Madera OFFLINE DIVERSE BOOKS

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1	Diverse books project
2	HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE BOOKLIST: We asked local families as well as children’s books experts from local libraries, an elementary school librarian and Pegasus books for suggestions of favorite books that include kids and experiences underrepresented in children’s literature, with an emphasis on newer /recent releases. We are working to build a dynamic list of books that sparked meaningful conversations between parents and children, books that opened kids’ eyes to stories and concepts they might not otherwise have known about, and fun or light-hearted books with a variety of protagonists. This list is an ongoing work in progress. If you have a great new book to recommend, please send your book recommendations to MaderaDiversityCommittee@gmail.com NOTE: The first yellow section below is PICTURE BOOKS and the next section is early chapter books, followed by CHAPTER BOOKS.
3	PICTURE BOOKS (see below for Chapter books)
4	A	Interest Level	Reading Level	Author	Description	picture book or chapter book	Issues dealt with in book	Pegasus can get? And price
5	Ada's Violin	K-3		Susan Hood	Tells the true tale of an orchestra made up of children playing instruments built from recycled trash called the 'Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay.'	picture	re-using recyling true story of kids with few resources who achieve something amazing	yes $17.99 (hardcover)
6	Annie's Plaid Shirt	K-3		Stacy B Davids	Annie loves her plaid shirt and wears it everywhere. But one day her mom tells Annie that she must wear a dress to her uncle's wedding. Annie protests, but her mom insists and buys her a fancy new dress anyway. Annie is miserable. She feels weird in dresses. Why can't her mom understand?	picture book		NO - Pegasus can't get
7	Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border	K-3		Mitali Perkins	It's almost time for Christmas, and Maria is traveling with her mother and younger brother, Juan, to visit their grandmother on the border of California and Mexico. For the few minutes they can share together along the fence, Maria and her brother plan to exchange stories and Christmas gifts with the grandmother they haven't seen in years. But when Juan's gift is too big to fit through the slats in the fence, Maria has a brilliant idea.	picture	U.S. – Mexican border; Mexican cultural traditions; family separations	Yes - $17.99 hardcover
8	The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind	K-3		William Kamkwamba and Brian Mealer	young boy overcoming obstacles to bring solar power to his village in Malawi. Nice images too)	picture (there is a chapter version two but we're adding the picture book version only here)	Inspiring story about a child who faces many obstacles in a specific African country (Malawi, not a generic Africa setting as many books have) and how he brings wind power to his village to help improve lives	yes $17.99 (hardcover)
9	The Day You Begin	K-3		Jacqueline Woodson	Jacqueline Woodson's lyrical text and Rafael López's dazzling art reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes-and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. And that sometimes, when we reach out and begin to share our stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway.	picture	-new kid in school, process to speak up and share who you are with others. Spanish version available too	yes $18.99 (hardcover)
10	A Different Pond	K-3		Thi Bui	A 2018 Caldecott Honor Book that Kirkus Reviews calls "a must-read for our times," A Different Pond is an unforgettable story about a simple event - a long-ago fishing trip. Graphic novelist Thi Bui and acclaimed poet Bao Phi deliver a powerful, honest glimpse into a relationship between father and son - and between cultures, old and new. As a young boy, Bao and his father awoke early, hours before his father's long workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. A successful catch meant a fed family. Between hope-filled casts, Bao's father told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam. Thi Bui's striking, evocative art paired with Phi's expertly crafted prose reflects an immigrant family making its way in a new home while honoring its bonds to the past.	picture	Father-son relationship, subsistence fishing, Vietnamese-American protagonist	yes $15.95 (hardcover)
11	Don't Touch My Hair	K-2			Teaches the importance of asking for permission first as a young girl attempts to escape the curious hands that want to touch her hair. Author-illustrator Sharee Miller takes the tradition of appreciation of black hair to a new, fresh, level as she doesn't seek to convince or remind young readers that their curls are beautiful--she simply acknowledges black beauty while telling a fun, imaginative story.	picture	Teaches body boundaries, specifically not to just reach out and touch someone's hair.	yes $7.99 (paperback)
12	Drawn Together	K-3		Minh Lê	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-with a shared love of art and storytelling, the two form a bond that goes beyond words.	picture	connecting with someone despite not knowing the same language (Story told almost entirely by pictures). Thai-American illustrator draws upon Thai art heritage for illustrations. Vietnamese-American author.	yes $17.99 (hardcover)
13	Emmanuel's Dream	K-3	4.2	Laurie Thompson	The story of a West African boy who pursued an education, helped support his family and became a record-setting cyclist in spite of a disability traces his ongoing achievements as an activist	picture	Protagonist (boy in Ghana) overcomes physical disability and learns to ride a bike and becomes a champion for disability rights.	yes $17.99 (hardcover)
14	Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story (2019)	K-3		Kevin Noble Maillard	Told in lively and powerful verse by debut author Kevin Noble Maillard, Fry Bread is an evocative depiction of a modern Native American family, vibrantly illustrated by Pura Belpre Award winner Juana Martinez-Nea	picture	native american	yes $18.99 (hardcover)
15	Julian is a Mermaid (2018)	K-3			While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress.	picture	gender expansive Latino boy	yes $16.99 (hardcover)
16	Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You! (2019)	K-3		Sonia Sotomayor	Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and award-winning artist Rafael Lopez create a kind and caring book about the differences that make each of us special. Feeling different, especially as a kid, can be tough. But in the same way that different types of plants and flowers make a garden more beautiful and enjoyable, different types of people make our world more vibrant and wonderful.	picture		yes $17.99 (hardcover)
17	I'm New Here	K-3		Anne Sibley O'Brien	Three students are immigrants from Guatemala, Korea, and Somalia and have trouble speaking, writing, and sharing ideas in English in their new American elementary school. Through self-determination and with encouragement from their peers and teachers, the students learn to feel confident and comfortable in their new school without losing a sense of their home country, language, and identity.	picture		yes $7.99 (paperback) or possibly $6.99 (hardcover remainder)
18	Lailah's Lunchbox	(Pre-K - 3)	3.8	Reem Faruqi	Now that she is ten, Lailah is 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. Scrabble.	picture	introduces what ramadan is, and cultural/relgious eating habits	yes $16.95 (hardcover)
19	Rocket Says Look up!			Nathan Bryon	Meet hilarious, science-mad chatterbox, Rocket - she's going to be the greatest astronaut, star-catcher, space-traveller that has ever lived! But... can she convince her big brother Jamal to stop looking down at his phone and start LOOKING UP at the comet and the stars? Bursting with energy and passion about science and space, this heart-warming, inspirational picture book will have readers turning off their screens and switching on to the outside world.	picture	appreciation of nature/celestial event in the city, importance of putting down phone to experience world around you, young black aspiring astronaut protagonist	yes $17.99 (hardcover)
20	Lubna and Pebble (2019)			Wendy Weddour	In an unforgettable story that subtly addresses the refugee crisis, a young girl must decide if friendship means giving up the one item that gives her comfort during a time of utter uncertainty. Lubna's best friend is a pebble. Pebble always listens to her stories. Pebble always smiles when she feels scared. But when a lost little boy arrives in the World of Tents, Lubna realizes that he needs Pebble even more than she does. This emotionally stirring and stunningly illustrated picture book explores one girl's powerful act of friendship in the midst of an unknown situation.	picture		yes $17.99 (hardcover)
21	Lost and Found Cat: The True Story of Kunkush's Incredible Journey (by Doug Kuntz)	K-1			This heartwarming true story about one lost cat's journey to be reunited with his Iraqi refugee family gently introduces children to a difficult topic and shows how ordinary people can help with compassion and hope.	picture		yes $17.99 (hardcover)
22	My Papi has a Motorcycle	K-3		Isabel Quintero	A celebration of the love between a father and daughter, and of a vibrant immigrant neighborhood, by an award-winning author and illustrator duo.	picture book	latina family	yes $17.99 (hardcover)
23	The Proudest Blue (2019)	pre K-3		Ibtihaj Muhammed	With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. It's the start of a brand new year and, best of all, it's her older sister Asiya's first day of hijab--a hijab of beautiful blue fabric, like the ocean waving to the sky. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful, and in the face of hurtful, confusing words, Faizah will find new ways to be strong.	picture book	Muslim American sisters. Written by Olympic Gold Medalist Ibtihaj Muhammed.
24	Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story About Racial Injustice (by Celano & Collins)	K-3		Marianne Celano	describes a traumatic event—a police shooting—from the perspective of a White family and an African American family. This story models productive conversations around racial-ethnic socialization and social-emotional learning, and provides an excellent platform for discussing social justice and race relations with children. Includes a “Note to Parents and Caregivers” with conversation guides, child-friendly vocabulary, and lists of related resources	picture book	race, community building	yes $16.99 (hardcover)
25	Stonewall: A Building, An Uprising. A Revolution (2019)	K-3		Rob Sanders	powerful and timeless true story that will allow young readers to discover the rich and dynamic history of the Stonewall Inn and its role in the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement--a movement that continues to this very day. In the early-morning hours of June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn was raided by police in New York City. Though the inn had been raided before, that night would be different. It would be the night when empowered members of the LGBTQ+ community--in and around the Stonewall Inn--began to protest and demand their equal rights as citizens of the United States.	picture		yes $17.99 (hardcover)
26	One	K	3.4	Katherine Otoshi	Red picks on Blue while Yellow, Orange, Green, and Purple wonder what they can do until One unites the colors and helps everybody learn about acceptance, tolerance, and boundaries amidst bullying while the reader learns numbers and primary and secondary colors.	picture	Challenging bullying behavior and teaches kid the power and importance of being an upstander!	yes $17.95 (hardcover)
27	Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Méndez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation (2014)	Pre-K- 5		Duncan Tonatiuh	Almost 10 years before Brown vs. Board of Education, Sylvia Méndez and her parents helped end school segregation in California. An American citizen of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage who spoke and wrote perfect English, Méndez was denied enrollment to a “Whites only” school. Her parents took action by organizing the Hispanic community and filing a lawsuit in federal district court. Their success eventually brought an end to the era of segregated education in California.	picture	California history, segregation/education	yes $18.95 (hardcover)
28	stella brings the family	k-2		Miriam B. Schiffer	Stella's class is having a Mother's Day celebration, but what's a girl with two daddies to do? It's not that she doesn't have someone who helps her with her homework, or tucks her in at night. Stella has her Papa and Daddy who take care of her, and a whole gaggle of other loved ones who make her feel special and supported every day. She just doesn't have a mom to invite to the party. Fortunately, Stella finds a unique solution to her party problem in this story about love, acceptance, and the true meaning of family.	picture	LGBT family, mothers day for a girl with two dads	yes $16.99 (hardcover)
29	This is How We Do it: One Day in the Life of Seven Children Around the World	k-3	4.4	Matt LaMothe	Follow one day in the real lives of seven kids from around the world—Italy, Japan, Iran, India, Peru, Uganda, and Russia! In Japan, Kei plays Freeze Tag, while in Uganda, Daphine likes to jump rope. While the way they play may differ, the shared rhythm of their days—and this one world we all share—unites them. This genuine exchange provides a window into traditions that may be different from our own as well as mirrors reflecting our common experiences. Inspired by his own travels, Matt Lamonthe transports readers across the globe and back with this luminous and thoughtful picture book.	picture	one day in the real lives of seven kids from around the world—Italy, Japan, Iran, India, Peru, Uganda, and Russia	yes $17.99 (hardcover)
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57	EARLY CHAPTER BOOKS
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59	Dragons in a Bag (2019)	2-3		Zetta Elliot	When Jaxon is sent to spend the day with a mean old lady his mother calls Ma, he finds out she's not his grandmother--but she is a witch! She needs his help delivering baby dragons to a magical world where they'll be safe. There are two rules when it comes to the dragons: don't let them out of the bag, and don't feed them anything sweet. Before he knows it, Jax and his friends Vikram and Kavita have broken both rules! Will Jax get the baby dragons delivered safe and sound? Or will they be lost in Brooklyn forever?		An Amazon Best Children's Book of the Year selection. The dragon's out of the bag in this diverse, young urban fantasy from an award-winning author!	yes $6.99 (paperback)
60	Dumpling Days	4-6		Grace Lin	Pacy is back! The beloved heroine of The Year of the Dog and The Year of the Rat has returned in a brand new story. This summer, Pacy's family is going to Taiwan for an entire month to visit family and prepare for their grandmother's 60th birthday celebration...But everything about the trip is harder than she thought it would be--she looks like everyone else but can't speak the language, she has trouble following the art teacher's instructions, and it's difficult to make friends in her class...As the month passes by, Pacy eats chicken feet (by accident!), gets blessed by a fortune teller, searches for her true identity, and grows closer to those who matter most	early chapter	Asian American girl/family	yes $7.99 (paperback)
61	Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Ghosts	2-3	3rd	Katie and Kevin Tsang	race/blackness in America(age-appropriate intense content)	chapter book with pictures	asian-american protagonist (with help from his friends) deals with conquering his fears, standing up to bully, etc.	yes $12.95 (hardcover)
62	Sofia Martinez (Series)	1-3	2.4	Jacqueline Jules	Growing up in a big family, 7-year-old Sofia Martinez is used to fighting for attention. Her outgoing personality mixed with her confidence and fiery passion for everything she does gets her that attention -- even if it's sometimes mixed with trouble. Sophia is a little stubborn and a lot mischievous, so you can imagine the fun she creates in this early chapter book series. A few Spanish words and phrases are intermixed throughout the story, bringing the importance of Sofia's culture to life. Discussion questions, writing prompts, and a glossary complete each book.	chapter book for early readers	Latina girl	yes $4.95 (paperback)
63	Slug Days	3-4		Sarah Leach	On slug days Lauren feels slow and slimy. She feels like everyone yells at her, and that she has no friends. Today there is a different bus driver; Dan and Sachi are sitting in Lauren's seat on the bus; and Lauren's teacher interrupts her reading time. It is definitely a slug day. But not every day is like this. On butterfly days Lauren makes her classmates laugh, or goes to get ice cream, or works on a special project with Mom. Lauren has Autism Spectrum Disorder, and she sees the world differently from many people. Sometimes this can be frustrating and makes Lauren want to flip her lid, especially at school where she learns differently from her classmates. But with support and stubbornness and a flair that's all her own, Lauren masters tricks to stay calm, to understand others' feelings, and to let her personality shine. Best of all, it is being different that gives Lauren insight into the insecurities of the new student, Irma. This illustrated early chapter book provides an empathetic inside look at Lauren's life, perfect for sparking conversation about understanding and embracing differences.	chapter book with some pictures	introduces readers to a girl with Autism Spectrum Disorder (written in 1st person from her perspective)	yes $16.95 (hardcover), out in Feb $12.95 (paperback)
64	Stella Diaz Has Something to Say	2nd-3rd		Angela Dominguez	In her first middle-grade novel, award-winning picture book author and illustrator Angela Dominguez tells a heartwarming story based on her own experiences growing up Mexican-American. Stella Diaz loves marine animals, especially her betta fish, Pancho. But Stella Diaz is not a betta fish. Betta fish like to be alone, while Stella loves spending time with her mom and brother and her best friend Jenny. Trouble is, Jenny is in another class this year, and Stella feels very lonely. When a new boy arrives in Stella's class, she really wants to be his friend, but sometimes Stella accidentally speaks Spanish instead of English and pronounces words wrong, which makes her turn roja. Plus, she has to speak in front of her whole class for a big presentation at school! But she better get over her fears soon, because Stella Díaz has something to say!	chapter	Mexican-American protagonist	yes $6.99 (paperback)
65	Magnificent Mya Tibbs: Spirit Week Showdown	3-4		Crystal Allen	Mya can’t wait for Spirit Week, but things go wrong when she’s partnered with the school bully instead of her best friend.	Chapter book (series)	light reading, african american girl protagonist	yes $6.99 (paperback)
66	Meet Yasmin! 1	1-3	2.4	Saadia Faruqi and Hatem Aly	Meet Yasmin! Yasmin is a spirited second-grader who's always on the lookout for those "aha" 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! A creative thinker and curious explorer, Yasmin and her multi-generational Pakistani American family will delight and inspire readers.	early chapter	Muslim /Pakistani-American protagonist	yes $5.95 (paperback)
67	Year of the Garden (2018)	2-4		Cheng	(Another in series of Andrea Cheng books)		Almost all Asian American girl protagonists. Includes asian adoptee	yes $5.99 (paperback)
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