Happy Hair

Happy Hair by Mechal Renee Roe (2014) #ownvoices

A joyful, unapologetic celebration of black hair styles, the message of this title is universal and should be a no-brainer to add to storytime everywhere. Intended to be read as a call-and-response, the rhyming text invites readers to shout, “I love being me” with each verse. I love this one!

Themes/topics:  hair, girl power, self-esteem, fashion,

Sample text:

Cool vibes, accessorize! “I love being me”

[word bubble] Pattern wrap!

Loved and free! “I love being me”

[word bubble] Wash-n-go!

Pom-pom puffs—Pretty and stuff “I love being me!”

[word bubble] Pom-pom puffs!

What Do You Love About You

What Do You Love About You by Karen Lechelt (2016)

This is a sweet and simple story that will fit right into a storytime about love, providing a welcome opportunity to build self-esteem by thinking and talking about the things we love about ourselves. The young girl with a dark pageboy and medium brown skin asks various animals (shown as toys at the end) what they love about themselves, and they answer with things that make them happy. Many celebrate their relationship with the girl.

Themes/topics: love, self-esteem, stuffed animals

Sample text from two pages:

What do you love about you? [octopus]/

I love my tentacles because I am a hugging machine

Every Color

Every Color by Erin Eitter Kono (2016)

A polar bear longs for color in his snowy world, so his seagull friends enlist the help of a girl who mails bear a beautiful rainbow picture. While he loves the gift, it doesn’t quite solve his problem. So the girl spirits him away in her boat, and takes him adventuring all over the world. They paint pictures of all they see and send them home, so when bear returns he realizes that the whole world is reflected in his white home—and always had been. With a strong girl saving the day, bold colors, and a gorgeous painting of the Northern Lights, this is a great story for sophisticated storytime groups.

Themes/topics: colors, snow, arctic animals, boats, adventure

Sample text from two spreads:

It was the most amazing thing Bear had ever received. But the gift didn’t take away his discontent.

When Bear’s thank you note arrived—Seagull Express—the girl realized that she needed to go to him. She understood that he looked for color, but could not see it. She rigged her skiff and sailed across the ocean. “Come with me,” said the girl when she finally reached Bear. “I know where to find what you need.”

What’s a Banana? & What’s an Apple?

What’s a Banana? and What’s an Apple? by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli  (2016)

Who doesn’t love a good food themed storytime? These are  very silly rhyming odes to specific fruits—either apples or bananas per the title. Both titles are as much fun to read out loud Sayre’s “Rah Rah Radishes” but a little shorter (smaller trim size too). Both titles present real and imagined uses for each fruit, and will fit right into storytime.

Themes/topics: Fruit, food, eating, health, imagination, funny

Sample text from two spreads:

You can tote it. You can float it. Dress like one for Halloween.

You can grow it. Try to blow it—just pretend that it’s a flute. 

Cat Knit by Jacob Grant

Cat Knit by Jacob Grant (2016)

An adorably expressive cat forms a complicated friendship with a ball of yarn. When Cat’s transforms Yarn by knitting it into a cat sweater, Cat feels betrayed by his friend. Since snow/cold features predominately in this title, it will work with those themes as well. With large, clear illustrations and just a few words on a page, this title should fit well into most storytimes. Note: Jacob Grant is also the author of Scaredy Kate, another Everyday Diversity favorite of mine.

Themes/topics: cats, clothing, yarn/knitting, friendship, funny, mix-ups, snow

Sample text from first two spreads:

Cat and Girl had always been good friends.

One day, Girl brought home a colorfull new guest. His name was Yarn. 

Max Speed

Max Speed by Stephen Shaskan (2016)

One of the cutest little daredevils you’ve ever seen, Max Speed gets his room clean just in time for adventure. Hopping into his zippy red roadsters, he zooms along facing various road blocks with ingenuity and aplomb. With tons of action words, and repeating phrases like, “Had Max met his match?” and “Just in time,” this one is a storytime win. Great fun-Highly recommended!

Themes/topics: Superheros, problem solving, adventure, sharks, imagination, mothers

Sample text from four spreads,

Max feel gently down into…/

SHARK-INFESTED WATERS!

[speech bubble] ‘GREAT GADZOOKS!’

Had Max met his match? /

Just in time, Max spoke his super-secret shark language, “Sharky-shark-shark. Shark, shark-shark, sharky-shark. Shark, shark?” /

The sharks showed Max the way to the super-secret underground cave.