President George W. Bush proclaimed June as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, making it a national holiday in 2006. However, this holiday was founded by Dr. Claire Nelson and celebrated by the Institute of Caribbean Studies in 2000. Find a list of books about celebrating the history, contributions, and culture of Caribbean-American people below!
Oshún and Me: A Story of Love and Braids by Adiba Nelson; illustrated by Alleanna Harris
Tenderly illustrated by Alleanna Harris, Adiba Nelson’s debut picture book Oshún and Me is a heartwarming ode to family, identity, and the beauty of braided hair.
Praise for Okra Stew:
★ “Warm is the best description for Harris’ palette, which captures a wide range of sumptuous brown skin tones, illuminates everything from edge combs to mobility aids (Yadira uses a wheelchair and a walker), and fills each spread with radiant yellows. Complementing the art, Nelson’s text draws from deep cultural roots to enrich the everyday intimacy of wash day and fuel the sparks of community connection. … Pure, unadulterated joy.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Also available in Spanish!
Okra Stew: A Gullah Geechee Family Celebration by Natalie Daise
This rhythmic, joyous picture book from Natalie Daise, the co-star of the hit Nickelodeon show “Gullah Gullah Island,” celebrates a special day of father-son cooking, and serves up a love letter to food, family, Gullah Geechee culture, and tradition—and includes the author’s own recipe!
Praise for Okra Stew:
★ “A loving family, a verdant garden, and Gullah Geechee traditions are key ingredients to this delightful stew of a story. Delicious from ‘dayclean’ to ‘when the sun red fa down.’” —Kirkus, starred review
★ “A beautiful and delicious story that celebrates family and traditions.'” —School Library Journal, starred review
“Daise’s picture book celebrates the deep bond between father and son while also introducing readers to the beautiful and lively Gullah culture. The composition and rhythmic text add energy to the melodious atmosphere . . . An expression of gratitude in the vein of Fry Bread.” —BCCB
Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince by Alliah L. Agostini; illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice
An exuberant picture book written by Alliah L. Agostini and illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice is about a Black boy with big dancing dreams who learns the meaning of courage and community.
Praise for Big Tune:
★ “This lively, vibrant narrative has an infectious spirit, and Shane is irresistible. Grounded in a tightknit Jamaican American community, the story deftly incorporates visual and textual references to dance styles, food, and other cultural touchstones… Themes of joy, solidarity, and artistic expression are effortlessly woven throughout the words and images… An exuberant celebration of community that leaps off the page.” —Kirkus, starred review
★ “Portrayals of diasporic Caribbean culture and a child’s selflessness distinguish Agostini’s 1990s Brooklyn-set story celebrating connection and community… Agostini’s buoyant rhyming verse pulses with details, and Knight-Justice’s stylized illustrations layer bold patterns and textures with typewritten text, sheet music, and images of the Jamaican flag, building a joyfully immersive portrait of neighborhood gatherings where ‘Swaying hips wine fast and slow./ Brown skin shines with black light’s glow.'” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
Granny’s Kitchen: A Jamaican Story of Food and Family by Sadé Smith; illustrated by Ken Daley
Accompanied by Ken Daley’s vibrant, sun-soaked artwork, Sadé Smith’s debut picture book Granny’s Kitchen is the perfect readaloud for budding chefs everywhere.
Praise for Granny’s Kitchen:
“Warm and inviting. Daley’s vibrant, highly saturated illustrations bolster the appeal and are sure to entice young readers—and perhaps encourage them to try their own hand in the kitchen. … A vibrant, upbeat story of a determined girl and her love of food.” —Kirkus
Julie and the Mango Tree by Sadé Smith; illustrated by Sayada Ramdial
Coupled with Sayada Ramdial’s bright and colorful artwork, Julie and the Mango Tree by Sadé Smith will have readers of all ages giggling—and craving a mango of their own!
Julie loves all kinds of fruit, but mangoes are her absolute favorite. One sticky summer afternoon, Julie goes to the big mango tree in her yard to ask for a snack.
But no matter how nicely she asks or how patient she tries to be, the tree just won’t drop a single sweet, juicy mango! Will Julie ever be able to convince the tree to let her have just a taste of her favorite treat?
I Want to Ride the Tap Tap by Danielle Joseph; illustrated by Olivier Ganthier
Writer Danielle Joseph and illustrator Olivier Ganthier’s I Want to Ride the Tap Tap is a day-of-the-week picture book about a Black family who ride the taxi-bus service—called a tap tap—in Haiti, and the fascinating people they meet along the way, illustrated by a Haitian artist known for his vibrant street art.
Praise for I Want to Ride the Tap Tap:
“This bright book about a Haitian child’s special outing will have everyone wanting to ride the tap tap … Every young reader will resonate with Claude’s happy day. Bon bagay!” —Kirkus
Cuba in My Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas
By Adrianna Cuevas, author of 2021 Pura Belpré Honor Book The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez, comes a sweeping, emotional middle grade historical novel about a twelve-year-old boy who leaves his family in Cuba to immigrate to the U.S. by himself, based on the author’s own family history.
Praise for Cuba in My Pocket:
★ “Inspired by stories from her father’s childhood, Cuevas’ latest is a triumph of the heart…A compassionate, emotionally astute portrait of a young Cuban in exile.” — Kirkus, Starred Review
★ “Cuevas’ intense and immersive account of a Cuban boy’s experience after the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion brings a specific point in history alive … Drawing from her father’s boyhood experiences, Cuevas does an outstanding job of eliciting the confusing array of emotions Cumba feels as he is thrown into life in a new country.” —Booklist, Starred Review
★ “Cuevas packs this sophomore novel with palpable emotions and themes of friendship, love, longing, and trauma, attentively conveying tumultuous historical events from the lens of one young refugee.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Also available in Spanish!
The Summer I Ate the Rich by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite
Just add garlic, lemon, and a dash of the one percent.
This smart, biting novel explores what happens when a Haitian American girl uses her previously hidden zombie abilities to exact revenge on the wealthy elites who’ve caused her family pain.
Praise for The Summer I Ate the Rich:
“Brielle’s fluidly rendered narration and the novel’s ambitious premise result in a captivating look at one immigrant family’s experience via a fantasy lens.” —Publishers Weekly
“Infused with Haitian folklore, The Summer I Ate the Rich is a visceral exploration of class and race that will leave you craving justice.” —Booklist
