The Me I Choose To Be by author Natasha Anastasia Tarpley and artists Regis and Kahran Bethencourt

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Grade Level: Preschool – 3

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: October 19, 2021

In this picture book, children with backgrounds from the African Diaspora are photographed in breathtaking costumes and background sceneries as they represent aspiring careers both real and imaginative and emotions. The text is rhyming and will invite the audience to chime in with the repeated phrase, “I am the me I choose to be.” Respecting who you are or want to be is woven throughout this children’s book and can be reassuring to all who read or listen. This book received a Coretta Scott King Award, 2021 Shelf Awareness Book of the Year, 2021 Chicago Public Library Best Picture Book Pick.

Sankofa: A Culinary Story of Resilience and Belonging by author Eric Adjepong and illustrator Lala Watkins

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Reading Age: 4-8 years

Grade Level: Preschool – 3

Publisher: Penguin Workshop

Publication Date: October 3, 2023

It is time for the annual potluck lunch at school. Kofi, a Ghanaian American youngster feels uneasy about sharing food that his family prepares at home. He feels that the dishes are different from the ones that other students eat so he delays informing his family about the potluck. Kofi’s grandfather realizes his grandson’s feelings and takes him to a food market where he educates Kofi about his family, spices, foods and their ties to the history of slavery. On the day of the potluck, Kofi proudly shares his heritage and a dish of jollof rice. Sewn throughout this picture book are words in Twi, a Ghanaian language, such as maame, paapa, nanabarima, onuabaa to name a few. Illustrations are child friendly and easy to understand. This book is enlightening and could be used for slightly older children as well. An excellent addition to any library shelf. A recipe for jollof rice is included.

I’m From by author Gary R. Gray Jr. and illustrator Oge Mora

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Reading Age: 4 – 8 years

Grade Level: Preschool – 3

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: September 19, 2023

In this picture book, readers and listeners follow a day in the life of a boy from the time he awakens to the time he goes to bed. His routines are typical of many children in regards to eating meals riding the school bus, interacting with peers. He doesn’t always feel that he can relate to books that he reads. At times he is asked by his peers about being Black which makes him feel uncomfortable. He has a supportive family and community which reinforces his feeling of belonging in this world. Handcrafted collage illustrations are stunning.

The Sugar Plum Bakers: A Tale of 12 Holiday Treats by author Pat Tanumihardja and illustrator Bonnie Lui

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Reading Age: 3 – 7

Grade Level: Phreschool – 2

Publisher: Melisa de la Cruz Studio

Publication Date: September 5, 2023

This is a fictional story that mentions nonfictional elements. Sugar Plum and Gingerbread are in charge of holiday treats. Bakerinas are helpers that do most of the food preparation. Five Bakerinas are seen throughout this book. Four of them are diligent. One of them named Echo is creative, has difficulty staying focused but solves problems for the group when needed. A snowstorm is in the forecast. The Bakerinas want to get 12 holiday treats prepared and delivered around the world before the storm. There are sugar cookies, benne wafers, kue nastar, bunuelos, sufganiyot, coconut tarts, turron, ensaymadas, mango flan, brigadeiros, lebkuchen, and daifuku mochi. On each page that a treat is mentioned, a flag representing the country that the sweet is known from is shown. In the back of the book is an About Treats section that gives brief but further details. A recipe for brigadeiros is included. MY Book Eyes enjoyed reading about sweets from cultures around the world. This book could lead to a variety of projects and further research.

Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas

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Grade Level: 3 – 7

Publisher: HarperAlley

Publication Date: May 17, 2022

in this graphic novel, a middle schooler named Bree and her father move from Brooklyn to Florida because Bree’s father got a new job. Bree finds that some classes she wants to take are full. She is left with enrolling in a swim class which she dreads. Readers will laugh as Bree finds excuses to get out of getting in the water. Bree cannot swim! A woman named Etta who lives in Bree’s apartment complex is an excellent swimmer and teaches Bree how to swim. Bree excels in swimming. Her swim team has to compete with a rival school which leads to antics outside of the pool. This book offers layers of situations that characters face (from humorous to serious) that keep eyes reading across pages. For example, Etta, the experienced swimmer had racial barriers that stood in her way of moving forward in a swimming career. Illustrations show diverse characters, and emotional and scenic variations. It is a must to read. Accolades for this book include: Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, Kirkus Best Book of the Year, Harvey Award and Best Children’s or Young Adult Book Nominee.

The Mermaid Princesses by author Maya Cameron-Gordon and illustrator Mirelle Ortega

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Reading Age: 4 – 8 years

Grade Level: Preschool – 3

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: March 28, 2023

Anaya, Shante and Kianna are mermaids, princesses and sisters. Each one has attributes that sets her apart from the other. One is sweet and kind, one is strong and brave and one is wise and enjoys learning. As siblings, they get along but they also compete. Each mermaid wants to one day be queen. Their mother insists that a good sister and protector is what is needed to be queen. Soon the mermaids are faced with a problem that requires them to work collaboratively. They successfully solve the problem and each mermaid trains to be queen. Illustrations are eye-catching and capture actions of the under sea habitat appropriately. A great book to emphasize teamwork. Fun Fin Facts are included in the back of the book.

100 Chapatis by author Derek Mascarenhas and illustrator Shantala Robinson

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Reading Age: 4 – 7 years

Publisher: Owlkids

Publication Date: October 17, 2023

A new baby brother or sister will soon arrive at Simon’s home. He is feeling doubtful about a sibling joining the family. Simon and his Pappa (grandfather) like eating chapatis, fried flatbread. Pappa and Simon team up to make 100 chapatis so that when Simon’s parents come home from the hospital, chapatis will be made. Simon eagerly participates in most phases of the chapati making except frying which is Pappa’s job. As Simon’s confidence builds while creating chapatis so does his acceptance of a soon to arrive new sibling. Illustrations show characters’ emotions as well as various angles of the kitchen which are interesting to see.

Thank a Farmer by author Maria Gianferrari and illustrator Monica Mikai

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Reading Age: 4 – 8 years

Grade Level: 1 – 3

Publisher: Norton Young Readers

Publication Date: September 5, 2023

People like to eat. Where does food come from? Thanks to farmers’ work and nature, there are maple syrup and milk. There are fruits, vegetables, peanut butter, bread, rice and mushrooms to eat. A poetic style is used to describe processing and harvesting of foods throughout the book. My Book Eyes enjoyed surveying modern tools used in farm work. In this nonfiction picture book, scenes are filled with diverse people that are instrumental in giving us nutritious food and clothing. The process of getting warm clothing from sheep is detailed. Farmers don’t jut work on large farms. They tend to rooftop gardens and hanging plants. In the back of the book are a list of farming methods, how nature plays a part in farming, further reading, further viewing and websites.

Nothing Ever Happens on a Gray Day by Grant Snider

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Reading Age: 5-8

Grade Level: Kindergarten – 3

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Publication Date: September 5, 2023


It is a ho hum gloomy day. It must be a weekend or a school holiday because the school buses are tucked away in the school bus depot. A girl decides to ride her bike through her neighborhood. The beauty of fall is seen. Nothing is stirring in the playground but behind the playground…The girl finds nature’s oasis. She sits and relaxes, runs, observes the beauty of her surroundings to name a few and finds inner peace. She gets on her bike and rides home. The illustrations are striking. A good book to stimulate a conversation about things to do when someone is bored.