This Black History Month's theme is 'Reclaiming Narratives', and we're celebrating the works of our wonderful children's authors and illustrators of Black heritage. Whether they're fun non-fiction reads, adventurous tales or stories about self-love and confidence, there are books available for young readers of all ages to read this October and all year round.
0-4s
Flower Block
When Jeremiah plants a packet of sunflower seeds, the very last thing he expects is for the vines and leaves to grow overnight and burst through the ceiling of his apartment!
As Jeremiah and his brother chase the magical plant up through the floors of their tower block home, they discover an array of curious neighbours who join in the adventure. But what could be waiting for them at the top of the building? And will Jeremiah find his voice to help the neighbours discover the true magic hidden within these sunflower seeds?
Strong Like Me
Discover Strong Like Me, a picture-book story about finding what makes YOU strong.
Kamara loves being super strong - it makes her feel fizzy and zappy! But her classmates and their negative words lead her to question how strong she really is. With Sport's Day and the Big Race looming, does Kamara have what it takes to reach the finish line? And can she discover what being STRONG means to her?
Look Up!
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 to stop looking down at his phone and start LOOKING UP at 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.
4-7s
Big
Once there was a girl with a big laugh and a big heart and very big dreams. She grew and grew and grew. And it was good... until it wasn't.
When the girl grows big, the world begins to make her feel small. She feels out of place and invisible, and soon she isn't herself at all. But with the girl's size comes huge inner strength - and this helps her look past the hurtful words to see how perfect she really is.
With beautiful illustrations and a gatefold flap, this quietly reassuring story explores the experience of being big in a world that celebrates small, promoting body positivity and self-acceptance in young readers.
Weirdo Goes Wild
A warm and endearing story about the quiet power of being yourself from Zadie Smith, Nick Laird and Magenta Fox.
Maud - a judo-suit wearing guinea pig and proud weirdo - is off into the wild, as is Kit, her owner. Both are slightly nervous about what they'll find in the great outdoors, but with a pinch of bravery - and a few Signature Moves - they'll make new friends and explore new worlds.
Discover FOUR stories in one book. Have no fear, Betsey Biggalow is here! In this collection of stories, Betsey has lots of big ideas for her big adventures! Join her as:
Sulwe
From Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o comes a powerful, moving picture book about colourism, self-esteem and learning that true beauty comes from within.
Sulwe's skin is the colour of midnight. She's darker than everyone in her family, and everyone at school. All she wants is to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister.
Then a magical journey through the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything.
Featuring 40 trailblazing black women in the world's history, this book educates and inspires as it relates true stories of women who broke boundaries and exceeded all expectations.
Author/illustrator Vashti Harrison pairs captivating text with stunning illustrations as she tells the stories of both iconic and lesser-known female figures of black history.
Hair Love
It's up to Daddy to give his daughter an extra-special hair style in this story of self-confidence and the love between fathers and daughters.
Zuri knows her hair is beautiful, but it has a mind of its own! It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Mum always does Zuri's hair just the way she likes it - so when Daddy steps in to style it for an extra special occasion, he has a lot to learn.
But he LOVES his Zuri, and he'll do anything to make her - and her hair - happy.
Hey You!
This book addresses - honestly, yet hopefully - the experiences Black children face growing up with systemic racism, as well as providing hope for the future, delivering a powerful message to a new generation of dreamers. It's a message that is both urgent and timeless - and offers a rich and rewarding reading experience for every child.
To mirror the rich variety of the Black diaspora, this book showcases artwork from Dapo and 18 incredible Black illustrators in one beautiful, powerful, and cohesive reading experience.
Aisha and Jayden are definitely not fans of Outside. Aisha would rather be home playing on her tablet or messaging her friends. Jayden thinks the worlds inside his books are much more exciting than the real one beyond his window.
But when they are asked to join the Secret Beast Club, a centuries-old secret group that protects mythological creatures, Aisha and Jayden discover that real magic could be closer than they think . . . you just have to know where to look . . .
Inspired by the real life story of Pablo Fanque - the first Black circus owner - and featuring fun facts about the magical creatures within each story, this series for 6+ readers is not to be missed!
8-12s
Alright BOOM, Big Manny is here to show you how you can become a real-life scientist and create awesome experiments at home using ordinary ingredients.
You'll learn some basic (and not-so basic) chemistry tings - from combustion to chromatography (chroma-what-now?). You'll meet the amazing elements that each have their own personalities - from fiery hydrogen to the main man oxygen. And you'll create explosive reactions - from fizzing mixtures to dish soap volcanoes!
Last night Wesley and his friends Josephine and Margot threw their neighbour Rachel a surprise birthday party.
This morning, Rachel is dead. And Wesley is the one who finds her body.
Rachel's friends throw a traditional Caribbean Nine Night celebration to help guide her soul to the next world. But Wesley, Margot and Josephine don't have time to mourn Rachel. They are determined to find out who did this - and find out what secrets Rachel was keeping…
How many Black people can you name from our history? Mary Seacole? Ira Aldridge? George Bridgetower? Pablo Fanque? Walter Tull? Have you heard of these people?
From sportspeople to scientists, activists to musicians, politicians to writers, you're going to meet a whole bunch of AWESOME people who have helped shape the world we live in. So, are ready for you a journey Black in time?? Course you are, let's go!
Stocks, shares, taxes, saving, investing, these things all sound confusing (and maybe even a little boring), but understanding more about money can help you to embrace your inner entrepreneur, make the world a better place, and even make some extra money for yourself while doing so.
But financial advisor Emmanuel Asuquo will help you cut through the noise, give you the tools to make decisions that are right for you - and show how YOU could become a millionaire!
A collection of favourite tales gathered from the many different islands of the Caribbean, one of the world's richest sources of traditional storytelling. From the very first Kingfisher to Anansi the Spider Man, these lively retellings full of humour and pathos, are beautifully retold by Trish Cooke.
The book includes endnotes with a glossary, additional information as well as ideas for activities that children can do to explore the stories further.
Hey! My name's Naomie Osei, but my friends call me Mensa, cos I'm supposed to be the clever one among my friends, the Fabulous Four. Normally I'm the one with all the answers, but right now I'm struggling to figure out our future.
I mean, how do I break it to my friends that I might not be going to the same high school as them next term? Is my sax-playing good enough for the big solo at the Midsummer Concert? And can Bramrock's top girl's football team, the Dreamers, save our library from closing?
Since I can't tell the future, I kind of want to press pause and stay in the present a bit longer. But as that's impossible, I suppose I'll have to do what I'm best at and work out the solution . . .
