School Library Journal has proudly partnered with We Are Kid Lit Collective to share and promote the group’s 11th annual summer reading recommendations. In the next couple of weeks, SLJ will publish individual posts featuring their recommendations of board books, picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and young adult titles.

We Are Kid Lit Collective (wtpsite.wordpress.com) is pleased to present our 11th annual summer reading list. At a time of great upheaval and uncertainty, we remain committed to uplifting titles written or illustrated by BIPOC creators. As in previous years, we have sought out books that explore the intersections of these identities through stories that invite readers to celebrate, question, imagine, hope, and explore. Diversity in our list extends from characters, authors, and countries of origin to publishers, genres, and formats. Each book on the list has been carefully selected, discussed, and vetted by two or more members.

ABDEL-FATTAH, Randa. Eleven Words for Love: A Journey Through Arabic Expressions of Love. illus. by Maxine Beneba Clarke. Candlewick. 2023. ISBN 9781536230215. BL
There are 11 words for love in Arabic. Through child-friendly examples of kindness and appreciation, the young girl at the heart of this beautifully textured book shows how her family knows each one.

BROWN-WOOD, JaNay. Here Are the Seeds. illus. by Olivia Amoah. Kids Can. 2024. ISBN 9781525308307.
Two young gardeners plant seeds and watch them grow. Throughout the season they learn what nurtures the life cycle of plants and crops in their garden.

EADY, Antwan. Nigel and the Moon. illus. by Gracey Zhang. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen. 2022. ISBN 9780063056282.
At night, Nigel has big, fun dreams about what he wants to do when he grows up. When his class starts talking about what they want to do and what their parents do, Nigel feels like he’s not good enough. He gets special help to overcome his fears.

HAMID, Rasha. How to Bird. photos by Rasha Hamid, Anna Jeffers, Katie Rust & Ruben Giron. Free Spirit. 2023. ISBN 9798885540346.
A joyful celebration of birds and the diverse young birders who observe them in urban settings and landscapes. From explaining what a birder is to sparking thoughtful questions, this informational text will inspire young birders everywhere.

KANE, Karen & Jonaz McMillan. Monster Hands. illus. by Dion MBD. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen. 2024. ISBN 9780593532294.
Milo knew he shouldn’t read that monster book before bed, but he did, and now he’s scared! He uses his hand to reach out to his friend, Mel, across the way. Together they come up with a plan to scare off any and every monster from beneath Mel’s bed.

LINDSTROM, Carole. My Powerful Hair. illus. by Steph Littlebird. Abrams. 2023. ISBN 9781419759437.
An Indigenous child can’t wait for her hair to grow. She takes readers through the seasons of her life, filled with love and family, while using her hair as a marker for the passing of time. Bold illustrations paired with poetic, poignant text make for a beautiful and powerful read.

MEZA, Erika. To the Other Side. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen. 2023. ISBN 9780063073166.
Writing from the perspective of the younger of two Latinx siblings, Meza explores child migration while gently touching upon prospects of violence and danger. In the story, the siblings, thinking they’re playing a game, wear masks as they journey north toward the border between the United States and Mexico. Testimonies from child migrants are included in the back matter.

MURPHY, Aunty Joy. Welcome to Country: A Traditional Aboriginal Ceremony. illus. by Lisa Kenedy. Candlewick. 2018. ISBN 9780763694999. BL
Aboriginal and Indigenous communities in Australia provide permission to enter their community through the Wurundjeri Wominjeka ceremony. In this book, a Wurundjeri elder shares the words and power of this cultural gathering.

ODEH, Maysa. A Map for Falasteen: A Palestinian Child’s Search for Home. illus. by Aliaa Betawi. Holt. 2024. ISBN 9781250896704.
When Falasteen can’t find her family’s homeland, Palestine, on a map at school, her teacher says, “I think there’s no such place.” But at home that night, Falasteen’s family shows the girl that while some maps may show otherwise, Palestine exists inside them all.

QUE, Joanna & Charina Marquez. Dancing Hands: A Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language. illus. by Fran Alvarez. tr. by Karen Llagas. Chronicle. 2023. ISBN 9781797213323.
Sam and his new neighbor Mai, who communicates in Filipino Sign Language, bond together over a love of learning new languages and making new friends.

REDVERS, T’áncháy. Fluffy and the Stars. illus. by Roza Nozari. Orca. 2023. ISBN 9781459835726.
Shay loves their dog and is devastated when Fluffy passes. As time goes by, Shay learns more about love and loss, cherishing memories of Fluffy and gaining an appreciation for how their beloved dog will always be in their heart.

RETENER, Joëlle. Marley’s Pride. illus. by DeAnn Wiley. Barefoot. 2024. ISBN 9798888590744.
Marley, a nonbinary child, is anxious about attending Pride because there are too many people and loud noises. But this year, Marley must make it to Pride because Zaza, their grandparent, is being honored.

RINGGOLD, Faith. Henry Ossawa Tanner: His Boyhood Dream Comes True. Bunker Hill. 2011. ISBN 9781593730925.
This unique picture book biography of the first famous Black artist features a variety of his works and several period photographs. Ringgold, also a distinguished Black artist, added several of her own distinctive paintings in accompaniment of her well-researched text.

RIVERA, Lid’ya C. I Absolutely, Positively Love My Spots. illus. by Niña Mata. HarperCollins. 2023. ISBN 9780063119970.
Rhyming text accompanies this empowering story of self-love that follows a Black child with vitiligo who proudly rocks her many beauty marks. Even when other kids put her on the spot by asking about her spots, she is bold and unapologetically herself, celebrating every inch of her skin.

SALAZAR, Aida. Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter. illus. by Molly Mendoza. Scholastic. 2023. ISBN 9781338283419.
The author tells the story of her larger-than-life ancestor who fought for religious freedom in early 20th-century Mexico. This beautiful picture book biography shows how one person can make a difference and be the spark for positive change.

THOMPKINS-BIGELOW, Jamilah. Salat in Secret. illus. by Hatem Aly. Random House Studio. 2023. ISBN 9781984848093.
On his seventh birthday, Muhammad receives a special prayer rug and is eager to pray the five daily salat. However, he’s shy about asking his teacher and fears being stared at. Inspired by his father, who prays during his ice cream truck stops, Muhammad finds his courage during a police encounter and learns that bravery and fear can coexist.

WILLIAMS, Kai Naima. The Bridges Yuri Built: How Yuri Kochiyama Marched Across Movements. illus. by Anastasia M. Williams. Kaepernick. 2024. ISBN 9781960571007.
Yuri Kochiyama’s biography, written by her great-granddaughter, features bold illustrations and highlights the time Kochiyama spent in Japanese American prison camps during World War II, which led to her involvement in the civil rights movement.
 

Sam Bloom is a children’s librarian at the Kenton (KY) County Public Library. Edith Campbell is a librarian at Indiana State University. Ariana Sani Hussain is a teacher librarian at the Blake School, Hopkins, MN. Sujei Lugo is a children’s librarian at the Boston Public Library and an independent researcher. Lyn Miller-Lachmann is an award-winning author and translator of children’s books. Sonia Alejandra Rodríguez is a professor of English at LaGuardia Community College (CUNY).