Identity, Self-Love & Affirmation
I Am Enough
By Grace Byers, Illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo
“I Am Enough” is children's picture book that promotes self-love, kindness, and acceptance through lyrical text and vibrant illustrations by Keturah A. Bobo. Inspired by Byers' own experiences with bullying, the book celebrates diversity and empowers children to recognize their inherent worth, regardless of their differences. It's a story about embracing individuality and understanding that everyone is "enough" just as they are.
I Am Every Good Thing
By Derrick Barnes, Illustrated by Gordon C. James
I am
a nonstop ball of energy.
Powerful and full of light.
I am a go-getter. A difference maker. A leader.
Hair Love
By Matthew Cherry, Illustrated by Vashti Harrison
Zuri's hair has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Zuri knows it's beautiful. When Daddy steps in to style it for an extra special occasion, he has a lot to learn. But he LOVES his Zuri, and he'll do anything to make her -- and her hair -- happy.
Tender and empowering, Hair Love is an ode to loving your natural hair -- and a celebration of daddies and daughters everywhere.
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
By Derrick Barnes, Illustrated by Gordon C. James
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut is a high-spirited, engaging salute to the beautiful, raw, assured humanity of black boys and how they see themselves when they approve of their reflections in the mirror.
Sulwe
By Lupita Nyong’o
Sulwe has skin the color of midnight. She is darker than everyone in her family. She is darker than anyone in her school. Sulwe just wants to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything.
In this stunning debut picture book, actress Lupita Nyong’o creates a whimsical and heartwarming story to inspire children to see their own unique beauty.
I Love My Hair!
By Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, Illustrated by E.B Lewis
“I Love My Hair!” is a children's picture book that celebrates the beauty and versatility of African-American hair through the story of a young girl named Keyana and her mother. The book highlights the nightly ritual of hair combing, where the mother shows Keyana how her hair can be styled in many ways, from braids to an Afro, encouraging pride in her heritage and self-confidence.
Happy to Be Nappy
By Bell Hooks, Illustrated by Chris Raschka
“Happy to Be Nappy” is a children's picture book by bell hooks and illustrator Chris Raschka that celebrates the beauty and joy of nappy hair, encouraging young Black girls to love their natural hair.
Big
By Vashti Harrison
The first picture book written and illustrated by award-winning creator Vashti Harrison traces a child’s journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal. With spare text and exquisite illustrations, this emotional exploration of being big in a world that prizes small is a tender portrayal of how you can stand out and feel invisible at the same time.
Your Name Is A Song
ByJamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, Illustrated by Luisa Uribe
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.
Black Is A Rainbow Color
By Angela Joy, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes
A child reflects on the meaning of being Black in this moving and powerful anthem about a people, a culture, a history, and a legacy that lives on.
Red is a rainbow color.
Green sits next to blue.
Yellow, orange, violet, indigo,
They are rainbow colors, too, but
My color is black . . .
And there’s no BLACK in rainbows.
From the wheels of a bicycle to the robe on Thurgood Marshall's back, Black surrounds our lives. It is a color to simply describe some of our favorite things, but it also evokes a deeper sentiment about the incredible people who helped change the world and a community that continues to grow and thrive.
