215 Books Published by Scholastic Inc. on AALBC — Book Cover Collage

Kwame travels to the Cursed Realm, in the fourth installment of this action-packed early chapter book series perfect for fans of Dragon Masters!

Pick a book. Grow a Reader! This series is part of Scholastic’s early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!

Kwame and his friends are excited to participate in the Nkonyaa Games—a series of magic competitions! As the games begin, a mysterious new teacher named Elder Z arrives. Soon after, a spell is cast on two students, trapping them in stone. And no one knows how to break it! The evil Boni calabash tells Kwame he must enter the Cursed Realm to save his classmates. But can Kwame trust the green calabash? And who cast the forbidden spell? Could it have been Elder Z?

With engaging black-and-white artwork on every page, kids won’t be able to put down this fully illustrated, magical, action-packed adventure!

Kwame needs to help save the world’s source of magic, in the third installment of this action-packed early chapter book series perfect for fans of Dragon Masters!

Pick a book. Grow a Reader!

This series is part of Scholastic’s early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!

The Nkonyaa Tree is losing its magic, which means everyone will soon lose their magic, too! Principal Wari and Kwame’s friend, Fifi, are being blamed for it, and the Grand Elder wants to banish them to the Dark Void. But they are not entirely to blame! Kwame and Esi go to the dangerous Kaba Lagoon for a magical ingredient that’s needed for a spell that could heal the tree. With the help of his friends, will Kwame be able to cure the tree before Principal Wari and Fifi are sent away?

With engaging black-and-white artwork on every page, kids won’t be able to put down this fully illustrated, magical, action-packed adventure!

Three friends discover magic and mayhem around every corner of their school in this illustrated series from New Yorker cartoonist and NAACP Image Award nominee Liz Montague that’s perfect for fans of Witchlings and The Wizards of Waverly Place.

After a chaotic semester of Elementary Magic, Rose, Amethyst, and Lav have found themselves with new magical skills up their sleeves which will come in handy when they begin Middle Magic next year. But school is the last thing on their minds over winter break. Tensions are high between the Land Walkers and the Merfolk’s mysterious leader Frost. Worse, Amethyst’s mom has gone missing with an extremely illegal wand, and everyone—their classmates, Principal Ivy, the Committee—thinks she’s somehow involved in the disappearance of Rose’s cousin Heather. But Amethyst is determined to find her mother and set everything right. Her mom just has to be innocent!

When a secret about Amethyst’s identity is revealed, her whole world comes crashing down. She doesn’t understand how her mom could keep something so important from her. Is her mom actually the villain or is something even darker at work here? She’ll have to trust that Rose and Lav can keep the peace above ground while she ventures underwater

YOU are Black Girl Magic. How will you shine YOUR light? This striking companion to I Am My Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams celebrates Black female achievement and is perfect for fans of I Am Enough, Little Leaders, and She Persisted.

I AM dope!

My crown shines bright

in all its glory.

I AM Black Girl Magic!

In this inspiring tribute to Black girl pride and excellence, a young child discovers her place in a radiant heritage. As she meets twelve extraordinary Black women—historic and contemporary heroines who have blazed a trail to her own future success—she internalizes their strength as she sets out to change the world, in her own way.

Just like them, she can reach her dreams. And just like her, you have within you big promise.

A stunning graphic novel memoir about growing up with an incarcerated parent.

“ …Your dad is coming back home.”

As far back as nine-year-old Jay Jay Patton can remember, her dad, Antoine has been in prison. Growing up in Buffalo, New York with her mom and younger brother, she’s only been to visit him twice. Instead, the two have sent each other numerous letters — Jay Jay’s letters can take weeks or months to reach her dad, and some never even get delivered. What’s it going to be like having Dad home?

This powerful coming-of-age graphic novel memoir tells Jay Jay Patton’s life of growing up with a dad in — and out of — prison. How she and her dad were able to develop a powerful father/daughter bond and create Photo Patch — a life-changing application that connects children to incarcerated parents. Because no child should have to grow up unable to engage with their parents. As Jay Jay says: “it’s not a privilege for a kid to be able to talk to their parent. It’s a right.”

A chilling middle grade horror debut featuring a Black, autistic protagonist who uncovers dark secrets plaguing her new school.

Eva doesn’t love being the new girl at school, but she doesn’t hate it either. Thanks to her mom’s job, her family is used to moving around. But Blythe Academy isn’t a normal school. The teachers are all strange and insular, like they’re hiding something from the students … .

And of course, there are the ghosts. Eva’s new friend Ami tells her the story — Blythe Academy has always felt haunted, but fifty years ago part of the school collapsed, killing a classroom of students and their teacher. Things haven’t been the same since.

To most students it’s just a scary story. But it’s not long until Eva is having her own terrifying run-ins with the ghosts, and they seem to be trying to communicate with her. Soon she’s having unnerving visions that seem to predict another collapse. Add in suddenly having to move into the dorms and her classmates finding out she’s autistic before she’s ready to tell them and Eva is completely overwhelmed.

Eva wants to tell people about her suspicion — she doesn’t think the collapse was just a tragic accident. It was caused by a malevolent force, and that force is back and hungry for more. As time begins to run out, will Eva be able to discover the truth of Blythe Academy and save lives … or will it be too late?

Kwame must stop the green flame from destroying the world, in the second installment of this action-packed early chapter book series perfect for fans of Dragon Masters!

Pick a book. Grow a Reader!

This series is part of Scholastic’s early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!

An evil magic turned Kwame’s friend Fifi into a green flame. It also stole the two most powerful calabashes, and now the world is falling apart! Kwame and his friends Esi and Papa-Kow must travel to the Magic Mountain, where the green flame is trying to combine the two calabashes to make one all-powerful calabash. Can they save Fifi and stop the green flame before it’s too late?

With engaging black-and-white artwork on every page, kids won’t be able to put down this fully illustrated, magical, action-packed adventure!

In a beautifully crafted and captivating graphic novel from award-winning writer Sherri L. Smith and Eisner-nominated artist Christine Norrie, a Japanese-American girl must survive years of uncertainty and questions of loyalty in Hiroshima during World War II.

Amy is a thirteen-year-old Japanese-American girl who lives in Hawaii. When her great-grandmother falls ill, Amy travels to visit family in Hiroshima for the first time. But this is 1941. When the Japanese navy attacks Pearl Harbor, it becomes impossible for Amy to return to Hawaii. Conscripted into translating English radio transmissions for the Japanese army, Amy struggles with questions of loyalty and fears about her family amidst rumors of internment camps in America — even as she makes a new best friend and, over the years, Japan starts to feel something like home. Torn between two countries at war, Amy must figure out where her loyalties lie and, in the face of unthinkable tragedy, find hope in the rubble of a changed world.

Leon struggles with a super ego — and a super secret! — in the second graphic novel in Jamar Nicholas’s action-packed, heartfelt, and joyously funny series.

After saving his classmates from The Monocle, and now that he has access to tons of cool crime-fighting gadgets, Leon is the superhero his school needs. Or at least… he thinks he is. Leon’s vigil-antics make Mom and Principal Principle angry, but even worse, Leon is avoiding his best friend, Carlos, to keep Mom’s superhero identity a secret. Can Leon dig deep and rediscover his heart and common sense? Or will his bad behavior reach a point of no return?

Adorable dogs + a sprinkle of magic + a celebration of social emotional learning!

Yip! Yip! Hooray! A little magic can save the day!

There is a new puppy in town! A baby corgi has arrived at the Doghouse, ready to learn how to become a Love Puppy. The pups have an extra tough mission this time—to help Samnang deal with bullies at school. With the help of their pup in training, will the Love Puppies be able to help Samnang stand up for himself and realize that tiny can also be mighty?

With a little bit of magic and a whole lot of kindness, the Love Puppies are here to help kids overcome some tough social situations. Because with the power of love, anything is paw-sible!

Eisner award-winning author David F. Walker explodes onto the YA literary scene with a remarkable story about justice and second chances and all the ways we can make our own world in the image of our dreams.

Darius Logan is far from a hero. Since his parents were killed, he has spent most of his life navigating foster homes and shelters, abandoned neighborhoods and decaying buildings. All Darius knows is survival. Life was hard enough, but now he finds himself being hunted by the police after a drug deal he never should have been involved in goes bad. And when they catch him, Darius is positive he will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

But in place of a long prison sentence, Darius is handed an opportunity almost too good to be true: the chance to get away from his circumstances by joining the Second Chance program of the Super Justice Force, a league of people with special powers who strive to do good and protect the world from harm. Darius soon discovers a strength he never knew he possessed, but evil forces manifest and threaten to destroy everything he holds dear. Will Darius be able to save the world when he faces a deadly—and all too familiar—enemy?

This incredibly powerful YA debut by Eisner award-winning author David F. Walker, dives into matters of social justice and identity, courage and second chances, in a world where heroes loom large and what seems ordinary is anything but.

This amazing collaboration brings together two inspirational Black artists, NYT bestselling author Ashley Woodfolk and actress Lexi Underwood, for a story about the transformative power of art as protest and its capacity to change the world.

When Jordyn Jones transfers to Edgewood High, it’s her opportunity to forget everything that happened at her old school. To forget what she and her friends did. To forget who she used to be. That was a different person — this is a fresh start. Now she’s someone new, someone better.

Except it’s the very first day of school, and somehow everyone already seems to know who she is. But Jordyn soon finds a group of friends, and she even starts talking to Izaiah, a soccer star who shares her love of art. Life is good. That’s until an anonymous podcast called Tomcat Tea begins revealing humiliating secrets about Edgewood students, ruining their reputations and in some cases their futures. Jordyn and her friends know they have to do something—and this is Jordyn’s chance to prove to herself that she’s changed.

Jordyn’s plan to take down the podcast throws her into the spotlight, and as the momentum builds, so do the risks—because Jordyn has a secret of her own, one that could ruin everything … and that a mysterious harasser online is threatening to expose.

With riveting prose, New York Times bestselling author Ashley Woodfolk and acclaimed actress Lexi Underwood balance an insightful depiction of the power of art as protest with asking some of the biggest questions facing teenagers today—in an era where mistakes can be picked over endlessly online, who is worthy of forgiveness? Can someone ever really change?

A hilarious middle-grade from Justin A. Reynolds that asks: What happens when five unsupervised kids face the apocalypse under outrageously silly circumstances?

When twelve-year-old Eddie Gordon Holloway and his friends are left home from Beach Bash, aka the greatest party of the year, only to realize that everyone in town has disappeared without a trace, they do what any smart, responsible kids would do … have the best day ever!

No parental supervision sounds fun for a while, but forever is a long time. And soon the gang starts to notice strange things happening around town, and they’re only getting stranger. They have to figure out what happened to their families. It seems like getting to the beach will answer all their questions … but the only problem is that some mysterious force seems determined to prevent them from making it there.

Eddie knows that this is a clear sign — obviously they should be focused on having as much fun as possible for as long as possible. But everyone deals with the fear differently, and soon the friendships begin to fracture. Can Eddie find a way to get all his friends on the same page? And will they ever make it to the beach?

A semiautobiographical middle-grade graphic novel about frenemies, fitting in, and finding your voice.

Cecil Hall and his family have just moved from Florida to Massachusetts, near Boston. Cecil is anxious about making friends because he doesn’t know where he’ll fit in. His older sister, Leah, thinks he should befriend the other black kids at his new school, but Cecil isn’t sure how he’d go about doing that. He wants to be known for his comics-making talent, anyway. But the few kids who are impressed by Cecil’s art aren’t always nice to him. When one of his drawings is misused and gets him into serious trouble, can Cecil stand up for himself and figure out who his real friends are?

Magic, adventure, and friendship come together in Kwame’s Magic Quest, an action-packed, fully illustrated early chapter book series perfect for fans of Dragon Masters!

Pick a book. Grow a Reader! This series is part of Scholastic’s early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!

The day has finally come for eight-year-old Kwame to start Nkonyaa School and learn magic! Kwame is excited to begin magical training with his new friends at school, but he can’t access his magic powers! He starts to worry… what if he has no magic at all? Then his friend Fifi starts acting strange. Could an evil magical object be to blame?

With engaging black-and-white artwork on every page, kids won’t be able to put down this magical, action-packed adventure!

YOU are your ancestors’ wildest dreams. How will you express YOUR greatness? Perfect for fans of I Am Every Good Thing, Little Legends, and All Because You Matter.

“Affirming… . A joyful tribute.” — Kirkus Reviews

“A vibrant, heartwarming celebration of Black excellence.” — School Library Journal

I AM FLY.

From my crown

down to the kicks

on my feet…

I AM my ancestors’ wildest dreams.

In this electrifying anthem to Black boy joy and pride, a young child discovers his place in a distinguished lineage. As he meets ten exceptional Black men—historical and contemporary figures who have paved the way for his own future success—he internalizes their greatness. Just like them, he can reach his dreams. And just like him, you have within you big potential.

A girl matches wits with a war god in this kaleidoscopic, thought-provoking tale of oppression and the cost of peace, where stories hide within other stories, and narrative has the power to heal — or to burn everything in its path — from World Fantasy Award-winning author Alaya Dawn Johnson.

A girl and a god, alone in communion …

In the winding underground tunnels of the Library, the great peacekeeper of the three systems, a heinous secret lies buried — and Freida is the only one who can uncover it. As the daughter of a Library god, Freida has spent her whole life exploring the Library’s ever-changing tunnels and communing with the gods. Her unparalleled access makes her unique — and dangerous.

When Freida meets Joshua, a Tierran boy desperate to save his people, and Nergüi, a disciple from a persecuted religious minority, Freida is compelled to help them. But in order to do so, she will have to venture deeper into the Library than she has ever known. There she will discover the atrocities of the past, the truth of her origins, and the impossibility of her future.

With the world at the brink of war, Freida embarks on a journey to fulfill her destiny, one that pits her against an ancient war god. Her mission is straightforward: Destroy the god before he can rain hellfire upon thousands of innocent lives — if he doesn’t destroy her first.

A hilarious new middle-grade from justin a. reynolds that asks: What happens when five unsupervised kids face the apocalypse under outrageously silly circumstances?

Twelve-year-old Eddie Gordon Holloway has concocted his most genius plan ever to avoid chores … especially the dreaded L-A-U-N-D-R-Y. If he can wear every item of clothing in his wardrobe, summer will be halfway over before he has to do laundry!

On the day of the highly anticipated Beach Bash, Eddie ends up grounded until he can get his clothes clean. While left home alone to do his laundry, the power goes out mid-cycle. With his first load of laundry soaking wet and the rest still filthy, Eddie sets out to explore the seemingly empty neighborhood in just his swim trunks and flip-flops.

As he meets up with other neighborhood kids to find out what happened, they realize that their families aren’t coming back anytime soon. And as night falls, the crew realizes they aren’t just the only people left in the neighborhood — they might be the only people left … anywhere.

The much-anticipated sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller and #1 Indie bestseller!

Every four years, the Twelve Towns gather for a legendary magical tournament—the Golden Frog Games.

With Ravenskill hosting this year’s games, all eyes are on Seven Salazar, Valley Pepperhorn and Thorn Laroux: the most famous Spares in the Twelve Towns. Thorn is ready to compete as a fashion champion, but when a forbidden hex is used to turn her fellow champions to stone, suspicion lands on the Witchlings.

As the Witchlings attempt to unravel the mystery of the stonifications, future Uncle Seven is harboring a dangerous secret: While she’s supposed to be able to communicate with animals, the voices she hears most clearly belong to monstruos, and one spine-chilling voice is the loudest of all.

Can Seven fix her broken magic and find out who is stonifying the champions … before Thorn becomes the next victim?

From the author of Meow or Never, a story about blended families, anxiety, and how a fresh start can be just what you need… even when you least expect it. Janie believes there’s a best way to do everything. When she sticks to a schedule, she and her mom can tackle anything. But Janie’s perfect schedule — and her life — are getting shaken up this year. Her new stepmom, Keisha, is moving in, along with her daughter, Makayla. Worst of all? Makayla brings a cat with her. And Janie hates cats. Even though it’s hard, Janie tries to welcome Makayla to her new school. And honestly, she maybe does too good a job. Soon, Makayla is volunteering with Janie’s beloved Sunshine Club, and Janie’s friends all love her. The only one who pays any attention to her anymore is Makayla’s nosy cat. It feels like her new sister is taking over! What’s a gal to do with a copycat in her life?

Lay Lay — the latest teen music sensation and Nickelodeon’s newest star — stars in this brand-new illustrated chapter book series! It’s time for the annual Woodlawn Middle School Carnival! Lay Lay and her friends are excited to participate — it’s a tradition. Each year, there is an unofficial competition between the students to see which carnival booth raises the most money. Lay Lay and Giana team up to run a karaoke booth while Harper and Akila set up a tie dye and batik booth. Meanwhile, Riley plans to sell her homemade vegan treats. But when the competition heats up between the five friends, the girls will need to come together for their cause. Are they up to the task? The second book in this new series tells a totally original story starring That Girl Lay Lay and features adorable B&W illustrations throughout.

Colin Kaepernick: Change the Game, a graphic novel memoir detailing his high school years before he entered the spotlight of professional sports—for both teen and adult readers—is co-written by Colin Kaepernick and award-winning author Eve L. Ewing, and illustrated by Orlando Caicedo.

“Following the incredible success of I Color Myself Different, we are thrilled to work with Colin again on the publication of this second book based on his life experience,” said Debra Dorfman, VP and Publisher, Scholastic Global Licensing, Brands & Media. “Everyone faces a crossroad in their life—Colin’s teenage years were defining and his inspirational story reminds readers of all ages not to conform to others’ expectations. These pivotal moments are expertly portrayed in the graphic novel format, and with Graphix as the category market leader, this story will draw in a wide readership.”

“I’m excited to continue to grow and expand Kaepernick Publishing’s relationship with Scholastic,” said Colin Kaepernick. “Change the Game is the true story of my high school years–a period punctuated by the trials and triumphs of adolescence. It was during this time that I began to grow unapologetically into my own identity, into my own sense of self. I hope this graphic novel encourages readers to nurture their own evolution and to trust their power—in a phrase—to change the game.”

Dreamer, a graphic novel memoir by professional athlete and activist Akim Aliu about his life growing up in Ukraine and Canada, the systemic racism he faced throughout his childhood and hockey career, and how he spoke out against it with integrity and bravery.

Dreamer is co-written by Akim Aliu and Greg Anderson Elysée and illustrated by Karen De La Vega. The book will be published February 7, 2023 by Scholastic Graphix and Kaepernick Publishing and is aimed at middle grade readers ages 8-12. In an exclusive offer, the agreement includes world rights and all languages for print, eBook, and audiobook formats.

“I have lived all over the world and seen both the beauty and the ugly side of humankind,” said Akim Aliu. “For the longest time I wondered, ‘Why me? Why does everything seem to be so much more difficult for me than most other kids? Is it my skin color, or because of where I come from?’ Today, I can say that I’m grateful to have gone through all of those trials and tribulations so I can pass on these lessons and experiences, and create a smoother path for the next Dreamer.”

“With honesty and courage, Akim Aliu’s Dreamer will inspire readers of all ages to move confidently in the direction of their future,” said Colin Kaepernick. “Not only does Akim’s story speak to the power of dreams, but his persistence in the face of adversity can inspire us to build a better world for the next generation.”

“We are honored to know Akim and to publish his graphic memoir, Dreamer,” said Debra Dorfman, VP and Publisher, Scholastic Global Licensing, Brands & Media. “He has endured so much in his life even to this day, as his family and friends fight for their lives in Ukraine. Akim translates life lessons he has endured into something positive for all kids, resulting in a message of hope that is beautifully conveyed in this powerful graphic novel.”

Scholastic and Kaepernick Publishing recently released the New York Times bestselling picture book I Color Myself Different written by activist, change-maker, athlete, and author Colin Kaepernick and illustrated by Eric Wilkerson.

Getting three baby dragons back home was just the beginning. Now Jaxon is on a mission to help all magical creatures from Dragons in a Bag! But things in the magical realm are more complicated than they seem in the fourth book in the critically acclaimed series.

With their new special abilities, Jaxon and his friends are not the ordinary kids they used to be. No longer destined to become a witch, Jax finds himself caught up in a secret plan involving the Guardian of Palmara’s mysterious twin brother, Ol-Korrok. As the ambassador to the realm of magic, Jax must convince Sis that magical creatures should be free to return to the human world.

But to reach Palmara, Jax and his friends must cross Ol-Korrok’s enchanted bridge connecting the two realms. Is Ol-Korrok really the ally he pretends to be? Or has Jax set in motion a plan that will endanger both realms?

It takes strength to build a bridge. But sometimes even the strongest bridges must be burned.

This tender family story — inspired by the author’s own — illuminates a dynamic chapter in American history known as the Great Migration, and the many trains people rode toward freedom.

Thelma loves to watch the Sunset Limited chug through her little town of Vacherie, Louisiana. And she dreams of one day riding a real train! For now, she has her beloved schooltrain. Every morning, she and her friends walk to school, single file, chanting all the way: Schooltrain! Schooltrain! Don’t be late! The school bell rings at half past eight!” Then it’s on to great adventures with her teacher’s books — and her own imagination! But lately, someone named Jim Crow has been making trouble for folks in Vacherie. Aunt Bea and Uncle Ed have already moved away. When Thelma’s best friend also has to leave, Thelma wonders, who is Jim Crow and why does he have to be so mean? Will he make trouble for Pop, too?

What do you know about the sinking of the Titanic?

What if you lived in a different time and place? What would you wear? What would you eat? How would your daily life be different?

Scholastic’s If You Lived… series answers all of kids’ most important questions about events in American history. With a question and answer format, kid-friendly artwork, and engaging information, this series is the perfect partner for the classroom and for history-loving readers.

What if you sailed on the Titanic? What would you have eaten? Where would you have slept? Would you have gone down with the ship?

Denise Lewis Patrick answers all these questions and more in this comprehensive guide to the sinking of the Titanic. A great choice for American history units, and for teaching children about this iconic moment in history.

An original middle-grade graphic novel from Graphix starring Miles Morales, by bestselling author Justin A. Reynolds and Eisner nominee Pablo Leon!
Join MIles Morales in his most epic adventure yet!

Miles Morales has just about gotten used to this being Spider-Man thing. Keeping Brooklyn safe, taking down bad guys, and finishing his homework—he’s got this! But when Spider-Man is invited to a launch for a brand-new video game, things go sideways fast. Anyone who plays the game is frozen, and it’s all because of a villain named the Stranger. He’s judged humanity and found it lacking, and his idea of justice is extreme.

Left with the fate of the world in his hands, and the clock is ticking on Miles. Can he turn old foes to friends and find the answers he needs in time?

Written with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nick Chiles, In the Blink of an Eye: An Autobiography will capture the attention of sports fans and general audiences alike.

Marked by staggering vulnerability, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf—whose given name was Chris Jackson before converting to Islam and changing it in 1991—recounts the twists, turns, trials, and triumphs of his life. He is perhaps most well-known for being exiled from the NBA for praying—instead of standing and saluting the flag during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before games throughout the 1995–96 season. Abdul-Rauf’s protest sent shockwaves through the league that can still be felt today.

With wit and candor, Abdul-Rauf tells the story of how he rose to the top of his game—only to have his career taken away in the blink of an eye when he stood up for his principles. He also recounts his experiences living with Tourette syndrome, committing his life to the Islamic faith, and growing up estranged from his father. Through evocative passages that place the reader in the heat of the moment as well as poignant portraits of the important people in his life, In the Blink of an Eye: An Autobiography will capture the attention of readers from all walks of life. This book is a must-read for anyone who has faced down adversity by standing up for the integrity of their own life, path, and identity.

“I’m deeply honored to work in collaboration with Kaepernick Publishing,” said Mahmoud Abdul Rauf. “The timing couldn’t be more important than it is now for us to join forces in controlling our own narratives with the hope that my story, among many more, will continue to inspire future generations.”

Colin Kaepernick, founder of Kaepernick Publishing, remarked, “We at Kaepernick Publishing are humbled to bring Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf’s powerful story to life. Stories like Mahmoud’s are rarely given the respect and prominence they deserve by mainstream media, and we are here to change this. Our goal at Kaepernick Publishing is to amplify the courageous work of people like Mahmoud and to provide a platform for inspirational voices to tell their stories with truth, authenticity, and integrity.”

Leon is an ordinary kid who becomes extraordinary when he fights a supervillain to save his school!

“Leon is a superhero, whose powers are kindness and common sense. It’s a really good book about a really good kid!” — Jerry Craft, author and illustrator of New Kid

“A heartfelt and hilarious hero’s journey. LEON is super!” — Lincoln Peirce, author and illustrator of Big Nate

In the city where Leon lives, superheroes — and supervillains — are commonplace. So how does an ordinary kid like Leon, who has no superpowers himself, become the superhero he wants to be? When all his classmates suddenly become obsessed with a new phone app that turns them into zombies, Leon gets his chance to prove that using his brain and following his heart can save the day.

Equal parts New Kid and The Incredibles, the first graphic novel in this action-packed, heartfelt, and joyously funny series by Jamar Nicholas reminds readers that when it comes to being a hero, you just need to believe in yourself.

What do you know about the Civil War?

What if you lived in a different time and place? What would you wear? What would you eat? How would your daily life be different?

Scholastic’s If You Lived… series answers all of kids’ most important questions about events in American history. With a question and answer format, kid-friendly artwork, and engaging information, this series is the perfect partner for the classroom and for history-loving readers.

What if you lived during the Civil War? Would you be allowed to be a soldier? How would you communicate? What is the true story of the battle between the states?

Denise Lewis Patrick answers all these questions and more in this comprehensive guide to the Civil War. A great choice for Civil War units, and for teaching children about this important moment in American history.

Lay Lay — the latest teen music sensation and Nickelodeon’s newest star — stars in this brand-new illustrated chapter book series!

Ever since her freestyle rapping video went viral, Lay Lay has been adjusting to her newfound fame. She loves the spotlight, but she’s also just a normal kid who likes to hang out with her friends. When her middle school announces its upcoming talent show, Lay Lay and her squad are excited to sign up together. They know they can each bring something special to it—they could even win! But everyone at school assumes that only Lay Lay will be the star. Lay Lay hates that her crew has been pushed to the sidelines since she got famous. Can she make sure that everyone gets a chance to shine during the big show? Don’t miss this totally original story starring That Girl Lay Lay!

The award-winning team who brought us My Brother Charlie present a companion book that celebrates the power of water for those who have autism.

Like many kids on the autism spectrum, Charlie finds solace and empowerment in pools, ponds, sprinklers, visiting the aquarium, and swimming in the ocean. Through his adventures and discoveries, he shows the world that even though he has autism, autism doesn't have him.

In this beautiful ode to the love between siblings Callie and Charlie, we return to the characters from our award-winning book My Brother Charlie, who bring whimsy to everyday fun for all children, while showing readers that kids who may experience the world in different ways can help us see the wonders of swimming to your own rhythm.

Civil rights icon, Ambassador Andrew Young and his daughter, Paula Young Shelton, deliver a powerful oral history about a special day in Andrew’s childhood that changed him forever. This story of race relations in the 1930s South is illustrated by bestselling Caldecott Honor winner Gordon C. James.

As a boy, Andrew Young learned a vital lesson from his parents when a local chapter of the Nazi party instigated racial unrest in their hometown of New Orleans in the 1930s. While Hitler’s teachings promoted White supremacy, Andrew’s father, told him that when dealing with the sickness of racism, "Don’t get mad, get smart." To drive home this idea, Andrew Young Senior took his family to the local movie house to see a newsreel of track star Jesse Owens racing toward Olympic gold, showing the world that the best way to promote equality is to focus on the finish line. The teaching of his parents, and Jesse Owens’ example, would be the guiding principles that shaped Andrew’s beliefs in nonviolence and built his foundation as a civil rights leader and advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The story is vividly recalled by Paula Young Shelton, Andrew’s daughter.

From Kwame Mbalia and Prince Joel David Makonnen comes an Afrofuturist adventure about a mythical Ethiopian empire. Sci-fi and fantasy combine in this epic journey to the stars.
Yared has traveled a long way to find his place in the universe. Light years, even. Though the battle of Addis Prime is over, the spacefaring Axum Empire is still fractured. The kingdom once gave their technology away free of charge, to better humankind. Now, having been missing for over a decade, they’re returning to the planet where their galaxy-spanning civilization began—Earth.

But they find the planet in disarray. Old Earth’s atmosphere is a mess of junked shuttles and satellites. This is especially true of Debris Town, an orbital flotilla where poor spacefarers—left to rot by the Intergalactic Union that rose up in Axum’s place—have taken to piracy to survive.

Yared is set to speak at the opening of the Royal Trials, a competition of the best exo pilots in the Sol System. But on the day of his speech, the pirates launch an attack!

The siege sets off a chain of events that will lead Yared into the depths of Old Earth—and the jaws of a cruel betrayal. There’s more to the pirates—and Debris Town—than anyone saw coming.

National Book Award winner Kacen Callender delivers a captivating novel about a child facing the other-worldly shadows of depression.
Moon has been plunged into a swill of uncertainty and confusion. They travel to the spirit realms every night, hoping never to return to the world of the living.

But when the realm is threatened, it’s up to Moon to save the spirit world, which sparks their own healing journey through the powerful, baffling, landscape that depression can cause.

From this novel’s very first utterance, author Kacen Callender puts us behind Moon’s eyes so that we, too, are engulfed by Moon’s troubling exploration through mental illness.

Moon’s mom is trying her best, but is clueless about what to do to reach the ugly roiling of her child’s inner struggles. At the same time, though, there are those who see Moon for who they are – Blue, the Keeper, the Magician, Wolf. These creature-guides help Moon find a way out of darkness. The ethereal aspects of the story are brilliantly blended with real-world glimmers of light. Slowly, Moon grows toward hope and wholeness, showing all children that each and every one of us has a tree growing inside. That our souls emerge when we discover, and fully accept, ourselves.

Drawn from the author’s own experience through depression as a young person, this carefully orchestrated, unique novel is deeply spiritual. Moonflower will challenge you to think beyond traditional storytelling – to reach. To weep. To discover. To cheer this feat of nuanced writing that speaks directly to the heart.

Shuri and T’Challa set out to remove a curse from Wakanda in this action-packed, totally original graphic novel! Twelve-year-old Shuri is a lot of things. Scientist. Princess. All around cooler person than her pain-in-the-butt big brother T’Challa. Shuri knows she could do so much more to help Wakanda, but everyone is obsessed with the prince because he’s the next Black Panther. That is, until Soul Washing Day, one of the most important rituals of Wakandan society.

When an argument between T’Challa and Shuri leads to one of Shuri’s inventions accidentally destroying the sacred ceremony site, chaos reigns instead of prosperity. Suddenly the people of Wakanda, including her mother the queen, are becoming sick! Could this be a curse from the ancestors? Desperate to save her mother, Shuri dives into research and finds an answer hidden deep in an ancient children’s myth. It may be nothing more than a fantasy, but with the sickness spreading each day, the young princess must trust her instincts and travel deep into the mysterious Heartlands to save her family and her kingdom.

Joining Shuri on her journey is none other than a meddling T’Challa. If Shuri and T’Challa can set aside their jealousy and resentment of each other long enough to survive this journey, they might just discover that they are far more powerful together than they could ever be apart. But if they can’t face their fears in the Heartlands and lift the so-called curse, it may not be just the end for their family, but the end of Wakanda as they know it. No pressure, right?

An instant New York Times Bestseller! Disney’s The Owl House meets Nevermoor, in a brilliant new adventure from Claribel A. Ortega!

Every year, in the magical town of Ravenskill, Witchlings who participate in the Black Moon Ceremony are placed into covens and come into their powers as full-fledged witches.

And twelve-year-old Seven Salazar can’t wait to be placed in the most powerful coven with her best friend! But on the night of the ceremony, in front of the entire town, Seven isn’t placed in one of the five covens. She’s a Spare!

Spare covens have fewer witches, are less powerful, and are looked down on by everyone. Even worse, when Seven and the other two Spares perform the magic circle to seal their coven and cement themselves as sisters, it doesn’t work! They’re stuck as Witchlings—and will lose their magic.

Seven invokes her only option: the impossible task. The three Spares will be assigned an impossible task: If they work together and succeed at it, their coven will be sealed and they’ll gain their full powers. If they fail… Well, the last coven to make the attempt ended up being turned into toads. Forever.

But maybe friendship can be the most powerful magic of all…

With action-packed adventure, a coven of quirky witchlings, Claribel A. Ortega’s signature humor, and girl-power vibes, you won’t be able to put down this middle-grade Latine witch story, perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers or Harry Potter.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

An inspiring story of identity and self-esteem from celebrated athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick.

When Colin Kaepernick was five years old, he was given a simple school assignment: draw a picture of yourself and your family. What young Colin does next with his brown crayon changes his whole world and worldview, providing a valuable lesson on embracing and celebrating his Black identity through the power of radical self-love and knowing your inherent worth.

I Color Myself Different is a joyful ode to Black and Brown lives based on real events in young Colin’s life that is perfect for every reader’s bookshelf. It’s a story of self-discovery, staying true to one’s self, and advocating for change… even when you’re very little!

An inspiring story of a friendship between Congressman John Lewis and 10-year-old activist Tybre Faw by New York Times bestselling and Coretta Scott King Award-winning author Andrea Davis Pinkney!

Ten-year-old Tybre Faw is obsessed with history and the civil rights movement, and he devours every book he can find on the subject. When he learns of Congressman John Lewis’s harrowing and heroic march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the fight for the right to vote, Tybre is determined to meet him.

Tybre’s two grandmothers take him on the seven-hour drive to Selma. And as the two meet and become fast friends, Tybre joins Lewis for the annual walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge!

When John Lewis is laid to rest, Tybre is invited to read Lewis’s favorite poem, Invictus, at the funeral service. Pinkney weaves this story of a boy with a dream—with the story of a true-life hero (who himself was inspired by Martin Luther King when he was a boy). Both John Lewis and Martin Luther King, Jr. have left indelible marks on future generations. Will Tybre be next to carry the mantle?

Princess Truly is not afraid of anything, in these rhyming stories perfect for early readers!

Pick a book. Grow a Reader!

This series is part of Scholastic’s early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read. With easy-to-read text, a short-story format, plenty of humor, and full-color artwork on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and fluency. Acorn books plant a love of reading and help readers grow!

Princess Truly knows how to be brave! She is going on a camping trip with her little brother Ty and her trusty dog, Sir Noodles. Nothing can scare Princess Truly: She is not afraid of the dark cave, the bugs and spiders, or even when something goes "bump" in the middle of the night. But when Princess Truly gets the hiccups, will Ty be able to find a way to scare his fearless big sister? These funny and empowering short stories promote believing in yourself, building confidence, and having a positive self-image, and foster imagination and curiosity. With full-color artwork and easy-to-read rhyming text throughout, this series is perfect for new readers!

New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone takes Shuri to uncharted parts of Wakanda in this original adventure.

The royal palace of Wakanda is one of, if not the most, secure facilities on this planet—or any other. So the anxiety Shuri feels when she’s jolted out of sleep by the queen mother with the news that someone attempted to break into the palace—and succeeded—is significant. And as quickly as they broke in, they vanished.

The search for this interloper, a mysterious “Symbiote” with superhuman speed and strength, will lead Shuri to the Jabari Lands, a remote, unforgiving part of the country she has never seen. And what she discovers will be more shocking than she could have imagined…

Edited by activist and former San Francisco 49ers super bowl quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Abolition for the People is a manifesto calling for a world beyond prisons and policing.

Abolition for the People brings together thirty essays representing a diversity of voices—political prisoners, grassroots organizers, scholars, and relatives of those killed by the anti-Black terrorism of policing and prisons. This collection presents readers with a moral choice: "Will you continue to be actively complicit in the perpetuation of these systems," Kaepernick asks in his introduction, "or will you take action to dismantle them for the benefit of a just future?"

Powered by courageous hope and imagination, Abolition for the People provides a blueprint and vision for creating an abolitionist future where communities can be safe, valued, and truly free. "Another world is possible," Kaepernick writes, "a world grounded in love, justice, and accountability, a world grounded in safety and good health, a world grounded in meeting the needs of the people."

The complexity of abolitionist concepts and the enormity of the task at hand can be overwhelming. To help readers on their journey toward a greater understanding, each essay in the collection is followed by a reader’s guide that offers further provocations on the subject.

Newcomers to these ideas might ask: Is the abolition of the prison industrial complex too drastic? Can we really get rid of prisons and policing altogether? As writes organizer and New York Times bestselling author Mariame Kaba, "The short answer: We can. We must. We are."

Abolition for the People begins by uncovering the lethal anti-Black histories of policing and incarceration in the United States. Juxtaposing today’s moment with 19th-century movements for the abolition of slavery, freedom fighter Angela Y. Davis writes "Just as we hear calls today for a more humane policing, people then called for a more humane slavery." Drawing on decades of scholarship and personal experience, each author deftly refutes the notion that police and prisons can be made fairer and more humane through piecemeal reformation. As Derecka Purnell argues, "reforms do not make the criminal legal system more just, but obscure its violence more efficiently."

Blending rigorous analysis with first-person narratives, Abolition for the People definitively makes the case that the only political future worth building is one without and beyond police and prisons.

You won’t find all the answers here, but you will find the right questions—questions that open up radical possibilities for a future where all communities can thrive.

Cuddle up with your little one and get ready to count to L-O-V-E, in this precious board book from New York Times bestselling and award-winning duo Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney!

Count to love on fingers and toes.

1-2-3-4, touch your nose!

Snuggle up with your little one to celebrate sweet baby love! You won’t be able to resist this adorable board book full of cutie charms, belly kisses, and magic wishes, just-right for fans of bestselling books like Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes. With bouncing, rhythmic text from New York Times bestselling author Andrea Davis Pinkney and warm, winsome illustrations from Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Award-winning illustrator Brian Pinkney. This joyful celebration of roly-poly, perfectly huggable, oh-so lovable little ones that is just-right for the whole family, for Valentine’s Day and all throughout the year! So get ready to count to love… because once you start, you just won’t stop!

This board book is part of the Bright Brown Baby publishing program, a celebration of Black and brown joy, babies, and families. And if you’re looking for a gift-able picture book? Be sure to also check out the beautiful picture book treasury, Bright Brown Baby, to read Count to Love alongside four more poems. Just-right for new and expectant parents, baby showers, birthdays, graduations, and more!

Literary powerhouse and Coretta Scott King Honor- and Boston Globe / Horn Book Honor-winning author of The Parker Inheritence Varian Johnson explores themes of toxic masculinity and family legacy in this heartfelt, hopeful story of one boy discovering what it really means to be a man.

SECRETS ARE ALWAYS A GAMBLE

Ten-year-old Anthony Joplin has made it to double digits! Which means he’s finally old enough to play in the spades tournament every Joplin Man before him seems to have won. So while Ant’s friends are stressing about fifth grade homework and girls, Ant only has one thing on his mind: how he’ll measure up to his father’s expectations at the card table.

Then Ant’s best friend gets grounded, and he’s forced to find another spades partner. And Shirley, the new girl in his class, isn’t exactly what he has in mind. She talks a whole lot of trash — way more than his old partner. Plus, he’s not sure that his father wants him playing with a girl. But she’s smart and tough and pretty, and knows every card trick in the book. So Ant decides to join forces with Shirley — and keep his plans a secret.

Only it turns out secrets are another Joplin Man tradition. And his father is hiding one so big it may tear their family apart…

Leaving home is hard when to you have to say goodbye to everyone you know.

From the author of You Should See Me in a Crown, Leah Johnson delivers a stunning novel about being brave enough to be true to yourself, and learning to find joy even when times are unimaginably dark. Olivia is an expert at falling in love … and at being dumped. But after the fallout from her last breakup has left her an outcast at school and at home, she’s determined to turn over a new leaf. A crush-free weekend at Farmland Music and Arts Festival with her best friend is just what she needs to get her mind off the senior year that awaits her.

Toni is one week away from starting college, and it’s the last place she wants to be. Unsure about who she wants to become and still reeling in the wake of the loss of her musician-turned-roadie father, she’s heading back to the music festival that changed his life in hopes that following in his footsteps will help her find her own way forward.

When the two arrive at Farmland, the last thing they expect is to realize that they’ll need to join forces in order to get what they’re searching for out of the weekend. As they work together, the festival becomes so much more complicated than they bargained for. Olivia and Toni will find that they need each other, and music, more than they ever could have imagined.

Packed with irresistible romance and irrepressible heart, bestselling author Leah Johnson delivers a stunning and cinematic story about grief, love, and the remarkable power of music to heal and connect us all.

TIME Magazine Best YA Book of All Time
A Stonewall Honor Book
A Reese’s Book Club YA Pick

Liz Lighty has always believed she’s too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it’s okay — Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz’s plans come crashing down … until she’s reminded of her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen. There’s nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She’s smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams … or make them come true?

Perfect for fans of You Should See Me in a Crown and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, this hilarious and heartfelt Own Voices rom-com from bestselling author Debbie Rigaud is pure Black girl joy.

Simone Thibodeaux is about to switch things up.

Check her life: It’s sealed in a boy-proof container. Her Haitian immigrant parents send Simone to an all-girls high school and enforce strict no-dating rules. As for prom? Simone is allowed to go on one condition: Her parents will select her date (a boy from a nice, Haitian immigrant family, obviously).

Simone is desperate to avoid the setup — especially since she has a serious crush on another boy. It’s time to take action. Simone and her fellow late-bloomer friends make a senior year bucket list of all the wild things they haven’t done yet. Like: going out dancing, skipping class (what), and oh yeah — deciding their own prom destinies.

But as the list takes on a life of its own, things get much messier than Simone expected. Can she figure out which rules are worth breaking and which might save her from heartbreak?

An original middle-grade graphic novel from Graphix starring Brooklyn’s Spider-Man, Miles Morales, by bestselling author Justin A. Reynolds and Eisner nominee Pablo Leon!

Miles Morales is a normal kid who happens to juggle school at Brooklyn Visions Academy while swinging through the streets of Brooklyn as Spider-Man. After a disastrous earthquake strikes his mother’s birthplace of Puerto Rico, Miles springs into action to help set up a fundraiser for the devastated island. But when a new student’s father goes missing, Miles begins to make connections between the disappearance and a giant corporation sponsoring Miles’ fundraiser. Who is behind the disappearance, and how does that relate to Spider-Man?

A true middle grade graphic novel starring one of Marvel’s most popular characters, bestselling author Justin A. Reynolds (Opposite of Always) and Eisner award-nominated artist Pablo Leon (Refugees) create a riveting story that will connect with new and well-versed comics readers alike.

From Kwame Mbalia and Prince Joel David Makonnen comes an Afrofuturist adventure about a mythical Ethiopian empire. Sci-fi and fantasy combine in this epic journey to the stars.

Yared Heywat lives an isolated life in Addis Prime — a hardscrabble city with rundown tech, lots of rules, and not much to do. His worrywart Uncle Moti and bionic lioness Besa are his only family… and his only friends.

Often in trouble for his thrill-seeking antics and smart mouth, those same qualities make Yared a star player of the underground augmented reality game, The Hunt for Kaleb’s Obelisk. But when a change in the game rules prompts Yared to log in with his real name, it triggers an attack that rocks the city. In the chaos, Uncle Moti disappears.

Suddenly, all the stories Yared’s uncle told him as a young boy are coming to life, of kingdoms in the sky and city-razing monsters. And somehow Yared is at the center of them.

Together with Besa and the Ibis — a game rival turned reluctant ally — Yared must search for his uncle… and answers to his place in a forgotten, galaxy-spanning war.

Hope Roberts saves the planet!

In the fourth book in Alyssa Milano’s funny and relatable middle-grade series, Hope Roberts is determined to save the worldliterally. Hope has already gotten her school to add more recycling bins and coordinate a carpooling program. But it’s not enough. Hope wants to do more to protect the environment before it’s too late. But will Hope’s plans to help the planet backfire?

Hope’s relatability, kindness, empathy, and can-do attitude will inspire a generation of do-gooders. This series is a response to the very palpable feeling that not only can young people save the worldthey will!

This story will include Hope’s tips about recycling and protecting the environment in the back of the book!

Préparez-vous à découvrir 300 merveilles loufoques, faits divers et statistiques sur les sciences, les animaux, la géographie, l’espace et plus encore!

Ces livres remplis de faits sont très populaires et très appréciés dans les classes, les bibliothèques, à la maison et partout ailleurs! Une lecture rapide qui satisfait la curiosité et enrichit l’amour de la lecture.

There’s nothing that a mother can’t fix. Whether it’s a bump on the knee or a bad day at school, mom always has the remedy! There’s no shortage of tricks up her sleeve; a cozy cup of hot chocolate, a comforting bubble bath, or a big bear hug. How will this mom comfort her child to turn a bad day into the best day?

This heartwarming picture book by award-winning author Edwidge Danticat and illustrator Shannon Wright beautifully depicts the special relationship between a mother and child. This masterpiece is perfect for Mother’s Day and any day!

Original title: My Mommy Medicine

Shuri, the Princess of Wakanda (and sister to the Black Panther), sets out to save a group of kidnapped girls in this all-new, original middle-grade novel by New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone!

With the heart-shaped herb thriving, a group of Wakanda’s finest engineers working on expanding her dome technology, and the borders more fortified than ever, Princess Shuri can finally focus on what matters most: her training.

Soon, a bigger problem rears its head. The princess hears whispers of exceptionally talented young girls across the world going missing. A young environmental scientist in Kenya, a French physics prodigy — the list of the missing keeps growing and growing. And when this mystery hits home in a way the princess would’ve never expected, there’s no more time for hesitation: There are lost girls out there somewhere, and Shuri is determined not to let them be forgotten.

A ripped-from-the-headlines novel of ambition, music, and innocence lost, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Jason Reynolds!

Be bold. Get seen. Be Heard.

For seventeen-year-old Denver, music is everything. Writing, performing, and her ultimate goal: escaping her very small, very white hometown.

So Denver is more than ready on the day she and her best friends Dali and Shak sing their way into the orbit of the biggest R&B star in the world, Sean Mercury Ellis. Merc gives them everything: parties, perks, wild nights — plus hours and hours in the recording studio. Even the painful sacrifices and the lies the girls have to tell are all worth it.

Until they’re not.

Denver begins to realize that she’s trapped in Merc’s world, struggling to hold on to her own voice. As the dream turns into a nightmare, she must make a choice: lose her big break, or get broken.

Inspired by true events, Muted is a fearless exploration of the dark side of the music industry, the business of exploitation, how a girl’s dreams can be used against her — and what it takes to fight back.

The powerful and long-anticipated companion to The Skin I’m In, Sharon Flake’s bestselling modern classic, presents the unflinching story of Char, a young woman trapped in the underworld of human trafficking.

My feet are heavy as stones when I walk up the block wondering why I can’t find my old self.

In The Skin I’m In, readers saw into the life of Maleeka Madison, a teen who suffered from the ridicule she received because of her dark skin color. For decades fans have wanted to know the fate of the bully who made Maleeka’s life miserable, Char.

Now in Sharon Flake’s latest and unflinching novel, The Life I’m In, we follow Charlese Jones, who, with her raw, blistering voice speaks the truths many girls face, offering insight to some of the causes and conditions that make a bully. Turned out of the only home she has known, Char boards a bus to nowhere where she is lured into the dangerous web of human trafficking. Much is revealed behind the complex system of men who take advantage of vulnerable teens in the underbelly of society. While Char might be frightened, she remains strong and determined to bring herself and her fellow victims out of the dark and back into the light, reminding us why compassion is a powerful cure to the ills of the world.

Sharon Flake’s bestselling, Coretta Scott King Award-winning novel The Skin I’m In was a game changer when it was first published more than twenty years ago. It redefined young adult literature by presenting characters, voices, and real-world experiences that had not been fully seen. Now Flake offers readers another timely and radical story of a girl on the brink and how her choices will lead her to either fall, or fly.

Hope Roberts for President — or not?

Volume #1

Coretta Scott King Honor author Varian Johnson teams up with rising cartoonist Shannon Wright for a delightful middle-grade graphic novel!

Maureen and Francine Carter are twins and best friends. They participate in the same clubs, enjoy the same foods, and are partners on all their school projects. But just before the girls start sixth grade, Francine becomes Fran — a girl who wants to join the chorus, run for class president, and dress in fashionable outfits that set her apart from Maureen. A girl who seems happy to share only two classes with her sister!

Maureen and Francine are growing apart and there’s nothing Maureen can do to stop it. Are sisters really forever? Or will middle school change things for good?

Red shoes glowing-
Perched on a pedestal in the shop window
as if on a throne.
"I want those, Nana," Malika says, as they pass the shop.
"We’ll see," Nana says with a wink. "Looks like you could use a new pair.

Malika is delighted when Nana surprises her with a beautiful new pair of red shoes! And with a click-clack-click and a swish, swish, swish, Malika wears her wonderful new shoes everywhere she goes. But one day, the shoes begin to pinch Malika’s toes. And alas, they don’t let her forget that her feet have grown! Soon Malika and Nana are off to the Rare Finds Resale Shop, where the shoes can be resold — so another little girl can enjoy them!
Who will be the next to wear the red shoes? Malika wonders.

Then Inna Ziya buys the shoes, and readers follow the shoes all the way across the world to Africa, where Amina, another little girl, who has fasted her first time for Ramadan is about to get an amazing gift!

Karen English and Ebony Glenn have crafted a satisfying and heartwarming story about a pair of shoes, two girls, and a connection they share across continents.

From the author of Riding Chance comes the story of a girl whose dictionary is helping make sense of the world, her changing body, friendships, and a family that’s struggling to stay strong amidst the turbulent backdrop of activism, across generations.

Being twelve isn’t easy, especially when you’re Neva Beane. Neva feels beautiful wearing her new bra, but she’s confused by how others respond to the changes taking place in and out of her body. Her best friend, Jamila, is getting all the attention. Her brother, Clayton, is becoming an activist. And Mom and Dad are gone working-again. Grandad and Nana aren’t much help, either, with their old ways and backward views.Neva struggles to find her place in a world that, like the political landscape that’s always shifting around her in her West Philadelphia neighborhood, is uncertain, at times scary, but most always, filled with unanswered questions. Neva is left with what comforts her most-words and their meanings, which she chronicles herself. While the pages of her beloved dictionary reveal truths about what’s happening around her, Neva must discover the best way to define herself. In this wholly original story by the author of the NAACP Image Award nominee Riding Chance, a girl finds her voice in unexpected ways.

One of our most iconic childhood games receives a creepy twist as it becomes the gateway to a nightmare world.

I went up the hill, the hill was muddy, stomped my toe and made it bloody, should I wash it?

Justin knows that something is wrong with his best friend.Zee went missing for a year. And when he came back, he was … different. Nobody knows what happened to him. At Zee’s welcome home party, Justin and the neighborhood crew play Hide and Seek. But it goes wrong. Very wrong.

One by one, everyone who plays the game disappears, pulled into a world of nightmares come to life. Justin and his friends realize this horrible place is where Zee had been trapped. All they can do now is hide from the Seeker.

Something is wrong with twelve-year-old Zee, who has returned after a year’s absence; nobody knows where he was or what happened to him, but now he is distracted and violent, freaking out when he sees his friends, Justin, Nia, and Lyric, playing an odd game of hide-and-seek, and talking wildly about some danger that is approaching—and soon his friends are pulled into a shadowy world ruled by a monstrous, shape-shifting Seeker, forced to play a terrifying game of hide-and-seek where they will have to confront their worst nightmares in order to find their way home.

From New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone comes an all-new upper middle grade series based on one of the Marvel Universe’s break-out characters Shuri, from Black Panther!

Even in murder, the music lives on.

When rising star Paris Secord (aka DJ ParSec) is found dead on her turntables, it sends the local music scene reeling. No one is feeling that grief more than her shunned pre-fame best friend, Kya, and ParSec’s chief groupie, Fuse — two sworn enemies who happened to be the ones who discovered her body.

The police have few leads, and when the trail quickly turns cold, the authorities don’t seem to be pushing too hard to investigate further. But nobody counted on Paris’s deeply loyal fans, ParSec Nation, or the outrage that would drive Fuse and Kya to work together. As ParSec Nation takes to social media and the streets in their crusade for justice, Fuse and Kya start digging into Paris’s past, stumbling across a deadly secret. With new info comes new motives. New suspects. And a fandom that will stop at nothing in their obsessive quest for answers, not even murder…

The local animal shelter might be closing — and it’s up to Hope Roberts to save it!

A New York Times bestseller!

Coco meets Stranger Things with a hint of Ghostbusters in this action-packed supernatural fantasy.

For Lucely Luna, ghosts are more than just the family business.

Shortly before Halloween, Lucely and her best friend, Syd, cast a spell that accidentally awakens malicious spirits, wreaking havoc throughout St. Augustine. Together, they must join forces with Syd’s witch grandmother, Babette, and her tubby tabby, Chunk, to fight the haunting head-on and reverse the curse to save the town and Lucely’s firefly spirits before it’s too late.

With the family dynamics of Coco and action-packed adventure of Ghostbusters, Claribel A. Ortega delivers both a thrillingly spooky and delightfully sweet debut novel.

In a small but turbulent Louisiana town, one boy’s grief takes him beyond the bayous of his backyard, to learn that there is no right way to be yourself.

Twelve-year-old Kingston James is sure his brother Khalid has turned into a dragonfly. When Khalid unexpectedly passed away, he shed what was his first skin for another to live down by the bayou in their small Louisiana town. Khalid still visits in dreams, and King must keep these secrets to himself as he watches grief transform his family.

It would be easier if King could talk with his best friend, Sandy Sanders. But just days before he died, Khalid told King to end their friendship, after overhearing a secret about Sandy-that he thinks he might be gay. "You don’t want anyone to think you’re gay too, do you?"

But when Sandy goes missing, sparking a town-wide search, and King finds his former best friend hiding in a tent in his backyard, he agrees to help Sandy escape from his abusive father, and the two begin an adventure as they build their own private paradise down by the bayou and among the dragonflies. As King’s friendship with Sandy is reignited, he’s forced to confront questions about himself and the reality of his brother’s death.

The Thing About Jellyfish meets The Stars Beneath Our Feet in this story about loss, grief, and finding the courage to discover one’s identity, from the author of Hurricane Child.

Say hello to heroes! This book introduces preschoolers to 50 men and women of color who have changed the world!

A perfect book for tomorrow’s leaders, Little Heroes of Color educates and inspires by showing readers 50 trailblazers from a range of races and ethnicities. Bold colors and simple captions bring the youngest readers face-to-face with those who’ve shaped history and broken boundaries in science, the arts, government, and more.

From Toussaint Louverture, the leader of the Haitian Revolution, to Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Supreme Court Justice from Puerto Rico, these heroes have persisted through adversity and hardships to bring about positive change.

Children will discover that there is no one way to be a hero, and anyone can accomplish extraordinary things!

"This ghost story gave me chill after chill. It will haunt you." — R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps

"Do you know what it feels like to be forgotten?"

On a cold winter night, Iris and her best friend, Daniel, sneak into a clearing in the woods to play in the freshly fallen snow. There, Iris carefully makes a perfect snow angel — only to find the crumbling gravestone of a young girl, Avery Moore, right beneath her.

Immediately, strange things start to happen to Iris: She begins having vivid nightmares. She wakes up to find her bedroom window wide open, letting in the snow. She thinks she sees the shadow of a girl lurking in the woods. And she feels the pull of the abandoned grave, calling her back to the clearing…

Obsessed with figuring out what’s going on, Iris and Daniel start to research the area for a school project. They discover that Avery’s grave is actually part of a neglected and forgotten Black cemetery, dating back to a time when White and Black people were kept separate in life — and in death. As Iris and Daniel learn more about their town’s past, they become determined to restore Avery’s grave and finally have proper respect paid to Avery and the others buried there.

But they have awakened a jealous and demanding ghost, one that’s not satisfied with their plans for getting recognition. One that is searching for a best friend forever — no matter what the cost.

The Forgotten Girl is both a spooky original ghost story and a timely and important storyline about reclaiming an abandoned segregated cemetery.

"A harrowing yet empowering tale reminding us that the past is connected to the present, that every place and every person has a story, and that those stories deserve to be told." — Ren�e Watson, New York Times bestselling author of Piecing Me Together

From actor and lifelong activist Alyssa Milano comes Hope Roberts, a girl who’s determined to change the world.

Through her eyes, the moving story of a young Rwandan girl born with clubfeet and the risk she takes for the chance to walk on the bottoms of her feet for the first time.Rebeka Uwitonze was born in Rwanda with curled and twisted feet, which meant she had to crawl or be carried to get around. At nine years old, she gets an offer that could change her life. A doctor in the US might be able to turn her feet. But it means leaving her own family behind and going to America on her own.

Her Own Two Feet tells Rebeka’s inspiring story through her eyes, with the help of one of her hosts. She travels from Rwanda to Austin, Texas, to join the Davis family, despite knowing almost no English. In the face of dozens of hospital visits and painful surgeries, Rebeka’s incredible bravery and joyful spirit carry her to the opportunity of a lifetime. A stunning debut about hope, perseverance, and what becomes possible when you take a risk.

Prepare to be swept up by this exquisite novel that reminds us that grief and love can open the world in mystical ways.

Winner of the Stonewall Book Award
Winner of the Lambda Literary Award

Caroline Murphy is a Hurricane Child.

Being born during a hurricane is unlucky, and 12-year-old Caroline has had her share of bad luck lately. She’s hated and bullied by everyone in her small school on St. Thomas of the US Virgin Islands, a spirit only she can see won’t stop following her, and — worst of all — Caroline’s mother left home one day and never came back.

But when a new student named Kalinda arrives, Caroline’s luck begins to turn around. Kalinda, a solemn girl from Barbados with a special smile for everyone, becomes Caroline’s first and only friend — and the person for whom Caroline has begun to develop a crush.

Now, Caroline must find the strength to confront her feelings for Kalinda, brave the spirit stalking her through the islands, and face the reason her mother abandoned her. Together, Caroline and Kalinda must set out in a hurricane to find Caroline’s missing mother — before Caroline loses her forever.

What do you love about you? Find out in this sweet padded storybook full of wonder and love!

I love my wiggle toes.
I love my smelly nose!
From head to toe, there’s so much to love about wild, wonderful you!

With charming illustrations and a sweet, bouncy text that begs to be read aloud, this padded board book is a joyous reminder to little ones to love their whole selves — just as they are. A glorious celebration of self-esteem that’s full of humor, love, and heart.

Wonderful Me: Books that celebrate the milestone emotional and social moments of little ones of today!

An incredible memoir from Sharon Robinson about one of the most important years of the civil rights movement.

In January 1963, Sharon Robinson turns thirteen the night before George Wallace declares on national television "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever" in his inauguration speech as governor of Alabama. It is the beginning of a year that will change the course of American history.

As the daughter of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, Sharon has opportunities that most people would never dream of experiencing. Her family hosts multiple fund-raisers at their home in Connecticut for the work that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is doing. Sharon sees her first concert after going backstage at the Apollo Theater. And her whole family attends the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

But things don’t always feel easy for Sharon. She is one of the only Black children in her wealthy Connecticut neighborhood. Her older brother, Jackie Robinson Jr., is having a hard time trying to live up to his father’s famous name, causing some rifts in the family. And Sharon feels isolated-struggling to find her role in the civil rights movement that is taking place across the country.

This is the story of how one girl finds her voice in the fight for justice and equality.

Twelve-year-old Dawnie Rae Johnson’s life turns upside down after the Supreme Court rules in favor of desegregation in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education. Her parents decide that Dawnie will attend Prettyman Coburn, a previously all-white school — but she’ll be the only one of her friends to enroll in this new school.

Not everyone in Dawnie’s town of Hadley, Virginia, supports integration, though, and much of the community is outraged by the decision. As she starts school, Dawnie encounters the harsh realities of racism. But the backlash against her arrival at Prettyman Coburn is more than she’s prepared for, and she begins to wonder if the hardship is worth it. Will Dawnie be able to hold on to the true meaning of justice and remain faithful to her own sense of integrity?

Buzzfeed’s #1 Book to Read this Spring
A Best Book of the Month at The Washington Post, Bustle, and Chicago Review of Books

MEM is a rare novel, a small book carrying very big ideas, the kind of story that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading it.

Set in the glittering art deco world of a century ago, MEM makes one slight alteration to history: a scientist in Montreal discovers a method allowing people to have their memories extracted from their minds, whole and complete. The Mems exist as mirror-images of their source — zombie-like creatures destined to experience that singular memory over and over, until they expire in the cavernous Vault where they are kept.

And then there is Dolores Extract #1, the first Mem capable of creating her own memories. An ageless beauty shrouded in mystery, she is allowed to live on her own, and create her own existence, until one day she is summoned back to the Vault. What happens next is a gorgeously rendered, heart-breaking novel in the vein of Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go.

Debut novelist Bethany Morrow has created an allegory for our own time, exploring profound questions of ownership, and how they relate to identity, memory and history, all in the shadows of Montreal’s now forgotten slave trade.

This is a story about America during and after Reconstruction, one of history’s most pivotal and misunderstood chapters. In a stirring account of emancipation, the struggle for citizenship and national reunion, and the advent of racial segregation, the renowned Harvard scholar delivers a book that is illuminating and timely. Real-life accounts drive the narrative, spanning the half century between the Civil War and Birth of a Nation. Here, you will come face-to-face with the people and events of Reconstruction’s noble democratic experiment, its tragic undermining, and the drawing of a new "color line" in the long Jim Crow era that followed. In introducing young readers to them, and to the resiliency of the African American people at times of progress and betrayal, Professor Gates shares a history that remains vitally relevant today.

From his childhood in the segregated South to his final fight with Parkinson’s disease, Muhammad Ali never backed down. He was banned from boxing during his prime because he refused to fight in Vietnam. He became a symbol of the antiwar movement — and a defender of civil rights. As "The Greatest," he was a boxer of undeniable talent and courage. He took the world by storm — only Ali could "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!"

Muhammad Ali: Olympic gold medalist, former heavyweight champion, and one of the most influential people of all time.

Troy is a kid with a passion. And dreams. And a desire to do the right thing. But after taking a wrong turn, he’s forced to endure something that’s worse than any juvenile detention he can imagine — he’s been "sentenced" to the local city stables where he’s made to take care of the horses and learn to play polo. The greatest punishment has been trying to make sense of things after his mom died. Troy’s also figuring out which friends have his back, which kids to cut loose, and whether he and Alisha have a true connection. Laced with humor and beating with heartache, this novel will grip readers, pull quickly, and take them on an unforgettable ride.

Set in modern Philadelphia, Christine Kendall’s stunning debut lets us come face-to-face with the challenges of a loving family that helps turn hardships into a horse of a different color.

The A Girl Named series tells the stories of how ordinary American girls grew up to be extraordinary American women. Misty Copeland became the first African American Female Principal Dancer for the American Ballet Theatre, but how did she get there? A Girl Named Misty describes the defining moments that made up her childhood and adolescence with full-color illustrations throughout. In addition to stories and facts about Misty’s upbringing and accomplishments, the book includes a timeline and a glossary, plus a profile of a noteworthy and contemporary American girl following in Misty’s graceful footsteps to lead the way for African American women in the arts.

Four starred reviews!

"Powerful…. Johnson writes about the long shadows of the past with such ambition that any reader with a taste for mystery will appreciate the puzzle Candice and Brandon must solve." — The New York Times Book Review

When Candice finds a letter in an old attic in Lambert, South Carolina, she isn’t sure she should read it. It’s addressed to her grandmother, who left the town in shame. But the letter describes a young woman. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfolding its writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who solves the puzzle.

So with the help of Brandon, the quiet boy across the street, she begins to decipher the clues. The challenge will lead them deep into Lambert’s history, full of ugly deeds, forgotten heroes, and one great love; and deeper into their own families, with their own unspoken secrets. Can they find the fortune and fulfill the letter’s promise before the answers slip into the past yet again?

Like most girls and boys, Zoe enthusiastically embraces the wonders of our world and its infinite possibilities. "I can be anything I want to be!" she tells us, presenting herself in a range of careers. "But what if you fail?" asks a voice of doubt that attempts to undermine her confidence.

Bold and sassy, Zoe swats the voice away at every turn, declaring her certainty with a charisma that will encourage us all to silence the fears projected onto us by our world. Why can’t a girl grow up to be President? Zoe can! When the voice of doubt continues, Zoe knows exactly what to say: "Go away, voice… I can be anything… but first, I have to learn to read. And don’t tell me I can’t!"

Award-winner Diane Dillon has created a winning character who defies anything to hold her back from achieving her goals. And the key to Zoe’s future success begins when Zoe defiantly opens her book, making it clear that both confidence and reading are tools we all need to make our dreams come true.

Actress and activist Holly Robinson Peete pairs with her twins in this narrative about the challenges and triumphs of being a teen who has autism and the effects on family, school, friends, and life.

Being a teen is hard enough. But when you have autism—or when your brother or sister is struggling with the condition—life can be challenging. It’s one thing when you’re a kid in grade school, and a playdate goes south due to autism in a family. Or when you’re a little kid, and a vacation or holiday turns less-than-happy because of an autistic family member. But being a teen with autism can get pretty hairy—especially when you’re up against dating, parties, sports, body changes, school, and other kids who just don’t 'get' you. In this powerful book, teenagers Ryan Elizabeth Peete and her twin brother, Rodney, who has autism, share their up-close-and-personal experiences on what it means to be a teen living with autism. Same But Different, explores the funny, painful, and unexpected aspects of teen autism, while daring to address issues nobody talks about. Same But Different underscores tolerance, love, and the understanding that everybody’s unique drumbeat is worth dancing to.

Twelve-year-old Charlie is down on his luck: His sharecropper father just died and Cap’n Buck — the most fearsome man in Possum Moan, South Carolina — has come to collect a debt. Fearing for his life, Charlie strikes a deal with Cap’n Buck and agrees to track down some folks accused of stealing from the cap’n and his boss. It’s not too bad of a bargain for Charlie… until he comes face-to-face with the fugitives and discovers their true identities. Torn between his guilty conscience and his survival instinct, Charlie needs to figure out his next move — and soon. It’s only a matter of time before Cap’n Buck catches on.

In this accessible guide with an introduction by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay, Marley Dias explores activism, social justice, volunteerism, equity and inclusion, and using social media for good. Drawing from her experience, Marley shows kids how they can galvanize their strengths to make positive changes in their communities, while getting support from parents, teachers, and friends to turn dreams into reality. Focusing on the importance of literacy and diversity, Marley offers suggestions on book selection, and delivers hands-on strategies for becoming a lifelong reader.

"James Earl Ray and Martin Luther King, Jr. had two very different life journeys — but their paths fatally collide when Ray assassinates the world-renown civil rights leader. This book provides an inside look into both of their lives, the history of the time, and a blow-by-blow examination of the assassination and its aftermath."—Provided by publisher.

In a rich embroidery of visions, musical cadence, and deep emotion, Andrea and Brian Pinkney convey the final months of Martin Luther King’s life — and of his assassination — through metaphor, spirituality, and multilayers of meaning.

Andrea’s stunning poetic requiem, illustrated with Brian’s lyrical and colorful artwork, brings a fresh perspective to Martin Luther King, the Gandhi-like, peace-loving activist whose dream of equality — and whose courage to make it happen — changed the course of American history. And even in his death, he continues to transform and inspire all of us who share his dream.

Wonderful classroom plays of Martin Rising can be performed by using the "Now Is the Time" history and the 1968 timeline at the back of the book as narration — and adding selected poems to tell the story!

Meet the 2017 Girl of the Year, Gabriela McBride! She’s a true talent who gets creative for a cause. This box set contains paperbacks of the three novels in her series.



Gabriela: Gabby loves expressing herself — especially in the dance studio — but lately, poetry is becoming her art form of choice. Can Gabby use the power of her words to save her beloved community arts center from shutting down?



Gabriela Speaks Out: Gabby hopes to win the school election so she can speak out for change. Can she beat her rival, the confident and intimidating Aaliyah Reade-Johnson?



Gabriela Novel 3: Gabby is juggling rehearsals for a poetry competition and a new dance opportunity. But is it possible to do both…and be a good friend, too?

Confidential until October 2017!

Sparrow has always had a difficult time making friends. She would always rather have stayed home on the weekends with her mother, an affluent IT Executive at a Manhattan bank, reading, or watching the birds, than playing with other kids. And that’s made school a lonely experience for her. It’s made LIFE a lonely experience.



But when the one teacher who really understood her — Mrs. Wexler, the school librarian, a woman who let her eat her lunch in the library office rather than hide in a bathroom stall, a woman who shared her passion for novels and knew just the ones she’d love — is killed in a freak car accident, Sparrow’s world unravels and she’s found on the roof of her school in an apparent suicide attempt.



With the help of an insightful therapist, Sparrow finally reveals the truth of her inner life. And it’s here that she discovers an outlet in Rock & Roll music…

Gabby has never been so busy! In this third novel featuring American Girl’s 2017 Girl of the Year, Gabby is already juggling homework, school leadership activities, dance classes, and rehearsals for a spoken word competition when she’s offered an exciting dance opportunity. It’s too good to pass up, but soon, Gabby finds there aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all, let alone be a good friend to her BFF, Teagen. And she can’t help but notice that more and more, she wishes she were working on her poetry instead of doing pliés and grand jetés. Gabby’s changed a lot this past year. By the time the competition rolls around, she begins to wonder—have her dreams changed, too?

Joyce Jenkins has recently moved to a new town with her family, and she will soon be attending a segregated school for the first time. Meanwhile, Connie Underwood is trying to figure out what her twin brothers are planning in secret. Follow along with the two girls as they find themselves in the middle of a civil rights demonstration, and find out how the fight for equality changed the country forever.

WATCHER. SHADOW. FUGITIVE.

Harlem is home to all kinds of kids. Jin sees life passing her by from the window of her family’s bodega. Alex wants to help the needy one shelter at a time, but can’t tell anyone who she really is. Elvin’s living on Harlem’s cold, lonely streets, surviving on his own after his grandfather was mysteriously attacked.

When these three strangers join forces to find out what happened to Elvin’s grandfather, their digging leads them to an enigmatic artist whose missing masterpieces are worth a fortune-one that might save the neighborhood from development by an ambitious politician who wants to turn it into Harlem World, a ludicrous historic theme park. But if they don’t find the paintings soon, nothing in their beloved
neighborhood will ever be the same …

In this remarkable tale of daring and danger, debut novelist Natasha Tarpley explores the way a community defines itself, the power of art to show truth, and what it really means to be home.

Genes are the blueprints for all life. When scientists first began altering genes to change the traits of living things, they unlocked an entirely new branch of science: genetics. Readers will get an overview of the science behind genetics and find out how genetics have changed our world. They will also meet some of the biggest innovators in genetics history and find out where the field is heading next.

From the smart phone in your pocket to the advanced systems controlling everything from banks to national security, computers are behind almost everything people do. However, this wasn’t always true. Readers will explore the fascinating history of computer technology, from the room-filling code-breaking machines of World War II to the remarkably tiny and powerful computers we rely on today.

Praise for The Hero Two Doors Down

"The story drives home the impact of Robinson’s pioneering, not just for the game but for the country following it." — The Birmingham News

"This charming tale offers up good fodder for discussion about prejudice, discrimination, friendship, and family." — Booklist

"A home run for baseball fans and anyone who loves an inspirational friendship story." — School Library Journal

Jackson Greene is riding high. He is officially retired from conning, so Principal Kelsey is (mostly) off his back. His friends have great new projects of their own. And he’s been hanging out a lot with Gaby de la Cruz, so he thinks maybe, just maybe, they’ll soon have their first kiss.

Then Jackson receives a link to a faked security video that seems to show him and the rest of Gang Greene flooding the school gym. The jerks behind the video threaten to pass it to the principal — unless Jackson steals an advance copy of the school’s toughest exam.

So Gang Greene reunites for their biggest job yet. To get the test adn clear their names, they’ll have to outrun the school’s security cameras, outwit a nosy member of the Honor Board, and outmaneuver the blackmailers while setting a trap for them in turn. And as they execute another exciting caper full of twists and turns, they’ll prove that sometimes it takes a thief to catch a cheat.

Everyone is buzzing about the president’s birthday! Especially George Washington’s servants, who scurry around the kitchen preparing to make this the best celebration ever. Oh, how George Washington loves his cake! And, oh, how he depends on Hercules, his head chef, to make it for him. Hercules, a slave, takes great pride in baking the president’s cake. But this year there is one problem—they are out of sugar.

This story, told in the voice of Delia, Hercules’s young daughter, is based on real events, and underscores the loving exchange between a very determined father and his eager daughter, who are faced with an unspoken, bittersweet reality. No matter how delicious the president’s cake turns out to be, Delia and Papa will not taste the sweetness of freedom.

New York Times food writer Ramin Ganeshram and acclaimed illustrator Vanessa Brantley-Newton serve up a slice of history in a picture book narrative that will surely satisfy.

A haunting and mesmerizing story about sisterhood, family, love, and loss by literary luminary Edwidge Danticat. Giselle Boyer and her identical twin, Isabelle, are as close as sisters can be, even as their family seems to be unraveling. Then the Boyers have a tragic encounter that will shatter everyone’s world forever. Giselle wakes up in the hospital, injured and unable to speak or move. Trapped in the prison of her own body, Giselle must revisit her past in order to understand how the people closest to her — her friends, her parents, and above all, Isabelle, her twin — have shaped and defined her. Will she allow her love for her family and friends to lead her to recovery? Or will she remain lost in a spiral of longing and regret? Untwine is a spellbinding tale, lyrical and filled with love, mystery, humor, and heartbreak. Award-winning author Edwidge Danticat brings her extraordinary talent to this graceful and unflinching examination of the bonds of friendship, romance, family, the horrors of loss, and the strength we must discover in ourselves when all seems hopeless.

Confidential until May 2016!

Bestselling Newbery Medalist Christopher Paul Curtis delivers a powerful companion to his multiple award-winning ELIJAH OF BUXTON.

Benji and Red couldn’t be more different. They aren’t friends. They don’t even live in the same town. But their fates are entwined. A chance meeting leads the boys to discover that they have more in common than meets the eye. Both of them have encountered a strange presence in the forest, watching them, tracking them. Could the Madman of Piney Woods be real?

In a tale brimming with intrigue and adventure, Christopher Paul Curtis returns to the vibrant world he brought to life in Elijah of Buxton. Here is another novel that will break your heart — and expand it, too.

Bestselling and award-winning author, Sharon G. Flake, delivers a mystery set in the 1950s that eerily blends history, race, culture, and family.

Octobia May is girl filled with questions. Her heart condition makes her special - and, some folks would argue, gives this ten-year-old powers that make her a "wise soul." Thank goodness for Auntie, who convinces Octobia’s parents to let her live in her boarding house that is filled with old folks. That’s when trouble, and excitement, and wonder begin. Auntie is non-traditional. She’s unmarried and has plans to purchase other boarding homes and hotels. At a time when children, and especially girls, are "seen, not heard," Auntie allows Octobia May the freedom and expression of an adult. When Octobia starts to question the folks in her world, an adventure and a mystery unfold that beg some troubling questions: Who is black and who is "passing" for white? What happens when a vibrant African American community must face its own racism?

And, perhaps most important: Do vampires really exist? In her most and probing novel yet, Sharon G. Flake takes us on a heart-pumping journey.

Emily Bird was raised not to ask questions. She has perfect hair, the perfect boyfriend, and a perfect Ivy-League future. But a chance meeting with Roosevelt David, a homeland security agent, at a party for Washington DC’s elite leads to Bird waking up in a hospital, days later, with no memory of the end of the night.



Meanwhile, the world has fallen apart: A deadly flu virus is sweeping the nation, forcing quarantines, curfews, even martial law. And Roosevelt is certain that Bird knows something. Something about the virus—something about her parents’ top secret scientific work—something she shouldn’t know.



The only one Bird can trust is Coffee, a quiet, outsider genius who deals drugs to their classmates and is a firm believer in conspiracy theories. And he believes in Bird. But as Bird and Coffee dig deeper into what really happened that night, Bird finds that she might know more than she remembers. And what she knows could unleash the biggest government scandal in US history.

In the spirit of Tony Abbott’s Underworld books, comes the new kid on the block - Barkari Katari Johnson!

Shy fourth-grader Bakari Katari Johnson is having a bad day. He’s always coming up against Tariq Thomas, the most popular kid in their class, and today is no different. On top of that, Bakari has found a strange ring that appears to have magical powers—and the people from the ring’s fantastical other world want it back! Can Bakari and his best friend Wardell stave off the intruders’ attempts, keep the ring safe, and stand up to Tariq and his pal Keisha, all before the school bell rings? Media celebrity and Essence Magazine entertainment producer, Patrik Henry Bass delivers adventure, fun, fantasy and friendship in this illustrated action-packed adventure starring an African American boy hero and his classmates.

Two-time Caldecott Medalists Leo and Diane Dillon show children playfully creating a more generous, peaceful world where everyone shares with others.

All roads lead to kindness in this powerful final collaboration between Leo and Diane Dillon. In a colorful tree house, a rainbow of children determine the most important needs in our complex world, and following spreads present boys and girls happily helping others. Kids bring abundant food to the hungry; medicine and cheer to the sick; safe housing, education, and religious tolerance to all; and our planet is treated with care. Forgiveness and generosity are seen as essential, because kids know how to share, and they understand the power of love.

The book closes with examples of fun ways to help others—along with FDR’s "Four Freedoms" and "The Second Bill of Rights," which illuminate these concepts.

A tribute to peace and a celebration of diverse cultures, this last collaboration by the Dillons captures the wondrous joy of all people, and the unique beauty within each one of us shines forth. If kids ran the world, it would be a better place—for grown-ups, too.

The lush city of Palmares Tres shimmers with tech and tradition, with screaming gossip casters and practiced politicians. In the midst of this vibrant metropolis, June Costa creates art that’s sure to make her legendary. But her dreams of fame become something more when she meets Enki, the bold new Summer King. The whole city falls in love with him (including June’s best friend, Gil). But June sees more to Enki than amber eyes and a lethal samba. She sees a fellow artist.

Together, June and Enki will stage explosive, dramatic projects that Palmares Tres will never forget. They will add fuel to a growing rebellion against the government’s strict limits on new tech. And June will fall deeply, unfortunately in love with Enki. Because like all Summer Kings before him, Enki is destined to die.

Pulsing with the beat of futuristic Brazil, burning with the passions of its characters, and overflowing with ideas, this fiery novel will leave you eager for more from Alaya Dawn Johnson.

*A 2014 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST*

It’s 1964, and Sunny’s town is being invaded.  Or at least that’s what the adults of Greenwood, Mississippi, are saying. All Sunny knows is that people from up north are coming to help people register to vote.  They’re calling it Freedom Summer.

Meanwhile, Sunny can’t help but feel like her house is being invaded, too.  She has a new stepmother, a new brother, and a new sister crowding her life, giving her little room to breathe.  And things get even trickier when Sunny and her brother are caught sneaking into the local swimming pool — where they bump into a mystery boy whose life is going to become tangled up in theirs.

As she did in her groundbreaking documentary novel COUNTDOWN, award-winning author Deborah Wiles uses stories and images to tell the riveting story of a certain time and place — and of kids who, in a world where everyone is choosing sides, must figure out how to stand up for themselves and fight for what’s right.

"A political heist page-turner set in middle school? Is that even possible? Varian Johnson shows us how it’s done." - Gordon Korman, author of SWINDLE

"Do yourself a favor and start reading immediately." - Rebecca Stead, author of WHEN YOU REACH ME

Jackson Greene swears he’s given up scheming. Then school bully Keith Sinclair announces he’s running for Student Council president, against Jackson’s former friend Gaby de la Cruz. Gaby wants Jackson to stay out of it — but he knows Keith has "connections" to the principal, which could win him the presidency no matter the vote count.

So Jackson assembles a crack team: Hashemi Larijani, tech genius. Victor Cho, bankroll. Megan Feldman, science goddess. Charlie de la Cruz, reporter. Together they devise a plan that will take down Keith, win Gaby’s respect, and make sure the election is done right. If they can pull it off, it will be remembered as the school’s greatest con ever — one worthy of the name THE GREAT GREENE HEIST.

To coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Summer murders, this will be the first book for young adults to explore the harrowing true story of three civil rights workers slain by the KKK. In June of 1964, three idealistic young men (one black and two white) were lynched by the Ku Klux Klan in Mississippi. They were trying to register African Americans to vote as part of the Freedom Summer effort to bring democracy to the South. Their disappearance and murder caused a national uproar and was one of the most significant incidents of the Civil Rights Movement, and contributed to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. THE FREEDOM SUMMER MURDERS will be the first book for young people to take a comprehensive look at the brutal murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, through to the conviction in 2005 of mastermind Edgar Ray Killen.

Human beings first set foot on the Moon on July 20, 1969, marking one of the most important events in the history of space exploration. Since then, scientists have continued to learn more about Earths sole natural satellite. Readers will learn what it is like to walk on the surface of the Moon and what role the satellite plays in the solar system. They will also find out how scientists first began studying the Moon and how they are continuing their exploration today.

No other body in the solar system is as important as the sun. It provides a central point for the planets to orbit around, and its warmth and light are integral to the survival of Earths life forms. Readers will discover what this incredible star is made of, why it burns so bright, and what would happen if it disappeared. They will also find out how scientists study the sun and what we are still trying to learn about it.

Located 1.7 billion miles away from Earth, Uranus resembles a blue-green sphere floating in the distance. Readers will find out which gases make up the bulk of this faraway planet and why it has only been visited by spacecraft a single time. They will also learn about Uranuss more than two dozen moons and discover how scientists are working to learn more about this remarkable planet.

Unlike most other planets, Venus can be seen from Earths surface with the naked eye. Only the moon burns brighter in the night sky. Readers will learn why Venuss thick clouds help make the planet so hot and why its days last so long. They will also get an up-close look at Venuss remarkable land features and find out how scientists have studied the harsh surface of the planet.

Praise for PROMISES TO KEEP
-Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year, IRA Notable Book, YALSA Best Book for Young Adults, Children’s Book Award, Captial Choice, ALA Top 10 Youth Sports Books

* "[Robinson’s] private view of her father’s accomplishments, placed within the context of American sports and social history, makes for absorbing reading." — BOOKLIST, starred review

"An excellent and much-needed addition to the Jackie Robinson story." — KIRKUS REVIEWS

* SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL and PUBLISHERS WEEKLY starred reviews

Praise for TESTING THE ICE
-Parents’ Choice Award

"Jackie Robinson’s daughter builds a charming story around a childhood memory… . Nelson’s close-ups expertly provide suspense… . With the basics of his biography efficiently woven in, this is a lovely introduction to a baseball legend." — NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

"The daughter of the man who broke baseball’s color barrier weaves together two stories about courage. One is well-known… . The other occurred after he retired from baseball, on a frozen pond at his house in Stamford, Conn., witnessed only by his kids and their friends. At their request, Robinson, who couldn’t swim, carefully and successfully tested the ice, moving his daughter to think: "My dad is the bravest man alive." Kadir Nelson’s vibrant watercolors and oils, based on Robinson family photos, take on a life of their own." — USA TODAY

Walter Dean Myers brilliantly renders the realities of World War II.

Josiah Wedgewood and Marcus Perry are on their way to an uncertain future. Their whole lives are ahead of them, yet at the same time, death’s whisper is everywhere.

One white, one black, these young men have nothing in common and everything in common as they approach an experience that will change them forever.

It’s May 1944. World War II is ramping up, and so are these young recruits, ready and eager. In small towns and big cities all over the globe, people are filled with fear. When Josiah and Marcus come together in what will be the greatest test of their lives, they learn hard lessons about race, friendship, and what it really means to fight. Set on the front lines of the Normandy invasion, this novel, rendered with heart-in-the-throat precision, is a cinematic masterpiece. Here we see the bold terror of war, and also the nuanced havoc that affects a young person’s psyche while living in a barrack, not knowing if today he will end up dead or alive.

A luminous novel in verse from the author of the Jefferson Cup award winner ALL THE BROKEN PIECES. Serafina has a secret dream.

She wants to go to school and become a doctor with her best friend, Julie Marie.

But in their rural village outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti, many obstacles stand in Serafina’s way— little money, never-ending chores, and Manman’s worries.

More powerful even than all of these are the heavy rains and the shaking earth that test Serafina’s resolve in ways she never dreamed.

At once heartbreaking and hopeful, this exquisitely crafted story will leave a lasting impression on your heart.

Sharon Robinson, daughter of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, is the author of several works of fiction and nonfiction. She has also written several widely praised nonfiction books about her father, including JACKIE’S NINE: BECOMING YOUR BEST SELF and PROMISES TO KEEP: HOW JACKIE ROBINSON CHANGED AMERICA.

There are moments in each person’s life that we take great care to remember: the pride of a young girl standing up for herself for the first time; the heartbreak of leaving one’s country and family for a new beginning; the thrill of getting ready for the piano recital of a lifetime.



In Sharon Dennis Wyeth’s family these moments were marked with the passing on of the Granddaughter Necklace: not a fancy piece of jewelry, but a precious one, worn smooth by the touch of mothers and grandmothers, each with her own story to tell.



With a historical sweep that reaches back to Ireland and to Africa, and an intimacy that resides in every family’s treasured stories, Wyeth tells the tale of one family’s journey from the old world to the new, from the past to the present, and from mother to daughter.



Here’s a book that we feel will be passed on from generation to generation too, read in laps and in groups, opening conversations about our own necklaces of memory.

Bluford High: It’s not just school—it’s real life.

Vicky Fallon can’t take it. Her father lost his job, her parents are constantly fighting, and her little brother is out of control. Once an honor student, Vicky is quickly falling behind in her classes at Bluford High. Now her teachers, friends, and boyfriend, Martin Luna, want answers. Pressured from all sides, Vicky knows something is about to snap. But the explosion that hits her home is worse than anything she could have imagined.

Award-winning author, Sharon G. Flake, presents a powerful novel about a teen boy and girl, each tackling disabilities.

Autumn and Adonis have nothing in common and everything in common. Autumn is outgoing and has lots of friends. Adonis is shy and not so eager to connect with people. But even with their differences, the two have one thing in common—they’re each dealing with a handicap. For Autumn, who has a learning disability, reading is a painful struggle that makes it hard to focus in class. But as her school’s most aggressive team wrestler, Autumn can take down any problem. Adonis is confined to a wheelchair. He has no legs. He can’t walk or dance. But he’s a strong reader who loves books. Even so, Adonis has a secret he knows someone like Autumn can heal.

In time, Autumn and Adonis are forced to see that our greatest weaknesses can turn into the assets that forever change us and those we love.

Told in alternating voices, Takedown explores issues of self-discovery, friendship, and what it means to be different.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them—until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her. His name is Gansey, a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says very little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn’t believe in true love, and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From pie charts and bar graphs to calendars and sheet music, charts and graphs help us organize complex information and present it in a way that is easy to understand. Readers will learn to identify a wide variety of charts and graphs and choose which ones are best for different kinds of information.

Water is one of the most important substances on Earth. Almost all living things need it to survive. Readers will learn how hydrologists study weather patterns and the shape of the land to predict how water will move around Earth. They will also discover how hydrologists put this knowledge to use by helping to build dams, levees, and irrigation systems.

Coretta Scott King winner Andrea Davis Pinkney brings her talents to a brand-new Dear America diary about the Civil Rights Movement.

In the fall of 1955, twelve-year-old Dawn Rae Johnson’s life turns upside down. After the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, Dawnie learns she will be attending a previously all-white school. She’s the only one of her friends to go to this new school and to leave the comfort of all that is familiar to face great uncertainty in the school year ahead.

However, not everyone supports integration and much of the town is outraged at the decision. Dawnie must endure the harsh realities of racism firsthand, while continuing to work hard to get a good education and prove she deserves the opportunity. But the backlash against Dawnie’s attendance of an all-white school is more than she’s prepared for. When her father loses his job as a result, and her little brother is constantly bullied, Dawnie has to wonder if it’s worth it. In time, Dawnie learns that the true meaning of justice comes from remaining faithful to the integrity within oneself.

Change the world with the book Publishers Weekly called “a masterful debut”! This special paperback edition includes bonus content.

After the worst first day back *ever*, Reggie’s been nicknamed “Pukey” McKnight at his Brooklyn school. He wants to turn his image around, but he has other things on his mind as well: his father, who’s out of a job; his best friends, Joe C. (who’s a little too White) and Ruthie (who’s a little too intense); his ex-best friend Donovan, who’s now a jerk; and of course, the beautiful Mialonie. The elections for school president are coming up, but with his notorious nickname and “nothing” social status, Reggie wouldn’t stand a chance, if he even had the courage to run.

Then Reggie gets involved with a local homeless shelter. Inspired by the clients there—especially Charlie, a five-year-old kid who becomes his official “Little Buddy”— he begins to think about making a difference, both in the world and at school. Pukey for President? It can happen… if he starts believing.

Coretta Scott King Award winner and Newbery Honor author Patricia McKissack’s inspiring A PICTURE OF FREEDOM is now back in print with a gorgeous new cover!

It’s 1859 and Clotee, a twelve-year-old slave, has the most wonderful, terrible secret. She knows that if she shares it with the wrong person, she will face unimaginable consequences. What is her secret? While doing her job of fanning her master’s son during his daily lessons, Clotee has taught herself to read and write. However, she soon learns that the tutor, Ely Harms, has a secret of his own.

In a time when literacy is one of the most valuable skills to have, Clotee is determined to use her secret to save herself, and her family.

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first African American child to integrate a New Orleans school with this paperback reissue!

The year is 1960, and six-year-old Ruby Bridges and her family have recently moved from Mississippi to New Orleans in search of a better life. When a judge orders Ruby to attend first grade at William Frantz Elementary, an all-white school, Ruby must face angry mobs of parents who refuse to send their children to school with her. Told with Robert Coles’ powerful narrative and dramatically illustrated by George Ford, Ruby’s story of courage, faith, and hope is now available in this special 50th anniversary edition with an updated afterword!

This book is part of our first sweet and sassy Candy Apple summer vacation trilogy! Each book focuses on one girl from a trio, and follows her summer adventure away from her friends.

Three girls, three trips, one amazing summer!

Willhelmina "Mina" Chestnut loves spending time with her BFFs, Samantha and Liza, in their New Jersey suburb. But this summer, the girls are splitting up, and Mina is attending an art camp in New York City!

Mina is dazzled by all the Big Apple has to offer, and enjoys seeing the sights and meeting new people. But a snooty girl at the camp makes Mina miss the comfort of home. How can she survive the big city for a summer without her friends? Maybe by finding them the perfect souvenirs…

Sassy’s newest adventure unfolds when she performs in the school musical!


Sassy’s school is doing a musical performance that is going to be televised, and Sassy wants to sing with the choir. However, it’s no secret that Sassy can’t sing. But she has also been hiding a big secret … for the past year she has been taking pizcolo lessons, and she’s quite good at it. Instead of tuneless croaks, she produces lovely, lyrical tones from her silver instrument. But she has to prove to the music teacher not only that she’s needed in the show, but also that she can make a difference in the performance.

From bestselling author and actress Holly Robinson Peete—a heartwarming story about a boy who happens to be autistic, based on Holly’s son, who has autism.

"Charlie has autism. His brain works in a special way. It’s harder for him to make friends. Or show his true feelings. Or stay safe." But as his big sister tells us, for everything that Charlie can’t do well, there are plenty more things that he’s good at. He knows the names of all the American presidents. He knows stuff about airplanes. And he can even play the piano better than anyone he knows.

Actress and national autism spokesperson Holly Robinson Peete collaborates with her daughter on this book based on Holly’s 10-year-old son, who has autism.

A must-have for schools, libraries, and anyone interested in books for young readers.

Virginia Hamilton (1936-2002) changed children’s literature for generations of readers, bringing a Faulknerian style of sophisticated and cutting-edge writing to the world of books for young readers. Hamilton was awarded the Newbery Medal, three Newbery Honors, the National Book Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, the Hans Christian Andersen Medal, and many more. Readers will be enlightened by Hamilton’s engaging, powerful, and witty perspective on African American literature as well as her own experiences as a writer and an American.

The extraordinary true story of Ruby Bridges, the first African-American child to integrate a New Orleans school—now with simple text for young readers!

In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges walked through an angry crowd and into a school where she changed history.

This is the true story of an extraordinary little girl who helped shape our country when she became the first African-American to attend an all-white school in New Orleans. With simple text and historical photographs, this easy reader explores an amazing moment in history and the courage of a young girl who stayed strong in the face of racism.

Sharon Robinson, daughter of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, is the author of several works of fiction and nonfiction. She has also written several widely praised nonfiction books about her father, including Jackie’s Nine Becoming Your Best Self and Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America.


Kadir Nelson illustrated two Caldecott Honor Books: Moses and Henry’s Freedom Box. Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange won the Coretta Scott King Award. Will Smith’s Just the Two of Us won an NAACP Image Award, and his new book, We are the Ship continues to garner major awards. Nelson showed artistic talent at age 3 and began working in oils by age 16. He lives with his family in San Diego, California.

Eight-year-old ultra-fabulous Ruby Marigold Booker returns in this reissue of the Ruby and the Booker Boys series by Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor author Derrick Barnes!

Brought to you by Newbery Honor author Derrick Barnes, high-flying Ruby Booker soars to new heights! After watching her big cousin Kee Kee compete in a cheerleading competition, Ruby attempts to copy some of the high-flying moves she saw earlier. This cheerleading stuff could be just the thing to bring her a ton of attention. But during practice with Marcellus, she injures her arm and must be rushed to the hospital. The doctors fit her with a hot-pink cast that turns out to be a great conversation piece. After giving a million different versions of the accident to everyone at school, she becomes the center of attention after all!

Master storyteller Christopher Paul Curtis’s Newbery Honor novel, featuring his trademark humor, unique narrative voice, and new cover art—now in paperback!

Eleven-year-old Elijah lives in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves near the American border. He’s the first child in town to be born free, and he ought to be famous just for that. Unfortunately, all that most people see is a "fra-gile" boy who’s scared of snakes and talks too much. But everything changes when a former slave steals money from Elijah’s friend, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Now it’s up to Elijah to track down the thief—and his dangerous journey just might make a hero out of him, if only he can find the courage to get back home.

In this modern retelling of the Swan Lake ballet, acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers explores the sweet/sharp spark of love between two teens.

A boy searches for his newfound love among the city streets, to find that, unwarily, she’s been caught in the arms of an evil street lord who means her harm. It is only through perseverance and undying love that the girl is returned to the safety of her one true love. Lyrical text and stunning mixed media artwork make for a powerful recasting of the classic ballet Swan Lake.

Brought to you by Newbery Honor author Derrick Barnes, eight-year-old Ruby Booker is the baby sis of Marcellus (11), Roosevelt (10), and Tyner (9), the most popular boys on Chill Brook Ave. When Ruby isn’t hanging with her friend, Theresa Petticoat, she’s finding out what kind of mischief her brothers are getting into. She’s sweet and sassy and every bit as tough as her older siblings.

And now, look out! Ruby’s hosting a big pink slumber party! The last time Ruby hosted a slumber party, her big brother Roosevelt played tricks on her and her friends all night long.

Well, it’s payback time! When it comes to teaching Ro a lesson, a little lipstick and a lot of know-how can go a long way.

Bottom line? Don’t mess with Ruby and her crew!

Meet 8-year-old ultra-fabulous Ruby Marigold Booker!

Eight-year-old Ruby Booker is the baby sis of Marcellus (11), Roosevelt (10), and Tyner (9), the most popular boys on Chill Brook Ave. When Ruby isn’t hanging with her friend, Theresa Petticoat, she’s finding out what kind of mischief her brothers are getting into. She’s sweet and sassy and every bit as tough as her older siblings. She sings like nobody’s business; she has a pet iguana named Lady Love; her favorite color is grape-jelly purple; and when she grows up, she’s going to be the most famous woman animal doctor on the planet. She’s the fabulous, oh-so-spectacular Ruby Marigold Booker!

Ruby Booker takes the spotlight (well, that’s the plan anyway…)

Eight-year-old Ruby Booker is the baby sis of Marcellus (11), Roosevelt (10), and Tyner (9), the most popular boys on Chill Brook Ave. When Ruby isn’t hanging with her friend, Theresa Petticoat, she’s finding out what kind of mischief her brothers are getting into. She’s sweet and sassy and every bit as tough as her older siblings. She sings like nobody’s business; she has a pet iguana named Lady Love; her favorite color is grape-jelly purple; and she has BIG plans. She’s going to be the most famous woman animal doctor on the planet. She’s the fabulous, oh-so-spectacular Ruby Marigold Booker!

An exciting, eye-catching repackage of acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers’ bestselling paperbacks, to coincide with the publication of SUNRISE OVER FALLUJA in hardcover.

"Those shackles didn’t rob us of being black, son, they robbed us of being human."

This is the story of one family. A family whose history saw its first ancestor captured, shackled, and brought to this country from Africa. A family who can still see remnants of the shackles that held some of its members captive — even today. It is a story of pride, determination, struggle, and love. And of the piece of the land that holds them together throughout it all.

An exciting, eye-catching repackage of acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers’ bestselling paperbacks, to coincide with the publication of SUNRISE OVER FALLUJA in hardcover.

Jimmy hasn’t seen his father in nine years. But one day he comes back — on the run from the law. Together, the two of them travel across the country — where Jimmy’s dad will find the man who can exonerate him of the crime for which he was convicted. Along the way, Jimmy discovers a lot about his father and himself — and that while things can’t always be fixed, sometimes they can be understood and forgiven.

A powerful new novel about the heroics and horror of war from Walter Dean Myers, whose bestselling book FALLEN ANGELS celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Operation Iraqi Freedom, that’s the code name. But the young men and women in the military’s Civil Affairs Battalion have a simpler name for it: WAR.

In this new novel, Walter Dean Myers looks at a contemporary war with the same power and searing insight he brought to the Vietnam war of his classic, FALLEN ANGELS. He creates memorable characters like the book’s narrator, Birdy, a young recruit from Harlem who’s questioning why he even enlisted; Marla, a blond, tough-talking, wisecracking gunner; Jonesy, a guitar-playing bluesman who just wants to make it back to Georgia and open a club;

Celebrated illustrators Leo and Diane Dillon have won the Caldecott Medal twice, and now they present stunning illustrations of an evening of jazz music, complete with a special CD.

If you have ever been lucky enough to hear great jazz, then you will understand the pure magic of this book. Leo and Diane Dillon use bright colors and musical patterns that make music skip off the page in this toe-tapping homage to many jazz greats. From Miles Davis and Charlie Parker to Ella Fitzgerald, here is a dream team sure to knock your socks off. Learn about this popular music form and read a biography of each player pictured-and then hear each instrument play on a specially produced CD. What’s the featured song? "Jazz on a Saturday Night," written and recorded to accompany this book.

Shelia P. Moses, National Book Award finalist and Coretta Scott King Award Honor author, debuts on the Scholastic Press list with a heartwarming young chapter book series.

Sallie Gal admires cousin Wild Cat’s hair ribbons that fly in the wind when she jumps double Dutch. More than anything, Sallie Gal wants a set of her very own. But country folks can’t get to town so easily. And even though Mama and Sallie Gal work hard in the cotton fields, money is hard to come by. Especially for things they don’t need. But one day, the Wall-a-kee Man comes through. He has a whole general store right in the back of his station wagon! When the Wall-a-Kee man secretly slips Sallie Gal some ribbons as a gift into the bag with (continued)

Newbery Medalist and CSK Award winner Christopher Paul Curtis’s debut middle-grade/young-YA novel for Scholastic features his trademark humor, compelling storytelling, and unique narrative voice.

Eleven-year-old Elijah is the first child born into freedom in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves just over the border from Detroit. He’s best known for having made a memorable impression on Frederick Douglass, but that changes when a former slave steals money from Elijah’s friend, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Elijah embarks on a dangerous journey to America in pursuit of the thief and discovers firsthand the unimaginable horrors of the life his parents fled—a life from which he’ll always be free, if he can find the courage to get back home.

An astonishing new voice in teen literature, writing what is sure to be one of the most talked-about debuts of the year.Tyrell is a young African-American teen who can’t get a break. He’s living (for now) with his spaced-out mother and little brother in a homeless shelter. His father’s in jail. His girlfriend supports him, but he doesn’t feel good enough for her — and seems to be always on the verge of doing the wrong thing around her. There’s another girl at the homeless shelter who is also after him, although the desires there are complicated. Tyrell feels he needs to score some money to make things better. Will he end up following in his father’s footsteps?

A stirring, dramatic story of a slave who mails himself to freedom by a Jane Addams Peace Award-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist.

Henry Brown doesn’t know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves’ birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold at the slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do: He will mail himself to the North. After an arduous journey in the crate, Henry finally has a birthday — his first day of freedom.

Renowned illustrator Gregory Christie joins the Scholastic Press list with this empowering story about an African-American community who builds their own school.

Based on the true story of the Rosenwald schools built in the rural African-American South in the 1920s, writer and poet Carol Boston Weatherford tells the lyrical story of third grader Ovella as her family and community help each other build a new, and much-prayed for, school.

Inspired by Booker T. Washington, Julius Rosenwald, the son of an immigrant and the president of Sears, Roebuck and Co., donated millions of dollars to build schools for African-American children in the rural South. The local African-American community were required to raise matching funds, secure [cont’d]

In this stunning nonfiction volume, award-winning author Deborah Hopkinson weaves the stories of slaves, sharecroppers, and mill workers into a tapestry illuminating the history of cotton in America.

In UP BEFORE DAYBREAK, acclaimed author Deborah Hopkinson captures the voices of the forgotten men, women, and children who worked in the cotton industry in America over the centuries. The voices of the slaves who toiled in the fields in the South, the poor sharecroppers who barely got by, and the girls who gave their lives to the New England mills spring to life through oral histories, archival photos, and Hopkinson’s engaging narrative prose style. These stories are amazing and often heartbreaking, and they are imbedded deep in our nation’s history.

A chronicle of the incredible correspondence between California librarian Clara Breed and young Japanese American internees during World War II.

In the early 1940’s, Clara Breed was the children’s librarian at the San Diego Public Library. But she was also friend to dozens of Japanese American children and teens when war broke out in December of 1941. The story of what happened to these American citizens is movingly told through letters that her young friends wrote to Miss Breed during their internment. This remarkable librarian and humanitarian served as a lifeline to these imprisoned young people, and was brave enough to speak out against a shameful chapter in American history.

The best-selling picture book is now available as a board book.

I am Black / I am Unique / I am the creamy white frost in vanilla ice cream / and the milky smooth brown in a chocolate bar…
Using simple poetic language and stunning photographs, Sandra and Myles Pinkney have created a remarkable book of affirmation for African-American children. Photographic portraits and striking descriptions of varied skin tones, hair texture, and eye color convey a strong sense of pride in a unique heritage. A joyous celebration of the rich diversity among African-Americans.

Superstar Will Smith’s touching ode to fatherhood. Let the Scholastic Bookshelf be your guide through the whole range of your child’s experiences—laugh with them, learn with them, read with them!

Category: Fathers and Sons

Just the two of us
Building castles in the sky
Just the two of us,
You and I.

Will Smith—musician, actor, and father—brings us a moving celebration of fatherhood. Smith’s heartfelt lyrics and Kadir Nelson’s vibrant paintings capture the beauty and intensity of a father’s love as his child grows from a boy into a man. This poignant portrait will resonate with fathers and sons everywhere.

Actress Jada Pinkett Smith—wife of superstar Will Smith—lovingly captures the strength, unity, and beauty that live in girls in this poignant photographic book.

"We are sisters of this Earth — members of one powerful tribe. /Every color, shape, and size, we’re united by beauty inside." Artistic photographs enhance the positive message of Jada Pinkett Smith’s inspiring poem. A renowned

Saturday morning is supposed to be fun! Will the girl in this story ever finish her list of chores?

School Library Journal
STARRED (March 1, 2004; 0-439-42592-1)

Gr 4-7 -In captivating words and pictures, Robinson chronicles the life of her legendary father. She weaves historical events into the story of one of baseball’s greatest players, revealing how they shaped his life. Her text, combined with numerous black-and-white archival and family photographs, reproductions of newspaper headlines, magazine pages, and letters, illustrates Jackie Robinson’s journey from childhood to the moment that he integrated major league baseball to his life as a businessman and civil rights spokesperson. In addition to personal details, this intimate biographical sketch and authentic glimpse into the life of a great African American provides information on the post-Civil War world, race relations, and the struggle for civil rights. It will inspire readers and enhance character-education units. Pair this first purchase with the author’s Jackie’s Nine: Jackie Robinson’s Values to Live By (Scholastic, 2001).-Tracy Bell, Durham Public Schools, NC Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly
STARRED (February 9, 2004; 0-439-42592-1)

In this photo biography, Robinson (Jackie’s Nine: Jackie Robinson’s Values to Live By) offers an affectionate profile of her father who, she writes, "taught me to flip pancakes, hit a baseball, question political leaders, solve problems, and keep promises." The author’s concise history of race relations in the United States enables youngsters to understand the underpinnings of the "segregated world" into which Robinson was born and the racism and injustices he encountered throughout his private and professional life. Especially intriguing is the author’s incisive explanation of why her father was selected in 1947 as the individual to "pioneer the integration of Major League Baseball"; her discussion provides insight into the man’s abilities and determination on and off the field. The volume’s abundance of family photographs and reproductions of Robinson’s letters to his wife and children amplify the highly personal nature of the narrative. The author notes that her parents encouraged her and her brothers to "measure our lives by the impact we had on other people’s lives." Here she clearly, often eloquently, gauges the enormous impact Jackie Robinson had on so many lives as father, husband, athlete and crusader for justice and equality. Ages 9-12. (Feb.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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The McKissacks introduce young readers to the pivotal events leading up to and including the long awaited and glorious Days of Jubilee.

For two and a half centuries African-American slaves sang about, prayed for, and waited on their long anticipated freedom — a day of Jubilee. But freedom didn’t come for slaves at the same time. DAYS OF JUBILEE chronicles the various stages of U.S. emancipation beginning with those slaves who were freed for their service during the Revolutionary War, to those who were freed by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. Using slave narratives, letters, diaries, military orders, and other documents, the McKissacks invite young readers to celebrate coming freedom and the Days of Jubilee.

Soar along with Bessie Coleman in this inspirational tale of a woman whose determination reached new heights.

Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman was always being told what she could & couldn’t do. In an era when Jim Crow laws and segregation were a way of life, it was not easy to survive. Bessie didn’t let that stop her. Although she was only 11 when the Wright brothers took their historic flight, she vowed to become the first African -American female pilot. Her sturdy faith and determination helped her overcome obstacles of poverty, racism, and gender discrimination. Innovatively told through a series of monologues.

Rich in historical detail and filled with luminous illustrations, this poignant book movingly describes the holiday celebrations of both slaves and slave owners on a pre-Civil War plantation.

The year is 1859, and it’s Christmastime on a Virginia Plantation. The slaves are cleaning and setting up the Big House—where their masters live—for the festivities. The Big House is filled with warmth, colorful decorations, and yummy food…but there is talk of war and a sense that times may be changing. In the quarters—where the slaves live—conditions are poor, dirty, and cold, but the slaves are filled with hope for better times ahead, and they sing songs of freedom.
Moving deftly between two worlds, this beautifully illustrated book is a historical tale as well as a holiday treat.

A harmonious introduction to one of our country’s most important singers—as envisioned by two of our industry’s most important voices. Wide trade & institutional appeal.

Marian Anderson is best known for her historic concert at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939, which drew an integrated crowd of 75,000 people in pre-Civil Rights America. While this momentous event showcased the uniqueness of her voice, the strength of her character, & the struggles of the times in which she lived, it is only part of her story. Like the operatic arias Marian would come to sing, Ryan’s text is as moving as a libretto, & Selznick’s pictures as exquisitely detailed & elaborately designed as a stage set. What emerges most profoundly from their shared vision is a role model of courage.

In this heavenly sequel to the critically acclaimed WHAT A TRULY COOL WORLD, a star-studded duo once again finds playful, big-hearted answers to life’s most mysterious questions.

God, His wife Irene, His secretary Bruce, & the angel Shaniqua have a problem to solve. When God gives Snakes poison to protect themselves, He doesn’t expect them to bite everything in sight. Now all at once people & animals are climbing up the ladders connecting heaven & earth, & creating chaos in God’s kingdom! But with a little help from Shaniqua & Irene & their beautiful singing voices, God has everyone dancing down the ladders to earth. The snakes get other kinds of defenses (& a talking to), & the ladders get pulled up to prevent further ruckuses, which is why heaven is far away.

Coretta Scott King Award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson has written a poignant picture book about a little girl who waits hopefully for her father’s release from prison.

Only on visiting day is there chicken frying in the kitchen at 6 a.m. And Grandma in her Sunday dress, humming soft and low,… As the little girl and her grandmother get ready for visiting day, her father, who adores her, is getting ready, too. The community of families who take the long bus ride upstate to visit loved ones share hope and give comfort to each other. Love knows no boundaries. Here is a story of strong families who understand the meaning of unconditional love.

With bold paintings and a simple, rhyming text, Caldecott Medalists Leo & Diane Dillon bring young readers a rap a tap tap celebration of dance that will have readers clapping and tapping along.

"There once was a man who danced in the street / He brought pleasure and joy to the people he’d greet / He didn’t just dance, he made art with his feet / Rap a tap tap—think of that!"
This simple book for young children has the added bonus of describing the life of a ground-breaking African-American tap dancer. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson was one of the most popular entertainers of the 1920s-30s. People said he "talked with his feet," and in the Dillons’ graceful paintings of old New York, he dances from page to page to the tune of a toe-tapping rhyme. Rap a tap tap—think of that!

At the core of STAY STRONG is the idea that with the right attitude and strategies, kids can truly accomplish anything. And Terrie Williams is the ideal person to encourage and inspire. Her solid advice about ambition, goals and making real, personal connections speaks to readers without a hint of preaching. Urging them to stick to just a few simple but powerful rules—tools that have successfully served Terrie’s famous clients - Janet Jackson, Wesley Snipes, and Boyz II Men, for example. Terrie also lends insight into real teens’ lives, and captivates with true rags-to-riches success stories. People will respect you if you respect them, she urges - as long as you can have that courage not to conform. As Terrie says at the closing of every conversation, above all else, "Stay Strong."

A read-aloud collection of tall tales provides a cast of animal characters facing unusual situations—such as an eagle who is afraid of heights—and the necessary steps they take to overcome their predicaments.

“…shows a vulnerable boy defended by a Black girl who admires rather than mocks his difference. The collage illustrations are stark but also tender.”—Zetta Elliott, PhD

Are you brave enough to be your true self? Ikarus Jackson is. But it isn’t always easy. The people in his neighborhood point at his wings. The kids at school laugh. The teachers call him a distraction. One girl identifies with him, but she is too shy to speak up. Finally, when his classmates’ taunts send Ikarus drifting into the sky, the girl sets out in search of him, and so begins her own journey of self-discovery, leaving both of them transformed.

"This story…consists of four short verses about the happy home life of a young African-American boy. Family love and the shared stories and symbols that connect the generations are pervasive themes." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Childhood memories of an African American family living in Shorter, Alabama are woven into Johnson’s poetry.

Cammy Coleman’s second cousins are in town for the big Coleman reunion, and their sophisticated New York City ways and family secrets threaten to change Cammy’s world forever.

A vibrant picture book brings to life the Kwanzaa holiday during the last week of December as Grandma brings special food, Grandpa lights the candles, and the whole family celebrates their heritage.

During colonial and pre-Civil War times, whaling was a dangerous job. Despite the challenges of the sea, runaway slaves were eager to enlist. This is the story of the brave black sailors and Paul Cuffe, Lewis Temple, Frederick Douglas, and other pivotal African-American figures in the whaling industry and abolitionist movement.

Complete with colorful illustrations and photos of the NBA superstar, this book presents a collection of classic tales retold with an amusing modern-day twist, such as “Shaq and the Three Bears” and “Little Red Riding Shaq.”

On November 14, 1960, a tiny six-year-old black child, surrounded by federal marshals, walked through a mob of screaming segregationists and into her school. From where she sat in the office, Ruby Bridges could see parents marching through the halls and taking their children out of classrooms. The next day, Ruby walked through the angry mob once again and into a school where she saw no other students. The white children did not go to school that day, and they wouldn’t go to school for many days to come. Surrounded by racial turmoil, Ruby, the only student in a classroom with one wonderful teacher, learned to read and add. This is the story of a pivotal event in history as Ruby Bridges saw it unfold around her. Ruby’s poignant words, quotations from writers and from other adults who observed her, and dramatic photographs recreate an amazing story of innocence, courage, and forgiveness. Ruby Bridges’ story is an inspiration to us all.

"Arresting photo-collage artwork and hip-hop poetry tell the story of a stray cat’s search for a home as it slinks its way through city streets…Pulses with city rhythms and scenarios, just waiting to be discovered and discussed." - School Library Journal, starred review "Edgy, visceral, this dazzling book captures the rhythms of the city and the gritty beauty of the urban landscape." - The Horn Book Coretta Scott

"Come on, Rain!" Tess pleads to the sky as listless vines and parched plants droop in the endless heat. Then the clouds roll in, and the rain pours. And Tess, her friends, and their Mamas join in a rain dance to celebrate the shower that renews both body and spirit. Through exquisite language and acute observation, Karen Hesse evokes this refreshing experience, and Jon J Muth’s lyrical artwork perfectly reflects the spirit of the text.

Discovering that making a world takes a lot of work, God calls on his secretary Bruce and the angel Shaniqua to help him create bushes, grass, flowers, and butterflies. By the award-winning author of How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have!

Features photographs and biographies of thirteen African-American women, including Maya Angelou, Ruby Dee, and Alice Walker.

A stirring tribute to the human drama, legendary heroes, infamous owners, low pay, and long bus rides that were the Negro Leagues. A 1995 Coretta Scott King Honor Book now in a striking Polaris edition.

Separated from her best friend in Brooklyn, thirteen-year-old Marisol spends a year with her grandmother in Panama where she secretly searches for her real father.

An exciting, eye-catching repackage of acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers’ bestselling paperbacks, to coincide with the publication of SUNRISE OVER FALLUJA in hardcover.

A coming-of-age tale for young adults set in the trenches of the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, this is the story of Perry, a Harlem teenager who volunteers for the service when his dream of attending college falls through. Sent to the front lines, Perry and his platoon come face-to-face with the Vietcong and the real horror of warfare. But violence and death aren’t the only hardships. As Perry struggles to find virtue in himself and his comrades, he questions why black troops are given the most dangerous assignments, and why the U.S. is even there at all.

In this latest addition to the Dear America series, Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author Joyce Hansen presents the inspiring story of Patsy, a freed girl who becomes a great teacher.

Charlie Parker Played Be Bop

“The Little Bill series by Bill Cosby; endless hours of reading and supportive material for raising well adjusted children. One thing that stood out for me as a parent, was the prefaces by Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint at the beginning of the books. It gave you the scientific perspective about the lessons that the children were going to be taught with the particular book. It was a very comprehensive series.”—Rosheena Beek, author Mommy Says!

This easy-to-read story about peer pressure by comedian and storyteller Bill Cosby is now a Scholastic Reader!

Michael Reilly has introduced a new game to Little Bill and his friends. You get twelve chances to say something mean to another kid—and whoever comes up with the biggest insult is the winner.

Insults start flying: “Jose hops with the frogs in science lab!” “Andrew eats frogs for dinner!” “Little Bill shoots baskets like a girl!”

Little Bill tries to think of really mean things to say in retaliation. But dad teaches him a strategy that enables Little Bill to save face while remaining the nice kid that he really is!

This easy-to-read story about friendship by comedian and storyteller Bill Cosby is now a Scholastic Reader!

Little Bill and his friends LOVE the TV show Space Explorers. And so when the new Space Explorers video game comes out, they each want a copy.

But when Little Bill asks his parents to buy him the game, they say no. So Little Bill and his friends go to their friend Andrew’s house to play the game.

What they discover, though, is that the video game isn’t nearly as much fun nor as challenging as what their imaginations can dream up!

In this easy-to-read chapter book by comedian and storyteller Bill Cosby, Little Bill learns that everyone in his family has a special treasure to offer

It’s raining outside and Little Bill is bored. He walks around his house, trying to find something to do. Dad wants to show Little Bill his old plastic jazz records. Mom is cleaning off her antique silver platter. His brother Bobby is sorting through his baseball card collection. Everyone has something special but not Little Bill!

It takes a visit from Great-Grandma Alice to show Little Bill that he has a special treasure of his own — he is a very funny storyteller!

A hunterman and a crocodile take turns being captive and captor in a humorous folktale that teaches the importance of living in harmony with nature and is illustrated with ceramic-tile paintings.

Waking up on a bright and sunny morning, an exuberant African-American baby girl washes up, gets dressed, eats her breakfast, and runs out to play.

These simple concept books feature realistic illustrations of endearing African-American babies.

A poem celebrating the people, sights, and sounds of Harlem.

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Tisa hates Mondays because that’s when she gets her long, thick, wild hair combed and braided, so she hides. But once Tisa’s hair is done, she loves it so much that her mother can hardly tear her away from the mirror! Full color.

Remembering how the kids made fun of his dashiki, beads, and sandals the previous year, Charlie is reluctant to participate in the present year’s Kwanzaa Festival at school, until he remembers the deeper meaning of Kwanzaa.

“I’ve always recommended Make a Joyful Sound. This book brought endless hours of fun and recitation for and from my children. One particular poem stuck, Hey Black Child! This is a poem we all still recite to this day, even though my children are now 26, 21 and 20 respectively.”—Rosheena Beek, author Mommy Says!

Make a Joyful Sound resonates with a message of hope and joy. This collection of poetry for children brings together a rich array of the voices of leading African-American poets. The poems are a celebration of childhood and the wonders of discovering the world and oneself. Many of the poems speak out about African-American identity - the history, dreams, and achievements that are the cornerstones of black culture in America. The strength, beauty, laughter, and love found in these poems will touch all children.

There are poems by Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, Eloise Greenfield, Nikki Giovanni, Mari Evans, Quincy Troupe, Abiodun Oyewole, and Useni Eugene Perkins - all of which provide a wonderful introduction to poetry. This is a book to open a child’s heart and imagination, a book that will be read again and again.

In the video below, Peh&squo;Tehn Raighn-Kem, age 3, erforms the poem “Hey Black Child”" written by Countee Cullen, just of of the 60 poems included in Make A Joyful Sound.

After the death of Mattie’s father, her mother seems to take out her frustrations on Mattie. But Mattie devises a plan to bring her family back together again. Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book; Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies.

Collects the true stories of brave African-American rebels who fought against slavery, from Cinque, who pleaded his case before the Supreme Court, to Nat Turner, who led one of the greatest revolts in history.

Struggling against prejudice and financial disadvantages at Endicott Academy, Nia, an African-American teenager, finds a friend and mentor in Marcus, whose disappearance leaves Nia confused and determined to find him. Reprint. SLJ. VY. AB.

An exciting, eye-catching repackage of acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers’ bestselling paperbacks, to coincide with the publication of SUNRISE OVER FALLUJA in hardcover.

Seventeen-year-old Greg "Slam" Harris can do it all on the basketball court. He’s seen ballplayers come and go, and he knows he could be one of the lucky ones. Maybe he’ll make it to the top. Or maybe he’ll stumble along the way. Slam’s grades aren’t that hot. And when his teachers jam his troubles in his face, he blows up.

Slam never doubted himself on the court until he found himself going one-on-one with his own future, and he didn’t have the ball.

An exciting, eye-catching repackage of acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers’ bestselling paperbacks, to coincide with the publication of SUNRISE OVER FALLUJA in hardcover.

"Those shackles didn’t rob us of being black, son, they robbed us of being human."

This is the story of one family. A family whose history saw its first ancestor captured, shackled, and brought to this country from Africa. A family who can still see remnants of the shackles that held some of its members captive — even today. It is a story of pride, determination, struggle, and love. And of the piece of the land that holds them together throughout it all.

A glorious collection of traditional and contemporary songs that follows the historical journey and expresses the pain, dignity and courage of the African-American people. "Kumbaya", "Follow the Drinking Gourd", "Freedom’s Coming and It Won’t Be Long", and many more have been selected to showcase the richness of expression and culture in African-American music. Full-color illustrations.

Welcome to the Story Corner. Cuddle up with your favorite preschooler and enjoy a delightful reading experience. With lively text and charming art, each book in this series has been designed for children who have outgrown board books and are now ready for simple stories. And the sturdy card-stock pages are just right for little hands.

Koya Delaney hides behind her smile and cannot express her feelings—until she is caught in the middle when a fight erupts between her sister and her best friend just before her pop star cousin comes to town to do a concert. Reprint. PW. K. AB. SLJ.

A newborn African-American child is joyously welcomed into his family with presents and love, as well as with a series of old traditions and new rituals that celebrate the gift of life.

Joshua and his father listen to the night sounds.

Profiles the late African American leader, providing a startling picture of the life of the controversial and important historical figure. Reprint. VY. PW.

This 1993 Coretta Scott King Honor Book chronicles the life of African-American Sojourner Truth, a nineteenth-century preacher, abolitionist, and activist for the rights of African Americans and women. Reprint. PW. SLJ. H.

“In the morning my big sister Kyla stands at the window, tapping at the birds. I do like Kyla … So begins a day of follow the leader between a young child and her older sister … A universal story that features a warm and loving black family.“ —School Library Journal

"A small child imagines a future when he will be old with his Granddaddy and will sit beside him in a rocking chair and talk about everything…The poignant reality that time will never allow these two to coexist at the same age is softened by the fact that they do not have to be the same age in order to share happy times…The African American child and grandfather are…recognizable to anyone who has ever shared the bond of family love across generations." - School Library Journal, starred review

Angela Johnson’s Coretta Scott King Award winning novel that traces three generations of African American women as they learn one another’s truths.

Three generations of African American women, each holding on to a separate truth. Their story — encompassing racism and murder as well as the family commonplaces that make a life — is one that readers will never forget.

A biography of the civil rights and women’s rights activist discusses her life from her youth to her death and features photographs, profiles of her contemporaries, and more.

Eleven teenage immigrants tell compelling stories of their escapes from war, poverty, and repression to carve out new lives in America.

"Since I can remember I’ve been one of three. Eva, Nikki, and me. One of three sisters that walk to school together. Down the street together… ". But the day comes when the littlest is not invited. On that day she is "not one of three, just one". A charming heartfelt story of growing up. The setting is a city, the weather sunny, and the emotions true. Full-color illustrations.

Discusses the holiday in which Afro-Americans celebrate their roots and cultural heritage from Africa.

"In this touching picture book, a mother and a preschool-aged daughter talk together as the child is being prepared for bed… . Mama’s childhood memories, as related by her daughter, are warm slices of life from a previous generation… . Simon’s vivid, lively watercolors capture the essence of the mood and message as they deftly portray the quotidian portraits of two generations of a black family".—School Library Journal, starred review.

Presents six tales about Spider, including those which explain how he got a thin waist and a bald head and why he lives in ceilings and dark corners.

An overview of Indian music and dance which includes a discussion of their instruments, the structure of their music, and the uses of music in Indian life.