frightening secret. Now Annie must convince Corinne to tell someone who can help. Celebrated black writer, educator, and activist Mari Evans has created a touching story about true friendship and the devastating effects of child abuse. It shines a spotlight on a topic of major concern in our country and will provoke conversations in the classroom and around the dinner table.

Glo is a girl on a mission: she must find just the right birthday gift for her friend Nandi. At the mall, she makes the rounds of stores, browsing and considering. There are so many choices, Glo is a bit overwhelmed. Suddenly she sees the perfect present for Nandi!

When Robo is asked to name his favorite place, he can’t decide. There is school, where he learns new ideas. The park, with the great climbing equipment. The swimming pool on hot days, and the skating rink in winter. The library, where Robo reads after school. The science museum with its interesting exhibits. How can he possibly decide?

This pioneering comic strip, first appearing in 1964, introduces Black achirvers including Crispus Attucks, James Baldwin, Harriet Tubman and Thurgood Marshall.

Someone is sending Anthony expensive gifts. When Anthony figures out who it is, he discovers that his entire world is about to change. This is the third book in NEATE, a popular middle reader series featuring 5 African-American pre-teens.

Courtney is very excited. Her seventh birthday is only a few days away, and her mother has planned a special party. All of Courtney’s classmates will be invited, including Courtney’s best friend, Dejana. Courtney and Dejana have been best friends for a long time. They ride the bus to school together; they sit next to each other in class. It has never mattered to them that one is white and one is black. Dejana is excited, too. In the days leading up to the party, she works hard at several odd jobs so she can buy a special gift to give to her friend. But when the invitations to the party are passed out, Dejana doesn’t receive one. Courtney’s mother doesn’t want Dejana to attend. Both Dejana and Courtney are devastated. But friendship wins the day when Courtney’s determination forces her mother to change her mind. In engaging prose, actress and educator Loretta Long shows that loyalty and determination can overcome racial prejudice and ignorance.

Features 32 rhymes for children from a renowned black poet Nursery rhymes, with their simple words and sing-song rhythms. have enthralled and excited youngsters for centuries. But most of the best-known rhymes reflect a limited Western perspective. Last fall. Just Us Books addressed the need for nursery rhymes that represent the true diversity of a child’s world by publishing The Many Colors of Mother Goose. which included nursery rhymes from a multicultural perspective. Now, with Singing Black, they present a collection of original short poems by Marl Evans that draw their inspiration from black culture.

One of the leading members of the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 70s, Evans is one of America’s prominent black writers. Her work is widely read and taught in black and women’s studies programs. This new version of Singing Black is redesigned and made contemporary for today’s children with simple and bold line drawings by Ramon Price, director of the DuSable Museum in Chicago. But Evans’s poems are as timeless and fresh as they were when the first edition was released. Their bright images of friendship, family, and fun offer an alternative to traditional nursery rhymes that teaches children, especially black children, to feel good about who they are.

Your grandmother’s words. Your mom and dad’s words. We all seem to know the old sayings, but never stop to think about where they come from-or who said them first. A great collection of quotes from the African diaspora.

When Ethel’s mother goes away, Margie Carson’s mother decides to let Ethel stay with them, just for one night. But one night turns into many and Margie doesn’t know what to do. Margie thinks Ethel is trying to steal her parents’ attention, and she has had it. Enough is enough!

Originally published in 1980, Just an Overnight Guest is a touching story about a family that takes in an abused young girl on a temporary basis and, after a long ordeal, decides to make her a permanent part of their lives.

An insightful story about the problems of abused children and also about African American family life, Just an Overnight Guest teaches children about sharing, compassion and responsibility. It also encourages a positive attitude toward foster care and adoption, and spreads awareness of the problems and needs of homeless children.

In 1983, this book was adapted into a 38 minute film, staring Richard Roundtree, of Shaft fame and Rosalind Cash.

Kid Caramel, "Private Investigator" and his friend Earnest are visiting the art museum. Just after African Prince Abdu’s elaborate film to introduce the Crystal Ankh is over, a smoke bomb explodes and the ancient treasure vanishes. The police cooperate with the junior detectives and lure the thief out of hiding with the announcement that the stolen Ankh was a fake. The public is invited to view the "real thing" (which is actually a chocolate creation made by Earnie’s aunt, a candy maker). This smoothly paced, easy read should appeal to any child who loves a mystery.

All Annie ever wanted was to make music. And why not? Her brother, Lee, played wonderful music on the trumpet. Her sister, Patty, could make her think of springtime and beautiful colors whenever she played the piano. Annie wanted to play, too. She just couldn’t play an instrument, even though she tried, and tried, and tried. But Annie doesn’t give up. Not until she finds her own special gifts.

Forty nine distinguished writers, artists and photographers contributed to this important anthology. A wonderful tribute to the enduring spirit of the black family and community, this is a book the entire family can enjoy reading together. Contributors include Newbery, Caldecott, Pulitzer, Coretta Scott King and other award-winning writers and visual artists —Gwendolyn Brooks, Ashley Bryan, Virginia Hamilton, Patricia and Fredrick McKissack, Leo and Diane Dillon, Floyd Cooper, Nikki Grimes, Tom Feelings, Haki Madhubuti, Javaka Steptoe, Walter Dean Myers and a host of others.

The story of one of the first Black nurses.

Natalie & Nicole are best friends. They’re also twins. And for some reason, everyone thinks that just because they look alike they should think alike. Their parents don’t understand why Natalie is so good at math- and Nicole isn’t, or why Nicole won local reading contest and Natalie didn’t.

Elizabeth wants to enter a local talent competition. Can she handle the possibility of not winning? And if she does win, should she keep the prize money or contribute it to charity?

From A Child’s Heart is a beautiful collection of preyer/poems that are complemented by striking art by celebrated artist Bredda Joysmith.

Based on West African folklore, this exciting fantasy features Liberian dialect and the power of the African oral tradition. Marvelously illustrated in pencil and water color.

When Noel and his Grandpa Will go fishing, Noel learns about how things were when his grandfather was little.

this coloring book is great for the holidays.

Naimah, Elizabeth, Anthony, Tayesha and Eddie are NEATE. In this first book of the series NEATE helps Naimah and mother with their respective political campaigns. Naimah is running for class president and her mother is seeking a city council seat.

Jamal, a handsome, energetic African-American boy, is shown making all the necessary preparations for school that his parents make to begin their day. The upbeat message is that both parents and child can work hard and accomplish much in their respective areas, all have something to contribute.

More than 80 historical and contemporary women of African descent are spotlighted in this volume of the Black Heroes series.

Afro-Bets: Book of Shapes [Paperback]
Margery Brown (Author), Culverson Blair (Illustrator)

The 1st book to win a major award (The Benjamin Franklin Award) that was written by Black people (Cheryl Willis Hudson and Bernette Ford), illustrated by a Black person (George Ford), and Published by a Black owned publisher (Just Us Books).

“A poem extolling the beauty of African-American children forms the basis for celebration of a positive self-image. Four attractive children engage in typical kindergarten pastimes as the rhyming text rhapsodizes about their dimpled chins, “teeth that glisten,” and “very special hair and clothes.” Whereas building self-esteem and acknowledging children’s charms are commendable goals, they are not enough to build a book upon. Yes, these boys and girls are appealing, but they are so unusually cooperative and cheerful, smiling nonstop throughout the pages of this slim volume, that real live children, with all of the emotions and moods that are a part of being human, may have difficulty relating to them.” —School Library Journal

Afro-bets Kids are books designed to help children understand the world around them. Their loveable storyteller, Mr Amegashie explores the cultural diversity, rich history, and beautiful and exciting land of Africa in this book which aims to help children discover the real Africa.

A coloring and activity book.

“The Afro-Bets series by Cheryl Willis Hudson and husband Wade Hudson. This series is educational and shows the creativity that can go into teaching our children about their numbers and letters.”—Rosheena Beek, author Mommy Says!

The Afro-Bets Kids present the numbers 1 through 10! Langston, Nandi, Glo, Stef, Tura, and Robo show you how to learn your numbers. Watch them twist their bodies into the shapes of the numbers.

Part of the Afro-Bets series, two paperbacks by Cheryl Willis Hudson star a cast of six African-American characters that bend and twist to represent concepts. In Afro-Bets ABC Book, labeled illustrations reinforce letter sounds (K stands for “kitten,” “keys,” and “Kente cloth”). Counting from one to 10 is the subject of Afro-Bets 1 2 3 Book.—Publishers Weekly

There are so many exciting careers: astronaut, athlete, educator, film director, architect. And there are great Black leaders in those fields, including Dr. Mae C. Jemison, LeBron James, Mary McLeod Bethune, Ava DuVernay, Sir David J. Adjaye, and Dr. Daniel Hale Williams. Learn about these great achievers and their careers as the AFRO-BETS Kids (Tura, Stef, Nandi, Robo, Langston, and Glo) research and use their imagination to explore what they’ll be when they grow up.

Revised edition with new illustrations.