Month: June 2024

Lost Words

Sophie Rosen , , ,

Boukarim, Leila. Lost Words: An Armenian Story of Survival and Hope. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2024.
A little boy walks and walks and walks, for days and weeks and months, leaving behind his parents, looking for a new life. Based on the author’s own family history and illustrated by Sona Avedikain, this quiet picture book portrays the experiences of a refugee during the early 20th century. It is appended by photographs and lengthy notes from both the author and illustrator, as well as a brief history of the Armenian Genocide. Recommended for those interested in world history and those ready to explore their own family’s history.

More stories of refugees

More stories based on real history 

Extraordinary Magic

Sophie Rosen ,

Crews, Nina. Extraordinary Magic. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2024.

What words would you choose to tell the story of your life?
How could you turn those words into poems about your life?
Nina Crews, author of over a dozen children’s books, uses poems and pictures to tell the story of Virginia Hamilton, author of over forty books and winner of multiple awards including the Newbery Medal in 1975. Most young readers today – at least in Canada – will not be familiar with Hamilton’s folktales and realistic novels about life for African Americans. This picture book is an excellent introduction to an author who excelled at writing complex stories that did not flinch from life’s ugliness while still celebrating its beauty. Recommended for readers up to 15 years of age.

More biographies of writers

Stories of people with African heritage

Novels for young adults

Go Forth and Tell

Sophie Rosen

McDaniel, Breanna J. Go Forth and Tell. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2024.
This gorgeous picture book – illustrated by April Harrison – tells the story of Augusta Baker, a little girl who loved listening to her grandmother’s stories and who grew up to become a teacher who loved telling her own stories, as well as the first African American librarian to be head of children’s services in the New York Public Library system. Highly recommended for readers of any age who like telling stories and creating works of art.

More books about libraries

More books about people of African heritage

More biographies

“Children of all ages want to hear stories. Select well, prepare well, and then go forth and just tell.” – Augusta Braxton Baker