February is Black History Month. The origins of Black History Month began with historian Carter G. Woodson launching Negro History Week in 1926. Woodson felt that teaching African American history was essential for the survival of the African American race.

In 1969, students at Kent State University proposed expanding Black History Week to Black History Month. The first Black History Month was celebrated a year later. In 1976, Black History Month was recognized by the federal government and has been celebrated ever since.

Today, heritage months can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, relegating culturally diverse books to specific months of the year can mean these books are overlooked the rest of the year. It can also separate Black history from American history, when in fact black history is American history.

On the other hand, we are still working to undo a long history in which the achievements and contributions of people of color were routinely ignored. Having a special time of year to highlight these achievements can help fill in the gaps in our history.

Our opinion? Black History Month isn’t a time for once-a-year books; the books you use this month should be in your regular rotation. But Black History Month is a good time to give your collection of African American titles a little extra love–or updating, if it needs it.

LEE & LOW is proud to offer a number of different Black History Month collections. Check them out below:

Black History Month Collection, Grades K-2

This paperback collection features a mix of historical fiction and biographies from African Americans who excelled in arts and politics for young readers.

Featured Books:

Love Twelve Miles Long, written by Glenda Armand and illustrated by Colin Bootman – Frederick Douglass’s mother travels twelve miles late at night to visit him in another plantation. Mama recounts why every step of the way is special to her.

Knockin’ On Wood, by Lynne Barasch – Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates, a legendary 20^th century tap dancer, lost his leg in an accident at the age of twelve. He taught himself how to dance, first with crutches and then later with a peg leg.

Purchase this collection here

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Black History Month Collection, Grades 3-6

This collection explores the lives of great African Americans with a wide range of picture book biographies and historical fiction books for young readers.

Featured Books:

Little Melba and Her Big Trombone, written by Katheryn Russell-Brown and illustrated byFrank Morrison – This award-winning biography follows the life of Melba Liston, a trailblazing musician and a great unsung hero of jazz.

Ira’s Shakespeare Dream, written by Glenda Armand and illustrated by Floyd Cooper -Ira Aldridge dreamed of being on stage one day performing the great works of William Shakespeare. Due to little opportunity in the United States, Ira journeyed to Europe and through perseverance and determination became one of the most respected Shakespearean actors of his time.

Purchase this collection here

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Black History Month Collection, Grades 7-12

This collection is perfect for a wide range of middle to high school level readers. Readers will be able to explore the history of African American music, Civil Rights, and sports.

Featured Books:

i see the rhythm, written by Toyomi Igus and illustrated by Michele Wood – This book explores African American music throughout history, starting with its roots in Africa.

I and I Bob Marley, written by Tony Medina and illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson – This book of poems explores the life of famous musician Bob Marley.

Purchase this collection here

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Black History Month Special Collection This collection features a mix of award-winning hardcover and paperback biographies of great African Americans at a range of reading levels.

Featured Book:

Love to Langston, written by Tony Medina and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie – Fourteen original poems explore the life of Langston Hughes, one of America’s most beloved poets.

Purchase this collection here

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Black History Month Paperback Collection

This collection features hand-picked award winning books, available in paperback.

Featured Book:

In Her Hands, written by Alan Schroeder and illustrated by JaeMe Bereal – Augusta Savage enjoyed sculpting with clay, despite her stern father thinking it was a waste of her time. To pursue a career as an artist, Augusta leaves everything she knows behind and journeys to New York.

Further Reading:

Who Is Ira Aldridge?

Remembering Cortez Peters

Why Remember Bill Traylor?

Why Remember Florence “Baby Flo” Mills?

Why Remember Author Ashe?

Why Remember Robert Smalls?

Why Remember Toni Stone?

Storyline Online: Catching the Moon

Seven Core Values to Celebrate During Black History Month

Why You Should See Selma

Katheryn Russell-Brown on the Research Behind Little Melba and Her Big Trombone

Protesting Injustice Then and Now

Resources for Teaching About Wangari Maathai and Seeds of Change

Three Ways to Teach Etched in Clay

The Origins of the Coretta Scott King Award

More Resources

Twelve Months of Books

The Problem with Ethnic Heritage Months

African American History Month (Library of Congress)

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This month's our list of hand-selected series from the nationwide best selling Children's Series list, as noted by The New York Times, features James Dashner's Maze Runner series and Ransom Riggs' Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series.

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Our hand-picked list from the Best Selling Young Adult list from The New York Times includes a revisit of Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard. The best selling young adult titles include books by super-talent Rainbow Rowell.

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Our selection of hot new releases and popular kids' books has a lot to offer!

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Arwen Elys Dayton, author of Traveler, selected these five family favorites.

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At Finding Wonderland, we have always been committed to reviewing a wide range of diverse and multicultural books, which is why we're very excited to see that this year the folks at Multicultural Children's Book Day are making a supreme effort to... Read the rest of this post

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Our hand-picked list from the Best Selling Young Adult list from The New York Times includes a revisit of Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard.

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Take a look at our selection of hot new releases and popular kids' books and let us know which titles and covers catch your eyes. There are so many amazing new kids books coming in 2016!

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This month, El Deaf, a 2015 Newbery Honor book is the best selling middle grade book from our affiliate store. Our selection of books picked from the nationwide best selling middle grade list, as they appear on The New York Times, includes Star Wars: The Force Awakens Visual Dictionary.

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Our best selling picture book from our affiliate store is one of our all-time favorite books: Dear Zoo, by Rod Campbell!

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It's been a great year for YA books!  This year, I accomplished my goal of reading 50 books in different formats (I'm really enjoying the wonder of e-books) and among that list is the cream of the crop titles I absolutely got lost in.  These titles are a mix of fiction and non-fiction, graphic novel and short stories and everything in between.  These aren't in any particular rank or order (other than alphabetical), as all of these books were absolutely amazing!  There are more than ten I could absolutely put on this list, but I took my time and really thought about the titles I chose and why.  So walk with me through my top 10 best of the best book for teens....

1. All The Rage by Courtney Summers
What struck me about this book is the powerful theme it contains.  Romy, the main character, faces the most intense hardships of high school - bullying, isolation, and being taken advantage of against her will.  These take Romy to the brink of a breakdown but her strength, family and the few she can trust help her not only deal with what she went through, but also makes her realize her own self-worth.





2. All We Have is Now by Lisa Schroeder
When I can read in a book in one setting, I know it's a book that should be on this list.  Emerson knows she has less than 48 hours to live - not due to illness, but to a meteor bearing down on the U.S. This novel shows how not only what happens to her, but others who decide to live the rest of their lives by fulfilling lifelong dreams, falling in love, and granting forgiveness.  What grabbed me are the different threads of lives Schroeder writes about that begin to interweave in unusual ways leading to a beautiful ending.




3. The Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks
This is one of those books that people either loved or not and that's why it made my list.  Brooks' novel evokes powerful emotions from readers and what ultimately happens to the group of people who are victims of circumstance in this superbly suspenseful book.  Another reason why I put this book on the list is that the ending is so climactic and unexpected, most of the teens I know who've read it can't wrap their minds around the ending of it all.





4. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Fantasy fiction has become (or still is) a popular genre, and while so many I've read recently take place in another time and world, this book doesn't. Rowell writes an urban fantasy with quirky characters and villains in today's world where wizards co-exists with Normals.  VERY reminiscent of the Harry Potter series, Rowell brings back the magical fun the characters and the school creates that makes it such a refreshing read.  It's all about relationships first, conflict second and the ability to combine lighthearted reading with some dark places the readers get to explore.



5. Drowned City by Don Brown
Brown brings back into the spotlight the horrors, mistakes and redemptive circumstances that created the disaster of New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina.  This book tells the story not only through words but the powerful images depicted on the pages, allowing those to not only read it, but truly look at what happened and allow it to resonate in them.  This is one of the best graphic novels I've read not only because it brings an important event up in teens lives, but also because although it's a quick read, it stays there long after the last page is turned.

6. Hitler's Last Days by Bill O'Reilly
There are a few titles from O'Reilly's Killing series that have been adapted for young adults, and when there is, they become an important part of a YA collection because of the hidden history behind the event and person.  This is about Hitler, but also about World War II and how his decisions led to the ultimate downfall of one of the most evil people in history.  O'Reilly writes without any political motive, which makes this a book for all readers.  You may not like the author, but try not to transfer bias to a great YA non-fiction book.

7. Infinite in Between by Carolyn Mackler
Follow five teens as they enter high school and begin their four year tour. Any teen will be able to find a character to identify with, whether it be the most popular girl in school or the geekiest kid to enter high school.  Not only do you get to see how they change physically (case in point: freshmen year class picture to senior year) but also the relationships and conflicts that begin to create the person they are.  Its' definitely a St. Elmo's Fire meets The Breakfast Club kind of book you'll fall into.




8. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
It's not the flashy Marvel or DC graphic novel, but it's definitely a contender in attracting readers' attention through the clever use of dialogue and character.  Stevenson creates a meld of genres in this book.  She mixes a little fantasy with a bit of science fiction and adds a touch of historical fiction to create a fabulous graphic novel about friendships and enemies that holds a deeper meaning in what it means to be a true confidante and mentor.  I chuckled all the way through this book through Stevenson's dry and witty humor between the characters, especially Nimona and her unique talents.



9. Orbiting Jupiter by Gary Schmidt
There have been books that have made me shed a tear or two because of it's emotional impact, but this one jerked them right out of me because of its plot of love and loss.  Blending difficult days spent behind bars with a love story with the beauty of  adoption and foster care, Schmidt creates a character that has the weight of the world on his shoulders as well as the promise of new beginnings.  This isn't a book with lots of pages (in fact, it won't take hardly any time to read) but it makes up for it through the large emotional reach it'll have once the last page is turned.



10. Slasher Girls and Monster Boys edited by April G. Tucholke
This short story collection has the best YA authors that have written stories that are truly from the dark side.  This is horror at its best because it comes in small or large doses, depending on how much the reader can handle.  This isn't for those who get nightmares from reading YA horror and supernatural, but will definitely delight those who enjoy walking on the side tainted by dark evil and revenge.





And one to grow on....

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
This is a slice of science fiction that takes place completely in outer space. There aren't a hundred characters, planets and ships to keep track of.  One plot, one (or two) huge conflicts, and two main characters makes this book readable and enjoyable for those  who can't manage to keep track of too much.  The authors write the story through transcripts, text messages, secret documents and  file and this is what makes it a standout.  While reading this, I saw it as a movie in my mind...excellent sign of a great YA read!!




Now, bring on 2016!!!

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I’ve been looking at all of the year-end book lists and getting even MORE recommendations for my To-Be-Read (TBR) list. Since moving into the city, I have been able to read more books. But I’ve also become a book hoarder as well and there is a ton of books still on my nightstand.

I think YA author Beth Revis said it best on Twitter:

IT STRESSES ME OUT HARDCORE TO THINK THAT WITHOUT A TIME TURNER I CANNOT READ ALL THE BOOKS I WANT TO READ ☹️

— Beth Revis (@bethrevis) December 11, 2015

However I still want to share with you some books that I did enjoy this year. Here’s a list of some of my favorites:



Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor
Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older
Slade House by David Mitchell
The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma
When by Victoria Laurie

Hope everyone is ending the year on a positive note and that 2016 will be even bigger and better for all of you! :)

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Allison Branscombe, author of All About China: Stories, Songs, Crafts and More for Kids, selected these five family favorites.

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Reading books together is an incredibly easy and, not to mention, enjoyable way to be present and engaged with kids.

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Which books will you be reading during the 12 days of Christmas? Here are 6 picture books that we know will make you feel merry ... Read the rest of this post

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This month's best selling kids series from The Children's Book Review's affiliate store, First 100, is a great series for babies and toddlers ready to absorb information about the world around them.

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At the end of every year, booklists start coming out.  Many of them are booklists that have been created by organizations such as ALA and state associations.  These titles have been vetted, read, discussed, and selected based on literary merit as one of the main driving forces creating certain lists. 
Others are quite different in that they're created by users and readers.  They aren't part of a committee and are part of a voting poll or survey to see what they feel is the best of 2015. 
Regardless of type of booklist, they're out!  It's also interesting to see how many of the same titles can be found on each list.  So how many of them have you read? :)

Here's a list with link of many of those booklists:

Morris Award Finalists (debut YA authors)

YALSA's Best of the Best Top Ten lists (from six different lists)

Texas Library Association TAYSHAS list (best YA books 2016 list)

Texas Library Association Maverick list (best YA graphic novels 2016 list)

National Book Award Lists (excellence in YA poetry, fiction and non-fiction)

Publishers Weekly Best YA Books of 2015

School Library Journal YA Best Books of 2015

Goodreads Best YA Fiction (based on readers' votes)

Goodreads Best YA Fantasy and Science Fiction (based on readers' votes)

The Telegraph's Best YA Books of 2015

Amazon's Best Books of the Year (So Far 2015)

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Our hand-picked list from the Best Selling Young Adult list from The New York Times remains the same this month. The best selling young adult titles include books by super-talents Rainbow Rowell and Marie Lu.

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This month, our selection of books picked from the nationwide best selling middle grade list, as they appear on The New York Times, remain the same. We love the powerful story I Am Malala.

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Ooh, the weather outside is ... perfect for snuggling inside with one of these best selling picture books. Snow, by Cynthia Rylant, is this month's best selling picture book from our affiliate store—it's a beautiful book.

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This list of “9 Excellent Jewish Kids Books for Hanukkah Gifts and Beyond” was curated by Bianca Schulze.

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After taking a look at our selection of hot new releases and popular kids' books ... it's more than likely we're suckers for picture books about love, kindness, and compassion.

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Books make the best gifts! And they are even better when bundled with toys.

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So I’m going to confess something to you.  All year long, from January onward, I’ve been keeping track of any picture book, easy book, or early chapter book I’ve seen containing some kind of diversity.  Have I missed books?  Of course I have!  You cannot make a list like this without missing something.  Books from publishers like Kar-Ben Books and Inhabit Media (amongst others) should be better represented, but I failed to keep proper track early in the year.  There probably isn’t enough Lee & Low or Cinco Punto either.  At the same time, the books that I was able to gather could be potentially useful to folks.  You will find them organized by their publication release dates.

I apologize beforehand that sometimes the notes here do not mention the specific ethnicities of the characters.  Often this is because the book itself has not made it clear.  For these titles, you will need to look at the books individually.

As ever, if you see something missing here please note it in the comments. Also, if you think I’ve included wrong information about a book, let me know so that I can make the change.

Enjoy!

Title                              Author            Pub Date     Age        Subjects                               Type

Families	Shelley Rotner & Sheila M. Kelly	1/1/2015	Ages 3-6	family, alternative lifestyles, same sex families	Picture Book
3, 2, 1, Go!	Emily Arnold McCully	1/1/2015	Ages 4-6	strong girls, science girls, STEM	Easy Reader
How to Grow a Friend	Sara Gillingham	1/6/2015	Ages 3-6	Multi-ethnic Cast, friendship, nature	Picture Book
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich	Julia Sarcone-Roach	1/6/2015	Ages 4-6	nature, bears, cities, Diverse Main Character	Picture Book
Last Stop on Market Street	Matt de la Pena	1/8/2015	Ages 4-6	family, multigenerational, lower income, African-American, Diverse Main Character	Picture Book
The Tea Party in the Woods	Akiko Miyakoshi	1/8/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, Asian, animals, tea parties	Picture Book
Ready, Set, Kindergarten!	Paula Ayer	1/9/2015	Ages 4-5	Diverse Main Character, starting school, biracial	Picture Book
My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay	Cari Best	1/13/2015	Ages 4-7	Disability, friendship, sports, African-American, Diverse Main Character	Picture Book
Freedom’s School	Lesa Cline-Ransome	1/13/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, African-American, American history, freedom	Picture Book
Juna’s Jar	Jane Bank	1/15/2015	Ages 3-6	multi-cultural, moving, Asian-American, friendship, Diverse Main Character	Picture Book
Harlem Renaissance Party	Faith Ringgold	1/27/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, African-American, American history	Picture Book
Sofia Martinez: My Family Adventure	Jacqueline Jules	2/1/2015	Ages 6-9	family, Latino-American, Diverse Main Character	Chapter Book
Sofia Martinez: The Missing Mouse	Jacqueline Jules	2/1/2015	Ages 4-6	family, Latino-American, Diverse Main Character	Picture Book
A Dozen Cousins	Lori Haskins Houran	2/3/2015	Ages 4-6	family, Multi-ethnic Cast, boys, girls	Picture Book
The New Small Person	Lauren Child	2/10/2015	Ages 4-7	family, new baby, siblings, jealousy, Diverse Main Character	Picture Book
I Had a Favorite Hat	Boni Ashburn	2/17/2015	Ages 4-6	Diverse Main Character, Clothing, Imagination	Picture Book
The Red Bicycle	Jude Isabella	3/1/2015	Ages 4-7	multi-cultural, Africa, bicycles, philanthropy, world culture, Diverse Main Character	Picture Book
The Sock Thief	Ana Crespo	3/1/2015	Ages 4-7	Latin America, soccer, sports, altruism, Diverse Main Character	Picture Book
Jessica’s Box	Peter Carnavas	3/1/2015	Ages 4-6	Diverse Main Character, Disability, friendship	Picture Book
Party Croc! A Folktale from Zimbabwe	Margaret Read McDonald	3/1/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, folktale, promises	Picture Book
No, No, Kitten!	Shelley Moore Thomas	3/3/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, Cats, Pets	Picture Book
Stone Angel	Jane Yolen	3/3/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, Jewish, WWII, Holocaust, hope	Picture Book
Red	Jan De Kinder	3/9/2015	Ages 4-7	Bullying, Friendship, School	Picture Book
Bird & Diz	Gary Golio	3/10/2015	Ages 4-7	jazz, African-American, American history, music, Diverse Main Character	Picture Book
My Pen	Christopher Myers	3/10/2015	Ages 6-9	Diverse Main Character, Imagination, Drawing, Art	Picture Book
Red, Yellow, Blue (And a Dash of White Too!)	C.G. Esperanza	3/10/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, Imagination, Colors, Art, African-American	Picture Book
Peace Is an Offering	Annette Le Box	3/10/2015	Ages 4-7	Multi-ethnic Cast, peace, friendship	Picture Book
15 Things Not To Do With a Baby	Margaret McAllister	3/15/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, new baby, siblings	Picture Book
Thank You, Jackson	Niki Daly	3/15/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, manners, Africa	Picture Book
Salsa: Una Poema Para Cocinar / A Cooking Poem	Jorge Argueta	3/17/2015	Ages 4-6	cooking, Latino-American, family, Diverse Main Character	Picture Book
And What If I Won’t?	Maureen Fergus	3/17/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, family, mothers, behavior	Picture Book
Drum Dream Girl	Margarita Engle	3/24/2015	Ages 5-7	Diverse Main Character, Cuba, music, girls, multi-racial	Picture Book
Families, Families, Families!	Suzanne Lang	3/24/2015	Ages 4-6	family, alternative lifestyles, same sex families	Picture Book
How to Surprise a Dad	Jean Reagan	3/24/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, fathers, family	Picture Book
The Best Friend Battle	Lindsay Eyre	3/31/2015	Ages 6-9	friendship, jealousy, Latino-American, Multi-ethnic Cast	Chapter Book
The Five of Us	Quentin Blake	3/31/2015	Ages 4-7	Multi-ethnic Cast, ability, self-esteem	Picture Book
Finding the Music / En Pos de la Musica	Jennifer Torres	4/1/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, Latino-American, music	Picture Book
Poems in the Attic	Nikki Grimes	4/1/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, African-American, family	Picture Book
The Flying Hand of Marco B.	Richard Leiter	4/1/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, imagination, flying	Picture Book
My Family Tree and Me	Dusan Petricic	4/1/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, Asian-American, biracial, family tree	Picture Book
Never Give Up: A Story About Self-esteem	Kathryn Cole	4/1/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, self-esteem, perseverance	Picture Book
I Am Ivan Crocodile	Rene Gouichoux	4/1/2015	Ages 5-7	bullying, disability, emotions	Picture Book
Grandma in Blue With a Red Hat	Scott Menchin	4/14/2015	Ages 4-6	family, multigenerational, art, African-American, Diverse Main Character	Picture Book
Hens for Friends	Sandy De Lisle	4/14/2015	Ages 5-7	Diverse Main Character, Latino-American, farm life, chickens	Picture Book
There’s No Such Thing As Little	LeUyen Pham	4/14/2015	Ages 3-6	Multi-ethnic Cast, concepts, perception	Picture Book
Little Sleepyhead	Elizabeth McPike	4/14/2015	Ages 2-4	Multi-ethnic Cast, bedtime, babies	Picture Book
Little Chanclas	Jose Lozano	4/15/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, Latino-American, clothing	Picture Book
Princess Nina	Marlise Achterbergh	4/21/2015	Ages 4-6	alternative lifestyles, princesses, strong girls	Picture Book
Big News!	Ida Siegal	4/28/2015	Ages 6-9	Diverse Main Character, Latino-American, mystery	Chapter Book
Never Ask a Dinosaur to Dinner	Gareth Edwards	4/28/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, dinosaurs, bedtime	Picture Book
Izzy Barr, Running Star	Claudia Mills	4/28/2015	Ages 6-9	Diverse Main Character, sports, friendship, African-American	Chapter Book
Race the Wild: Rain Forest Relay	Kristin Earhart	4/28/2015	Ages 6-9	Diverse Main Character, nature, adventure, animals	Chapter Book
The Nesting Quilt	Cathryn Falwell	5/1/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, new baby, crafts	Picture Book
A Day at Grandma’s	Mi-ae Lee	5/1/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, Korea, sleepovers, separation, family	Picture Book
Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story	Reem Faruqi	5/1/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, Muslim, holidays, differences	Picture Book
Grandma Lives in a Perfume Village	Fang Suzhen	5/1/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, Taiwan, death, grandparents	Picture Book
Ally-Saurus	Richard Torrey	5/5/2015	Ages 4-6	friendship, strong girls, gender stereotypes, dinosaurs	Picture Book
Stella Brings the Family	Miriam B. Schiffer	5/5/2015	Ages 4-7	family, alternative lifestyles, same sex families	Picture Book
Don’t Throw It to Mo!	David A. Adler	5/5/2015	Ages 6-7	Multi-ethnic Cast, Diverse Main Character, sports, football, self-esteem	Easy Reader
Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split	Anica Mrose Rissi	5/5/2015	Ages 6-9	Diverse Main Character, friendship, fighting	Chapter Book
Interstellar Cinderella	Deborah Underwood	5/5/2015	Ages 3-6	strong girls, science girls, STEM, fractured fairytales	Picture Book
Feet Go to Sleep	Barbara Bottner	5/12/2015	Ages 4-6	family, bedtime, body parts, Multi-ethnic Cast	Picture Book
Bright Sky, Starry City	Uma Krishnaswami	5/12/2015	Ages 5-7	science, strong girls, astronomy, urban life	Picture Book
With a Friend By Your Side	Barbara Kerley	5/12/2015	Ages 4-7	Multi-ethnic Cast, friendship	Picture Book
Sunday Shopping	Sally Derby	5/15/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, African-American, shopping, money	Picture Book
One Family	George Shannon	5/26/2015	Ages 3-6	Multi-ethnic Cast, alternative lifestyles, family, multigenerational	Picture Book
Battle Bugs: The Lizard War	Jack Patton	5/26/2015	Ages 6-9	Diverse Main Character, action, insects, reptiles, adventure	Chapter Book
Battle Bugs: The Spider Siege	Jack Patton	5/26/2015	Ages 6-9	Diverse Main Character, action, insects, spiders, adventure	Chapter Book
In a Village By the Sea	Muon Van	6/9/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, Vietnam, Cumulative Tale	Picture Book
What James Said	Liz Rosenberg	6/9/2015	Ages 4-7	Multi-ethnic Cast, friendship, rumors	Picture Book
One Word from Sophia	Jim Averbeck	6/16/2015	Ages 4-7	Multi-ethnic Cast, Diverse Main Character, manners	Picture Book
Vamonos! Let’s Go!	Rene Colato Lainez	7/1/2015	Ages 2-4	Multi-ethnic Cast, Latino, nursery rhymes, transportation	Picture Book
Rosie Goes to Preschool	Karen Katz	7/7/2015	Ages 2-4	Multi-ethnic Cast, starting school, preschool, friendship	Picture Book
Freckleface Strawberry: Backpacks	Julianne Moore	7/14/2015	Ages 4-6	alternative lifestyles, same sex families, cleaning	Easy Reader
We’re Getting a Pet	Sue Fliess	7/14/2015	Ages 2-4	Diverse Main Character, new pet, animals	Picture Book
Charlotte and the Quiet Place	Deborah Sosin	7/21/2015	Ages 4-6	Diverse Main Character, African-American, New York City, peace	Picture Book
Bucky and Stu Vs. The Mikanikal Man	Cornelius Van Wright	7/28/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, African-American, superheroes, imagination, friendship	Picture Book
Double Happiness	Nancy Tupper Ling	7/28/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, Asian-American, moving, travel	Picture Book
Marvelous Cornelius	Phil Bildner	7/28/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, hope, hurricanes, African-American	Picture Book
Shanghai Sukkah	Heidi Smith Hyde	8/1/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, Jewish, China, history, holidays	Picture Book
Talia and the Very Yum Kippur	Linda Elovitz Marshall	8/1/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main character, Jewish, holidays	Picture Book
Meg Goldberg on Parade	Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum	8/1/2015	Ages 4-6	Jewish, parades, New York City	Picture Book
The Seeds of Friendship	Michael Foreman	8/4/2015	Ages 4-6	Diverse Main Character, immigrants, friendship, Africa	Picture Book
The Great and Mighty Nikko!	Xavier Garza	8/4/2015	Ages 4-6	Diverse Main Character, bilingual, Latin-American, counting, Mexican wrestling	Picture Book
I’m New Here	Anne Sibley O’Brien	8/4/2015	Ages 4-6	Multi-ethnic Cast, immigration, immigrants, friendship	Picture Book
The Green Musician	Mahvash Shahegh	8/7/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, Muslim, folktales	Picture Book
Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox	Danielle Daniel	8/11/2015	Ages 3-6	Multi-ethnic Cast, feelings, animals, Native American	Picture Book
In the Canyon	Liz Garton Scanlon	8/18/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, nature, animals	Picture Book
Pumpkin Day!	Candice Ransom	8/25/2015	Ages 4-6	Diverse Main Character, African-American, autumn, seasons	Easy Reader
Happy In Our Skin	Fran Manushkin	8/25/2015	Ages 3-6	Multi-ethnic Cast, self-esteem, celebrating differences	Picture Book
Mango, Abuela, and Me	Meg Medina	8/25/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, grandparents, immigration, Latino-American	Picture Book
Leo	Mac Barnett	8/25/2015	Ages 3-6	Multi-ethnic Cast, ghosts, friendship	Picture Book
Elephant in the Dark	Mina Javaherbin	8/25/2015	Ages 4-7	Multi-ethnic Cast, Iran, folktale	Picture Book
What Does It Mean to be Kind?	Rana DiOrio	8/25/2015	Ages 4-6	Multi-ethnic Cast, kindness, life skills	Picture Book
My Two Blankets	Irena Kobold	9/1/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, immigrants, friendship, Africa	Picture Book
On the Ball: Unleash Your Imagination	Brian Pinkney	9/1/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, African-American, soccer, persistence	Picture Book
In a Cloud of Dust	Alma Fullerton	9/1/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, Africa, bicycles	Picture Book
Mama’s Nightingale: A Story of Immigration and Separation	Edwidge Danticat	9/1/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, immigration, separation, Carribean	Picture Book
Sail Away	Langston Hughes	9/1/2015	Ages 4-7	Multi-ethnic Cast, poetry, water	Picture Book
Poo in the Zoo	Steve Smallman	9/1/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, zoo, poop, rhyming picture books	Picture Book
Sadako’s Cranes	Judith Loske	9/1/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, Japan, WWII, hope, peace	Picture Book
Backyard Camp-Out	Jerdine Nolen	9/1/2015	Ages 4-7	Multi-ethnic Cast, camping, friendship	Easy Reader
Block Party Surprise	Jerdine Nolen	9/1/2015	Ages 4-7	Multi-ethnic Cast, parties, friendship	Easy Reader
Monster Trouble!	Lane Fredrickson	9/1/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, monsters, bedtime	Picture Book
The Little Kids’ Table	Mary Ann McCabe Riehle	9/1/2015	Ages 3-6	Multi-ethnic Cast, holidays, dinner, manners	Picture Book
Lizard From the Park	Mark Pett	9/8/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, NYC, dinosaurs, friendship	Picture Book
Oskar and the Eight Blessings	Richard & Tanya Simon	9/8/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, Jewish, NYC, holocaust, Hannukah, Christmas	Picture Book
I Am a Bear	Jean-Francois Dumont	9/8/2015	Ages 4-7	homelessness, poverty, compassion, bears	Picture Book
It’s Tough to Lose Your Balloon	Jarrett J. Krosoczka	9/8/2015	Ages 3-6	Multi-ethnic Cast, feelings, problem solving	Picture Book
Jumping Off Library Shelves: A Book of Poems	Lee Bennett Hopkins (ed)	9/8/2015	Ages 4-7	Multi-ethnic Cast, poetry, libraries	Picture Book
Flop to the Top	Eleanor Davis	9/15/2015	Ages 4-6	Diverse Main Character, friendship, popularity, pets	Easy Reader
P’esk’a and the First Salmon Ceremony	Scot Ritchie	9/15/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, Native Americans, history	Picture Book
Oscar Lives Next Door	Bonnie Farmer	9/15/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, jazz, music, illness	Picture Book
Miracle on 133rd Street	Sonia Manzano	9/22/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, NYC, Latino-American, Christmas	Picture Book
How the Sun Got to Coco’s House	Bob Graham	9/22/2015	Ages 4-6	Multi-ethinic Cast, daytime, the world	Picture Book
Roar!	Tammi Sauer	9/29/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, dragons, friendship	Picture Book
Kamik’s First Sled	Matilda Sulurayok	10/1/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, Native voices, dogs	Picture Book
Ketzel the Cat Who Composed	Leslea Newman	10/6/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, Jewish, cats, music	Picture Book
Mixed Me!	Taye Diggs	10/6/2015	Ages 3-6	Diverse Main Character, biracial, self-esteem	Picture Book
Little Shaq	Shaquilloe O’Neal	10/6/2015	Ages 6-9	Diverse Main Character, basketball, African-American, self-esteem	Chapter Book
Two White Rabbits	Jairo Buitrago	10/13/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, Mexico, migrants, immigration	Picture Book
West Meadow Detectives	Liam O’Donnell	10/13/2015	Ages 6-9	Multi-ethnic Cast, autism, detective stories	Chapter Book
Me and My Dragon: Christmas Spirit	David Biedrzycki	10/13/2015	Ages 4-6	Diverse Main Character, Christmas, dragons, poverty	Picture Book
Today is the Day	Eric Walters	10/13/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, orphans, Kenya, birthdays	Picture Book
Bottle Cap Boys Go Dancing on Royal Street	Rita Williams-Garcia	10/15/2015	Ages 4-6	Diverse Main Character, African-American, dance, New Orleans	Picture Book
Dear Santa, Love, Rachel Rosenstein	Amanda Peet & Andrea Troyer	10/20/2015	Ages 4-7	Diverse Main Character, Jewish, Christmas, Hanukkah	Picture Book
Pablo & Jane and the Hot Air Contraption	Jose Domingo	10/20/2015	Ages 6-9	Diverse Main Character, graphic novels, adventure	Chapter Book
Little Red Gliding Hood	Tara Lazar	10/27/2015	Ages 4-6	Diverse Main Character, fairy tales, ice skating, fractured fairy tales	Picture Book
Strictly No Elephants	Lisa Mantchev	10/27/2015	Ages 3-6	Multi-ethnic Cast, friendship, differences, inclusion, pets	Picture Book
I Can’t Wait!	Amy Schwartz	10/27/2015	Ages 3-6	Multi-ethnic Cast, friendship, emotions	Picture Book
Bigfoot Does Not Like Birthday Parties	Eric Ode	10/27/2015	Ages 3-6	Multi-ethnic Cast, Bigfoot, birthday parties	Picture Book
One Today	Richard Blanco	11/3/2015	Ages 4-7	Multi-ethnic Cast, poetry, patriotism	Picture Book
Lola Levine is Not Mean!	Monica Brown	11/3/2015	Ages 6-9	Diverse Main Character, biracial, Jewish, Latino-American	Chapter Book
Specs for Rex	Yasmeen Ismail	11/3/2015	Ages 4-7	glasses, self-esteem, first day of school	Picture Book
The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk	Kabir & Surishtha Sehgal	11/3/2015	Ages 2-4	Multi-ethnic Cast, India, nursery rhymes, transportation	Picture Book
Snow Rabbit	Camille Garoche	11/3/2015	Ages 4-6	Disability, sisters, nature, rabbits	Picture Book
The Little Tree	Muon Van	11/10/2015	Ages 4-7	adoption, nature, environment	Picture Book
Don’t Feed the Geckos	Karen English	12/1/2015	Ages 6-9	Multi-ethnic Cast, soccer, cousins, Latino, family	Chapter Book

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Kids who develop healthy habits have improved outcomes in all aspects of life.

That’s why we’re excited to offer a new collection of titles on the First Book Marketplace to help educators teach healthy habits to kids they serve. Hand-selected by renowned chef Mario Batali, the Healthy Kids Collection features eight books about food and the importance of healthy eating.

Six of the titles are brand-new to the First Book Marketplace.

In addition to sponsoring this collection, The Mario Batali Foundation is helping 250 schools and programs serving kids in need access these resources.

Below are a few of the titles you can find in the Healthy Kids Collection. To view all of the titles visit the First Book Marketplace.

Edible Colors by Jennifer Vogel Bass

With a combination of unusual foods and a kaleidoscope of colors, this concept book shows that not all foods have to look the same way. A banana can be red, broccoli can be purple, and cherries can be yellow and still taste just as delicious.

 

 

To Market, To Market by Nikki McClure

Known for art that celebrates the virtues of community, hard work, and living gently on the planet, Nikki McClure here explores a topic close to her heart: the farmers market. Alternating between story and fact, this lovingly crafted picture book follows a mother and son to the weekly market. As they check off items on their shopping list, the reader learns how each particular food was grown or produced, from its earliest stages to how it ended up at the market.

Gus, Nellie, and baby Jake can’t wait to go on a picnic! In the morning the family heads to their community garden, then to the farmer’s market and the grocery store to gather vegetables, fruit, meat, and other fresh and delicious foods. Readers follow them through the day as they go home to prepare, cook, and pack up the goodies, then cap their day by eating a yummy meal in the park and flying a kite together.

A special thanks to the Mario Batali Foundation for making this collection possible. We love being able to offer new resources to the educators and program leaders we serve.

The post Books for Growing Healthy Minds appeared first on First Book Blog.

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