Diverse Books for our NCCS Community: Books for Lower School

Life can be hard for the only brown girl in a classroom full of white students. When the teacher talks about slavery, she can feel all of her classmates staring at her. When they talk about civil rights, she is the one that other kids whisper about on the playground. In those moments, she wants to slip away or seep into the ground; and she wonders, is that all you see when you look at me?
What really matters is what she sees when she looks at herself. She is a reflection of the courage, strength, intelligence and creativity that's been passed down from generation to generation through her ancestors.
Inspired by her daughter's experience in school as well as her own, Adrea Theodore's debut picture book is a powerful testament to the past as well as a benediction for the future. Grades K-5.

Bilal and his father invite his friends to help make his favorite dish, daal, then all must wait patiently for it to be done. Grade Pre-S - 2 (Lexile 520).

Empower young readers to embrace their individuality, reject societal limitations, and follow their dreams. This inspiring picture book brings together a poem by acclaimed author Angela Johnson and Nina Crews's distinctive photo collage illustrations to celebrate girls of color. Grade Pre-S - 2 (Lexile 620).

A child reflects on the meaning of being Black in this anthem about a people, a culture, a history, and a legacy that lives on. Grade K - 3.

Kanzi's family has moved from Egypt to America, and on her first day in a new school, what she wants more than anything is to fit in. Maybe that's why she forgets to take the kofta sandwich her mother has made for her lunch, but that backfires when Mama shows up at school with the sandwich. Mama wears a hijab and calls her daughter Habibti (dear one). When she leaves, the teasing starts. Grade K - 2 (Lexile 710).

This triumphant picture book recasts a charged phrase as part of a black girl's everyday life--hands up for a hug, hands up in class, hands up for a high five--before culminating in a moment of resistance at a protest march. Grade Pre-S - 3 (Lexile 360).

When Max starts school, the teacher hesitates to call out the name on the attendance sheet. Something doesn't seem to fit. Max lets her know the name he wants to be called by--a boy's name. This begins Max's journey as he makes new friends and reveals his feelings about his identity to his parents. Written with warmth and sensitivity by trans writer Kyle Lukoff, this book is a sweet and age-appropriate introduction to what it means to be transgender. Grade K - 2.

The festival of lights is here--time to celebrate the new year! Grade Pre-S - 2.

For a little girl on a rainy day, the best place to be is with Mama. Grade Pre-S - 2.

When a young boy visits his grandfather, their lack of a common language leads to confusion, frustration, and silence. But as they sit down to draw together, something magical happens. Illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Santat, this stirring picture book is about reaching across barriers. Grade Pre-S - 2 (Lexile 310).

Celebrates the feeling that comes from walking out of a barber shop with newly-cut hair. Grade K-3 (Lexile 700).

Illustrations and easy-to-read text pay homage to the strength, character, and worth of a child. Grade Pre-S - 3.

Shares a story of loving who you are, respecting others and being kind to one another.
Grades K - 4.

When winter comes, Mommy makes a soft bed for Little Snow to sleep on, but each night he cannot resist jumping on the bed, causing tiny feathers to fly down. Grade Pre-S - 2.

Faizah relates how she feels on the first day her sister, sixth-grader Asiya, wears a hijab to school. Grade K - 4 (Lexile 500).

When Daisy Ramona zooms around her neighborhood with her papi on his motorcycle, she sees the people and places she's always known. She also sees a community that is rapidly changing around her. Grade K - 3 (Lexile 750).

Other students laugh when Rigoberto, an immigrant from Venezuela, introduces himself but later, he meets Angelina and discovers that he is not the only one who feels like an outsider. Grade K - 2 (Lexile 980).

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. Grade Pre-S - 3.

When a child has a "bad speech day" at school, his father gives him a new perspective on his stuttering. Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award 2021.
Grades PreK - 3.

How did Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela end up with such a long name? As Daddy tells the story of her many names, Alma can almost feel herself grow into them. Grade Pre-S - 2 (Lexile 490).

Told in powerful verse by debut author Kevin Noble Maillard, Fry Bread is an evocative story about family, history, culture, and traditions, new and old, illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Juana Martinez-Neal. Grade Pre-S - 2.

When a young girl moves from the country to a small town, she feels lonely and out of place. But soon she meets an elderly woman next door, who shares her love of [nature and art]. Can the girl navigate the changing seasons and failing health of her new friend? Grade K - 2 (Lexile 560).

Lola was just a baby when her family left the Island, so when she has to draw it for a school assignment, she asks her family, friends, and neighbors about their memories of her homeland...and in the process, comes up with a new way of understanding her own heritage. Grade K - 3 (Lexile 600).

Seven-year-old Lena and her mother observe the variations in the color of their friends' skin, viewed in terms of foods and things found in nature. Grade Pre-S - 2 (Lexile 570).

In this rich and moving celebration of history, culture, and ritual, Lyon's eloquent text explores the power of family traditions. Stunning illustrations by Coretta Scott King Honor-winner Minter reveal the motion and connections in a large, multigenerational family. Grade 2-5 (Lexile 660).

Aidan, a transgender boy, experiences complicated emotions as he and his parents prepare for the arrival of a new baby. Grade Pre-S - 3.

When five-year-old Sulwe's classmates make fun of her dark skin, she tries lightening herself to no avail, but her encounter with a shooting star helps her understand there is beauty in every shade. Grade Pre-S - 2 (Lexile 580).

No matter who you are or where you're from, everyone is welcome here. From grandmothers reading lines of the Qur'an and the imam telling stories of living as one, to meeting new friends and learning to help others, mosques are centers for friendship, community, and love.

M. O. Yuksel's beautiful text celebrates the joys and traditions found in every mosque around the world and is brought to life with stunning artwork by New York Times bestselling illustrator Hatem Aly (Yasmin series, The Proudest Blue, The Inquisitor's Tale). The book also includes backmatter with an author's note, a glossary, and more information about many historical and significant mosques around the world. Grades Pre-K - 3.

A student who uses a wheelchair finds a way to see her dog each day in school.
Grade Pre-S - 2 (Lexile 460).

From a Muslim and Latino poet comes a lyrical celebration of multiculturalism as a father shares with his daughter the value of their heritage and why it should be a source of pride, even when others disagree. Grade K - 3 (Lexile 520).

A young boy rides the bus across town with his grandmother and learns to appreciate the beauty in everyday things. Grade K - 2 (Lexile 610).

A little girl's daddy steps in to help her arrange her curly, coiling, wild hair into styles that allow her to be her natural, beautiful self. Grade PreS - 3 (480 Lexile)

Maya Angelou's brave, defiant poem celebrates the courage within each of us, young and old. From the scary thought of panthers in the park to the unsettling scene of a new classroom, fearsome images are summoned and dispelled by the power of faith in ourselves.
Angelou's strong words are matched by the daring vision of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose childlike style reveals the powerful emotions and fanciful imaginings of childhood. Together, Angelou's words and Basquiat's paintings create a place where every child, indeed every person, may experience his or her own fearlessness.
This brilliant introduction to poetry and contemporary art features brief biographies of Angelou and Basquiat and an afterword from the editor. A selected bibliography of Angelou's books and a selected museum listing of Basquiat's works open the door to further inspiration through the fine arts. Grades PreK - 3.

Immigrating to America, a young girl navigates between her family's Bengali traditions and her new country's culture

Marisol McDonald, a biracial, nonconformist, soccer-playing pirate-princess with brown skin and red hair, celebrates her uniqueness. Grade Pre-S - 2 (Lexile 580).

A young African-American girl describes the different, wonderful ways she can wear her hair. Grade Pre-S - 3 (Lexile 840).

When the aroma of Omu's homemade stew fills the air, her neighbors arrive, one by one, for a taste until all is gone except for her generous spirit. Debut author-illustrator Mora brings to life a heartwarming story of sharing and community in colorful cut-paper designs. Grade Pre-S - 2 (Lexile 630).

When all of their special Saturday plans go awry, Ava and her mother still find a way to appreciate one another and their time together. Grade Pre-S - 2.

A retelling, set in Africa, of the story of twelve princesses who dance secretly all night long and how their secret is eventually discovered. Grade K - 3 (Lexile 860),

Now that she's ten, Lailah's delighted that she can fast during the month of Ramadan like her family and her friends in Abu Dhabi, but finding a way to explain to her teacher and classmates in Atlanta is a challenge until she gets some good advice from the librarian, Mrs. Carman. Grade K - 3 (Lexile 590).

Blaine loves to shine and "sparkle". Whether it's his uniform, book bag, or baseball cap, he's all about the bling. But when his passion for bling leads to bullying, Blaine (and the school) loses his shine. Can Blaine's friends bring it back by glittering up themselves? This delightful story proves that anyone can love bling, and that happiness comes when allies band together to throw glitter--not shade. Grade K - 2.

Rubina has been invited to her first birthday party, and her mother insists that she take her little sister along. Not only does Sana demand to win every game, but after the party she steals Rubina's prized party favor, a red lollipop. What's a fed-up big sister to do? Grade K - 4 (Lexile 490).

Told by a succession of exuberant young narrators, Magnificent Homespun Brown is a story -- a song, a poem, a celebration -- about feeling at home in one's own beloved skin. Samara Cole Doyon's joyful book contains multitudes. Grade Pre-S - 3 (Lexile 1100).

A young boy notices the many different shades of human skin and points out that skin is just a covering that does not reveal what someone is like inside. Grade Pre-S - 1 (Lexile 440).

A group of children with different abilities and strengths come together to build a community garden. Grade Pre-S - 2.

Harpreet Singh has a different color for every mood and occasion, from happy sunny yellow to courageous red. He especially takes care with his patka --his turban--making sure it always matches his outfit. But when Harpreet's mom finds a new job in a snowy city and they have to move, everything just feels gray. Can he find a way to make life bright again? Grade K - 2 (Lexile 530).

The word "otsaliheliga" (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. This picture book chronicles a full year of Cherokee celebrations and experiences. Written by a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, the book includes a glossary and the complete Cherokee syllabary, originally created by Sequoyah. Grade K - 3 (Lexile 970).

After Unhei moves from Korea to the United States, her new classmates help her decide what her name should be. Grade K-2 (Lexile 590).

"Stuck inside one wet afternoon, a group of friends are bored and miserable--until a pink glow leads them to discover a mysterious treasure chest and everything changes! Grey is for rainy days, but PINK is for all kinds of fun -- bows and buttons, yes, but also aliens and astronauts, dancers and dragons! In a parade of exuberance that celebrates all things pink, one surly fur ball stands out--and ultimately teaches the kids a valuable lesson in embracing what you love no matter who you are, while respecting the preferences of everybody around you. Skillfully employing inclusive, gender-neutral language and paired with truly joyful illustrations that feature a diverse cast of characters, this is a sweet story of the simple joys of being a kid, not a gender"-

Sammy is having a very bad day at school and at home until his autistic brother, Benji, finds a way to make him feel better. A sensitive portrayal of how a child might relate to a sibling on the autism spectrum.

It is 1805 and Mary Lambert has always felt safe among the deaf community of Chilmark on Martha's Vineyard where practically everyone communicates in a shared sign language, but recent events have shattered her life; her brother George has died, land disputes between English settlers and the Wampanoag people are becoming increasingly bitter, and a "scientist" determined to discover the origins of the islands' widespread deafness has decided she makes the perfect "live specimen"--and kidnapped her. Grades 3-6 (Lexile 730).

Gabriel, twelve, gains new perspective when he becomes friends with Meriwether, a Black World War II hero who has recently returned to the unwelcoming Jim Crow South. Grade 4 - 6 (Lexile 780).

With love and determination befitting the "world's greatest family," twelve-year-old Deza Malone, her older brother Jimmie, and their parents endure tough times in Gary, Indiana, and later Flint, Michigan, during the Great Depression. Grade 4 - 7 (Lexile 750).

Jarrett is used to his mom taking in foster babies, but this time a baby girl has an older brother. Kevon is Jarrett's age, and Jarrett doesn't like sharing his room, his friends, and his life with a stranger. The more Jarrett tries to get rid of Kevon, the more he learns about Kevon's life and his history which leads to an unexpected understanding. Grade 4 - 6.

When Lalani Sarita’s mother falls ill with an incurable disease, Lalani embarks on a dangerous journey across the sea in the hope of safeguarding her own future. Inspired by Filipino folklore, this engrossing fantasy is for readers who loved Grace Lin’s Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Disney’s Moana.

The author shares her childhood memories and reveals the first sparks that ignited her writing career in free-verse poems about growing up in the North and South. Grade 4-7 (Lexile 990).

Avid baker Zoe Washington receives a letter on her twelfth birthday from her biological father, who is in prison for a terrible crime. Grades 4 - 7 (Lexile 660).

Sent with her mother to the safety of a relative's home in Cincinnati when her Syrian hometown is overshadowed by violence, Jude worries for the family members who were left behind as she adjusts to a new life with unexpected surprises. Told in verse format. Grade 4 - 8 (Lexile 930).

Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds--and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself? Grade 4 - 7.

Visiting her grandmother in the Louisiana bayou, ten-year-old Maddy begins to realize that she may be the only sibling to carry on the gift of her family's magical legacy. Grade 3 - 6 (Lexile 410).

Nina tried as hard as she could, but still somehow she forgot about her school project. Fortunately, a class lesson about Alexander Fleming suggests how she might make a great discovery--and thus a great project! But with little sister Kavita's birthday party right around the corner, and her longtime friendship with Jay on the rocks, Nina has a lot to keep track of. Grade 2 - 4 (Lexile 590).

Caleb Franklin and his younger brother, Bobby Gene, spend an extraordinary summer their new, older neighbor, Styx Malone, a foster boy from the city in this lively and diverse story from the Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author of "How It Went Down.
Grade 4 - 7 (Lexile 510).

Fourth-grader Jada's best friend moved away but a class project on rocks and minerals, her favorite topic, could mean new friends, if only one of her teammates would stop being mean. Grades 2 - 4.

A collection of stories, comics, and poems about the power of joy and the wonders of Black boyhood.

When adventurous cousins Otto and Sheed Alston accidentally extend the last day of summer by freezing time, they find the secrets between the unmoving seconds are not as much fun as they expected. Grade 4 - 7 (Lexiole 740).

Discovering a book of Langston Hughes's poetry in the library helps Langston cope with the loss of his mother, relocating from Alabama to Chicago as part of the Great Migration, and being bullied. Grade 2-5 (Lexile 760).

Raised by his grandparents, first in Mississippi then in Wisconsin, ten-year-old Lymon moves to Chicago in 1945 to live with the mother he never knew, while yearning for his father. Book 2 in the Finding Langston trilogy. Grade 3 - 7.

Eleven-year-old Jenae doesn't have any friends, and she's just fine with that. She's so good at being invisible in school, it's almost like she has a superpower, like her idol, Astrid Dane. Then a new student shows up at school, a boy named Aubrey. The more she tries to push him away, the more he seems determined to be her friend. But when the two are paired up for a class debate about the proposed name change for their school, Jenae knows this new friendship has an expiration date. Grade 3-7.

Mindy Kim wants to fit in at her new school, but her favorite lunch leads to scorn, then a thriving business, and finally big trouble. Grade 1 - 3 (Lexile 640).

Young Nurah reluctantly moves with her family from Karachi, Pakistan, to Peachtree City, Georgia, but, after some ups and downs, begins to feel at home.

Amara visits her father's family in Harlem for her twelfth birthday, hoping to better understand her family and herself, but New York City is not what she expected. Grade 4 - 6 (Lexile 750).

Feeling most alive when he's playing the blues with his grandfather, Clayton's devastated when his grandfather dies and his mother forbids him from playing music, losses that compel him to run away and join bluesmen on the road. Grade 4 - 6 (Lexile 710).

Meet Yasmin, a spirited Pakistani American second-grader who's always on the lookout for those "a-ha" moments to help her solve life's little problems. Taking inspiration from her surroundings and her big imagination, she boldly faces any situation, assuming her imagination doesn't get too big, of course.
Grade 1 - 3.

Piano-prodigy Isabella, eleven, whose black father and white mother struggle to share custody, never feels whole, especially as racial tensions affect her school, her parents both become engaged, and she and her stepbrother are stopped by police. Grade 4 - 7 (Lexile 610).

Inspired by the author's own childhood experience of fleeing Vietnam as a refugee and immigrating to Alabama, this tween novel told in verse is sure to capture young readers' hearts and open their eyes. Grade 4 - 6 (Lexile 800).

Every day, nine-year-old Yasmin borrows a book from Book Uncle, a retired teacher who has set up a free lending library next to her apartment building. But when the mayor tries to shut down the rickety bookstand, Yasmin has to take her nose out of her book and do something. Grades 2 - 5 (Lexile 580).

Omar and his friends team up to raise money to save his family's favorite mosque, and when the money goes missing, they find the most unlikely culprit. Grades 3 - 6 (Lexile 790).

The author introduces the concept of race as only one component in an individual's or nation's "story. Grade 1-5.

These short, vibrant tanka poems about Black boys and young men depict thirteen views of everyday life: dressed in Sunday best, running to catch a bus, growing up to be teachers, and much more. Each of Tony Medina's tanka is matched with a different artist--including recent Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Award recipients. Grade 2-5.

Explores the previously uncelebrated but pivotal contributions of NASA's African American women mathematicians to America's space program, describing how Jim Crow laws segregated them despite their groundbreaking successes. Grade K - 3 (Lexile 980).

Texas Congresswoman Jordan had a big, bold, confident voice--and she knew how to use it! "New York Times"-bestselling Chris Barton and Caldecott Honoree Holmes deliver a remarkable picture book biography of the lawyer, educator, politician, and civil rights leader. Grade 3 - 6 (Lexile 770).

This beautiful picture book tells the little-known story of the first African-American woman to dance for a major classical ballet company and who is a huge inspiration to Misty Copeland, who provides the Foreword. Grade K - 3 (Lexile 980).

August Wilson (1945-2005) was a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright who had a particular talent for capturing the authentic, everyday voice of Black Americans. As a child, he read off soup cans and cereal boxes, and when his mother brought him to the library, his whole world opened up. After facing intense prejudice at school from both students and some teachers, August dropped out. However, he continued reading and educating himself independently. He felt that if he could read about it, then he could teach himself anything and accomplish anything. Like many of his plays, Feed Your Mind is told in two acts, revealing how Wilson grew up to be one of the most influential American playwrights. The book includes an author's note, a timeline of August Wilson's life, a list of Wilson's plays, and a bibliography. Grade K - 4.

Carter G. Woodson was born ten years after the end of the Civil War, to parents who had both been enslaved. Their stories were not the ones written about in history books, but Carter learned them and kept them in his heart. Carter's father could not read or write, but he believed in being an informed citizen. So Carter read the newspaper to him every day, and from this practice, he learned about the world and how to find out what he didn't know. Many years later, when he was a student at Harvard University (the second African-American and the only child of enslaved parents to do so), one of his professors said that black people had no history. Carter knew that wasn't true--and he set out to make sure the rest of us knew as well. Grade K - 3 (Lexile 810).

A picture book biography sharing the inspiring and incredible true story of the nation's oldest student, Mary Walker, who learned to read at the age of 116. Grade Pre-S - 3 (Lexile 830).

A biography of Harriet Tubman written in verse, in which poem and watercolor come together to honor a woman of humble origins whose courage and compassion make her larger than life. Grade 3-6.

Before he became an artist named Tyrus Wong, he was a boy named Wong Geng Yeo. He traveled across a vast ocean from China to America with only a suitcase and a few papers. Not papers for drawing--which he loved to do--but immigration papers to start a new life. Once in America, Tyrus seized every opportunity to make art, eventually enrolling at an art institute in Los Angeles. Working as a janitor at night, his mop twirled like a paintbrush in his hands. Eventually, he was given the opportunity of a lifetime--and using sparse brushstrokes and soft watercolors, Tyrus created the iconic backgrounds of Bambi. Grades 2 - 5 (Lexile 890).

RACE. Uh-oh. The R-word.
But actually talking about race is one of the most important things to learn how to do.
Adapted from the groundbreaking bestseller Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, this book takes readers on a journey from present to past and back again. Kids will discover where racist ideas came from, identify how they impact America today, and meet those who have fought racism with antiracism. Along the way, they'll learn how to identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their own lives.
Ibram X. Kendi's research, Jason Reynolds's and Sonja Cherry-Paul's writing, and Rachelle Baker's art come together in this vital read, enhanced with a glossary, timeline, and more.