Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
History is a poem that never ends. The lives of six Black Americans—from Ona Judge to Barack Obama—are woven together to reveal the grit and grace of the fight for freedom. Filled with eye-opening historical truths and moving story-poems, this collection is an essential bridge between our country’s past and our shared future.
A harvest of hope. Lula Viramontes finds herself in the heart of the 1965 Delano Grape Strike. As she navigates her father’s traditional expectations and the powerful words of activist Dolores Huerta, Lula must decide if she has the courage to join the fight for justice.
Her music is loud, but her hair is louder. A violin prodigy finds herself at the center of a racist dress code battle. From the elite halls of an arts academy to the under-resourced schools of her past, Lotus must decide if she’ll stay quiet for her art or stand up for her identity.
From the Bronx to the burning brush. A young girl haunted by a past tragedy must lead her friends through a devastating California wildfire. A pulse-pounding page-turner that asks: what does it take to find your way out?
BIG is a powerful, Caldecott-winning picture book that explores a child’s journey to self-love amidst societal pressure and bullying. With exquisite illustrations and spare text, this book is essential for teaching children that their unique identity should be celebrated, and that words have the power to both hurt and heal. Highly recommended for all elementary libraries.