Tag: Diverse Books

Activity Kit: I Am Golden by Eva Chen; illustrated by Sophie Diao

I Am Golden by Eva Chen; illustrated by Sophie Diao
Ages 3-6
On Sale March 22, 2022

This joyful and lyrical picture book from New York Times bestselling author Eva Chen and illustrator Sophie Diao is a moving ode to the immigrant experience, as well as a manifesto of self-love for Chinese American children.

What do you see when you look in the mirror, Mei? Do you see beauty?

We see eyes that point toward the sun, that give us the warmth and joy of a thousand rays when you smile. We see hair as inky black and smooth as a peaceful night sky. We see skin brushed with gold.

Download an activity kit for I Am Golden!

Learn more about I AM GOLDEN here→

Educator Guide: The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta

The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta
Ages 14-18
On Sale Now!

Indir is a Dreamer, descended from a long line of seers; able to see beyond reality, she carries the rare gift of Dreaming truth. But when the beloved king dies, his son has no respect for this time-honored tradition. King Alcan wants an opportunity to bring the Dreamers to a permanent end—an opportunity Indir will give him if he discovers the two secrets she is struggling to keep. As violent change shakes Indir’s world to its core, she is forced to make an impossible choice: fight for her home or fight to survive.

Saya is a seer, but not a Dreamer—she has never been formally trained. Her mother exploits her daughter’s gift, passing it off as her own as they travel from village to village, never staying in one place too long. Almost as if they’re running from something. Almost as if they’re being hunted. When Saya loses the necklace she’s worn since birth, she discovers that seeing isn’t her only gift—and begins to suspect that everything she knows about her life has been a carefully-constructed lie. As she comes to distrust the only family she’s ever known, Saya will do what she’s never done before, go where she’s never been, and risk it all in the search of answers.

With a detailed, supernaturally-charged setting and topical themes of patriarchal power and female strength, Lizz Huerta’s The Lost Dreamer brings an ancient world to life, mirroring the challenges of our modern one.

Download THE LOST DREAMER discussion guide here!

Learn more about The Lost Dreamer here →

Discussion Guide: THE SECOND CHANCE OF BENJAMIN WATERFALLS by James Bird

The Second Chance of Benjamin Waterfalls by James Bird
Ages 10 -14
On Sale 04/19/2022

A middle-grade novel by James Bird about a boy sent to his Ojibwe family to straighten out his life.

Benjamin Waterfalls comes from a broken home, and the quickest fix he’s found for his life is to fill that emptiness with stuff he steals and then sells. But he’s been caught one too many times, and when he appears before a tough judge, his mother proposes sending him to “boot camp” at the Ojibwe reservation where they used to live.

Soon he is on his way to Grand Portage, Minnesota, to live with his father – the man Benny hasn’t seen in years. Not only is “boot camp” not what he expects, but his rehabilitation seems to be in the hands of the tribal leader’s daughter, who wears a mask. Why? Finding the answer to this and so many other questions prove tougher than any military-style boot camp. Will answers be enough for Benny to turn his life around and embrace his second chance?

Download the The Second Chance of Benjamin Waterfalls discussion guide!

Praise for The Second Chance of Benjamin Waterfalls:

“The bravado and feigned indifference in Benny’s voice is spot-on for a kid hiding the pain of his father’s abandonment, and the times he lets himself contemplate how truly awful it felt to be left behind are heartbreakingly realistic. ….It’s a hard lesson, but it’s grounded in love, and readers will be happy to see Benny and his father get their second chances.” — BCCB

“Bird’s strengths include his multidimensional characters (each of whom has flaws that they struggle to overcome) as well as the vivid descriptions of Grand Portage, Minnesota, home of the Gitchi Onigaming Ojibwe. Of equal importance is the more understated message that Indigenous ways of knowing and approaches to problems can be extremely effective, despite the dominant culture’s insistence on discounting them. … Benny’s progress is heartening and sure to encourage readers.”— Booklist

Educator Guide: A Home Named Walter by Chelsea Lin Wallace; illustrated by Ginnie Hsu

A Home Named Walter by Chelsea Lin Wallace; illustrated by Ginnie Hsu
Ages: 4-8
On sale now!

A home named Walter learns how to heal his broken heart after a family he loves moves away in this poignant picture book about loss and renewal.

Walter was a happy home.

He loved the bustle and warmth of the family that lived with him. But when they move away, his feelings are hurt. He grows cold and quiet and only wants to be left alone.

So when a little girl and her mama move in, Walter is determined to get them out! But in his struggle to do so, Walter may just feel livable again and change how he feels.

Chelsea Lin Wallace has written a truly poignant story. With its classic sensibility, paired with Ginnie Hsu’s warm and lush illustrations, A Home Named Walter is a special story that will resonate with many readers for years to come.

Download the A Home Named Walter educator’s guide / activity kit here!

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Activity Kit: Let’s Do Everything and Nothing by Julia Kuo

Let’s Do Everything and Nothing by Julia Kuo
Ages 3-6
On Sale March 22, 2022

Let’s Do Everything and Nothing is a lush and lyrical picture book from Julia Kuo celebrating special moments—big and small—shared with a child.

Will you climb a hill with me?
Dive into a lake with me?
Reach the starry sky with me,
and watch the clouds parade?

Love can feel as vast as a sky full of breathtaking clouds or as gentle as a sparkling, starlit night. It can scale the tallest mountains and reach the deepest depths of the sea.

Standing side by side with someone you love, the unimaginable can seem achievable.
But not every magical moment is extraordinary. Simply being together is the best journey of all.

Download an activity kit for Let’s Do Everything and Nothing.

Click the right and left arrows below to preview this book:

Find praise for this book here →

Celebrate LATINITAS during Women’s History Month!

Discover how 40 influential Latinas became the women we celebrate today in Latinitas: Celebrating 40 Big Dreamers by Juliet Menéndez, a gorgeous collection of biographies accompanied by stunning hand-painted illustrations! Don’t miss Latinitas (Spanish Edition): Una celebración de 40 soñadoras audaces available on March 1st!

Download free educator resources and teacher’s guides (available in both English and Spanish!) to use alongside the book. Plus, enter to receive a free Latinitas art print to display in your classroom or library.

Enter to receive a free Latinitas art print (while supplies last!)
Download the Latinitas teacher’s guide in English here.
Download the Latinitas teacher’s guide in Spanish here.

Find more resources to celebrate LATINITAS here →

Celebrate Poetry Month with a sweepstakes, giveaway, and more!

We’ve put together a roundup of titles to get you excited about National Poetry Month, including titles like National Book Award Finalist, CSK Steptoe Award Winner, and William C. Morris YA Debut award finalist Me (Moth); Caldecott Honor Book A Place Inside of Me; and My Thoughts are Clouds.

Plus, request a digital preview copy of Moonwalking by Zetta Elliott and Lyn Miller-Lachmann!

Find more poetry recommendations & learn more about MOONWALKING here →