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Picture Books and Early Chapters February 2021
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Black is a rainbow color
by Angela Joy
What it is: one girl's lyrical musings on the color black and the rich diversity of Black culture in the United States.
Read it for: powerful mixed-media illustrations and a final section packed with notes, poems, and a playlist to deepen readers' understanding.
Try this next: Samara Cole Doyon's Magnificent Homespun Brown, another upbeat book affirming Black beauty; and Kwame Alexander's The Undefeated, another sumptuously illustrated look at African American history.
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The range eternal
by Louise Erdrich
A young Native American girl who considers her family's wood-burning stove to be the heart of her home in the Turtle Mountains must adapt when it is replaced.
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From Archie to Zack
by Vincent Kirsch
“Archie loves Zack!” “Zack loves Archie!” Everyone said it was so. But Archie hasn’t told Zack yet. And Zack hasn’t told Archie. They spend just about every minute together: walking to and from school, doing science and art projects, practicing for marching band, learning to ride bikes, and so much more. Over the course of a few months, Archie tries to write a letter to Zack to tell him how he feels: “From A to Z.” None of his drafts sound quite right, so he hides them all away. One by one, Archie’s friends (Zelda, Zinnia, and Zuzella) find the letters . . . but they know exactly whom they’re meant for.
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Swish! : the slam-dunking, alley-ooping, high-flying Harlem Globetrotters
by Suzanne Slade
Starring: the Harlem Globetrotters, an African American basketball team formed in the 1920s who added tricks and theatrics to their games to build their popularity in the racist world of sports, eventually influencing the desegregation of the NBA and gaining worldwide fame.
What's inside: exaggerated, high-energy artwork emphasizing the Globetrotters' distinctive verve and showmanship.
Who it's for: basketball fans of all ages.
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Over the Shop
by Jonarno Lawson
A lonely little girl and her grandparent need to fill the run-down apartment in their building. But taking over the quarters above their store will mean major renovations for the new occupants, and none of the potential renters can envision the possibilities of the space—until one special couple shows up. With their ingenuity, the little girl’s big heart, and heaps of hard work, the desperate fixer-upper begins to change in lovely and surprising ways. In this bustling wordless picture book, JonArno Lawson’s touching story and Qin Leng’s gentle illustrations capture all angles of the building’s transformation, as well as the evolving perspectives of the girl and her grandparent. A warm and subtly nuanced tale, Over the Shop throws open the doors to what it means to accept people for who they are and to fill your home with love and joy.
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Runaway : The Daring Escape of Ona Judge
by Ray Anthony Shepard
Ona Judge was enslaved by the Washingtons, and served the President's wife, Martha. Ona was widely known for her excellent skills as a seamstress, and was raised alongside Washington’s grandchildren. Indeed, she was frequently mistaken for his granddaughter. This biography follows her childhood and adolescence until she decides to run away. This book doesn’t shy away from the horrors of slavery, nor the complex role of house servants. Author Ray Anthony Shepard implicates the reader in Ona’s decision to emancipate herself by using a rhetorical refrain, “Why you run, Ona Judge?” This haunting meditation welcomes meaningful and necessary conversation among readers.
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Roy digs dirt
by David Shannon
An adorable but messy little white dog who loves nothing better than playing in the dirt digs, burrows and rolls through the buried treasures he unearths before an encounter with a skunk sends him to the dreaded bathtub. By the author of the Caldecott Honor-winning No, David!
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Going Down Home With Daddy
by Kelly Starling Lyons
What it's about: At a big family reunion, Lil' Alan worries that he doesn't have a tribute to share like the other kids. Inspiration finally strikes, however, after he sees the family's deep connection to Granny's farm.
Art alert: Textured, color-washed illustrations add depth and a palpable atmosphere of warmth to this story, making it relatable and reassuring for many kids.
Reviewers say: it's a "necessary reminder of the power in families coming together" (Kirkus Reviews).
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