Topics in the Youth Collection

A heartwarming celebration of all skin shades, from sun-browned to autumn-leaf-gold! Amrita and Kiki are best friends and sunflower sisters. Amrita's older sister is getting married, but when the elder relatives arrive, they start dispensing some old-fashioned and dubious advice. Luckily, Amrita's mother has a lesson or two to teach about that! With the support and empowerment of their moms, the sunflower sisters are two strong, confident girls--one South Asian the other Nigerian--finding joy in their own skin.

Brown-skinned children around the world laugh, love and play together in this infectiously joyful book.I am brown. I am beautiful. I am perfect. I designed this computer. I ran this race. I won this prize. I wrote this book. A joyful celebration of the skin you're in--of being brown, of being amazing, of being you.Teach Early Years Award Finalist 2021. UKLA Book Awards Longlist 2021. Derby Children's Book Award Longlist 2021. BookTrust Best Books Guide 2020. A Guardian Children's Book of the Month"A note-perfect hymn about acceptance, pride and belonging"--The Observer"Upbeat and uplifting"--Kirkus Reviews"An empowering book for all children to read and a beautiful reminder about self-love, dreaming big, culture and self-acceptance"--Here Wee Read"Such a joyful book! A must-have for your shelf, and definitely schools and libraries"--Bookbairn"A total joy to behold. The gorgeous illustrations and story provide a positive mantra for all children of any ethnicity and background - with the central message that you can be anything you want to be, don't hold yourself back. Highly recommended"--BookTrust"This is not just a book about being brown. This book is fundamentally the voice of every child, and every child is amazing. Simply one of the most joyful books I have seen for a long time. I can't wait to share it in my library"--Book Monsters

Cocoa, tan, rose, and almond--people come in lots of shades, even in the same family. A perfect resource for starting conversations about race with young children, Shades of People celebrates the diversity of everyday life. This beautiful picture book and its board book edition, All Kinds of People, pair simple text and vibrant photographs to explore one of our most notable physical traits. At school, at the beach, and in the city, diverse groups of children invite young readers both to take notice and to look beyond the obvious. Combining lively action shots and candid portraits, Shelley Rotner's photographs showcase a wide variety of kids and families--many shades, and many bright smiles. For even younger readers, this title has also been adapted as a board book, All Kinds of People. An ALA Notable Book.

Is there anything more splendid than a baby's skin? For families of all stripes comes a sweet celebration of what makes us unique--and what holds us together. Look at you! You look so cute in your brand-new birthday suit. Just savor these bouquets of babies--cocoa-brown, cinnamon, peaches and cream. As they grow, their clever skin does too, enjoying hugs and tickles, protecting them inside and out, and making them one of a kind. Fran Manushkin's rollicking text and Lauren Tobia's delicious illustrations paint a breezy and irresistible picture of the human family--and how wonderful it is to be just who you are.

Based on the research that race, gender, consent, and body positivity should be discussed with toddlers on up, this read-aloud board book series offers adults the opportunity to begin important conversations with young children in an informed, safe, and supported way. Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism against injustice, this topic-driven board book offers clear, concrete language and beautiful imagery that young children can grasp and adults can leverage for further discussion. While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it's hard to know where to begin. Research shows that talking about issues like race and gender from the age of two not only helps children understand what they see, but also increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and allows them to recognize and confront things that are unfair, like discrimination and prejudice. This first book in the series begins the conversation on race, with a supportive approach that considers both the child and the adult. Stunning art accompanies the simple and interactive text, and the backmatter offers additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion. _x2605_ "An accessible, important addition to any anti-racist bookshelf." --- starred review, Kirkus Reviews _x2605_ "The book lives up to its promise by opening the door to rich conversations with explanations that are age-appropriate... This timely book is essential for all collections." --- starred review, School Library Connection

A Latina teen spy goes undercover as a white girl to stop a white supremacist terrorist plot in a fast-paced young adult debut from a seasoned author of contemporary crime fiction. In her debut for younger readers, Aya de León pits a teen spy against the ominous workings of a white nationalist. Fourteen-year-old Andréa Hernández-Baldoquín hails from a family of spies working for the Factory, an international organization dedicated to protecting people of color. For her first solo mission, Andréa straightens her hair and goes undercover as Andrea Burke, a white girl, to befriend the estranged son of a dangerous white supremacist. In addition to her Factory training, the assignment calls for a deep dive into the son's interests--comic books and gaming--all while taking care not to speak Spanish and blow her family's cover. But it's hard to hide who you really are, especially when you develop a crush on your target's Latino best friend. Can Andréa keep her head, her geek cred, and her code-switching on track to trap a terrorist? Smart, entertaining, and politically astute, this is fast-paced young adult fare from an established author of heist and espionage novels for adults.