#cozbi a. cabrera

[kjcamilli]

Me & Mama

Cozbi A. Cabrera 

Although half the household is still asleep, the only person Mama’s daughter wants to hang out with is her! The story shows a wonderful relationship between a child and her mother, and gives insight into what a day in their life looks like, complete with breakfast, rainy adventures, and eventually going back to bed. Cabrera does an excellent job of combining more figurative language, such as similes, metaphors, and personification, with easier comparisons. Younger readers can quickly understand the differences between Mama’s possessions (like the more breakable cup and the taller boots) and the little girls, while also being exposed to very descriptive writing (like the description of Mama’s voice, people in stores, and even the rain). While the language might be confusing in some parts, with no strict rhythm and a lot of variation in sentence structure, the illustrations go a great way in helping to visualize the more figurative language without having to spell out what it means. The illustrations are incredibly detailed, with acrylic paint taking up every page. A few illustrations demonstrate the contrast between certain objects, such as Mama and her daughter’s different cups, in which case the entire page is focused on these objects. However, most of the pages are full page or two page spreads that make it easy to read into the character’s lives outside of the story. Mama’s workplace is painted in detail, along with the kitchen, bedrooms, and living rooms, giving readers insight into what is important to the characters through paintings on the wall, books on the shelves, and other smaller details. Emotion is clearly shown through the semi-realistic style, showing, through characters facial expressions, the happiness that they are feeling. Another strength of the illustration is the way hair is painted, showing texture in a variety of styles, including braids and afros. The paintings utilize color as well, such as when the two characters are shown as a pop of color in an otherwise brown, green, and blue forest, or when the whole page is painted in dark blues and blacks as the lights are turned out. Overall, the story paints a wholesome family dynamic for young readers to relate to. 

BIBLIO: 2020, Simon & Schuster, Inc, Ages 4 to 8, $17.99. 

REVIEWER: Katherine Camilli

FORMAT: Picture Book

ISBN: 978-1-5344-5421-7

[sweethoneychildbookclub]

Stitchin’ and Pullin’: A Gee’s Bend Quilt

Author & Illustrator: Patricia McKissack & Cozbi A. Cabrera

Age Range: 5-9

Theme: Community, Art, Heritage

This book captures the rich tradition of quilting in Gee’s Bend, Alabama, and the strong sense of community and history that inspires the women to create beautiful quilts, told through the eyes of a young girl learning from her elders.

Description/Introduction:

Experience the warmth and beauty of Gee’s Bend quilting through the story of a young girl absorbing the art and stories of her ancestors. This tale not only celebrates the vibrant patterns and colors of Gee’s Bend quilts but also honors the deep-rooted community ties and the transmission of knowledge and tradition from one generation to the next.

Quotes/Reviews:

“A beautifully illustrated celebration of tradition, art, and the bond between generations.” - School Library Journal

By delving into the story of Gee’s Bend and its quilts, readers are encouraged to appreciate the significance of cultural heritage and the collective joy of creating something meaningful together.

Content Value

Encourages appreciation for cultural heritage and the beauty of creating something meaningful together as a community.

[roesolo]

Lives to learn about: Picture Book Biographies

Chef Edna, by Melvina Noel/Illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera, (Apr. 2023, Abrams), $18.99, ISBN: 9781951836399 Ages 5-8 Have you ever heard of Chef Edna Lewis? You will now. Raised in Freetown, Virginia, in a town founded by her grandfather and other freed slaves, Chef Edna grew up on a farm and cooked with her mother, Mama Daisy, learning to measure out ingredients with coins: “A quarter’s worth…

[blackchildrensbooksandauthors]

📢August 2020 New Picture Book Release

Me & Mama

Cozbi A. Cabrera

Denene Millner Books

Simon & Schuster BYR

August 25, 2020

On a rainy day when the house smells like cinnamon and Papa and Luca are still asleep, when the clouds are wearing shadows and the wind paints the window with beads of water, I want to be everywhere Mama is.

Mama and Me is an ode to the strength of the bond between a mother and a daughter as they spend a rainy day together.

Ages: 4 and up

Grades: Pre-K and up

Pages: 40

Available Here👉🏿Our Stories Matter Bookshop

Find more children’s and young adult books by Black authors here

<> Follow BCBA on Twitter | Instagram <> Subscribe to Our Newsletter <>

[tayarijones]

One Last Word by Nikki Grimes. Gorgeous middle grade poetry book celebrating the Harlem Renaissance. I love the illustration by Cozbi Cabrera. She's pictured above wearing a sharp coat of her own design, channeling Zora every which way.

[illustration-alcove]

Cozbi A Cabrera’s illustrated book cover for Amina Luqman-Dawson’s Freewater.

[novelistra]

NoveList's Juvenile Brain Trust is a group of readers' advisory librarians and metadata librarians who focus on books for kids and teens. Once a week, the JBT gets together to catch up and share new books. On 7/18/2018, we discussed:

A Stone for Sascha, Aaron Becker

Weetzie Bat, Francesca Lia Block (we're excited about the forthcoming movie)

My Hair is a Garden, Cozbi A. Cabrera

The Noble Servant. Melanie Dickerson

Bark Park, Trudy Krisher, illustrated by Brooke Boynton-Hughes

Drawn Together, Minh Le, illustrated by Dan Santat

Are You Scared, Darth Vader?, Adam Rex  

Small Things, Mel Tregonning

Have you read any of these books? What do you think of them?

For more recommendations (plus printables and readers’ advisory tips), subscribe to the NoveList Book Squad! It's free :)

[cheshirelibrary]

Children's books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance 

[via embracerace.org]

Research from Harvard University suggests that children as young as three years old, when exposed to racism and prejudice, tend to embrace and accept it, even though they might not understand the feelings. By age 5, white children are strongly biased towards whiteness. To counter this bias, experts recommend acknowledging and naming race and racism with children as early and as often as possible. Children’s books are one of the most effective and practical tools for initiating these critical conversations; and they can also be used to model what it means to resist and dismantle oppression.​

Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz

Unstoppable: How Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team Defeated Army by Art Coulson

Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherford

My Hair is a Garden by Cozbi A. Cabrera

The Legendary Miss Lena Horne by Carole Boston Weatherford

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford

Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey

Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis by Jabari Asim

When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson

Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America by Carole Boston Weatherford

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison

Coretta Scott by Ntozake Shange

The Whispering Town by Jennifer Elvgren

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni

Frederick Douglass: The Lion Who Wrote History by Walter Dean Myers

Sojourner Truth’s Step-Stomp Stride by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up By Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney

That’s Not Fair! Emma Tenayuca’s Struggle for Justice by Carmen Tafolla and Sharyll Tenayuca

...

Click through to see more titles.

[wellesleybooks]

The Newbery, the Caldecott, the Printz, oh my!

The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, digital media, video and audio books for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards – at its Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits taking place virtually from Chicago.

A list of all the 2021 award winners follows:

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature:

“When You Trap a Tiger,” written by Tae Keller, is the 2021 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.

Five Newbery Honor Books also were named:

“All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team,” written by Christina Soontornvat and published by Candlewick Press; “BOX: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom,” written by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Michele Wood and published by Candlewick Press;  “Fighting Words,” written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House;  “We Dream of Space,” written by Erin Entrada Kelly, illustrated by Erin Entrada Kelly and Celia Krampien and published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers;  and “A Wish in the Dark,” written by Christina Soontornvat and published by Candlewick Press.

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:

“We Are Water Protectors,” illustrated by Michaela Goade is the 2021 Caldecott Medal winner. The book was written by Carole Lindstrom and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings.

Four Caldecott Honor Books also were named:

“A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart,” illustrated by Noa Denmon, written by Zetta Elliott and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group; “The Cat Man of Aleppo,” illustrated by Yuko Shimizu, written by Irene Latham & Karim Shamsi-Basha and published by G.P. Putnam's Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House; “Me & Mama,” illustrated and written by Cozbi A. Cabrera and published by Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; and “Outside In,” illustrated by Cindy Derby, written by Deborah Underwood and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Coretta Scott King Book Awards recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award:

“Before the Ever After,” written by Jacqueline Woodson, is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.  

Three King Author Honor Books were selected:

“All the Days Past, All the Days to Come,” written by Mildred D. Taylor, published by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC; “King and the Dragonflies,” written by Kacen Callender, published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.; and “Lifting as We Climb: Black Women’s Battle for the Ballot Box,” written by Evette Dionne, published by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award:

“R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul,” illustrated by Frank Morrison, is the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Book winner. The book is written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.

Three King Illustrator Honor Books were selected:

“Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration,” illustrated by Kaylani Juanita, written by Samara Cole Doyon and published by Tilbury House Publishers; “Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks,” illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera, written by Suzanne Slade and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS; and “Me & Mama,” illustrated and written by Cozbi A. Cabrera and published by Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award:

“Legendborn,” written by Tracy Deonn, is the Steptoe author award winner. The book is published by Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.

Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement:

Dorothy L. Guthrie is the winner of the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton.

Dorothy L. Guthrie is an award-winning retired librarian, district administrator, author and school board member. A respected children’s literature advocate, Guthrie promotes and affirms the rich perspectives of African Americans. Her work, “Integrating African American Literature in the Library and Classroom,” inspires educators with African American literature. Guthrie founded the first African American museum in her home, Gaston County, North Carolina.

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:

“Everything Sad Is Untrue (a true story),” by Daniel Nayeri, is the 2021 Printz Award winner. The book is published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido.

Four Printz Honor Books also were named:

“Apple (Skin to the Core),” by Eric Gansworth and published by Arthur A. Levine, an imprint of Levine Querido; “Dragon Hoops,” created by Gene Luen Yang, color by Lark Pien and published by First Second Books, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group; “Every Body Looking,” by Candice Iloh and published by Dutton Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House; and “We Are Not Free,” by Traci Chee and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience:

“I Talk Like a River,” written by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith and published by Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, wins the award for young children (ages 0 to 10). Two honor books for young children were selected: “All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything,” written by Annette Bay Pimentel, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali and published by Sourcebooks eXplore, an imprint of Sourcebook Kids, and “Itzhak: A Boy who Loved the Violin,” written by Tracy Newman, illustrated by Abigail Halpin and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Abrams.

“Show Me a Sign,” written by Ann Clare LeZotte and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., is the winner for middle grades (ages 11-13). Two honor books for middle grades were selected: “Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen!,” written by Sarah Kapit and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, and “When Stars Are Scattered,” written by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, illustrated by Victoria Jamieson, color by Iman Geddy and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

“This Is My Brain in Love,” written by I.W. Gregorio and published by Little Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, is the winner for teens (ages 13-18). No honor book for teens was selected.

Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences:

“Black Sun,” by Rebecca Roanhorse, published by Saga Press/Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster

“The House in the Cerulean Sea,” by TJ Klune, published by Tor Books, an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, a division of Macmillan

“The Impossible First: From Fire to Ice - Crossing Antarctica Alone,” by Colin O’Brady, published by Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster

“Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio,” by Derf Backderf, published by Abrams Comicarts

“The Kids Are Gonna Ask,” by Gretchen Anthony, published by Park Row Books, an imprint of Harlequin, a division of HarperCollins Publishers

“The Only Good Indians,” by Stephen Graham Jones, published by Saga Press/Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster

“Plain Bad Heroines,” by emily m. danforth, published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins

“Riot Baby,” by Tochi Onyebuchi, published by Tordotcom, an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, a division of Macmillan

“Solutions and Other Problems,” by Allie Brosh, published by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster

“We Ride Upon Sticks:  A Novel,” by Quan Barry, published by Pantheon Books, a division of Penguin Random House

Children’s Literature Legacy Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children through books that demonstrate integrity and respect for all children’s lives and experiences.

The 2021 winner is Mildred D. Taylor, whose award-winning works include "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry,” the 1977 Newbery Medal winner and a Coretta Scott King (CSK) Author honor; "The Land," the 2002 CSK Author Award winner; "The Road to Memphis," the 1991 CSK Author Award winner; “All the Days Past, All the Days to Come”; and “The Gold Cadillac,” among other titles.

Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults:

 The 2021 winner is Kekla Magoon. Her books include: “X: A Novel,” co-written by Ilyasah Shabazz and published by Candlewick Press; “How It Went Down,” published by Henry Holt and Co. Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group; “The Rock and the River” and “Fire in the Streets,” both published by Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.

Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States:

“Telephone Tales” is the 2021 Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in Italian as “Favole al telefono,” the book was written by Gianni Rodari, illustrated by Valerio Vidali, translated by Antony Shugaar and published by Enchanted Lion Books.

One Honor Book also was selected: “Catherine’s War,” published by HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, written by Julia Billet, illustrated by Claire Fauvel and translated from French by Ivanka Hahnenberger.  

Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States:

“Kent State,” produced by Paul R. Gagne for Scholastic Audio, is the 2021 Odyssey Award winner. The book is written by Deborah Wiles and narrated by Christopher Gebauer, Lauren Ezzo, Christina DeLaine, Johnny Heller, Roger Wayne, Korey Jackson, and David de Vries.

Four Odyssey Honor Audiobooks also were selected:

“Clap When You Land,” produced by Caitlin Garing for HarperAudio, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, written by Elizabeth Acevedo and narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo and Melania-Luisa Marte; “Fighting Words,” produced by Karen Dziekonski for Listening Library, an imprint of Penguin Random House Audio, written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and narrated by Bahni Turpin; “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You,” produced by Robert Van Kolken for Hachette Audio, written by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi and narrated by Jason Reynolds with an introduction by Ibram X. Kendi; and “When Stars Are Scattered,” produced by Kelly Gildea & Julie Wilson for Listening Library, an imprint of Penguin Random House Audio, written by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed and narrated by Faysal Ahmed, Barkhad Abdi and a full cast.  

Pura Belpré Awards honoring a Latinx writer and illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:

“¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat,” illustrated and written by Raúl Gonzalez, is the Belpré Illustrator Award winner. The book was published by Versify, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

One Belpré Illustrator Honor Book was named:

“Sharuko: El Arqueólogo Peruano/Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. Tello,” illustrated by Elisa Chavarri, written by Monica Brown and published by Children’s Book Press, an imprint of Lee & Low Books, Inc.

"Efrén Divided,” written by Ernesto Cisneros, is the Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award winner. The book is published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Two Belpré Children’s Author Honor Books were named:

"The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez," written by Adrianna Cuevas and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group, and "Lupe Wong Won’t Dance," written by Donna Barba Higuera and published by Levine Querido.

"Furia,” written by Yamile Saied Méndez, is the Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Award winner. The book is published by Algonquin Young Readers, an imprint of Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill.

Two Belpré Young Adult Author Honor Books were named:

"Never Look Back," written by Lilliam Rivera and published by Bloomsbury YA, and "We Are Not from Here," written by Jenny Torres Sanchez and published by Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children:

“Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera,” written by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Eric Rohmann, is the Sibert Award winner. The book is published by Neal Porter Books/Holiday House.

Three Sibert Honor Books were named:

“How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity’s Greatest Adventure,” written and illustrated by John Rocco, published by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House; “Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks,” written by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera, published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS; and “All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team,” written by Christina Soontornvat, published by Candlewick Press.

The Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award is given to a digital media producer that has created distinguished digital media for an early learning audience.

The 2021 Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award winner is “The Imagine Neighborhood,” produced by Committee for Children.

One honor title was named: “Sesame Street Family Play: Caring for Each Other,” produced by Sesame Workshop.

Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience:

“We Are Little Feminists: Families,” written by Archaa Shrivastav, designed by Lindsey Blakely and published by Little Feminist, is the 2021 recipient of the Stonewall Book Awards – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award.

Four Honor Books were selected:

“Beetle & The Hollowbones,” illustrated and written by Aliza Layne and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division; “Darius the Great Deserves Better,” written by Adib Khorram and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC; “Felix Ever After,” written by Kacen Callender and published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; and “You Should See Me in a Crown,” written by Leah Johnson and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book is:

“See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog,” written by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka and published by Candlewick Press.

Four Geisel Honor Books were named:

“The Bear in My Family,” written and illustrated by Maya Tatsukawa and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House; “Ty’s Travels: Zip, Zoom!” written by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Nina Mata and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers; “"What About Worms!?” written and illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins and published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group; and “Where’s Baby?” written and illustrated by Anne Hunter and published by Tundra Books of Northern New York, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers, a Penguin Random House Company.

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens:

“If These Wings Could Fly,” written by Kyrie McCauley, is the 2021 Morris Award winner. The book is published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins.

Four other books were finalists for the award:  

“Black Girl Unlimited: The Remarkable Story of a Teenage Wizard,” written by Echo Brown and published by Christy Ottaviano Books/Henry Holt and Co. Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group; “The Black Kids,” written by Christina Hammonds Reed and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; “It Sounded Better in My Head,” written by Nina Kenwood and published by Flatiron Books, Macmillan Publishers; and “Woven in Moonlight,” written by Isabel Ibañez and published by Page Street Publishing.

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults:

“The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh,” written by Candace Fleming, is the 2021 Excellence winner. The book is published by Schwartz and Wade, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.

Four other books were finalists for the award:  

“All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team,” written by Christina Soontornvat and published by Candlewick Press; “The Cat I Never Named: A True Story of Love, War, and Survival,” written by Amra Sabic-El-Rayess with Laura L. Sullivan and published by Bloomsbury YA; “How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity's Greatest Adventure,” written and illustrated by John Rocco and published by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House; and “You Call This Democracy?: How to Fix Our Democracy and Deliver Power to the People,” written by Elizabeth Rusch and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature.  The award promotes Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and is awarded based on literary and artistic merit. The award offers three youth categories including Picture Book, Children’s Literature and Youth Literature.  The award is administered by the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), an affiliate of the American Library Association.  This year’s winners include:

The Picture Book winner is “Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist,” written by Julie Leung, illustrated by Chris Sasaki and published by Schwartz & Wade, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House. The committee selected one Picture Book honor title: “Danbi Leads the School Parade,” written and illustrated by Anna Kim and published by Viking Children's Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

The Children’s Literature winner is “When You Trap a Tiger,” written by Tae Keller and published by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House. The committee selected one children’s literature honor title: “Prairie Lotus,” written by Linda Sue Park and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

The Youth Literature winner is “This Light Between Us,” written by Andrew Fukuda and published by Tor Teen. The committee selected one Youth Literature honor title: “Displacement,” written by Kiku Hughes and published by First Second, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.

The Sydney Taylor Book Award is presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. Presented since 1968 by the Association of Jewish Libraries, an affiliate of the American Library Association, the award encourages the publication and widespread use of quality Judaic literature.

This year’s Gold Medalists include: in the Picture Book category, “Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail,” by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Susan Gal and published by Charlesbridge; in the Middle Grades category, “Turtle Boy,” by M. Evan Wolkenstein and published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC; and in the Young Adult category, “Dancing at the Pity Party,” written and illustrated by Tyler Feder and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

Sydney Taylor Book Award Silver Medalists include: in the Picture Book category, “I Am the Tree of Life: My Jewish Yoga Book,” by Mychal Copeland, illustrated by André Ceolin and published by Apples and Honey Press, an imprint of Behrman House, and “Miriam at the River,” by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Khoa Le and published by Kar-Ben Publishing, a division of Lerner Publishing Group; in the Middle Grades category, “No Vacancy,” by Tziporah Cohen and published by Groundwood Books; “Anya and the Nightingale,” by Sofiya Pasternack and published by Versify, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; and “The Blackbird Girls,” by Anne Blankman and published by Viking Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House LLC; and in the Young Adult category, “They Went Left,” by Monica Hesse and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Hachette Book Group.

Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other literature and media experts, the awards encourage original and creative work.  For more information on the ALA youth media awards and notables, please visit www.ala.org/yma.

[anniekoh]

Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks written by Suzanne Slade illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera

Gwendolyn Brooks (1917–2000) is known for her poems about "real life." She wrote about love, loneliness, family, and poverty—showing readers how just about anything could become a beautiful poem. Exquisite follows Gwendolyn from early girlhood into her adult life, showcasing her desire to write poetry from a very young age. This picture-book biography explores the intersections of race, gender, and the ubiquitous poverty of the Great Depression—all with a lyrical touch worthy of the subject. Gwendolyn Brooks was the first Black person to win the Pulitzer Prize, receiving the award for poetry in 1950. And in 1958, she was named the poet laureate of Illinois.

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe (2016)

Winner of the Randolph Caldecott Medal and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Jean-Michel Basquiat and his unique, collage-style paintings rocketed to fame in the 1980s as a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the art world had ever seen. But before that, he was a little boy who saw art everywhere: in poetry books and museums, in games and in the words that we speak, and in the pulsing energy of New York City. Now, award-winning illustrator Javaka Steptoe's vivid text and bold artwork echoing Basquiat's own introduce young readers to the powerful message that art doesn't always have to be neat or clean—and definitely not inside the lines—to be beautiful.

[librariantricia]

Description

From Children's Literature Legacy Award-winning author Nikki Grimes comes a feminist-forward new collection of poetry celebrating the little-known women poets of the Harlem Renaissance--paired with full-color, original art from today's most talented female African-American illustrators.

For centuries, accomplished women--of all races--have fallen out of the historical records. The same is true for gifted, prolific, women poets of the Harlem Renaissance who are little known, especially as compared to their male counterparts.

In this poetry collection, bestselling author Nikki Grimes uses The Golden Shovel poetic method to create wholly original poems based on the works of these groundbreaking women-and to introduce readers to their work.

Each poem is paired with one-of-a-kind art from today's most exciting female African-American illustrators, including: Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Cozbi Cabrera, Pat Cummings, Nina Crews, Laura Freeman, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Ebony Glenn, April Harrison, Ekua Holmes, Keisha Morrison, Daria Peoples-Riley, Andrea Pippins, Shadra Strickland, and Elizabeth Zunon.

Legacy also includes a foreword, an introduction to the history of the Harlem Renaissance, author's note, and poet biographies, which make this a wonderful resource and a book to cherish.

[thesustainableswap]

BLM Master Post / Resources

No blog post this week. I felt like this was much more important. Here is a master post of everything I’ve found regarding the BLM movement, from petitions, to where you should donate, to reading, to accounts, to business... hopefully most of what you’re looking for can be found below. If I’ve missed anything vital please let me know and I will add it.

Petitions:

Justice for George Floyd (White House) | Justice for George Floyd (change.org) | Justice for George Floyd (change.org) | Justice for George Floyd (color of Change)

RAISE THE DEGREE - Remove bail for Derek Chauvin, murderer of George Floyd (White House) | Arrest The Other Three (White House) | Raise The Degree (change.org) | The Minneapolis Police Officers to be charged for murder (change.org)

#JusticeforBre (MoveOn.org) | #JusticeforBre (color of Change)

Justice For Ahmaud Arbery (change.org) | Justice for Ahmaud Arbery- Pass Georgia Hate Crime Bill (change.org) | Disbarment of George E. Barnhill (change.org)

Trayvon Martin Law (change.org)

Hands Up Act (change.org)

Justice for Belly Mujinga (change.org)

Justice for Tony McDade (change.org)

Justice for Alejandro Vargas Martinez (change.org)

Justice for Regis Korchinski-Paquet (change.org)

Wrongful Conviction: Julius Jones is innocent (change.org)

Wrongful Conviction: Kyjuanzi Harris (change.org)

Willie Simmons has served 38 years for a $9 robbery (change.org)

Defund The Police Minneapolis (Every Action / Reclaim The Block) | Mandatory Life Sentence for Police Brutality (change.org) | National Action Against Police Brutality (change.org) | Against Police Brutality in France (change.org)

Demand Racial Data on Coronavirus (BLM) | Coronavirus: Demand More from the Government (BLM)

Get Schools to Speak Up (change.org)

Stand with BLM (organizefor.org)

Organisations to Donate to

George Floyd Memorial Fund

Minnesota Freedom Fund

Black Visions Collective

Reclaim the Block

Campaign Zero

Black Lives Matter

UKBLM

National Bailout Fund

Black Earth Farms

Communities United Against Police Brutality

Unicorn Riot

Louisville Community Bail Fund

Rebuilding the Community (We Love Lake Street)

United Families and Friends Campaign

COVID-19: Supporting BAME Communities

House of GG

Trans Justice Funding Project

The Okra Project

Youth Breakout

SNaPCo

Black AIDS Insitute

Trans Cultural District

LGBTQ+ Freedom Fund

For If You Have Little Money to Spare:

Check out these YouTube videos and play them while you go about your day (or actively watch! Up to you.) The ad revenue will be donated to organisations supporting black lives - but make sure you turn off your adblocker first.

By Zoe Amira

By Francesca Grace

By Cindy Marshall

By Danni and Emmyn

Instagram Accounts (source)

Nova Reid

Layla Saad

Rachel Cargle

Check Your Privilege

Rachel Ricketts

The Great Unlearn

Reni Eddo Lodge

Ibram X. Kendi

Galdem

The Irin Journal

Women Who

For Working Ladies

Thyself

Black Girl Fest

UK isn’t Innocent

Readbyrachelaa

Mikaela Loach

Podcasts

About Race with Remi Eddo-Lodge

Conversations with Nova Reid

iWeigh with Jameela Jamil

The YIKES podcast

Have You Heard George’s Podcast?

The World Wide Tribe

Zero Hour Talks

1619 by the New York Times

TV / Film (source)

13th

When They See Us

Selma

The Black Power Mixtape 1967 - 1975

I Am Not Your Negro

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

If Beale Street Could Talk

The Hate U Give

American Son

Trial by Media

Books: (Source)

How To Be Anti Racist by Ibram X. Kendi

Me and White Supremacy by Robin Diangelo and Layla Saad

Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Remi Eddo-Lodge

So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong

America’s Original Sin By Jim Wallis and Bryan Stevenson

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

Blindspot by Mahzarin R. Banaji & Anthony G. Greenwald

Good Talk by Mira Jacob

Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

How Does It Feel To Be A Problem by Moustafa Bayoumi

The Fire This Time by Jesmyn Ward

White Fragility by Robin Diangelo

I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown

When They Call You A Terrorist by Patrisse Khan-Cullors, Asha Bandele, et al.

An African American and Latin History of The United States by Paul Ortiz

Citizen by Claudia Rankine

An Indigenous Peoples’ History of The United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Mindful of Race by Ruth King

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Tears We Cannot Stop by Michael Eric Dyson

Stamped From The Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi

Have Black Lives Ever Mattered? By Mumia Abu-Jamal

The Coloraturas of Law by Richard Rothstein

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? By Beverly Daniel Tatum

Stamped by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi

This Book Is Anti Racist by Tiffany Jewell and Aurelia Durand

Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch

Children’s Books: (Source)

Malcolm Little by Ilyasah Shabazz

Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins and Ann Hazzard

My Hair Is A Garden by Cozbi A. Cabrera

Separate Is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh

Young Water Protectors by Aslan Tudor

My Family Divided by Diana Guerrero

We Are Grateful by Traci Sorell

I Am Not A Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer

Schomburg: The Man Who Built A Library by Carole Boston Weatherford

Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

The Whispering Town by Jennifer Elvgren

When Harriet Tubman Led Her People To Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford

When I Was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton

Happy In Our Skin by Fran Manushkin

Chocolate Milk, Por Favor by Maria Dismondy

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer by Carole Boston Weatherford

When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson & Julie Flett

Shining Star The Anna May Wong Story by Paula Yoo & Lin Wang

Little Leaders: Bold Women In Black History by Vashti Harrison

Maddi’s Fridge by Lois Brandt

Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry

Sulwe by Vashti Harrison

A Is For Activist by Innosanto Nagara

Intersection Allies by Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council & Carolyn Choi

What Is Race? Who Are Racists? Why Does Skin Colour Matter? And Other Big Questions by Clair Heuchan & Nikesh Shukla

Black Owned Businesses: (source)

Wales Bonner

Casely-Hayford

Daughter of a Bohemian


Daily Paper

Aaks: Basket Bags

Martine Rose

Nubian Skin

Sincerely Nude

Liha Beauty

Beauty Stack

Bouclème: Afro and Curly Hair Products

Afrocenchix: Hair Products

The Afro Hair and Skin Company: shampoo bars, hair masks, face masks

Prick: Cacti and Plantcare

La Basketry: homeware

Bonita Ivie: stationery & design

Reset travel: travel cards and workshops

Bespoke Binny: homeware

New Beacon Books: Specialists in African and Caribbean Literature

Original Flava by Craig & Shaun McAnuff

Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen by Zoe Adjonyoh

Hibiscus by Lopè Ariyo

Ethiopia by Yohanis Gebreyesus

Belly Full by Riaz Phillips

Chika’s Snacks

Berry and Brie Grazing Boxes

Yard Confectionery Chocolate

Cabby’s Rum

Cham Cham Hot Pepper Sauce

Stay strong, and get learning (or unlearning)!

[littlefreelibrarynocostl]

I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes An upbeat, empowering, important picture book from the team that created the award-winning Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut

I am a nonstop ball of energy. Powerful and full of light. I am a go-getter. A difference maker. A leader. The confident Black narrator of this book is proud of everything that makes him who he is. He's got big plans, and no doubt he'll see them through--as he's creative, adventurous, smart, funny, and a good friend. Sometimes he falls, but he always gets back up. And other times he's afraid, because he's so often misunderstood and called what he is not. So slow down and really look and listen, when somebody tells you--and shows you--who they are. There are superheroes in our midst!

******

Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins Bigelow Frustrated by a day full of teachers and classmates mispronouncing her beautiful name, a little girl tells her mother she never wants to come back to school. In response, the girl's mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names on their lyrical walk home through the city. Empowered by this newfound understanding, the young girl is ready to return the next day to share her knowledge with her class. Your Name is a Song is a celebration to remind all of us about the beauty, history, and magic behind names

******

Me & MaMa by Cozbi A Cabrera Mama’s love is brighter than the sun, even on the rainiest of days. This celebration of a mother-daughter relationship is perfect for sharing with little ones! On a rainy day when the house smells like cinnamon and Papa and Luca are still asleep, when the clouds are wearing shadows and the wind paints the window with beads of water, I want to be everywhere Mama is. With lyrical prose and a tender touch, Mama and Me is an ode to the strength of the bond between a mother and a daughter as they spend a rainy day together.

******

To send books to the NoCo Book Box Supporters Club, please use one of our Wishlists:

Left-Bank Books, STL

EyeSeeMe Children’s Bookstore, STL

Bookshop.org

Amazon

Feel free to order used books whenever possible! Off The Shelf STL and BetterWorldBooks are two of my favorite Amazon MarketPlace sellers for used books.

[alissambc]

Millions of Books: Exquisite (88/200)

Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks // Written by Suzanne Slade // Illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera // Abrams Books for Young Readers // 2020

Summary: The true story of how poet Gwendolyn Brooks won the Pulitzer Prize.

Uses: Exquisite would be ideal in a lesson on poetry, especially the poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks. It could also be featured in a lesson on US history, the Great Depression, or Chicago.

Notes: Slade's poetic text emphasizes Brooks' dreams and ambitions for the future, which she once compared to clouds, also the title of an early poem. Cabrera's acrylic illustrations carry this theme throughout with images that are often floating or gazing upward.

[blackchildrensbooksandauthors]

🎨Youth Art Month (YAM): 40 Children’s Books by Black Artist Authors🎨

“I wanted to become an artist when I was very young…as far back as age four. I gave my mother a portrait I had drawn of her and she told me it captured her completely. I laughed about this years later, but it was the beginning of the strong support I would gain from my family and community for the years to come.”—Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Black Books Galore

Jan Spivey Gilchrist is a revered artist. Readers familiar with Black children’s literature know that she has illustrated many award-winning picture books, some of the most well-known are collaborations  with poet and prolific author, Eloise Greenfield. However, Gilchrist is also an author who has illustrated her own written works. 

March is Youth Art Month (YAM), and its purpose is to celebrate and “raise awareness and support of the visual arts.” Like Gilchrist, some children develop a love for art at an early age. Initiatives like YAM help to encourage their interests via school and community activities. Educators seeking to combine reading and art and families who want to embrace their child’s art curiosity, will love the wonderful and eclectic illustration styles in books listed. All are  written and illustrated by Black artists, including Ashley Bryan, Kadir Nelson, Jerry Pinkney, Cozbi A. Cabrera, Oge Mora, and 35 others. Enjoy the beautiful books. 

Our stories matter.

Go HERE for the full list of 40 Children’s Books by Black Artist Authors🖌️

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If you believe BCBA provides a valuable service, please take a few minutes to donate here or via Cash App ($BCBooksA) and support our mission to promote awareness of children’s and young adult literature by Black authors. 

Thanks for your support!

[winningthesweepstakes]

Me & Mama - written and illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera

Me & Mama – written and illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera

   Me & Mama – written and illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera, A Denene Millner Book/ Simon and Schuster, 9781534454217 (HC), 9781534454224 (ebook), 2020 Format: Hardcover Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5 Genre: Picture book What did you like about the book? This poetic slice-of-life story depicts a young girl’s admiration of her mother, and her desire to emulate her lovely…