NEW Multicultural Children's Books October 2021

A wide range of beautiful new multicultural books for children and teenagers this month! Our favourite October releases are Count to Love (Babies & Toddlers), The Queen on Our Corner (Preschool), The Me I Choose To Be (Elementary School), Stealing Home (Middle School) and Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World (High School).

NEW Multicultural Children’s Books October 2021

Babies & Toddlers

Global Baby Playtime (Global Babies)
by Global Fund for Children

Babies all over the globe clap, point, wave, and touch. They play with balls, rattles, and blocks–and with other babies. No matter how they play, they’re learning about the world around them. Featuring adorable babies from all around the world, Global Baby Playtime is the perfect baby-shower gift or first bedtime read. ~ Diverse – Babies & Toddlers

Count to LOVE!
by Andrea Pinkney

“Count to love on fingers and toes. 1-2-3-4, touch your nose!” Snuggle up with your little one to celebrate sweet baby love! You won’t be able to resist this adorable board book full of cutie charms, belly kisses, and magic wishes. With bouncing, rhythmic text and warm illustrations, Count to Love is a joyful celebration of roly-poly, perfectly huggable, oh-so lovable little ones that is just-right for the whole family. ~ African – Babies & Toddlers

The Rapping Princess
by Hannah Lee

“Being a princess is a tough job for someone so small. / It’s even harder when you’ve a problem you can’t solve at all. / You see, every princess in the kingdom could sing. / Yet Shiloh’s voice could do no such thing . . .” Shiloh might not be able to sing like her sisters, but she has other talents! The Rapping Princess is a unique rhyming picture book that celebrates daring to be different. ~ African – Babies & Toddlers

Preschool

A Bear to Share
by Jessica Alba

Tiana loves her teddy bear, Bach. She doesn’t mind that he’s a little worn and somewhat torn. So when her mother suggests she make room for a new bear, Tiana can’t believe her ears! Will Tiana have to lose the one bear she really loves? Or will she find room in her heart for two? With engaging illustrations, A Bear To Share is a sweet tale about a young girl who learns the importance of letting go and giving back. ~ African – Preschool

Everybody in the Red Brick Building
by Anne Wynter

Everybody in the red brick building was asleep. Until . . . WaaaAAH! Rraak! Pitter patter STOMP! Pssheew! A chain reaction of noises wakes up several children (and a cat) living in an apartment building. But it’s late in the night, so despite the disturbances, one by one, the building’s inhabitants return to their beds—this time with a new set of sounds to lull them to sleep. Everybody in the Red Brick Building is a fresh, urban take on bedtime stories, brought to life by Mora’s stunning illustrations. ~ Diverse – Preschool

Related: 11 Multicultural Lullabies

Remember to Dream, Ebere
by Cynthia Erivo

When Ebere’s mother puts her to bed at night, she always says, “Remember to dream, Ebere.” And dream, Ebere does! Encouraged by her mother to make her dreams as big as possible, Ebere imagines herself as the captain of a rocket ship with the ability to go anywhere in the universe. Written by a Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award winner, Remember to Dream, Ebere is an inspiring ode to a child’s imagination, a parent’s love, and the big dreams shared by both. ~ African – Preschool

Between the Lines
by Lindsay Ward

A young boy who loves his community notices that as neighbours stop interacting, the colours around them slowly fade. Then a thunderstorm sweeps away the last hints of bluebird skies and lemon-Popsicle days and leaves a rift in the road that doesn’t get fixed. As the adults around him move on, the boy dreams of the way life once was. He decides that he doesn’t want to live in a world without colour, so he sets out to change things… With vibrant art that shifts to a colourless world and back again, Between the Lines is a story of a community lost and rediscovered—and how one child can make a difference. ~ Diverse – Preschool

The Real Santa
by Nancy Redd

It’s not Christmas without Santa! But what does Santa truly look like? Does he match the figurines on the mantel, or the faces on our favorite holiday sweaters? Does he look like you or like me? Find out in The Real Santa, a joyous and cozy celebration of family, representation, and holiday spirit! ~ African – Preschool

The Queen on Our Corner
by Lucy Christopher

Nobody notices the queen on the corner. Nobody, that is . . . except one young girl. Through her eyes, the woman who dwells in the abandoned plot is a warrior queen, with many battles fought and won. When, one day, danger comes to the street and the queen on the corner sounds the alarm, the little girl must find a way to thank her. Can she bring the community together to turn the queen’s corner into a home? The Queen on our Corner is a thought-provoking story that encourages children to sit up and take notice. ~ African – Preschool

Liberty’s Civil Rights Road Trip
by Michael M. Waters

Time to board the bus! Liberty and her friend Abdullah, with their families and a diverse group of passengers, head off to their first stop: Jackson, Mississippi. Next on their map are Glendora, Memphis, Birmingham, Montgomery, and finally Selma, for a march across the iconic Edmund Pettus Bridge. Told through the innocent view of a child, Liberty’s Civil Rights Road Trip serves as an early introduction to places, people, and events that transformed history. ~ African – Preschool

Elementary School

Dad Bakes
by Katie Yamasaki

Dad wakes early every morning before the sun, heading off to work at the bakery. He kneads, rolls, and bakes, and as the sun rises and the world starts its day, Dad heads home to his young daughter. Together they play, read, garden, and―most importantly―they bake. Inspired by muralist Katie Yamasaki’s work with formerly incarcerated people, Dad Bakes is an intimate and tender story of love, family, and reclaiming a life with joy. ~ Asian – Elementary School

The Me I Choose To Be
by N.A. Tarpley

What will you choose to be? A free spirit? A weaver of words? A star dancing across the night sky? A limitless galaxy? The possibilities are endless in this uplifting ode to the power of potential. With lyrical text and expressive images, The Me I Choose To Be is an immersive call for self-love that highlights the inherent beauty of all Black and brown children. ~ African – Elementary School

Wind Riders #1: Rescue on Turtle Beach
by Jen Marlin

Max and Sofia are ordinary kids whose lives are changed when they discover an abandoned sailboat. They’re given the chance to make a real impact when the boat magically brings them them to a different corner of the world to help other kids save their environment. Wind Riders: Rescue on Turtle Beach is the first book in an illustrated chapter book series about Max and Sofia’s adventures tackling real world problems. Each story visits a new location and introduces a human-made problem endangering animals and the environment. ~ Diverse – Elementary School

Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History
by Schele Williams

“Your story begins in Africa. Your African ancestors defied the odds and survived 400 years of slavery in America and passed down an extraordinary legacy to you.” Beginning in Africa before 1619, Your Legacy presents an accessible and proud introduction to African American history for children. This empowering book celebrates African American’s accomplishments, acknowledges their sacrifices, and defines how they are remembered and how their stories should be taught. ~ African – Elementary School

We Can: Portraits of Power
by Tyler Gordon

Fifteen-year-old Tyler Gordon’s journey from a regular kid growing up in San Jose, California, to a nationally recognized artist wasn’t without its challenges. For the first six years of his life he was fully deaf, which led to a stutter and bullying. Art gave him a creative outlet for his pain. After painting a portrait of Kamala Harris and posting it on social media, he received a call from the vice president herself, and soon his art was everywhere. We Can: Portraits of Power is Tyler’s debut picture book, featuring his bold paintings of over 30 icons―musicians, artists, writers, civils rights leaders, sports legends, change-makers, record-setters, and more―alongside short explanations of how these people inspire him. ~ African – Elementary School

Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma
by Joanna Ho

Before Yo-Yo Ma became one of the most renowned and celebrated cellists, he wanted to play the double bass. But it was too big for his four-year-old hands. Over time, Ma honed his amazing talent, and his music became a reflection of his own life between borders and cultures. In 2019, Yo-Yo Ma performed at the US-Mexico border as part of his multi-continent “Bach Project” tour to prove that through music, we can build bridges rather than walls between different cultures. With lyrical text and vibrant illustrations, Playing At The Border is a poignant picture book biography about the musician Yo-Yo M. ~ Asian – Elementary School

The Magnificent Makers #4: The Great Germ Hunt
by Theanne Griffith

When another riddle appears to transport Violet and Pablo back to the Maker Maze-to learn all about bacteria, viruses, and fungi, they find out why their classmate Aria is so nervous about Violet’s sneezing. Aria’s body has more trouble fighting off illnesses than their bodies do. Together they learn all about good and bad germs, and why staying home until you’re 100% recovered is really important. Like the first three books in the Magnificent Makers chapter book series, The Great Germ Hunt is filled with science, adventure, and characters kids will love. Includes two science activities kids can do at home. ~ African – Elementary School

Middle School

Playing the Cards You’re Dealt
by Varian Johnson

Ten-year-old Anthony Joplin has made it to double digits! Which means he’s finally old enough to play in the spades tournament every Joplin Man before him seems to have won. So while Ant’s friends are stressing about fifth grade homework and girls, Ant only has one thing on his mind: how he’ll measure up to his father’s expectations at the card table… until he discovers that his father is hiding a secret so big it may tear their family apart… Playing The Cards You’re Dealt is a heartfelt, hopeful story that explores themes of toxic masculinity and family legacy. ~ African – Middle School

This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us
by K. Locke & N. Melleby

A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true–but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend’s mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out. This Is Our Rainbow features a wide range of proud LGBTQA+ stories, from fantasy to sci-fi, historical and contemporary. ~ Diverse – Middle School

Tristan Strong Keeps Punching
by Kwame Mbalia

After reuniting with Ayanna, who is now in his world, Tristan travels up the Mississippi in pursuit of his archenemy, King Cotton. Along the way they encounter new haints who are dead set on preventing their progress north to Tristan’s hometown of Chicago. It’s going to take many Alkean friends, including the gods themselves, the black flames of the afokena gloves, and all of Tristan’s inner strength to deliver justice once and for all. With shocking twists and a cast of unforgettable characters, Tristan Strong Keeps Punching is the triumphant finale to the best-selling Tristan Trilogy. ~ African – Middle School

Also available: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky // Tristan Strong Destroys the World

Keeping It Real
by Paula Chase

Marigold Johnson can’t wait to attend a special program at her family’s business, Flexx Unlimited, for teens who love fashion. But she quickly realizes that she’s out of place compared to the three other trainees—and one girl, Kara, seems to hate her on sight. As tension builds and the stakes at the program get higher, Mari uncovers exactly why Kara’s been so spiteful. And she also discovers some hard truths about herself and her family… Keeping It Real is a powerful middle-grade novel that explores the themes of betrayal, conformity, and forgiveness. ~ African – Middle School

Concealed
by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

Katrina doesn’t know any of the details about her past, but she does know that she and her parents are part of the Witness Protection Program. Whenever they have to move on and start over, she takes on a new identity. A new name, a new hair color, a new story. Until their location leaks and her parents disappear. Forced to embark on a dangerous rescue mission, Katrina and her new friend Parker set out to save her parents―and find out the truth about her secret past and the people that want her family dead. Concealed is a thrilling action adventure middle-graders will love. ~ Hispanic – Middle School

Mighty Inside
by Sundee T. Frazier

Melvin Robinson wants a strong, smooth voice that lets him say what he wants —especially to his crush Millie Takazawa, and Gary Ratliff, who constantly puts him down. But the thought of starting high school is only making his stutter worse. And Melvin’s growing awareness that racism is everywhere—not just in the South where a boy his age has been brutally killed by two white men, but also in his own hometown of Spokane—is making him realize that he can’t mutely stand by. His new friend Lenny, a fast-talking, sax-playing Jewish boy encourages Melvin to take some risks—to invite Millie to Homecoming and even audition for a local TV variety show. When they play music together, Melvin almost feels like he’s talking, no words required. But there are times when one needs to speak up. When his moment comes, can Melvin be as mighty on the outside as he actually is on the inside? Mighty Inside a moving coming-of-age story about a Black boy in 1950s America. ~ African – Middle School

Eye Spy: Harper’s Beginning
by L. Clayborne & K. Harris

Harper Ellison, school mischief maker and home prankster, never thought that one prank would land her in the principal’s office, let alone on an unexpected trip to Mexico to learn about her heritage. At first it was a perfectly normal vacation until her mom goes missing and Harper gets kidnapped by a spy agency that reveals the truth about her mami’s disappearance. Written by two 10-year-old girls, Eye Spy: Harper’s Beginning is a high-action espionage adventure with some unexpected twists. ~ Hispanic – Middle School

Defiant: Growing Up in the Jim Crow South
by Wade Hudson

Born in 1946 in Mansfield, Louisiana, Wade Hudson came of age against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement. From their home on Mary Street, his close-knit family watched as the country grappled with desegregation, as the Klan targeted the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and as systemic racism struck across the nation and in their hometown. Amidst it all, Wade was growing up. Getting into scuffles, playing baseball, immersing himself in his church community, and starting to write. Most important, Wade learned how to find his voice and use it. Defiant is a compelling memoir about the struggles, joys, love, and resilience that it took to grow up Black in segregated America. ~ African – Middle School

Stealing Home
by J.Torres

Sandy Saito loves comic books and is obsessed with baseball — especially the Asahi team, the pride of his Japanese Canadian community. But when the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, his life, like that of every other North American of Japanese descent, changes forever. His family is forced to move to a remote internment camp, and his father must spend months away from them. Sandy, his mother and his brother cope as best they can with the difficulties at the camp. Over time, Sandy comes to realize that life is a lot like baseball. Stealing Home is an emotionally gripping graphic novel about hope and renewal. ~ Asian – Middle School

Welcome Back, Maple Mehta-Cohen
by Kate McGovern

Maple Mehta-Cohen has an impressive vocabulary and loves dictating stories into her recorder—especially the adventures of a daring sleuth who’s half Indian and half Jewish like Maple herself—but words on the page just don’t seem to make sense to her. Despite all Maple’s clever tricks to hide her troubles with reading, her teacher is on to her, and now Maple has to repeat fifth grade. Maple is devastated—what will her friends think? She uses her storytelling skills to convince her classmates that she’s staying back as a special teacher’s assistant. But as Maple navigates the loss of old friendships, the possibility of new ones, and facing her reading challenges head-on, her deception becomes harder to keep up. Welcome Back, Maple Mehta-Cohen Readers is a heartwarming story about friendship, creativity and self-love. ~ Diverse – Middle School

The Last Cuentista
by Donna Barbara Higuera

Petra Peña wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller, like her abuelita. But Petra’s world is ending. Earth has been destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children – among them Petra and her family – have been chosen to journey to a new planet. Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to this new planet – and the discovery that she is the only person who remembers Earth. A sinister Collective has taken over the ship during its journey, bent on erasing the sins of humanity’s past. Petra alone now carries the stories of our past, and with them, any hope for our future. Can she make them live again? The Last Cuentista is a gripping journey through the stars, to the very heart of what makes us human. ~ Hispanic – Middle School

African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History
by Tracey Baptiste

Black history began long ago with the many cultures and people of the African continent. Through portraits of ten heroic figures, African Icons takes readers on a journey across Africa to meet some of the great leaders and thinkers whose vision built a continent and shaped the world, from kings and queens to scholars and visionaries. Includes vivid, information-filled landscapes, maps, and graphics for readers to return to again and again. Great for classroom use! ~ African – Middle School

High School

Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
by Brandy Colbert

In the early morning of June 1, 1921, a white mob marched across the train tracks in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and into its predominantly Black Greenwood District—a thriving, affluent neighborhood known as America’s Black Wall Street. They brought with them firearms, gasoline, and explosives. In a few short hours, they’d razed thirty-five square blocks to the ground, leaving hundreds dead. The Tulsa Race Massacre is one of the most devastating acts of racial violence in US history. But how did it come to pass? What exactly happened? And why are the events unknown to so many of us today? Black Birds In The Sky seeks to answer these questions in this unflinching nonfiction account of the Tulsa Race Massacre. ~ African – High School

Within These Wicked Walls: A Novel
by Lauren Blackwood

Andromeda is a debtera―an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. She would be hired, that is, if her mentor hadn’t thrown her out before she could earn her license. Now her only hope of steady work is to find a Patron―a rich, well-connected individual who will vouch for her abilities. When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rochester reaches out to hire her, she takes the job without question. Never mind that he’s rude and demanding and eccentric, that the contract comes with a number of outlandish rules… and that almost a dozen debtera had quit before her. If Andromeda wants to earn a living, she has no choice. Within These Wicked Walls is a stunningly romantic and exciting new fantasy novel. ~ African – High School

Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

In Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, two boys in a border town fell in love. Now, they must discover what it means to stay in love and build a relationship in a world that seems to challenge their very existence. The boys are determined to forge a path for themselves. But when Ari is faced with a shocking loss, he’ll have to fight like never before to create a life that is truthfully, joyfully his own. Highly anticipated Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World is an achingly romantic, tender tale of love and identity. ~ Hispanic – High School

Rest Easy
by Warona Jolomba

Heartsick from the death of his mother and heartsore from breaking up with his girlfriend, Dee Warrington is barely getting by. Eccentric with mad style, Naya’s had straight As since the seventh grade, and when she makes a pinky promise, she means it. Both find themselves at Salvation Hill Nursing Home, volunteering during their summer break. There they meet Marie Delden―a former aspiring poet with a mysterious backstory. As Dee and Naya read through Marie’s poems, they begin to unravel Marie’s past . . . and discover their own future. Inspired by a true story, Rest Easy is a heartfelt tale of love and loss, and a bond that forms in the unlikeliest of places. ~ Diverse – High School

Beasts of Prey
by Ayana Gray

There’s no such thing as magic in the broken city of Lkossa, especially for sixteen-year-old Koffi, who holds a power within her that could only be described as magic—a power that if discovered could cost her life. Indentured to the notorious Night Zoo, Koffi knows the fearsome creatures in her care and paying off her family’s debts to secure their eventual freedom can be her only focus. But the night those she loves are gravely threatened by the Zoo’s cruel master, Koffi finally unleashes the power she doesn’t fully understand, upending her life completely. Beasts of Prey is richly woven story about two Black teenagers who journey into a magical jungle to hunt down the vicious monster who is threatening their home. ~ African – High School

Why We Fly
by Kimberly Jones

Cheerleaders and lifelong best friends Eleanor and Chanel have a lot on their minds. Eleanor is still recovering from a serious concussion from a failed cheer stunt. Chanel is dealing with the mounting pressure of college applications. But they have each other’s backs―just as always, until Eleanor’s new relationship with star quarterback Three starts a rift between them. The cheer squad’s decision to take a knee at the season’s first football game causes a larger fallout between the girls. As Eleanor and Chanel grapple with the weight of the consequences as well as their own problems, can the girls rely on their friendship? Why We Fly is a powerful story about friendship, privilege, sports, and protest. ~ African – High School

One-Punch Man, Vol. 23
by ONE

Nothing about Saitama screams superhero, from his lifeless expression to his bald head to his unimpressive physique. However, this average-looking guy has a not-so-average problem—he just can’t seem to find an opponent strong enough to take on! Narinki’s private force is now free from Super S’s control. Bushi Drill, Okama Itachi and Iaian plot their escape, but threat level Demon monster Malong Hair appears before they can flee, and a fierce fight breaks out. Elsewhere, their master Atomic Samurai encounters a creepy opponent! One-Punch Man is the 23rd book in this popular Manga comic book series. ~ Asian – High School

Feminist AF: A Guide to Crushing Girlhood
by B. Cooper, C. Craft Tanner & S. Morris

What do you do when you feel like your natural hair is ugly, or when classmates keep touching it? How do you handle your self-confidence if your family or culture prizes fair-skinned womxn over darker-skinned ones? How do you balance your identities if you’re an immigrant or the child of immigrants? How do you dress and present yourself in ways that feel good when society condemns anything outside of the norm? Covering colorism and politics, romance and pleasure, code switching, and sexual violence, Feminist AF is the empowering guide to living your feminism out loud. ~ Diverse – High School

Steelstriker (Skyhunter Duology)
by Marie Lu

As a Striker, Talin was taught loyalty is life. Loyalty to the Shield who watches your back, to the Strikers who risk their lives on the battlefield, and most of all, to Mara, which was once the last nation free from the Karensa Federation’s tyranny. But Mara has fallen. And its destruction has unleashed Talin’s worst nightmare. With her friends scattered by combat and her mother held captive by the Premier, Talin is forced to betray her fellow Strikers and her adopted homeland. She has no choice but to become the Federation’s most deadly war machine as their newest Skyhunter. Steelstriker is the riveting conclusion to the best-selling Skyhunter duet. ~ Asian – High School

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4 Responses

Phyllicia M. Hatton

November 3, 2021 | Reply

Greetings, Svenja. I hope you are doing well today. I currently work with a young woman who has self published her second children’s book that encourages and inspires young people. Dr. Kelsi Bracmort, an African American STEM professional has the heart to pass along her inspirational words to help other children of color. He recent book, “Simone Joins the Soccer Team,” has received a thumbs up from the Kirkus Review. In addition, her book was announced in a couple of the local news papers here in Washington, D.C. As a Black woman who was born in this beautiful city, I know first hand the challenges our young Brown and Black children face just to survive. I would greatly appreciate your consideration to include Kelsi’s books alongside the other wonderful publications on your blog. Finally, if you desire additional information, I will be pleased to send it to you pronto! Thank you for your work to inform children and parents in our communities! Phyllicia
- Colours of Us
  
  November 10, 2021 |
  
  Hi Phyllicia, thanks for getting in touch. We will have have a look and add it to one of our lists if her books are a good fit. Just please be aware that we are always inundated with requests and can therefore not promise if and when that will happen.
Deirdre MJ

October 28, 2021 | Reply

This is a fantastic list! Thank you! It is so important for every child to feel represented and I will be adding quite a few of these to our nighttime storybook list. I recently came across a truly wonderful series for children (the chocolate covered series) by Nikki Cooper and the book that my daughter cannot get enough of is Chocolate Covered Courage with Blessings On Top. This book takes you on an adventure with Davis and tackles important life lessons such as telling the truth and self-esteem. These books do a wonderful job of honoring current African American heroes and it shows African American children using emotional intelligent dialogue to solve disagreements. The illustrations are fun, the rhyming prose is clever and catchy and I enjoyed it as much as my daughter. I 1000000% recommend
- Colours of Us
  
  November 3, 2021 |
  
  Thanks for sharing.