Published Books
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Wash Day with Mama
Description goes hereThis stunning picture book takes a joyful look into the loving and long process of a hair wash day and the beautiful bond between a daughter and mother. Perfect for Mother’s Day or all year round!
I love Sundays, because Sundays are wash days. And wash days are just for us.
Filled with heartwarming illustrations, Wash Day with Mama centers on a little girl cherishing each step of their hair washing routine while Mama imparts her wisdom and stresses the importance of self-care, loving yourself, and being proud of who you are. The process of washing and taking care of Black hair takes time and effort, but this poignant story shows how it is an act of self-love and nurtures a special connection between mother and daughter.
For the Black community, washing their hair can feel like an event in and of itself, and that’s why it has been christened “wash day.” For many, wash day isn’t just a routine, but an intimate ritual that is a symbol of self-love and pride. This self-care practice, although individual to the person, can root them in their culture and allow them to embrace generations of hair traditions. This book shows the love and care of washing Black hair and compels us to reflect on shared moments that we may take for granted.
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What the Garden Tells Me
Written by Monica Mikai
There's nothing like stepping into a garden and connecting with nature, and readers will revel in the pages of this beautiful picture book that celebrates these wondrous and inspiring places!
Gardens are glorious places blossoming with joy, wonder, and wisdom too. Whether it's greeting the possibilities of each sunrise with the daylilies or appreciating what makes us as unique as the polkadot plant; whether it's contemplating life's thorns with the roses or standing as tall as a sunflower, spending time in nature can give us new ways of seeing. This flora-filled ode will inspire readers to observe the plants around them and appreciate the things that make each one--and each of us--special.
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The Blue Pickup
Written by Natasha Tripplett
Ju-Girl is a Jamaican girl who enjoys helping out in her grandfather’s garage and listening to his stories. The two of them share a love for fixing things, for their island, and for Grandad’s old Blue Pickup.
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Thank A Farmer
Written by Maria Gianferrari
“Bread, milk, wool, fruits, and vegetables: things that fill our day to day lives. But where, and who, do they come from? Across wheat fields and city rooftop gardens, mushroom beds and maple forests, Thank a Farmer traces the food and clothing that a family uses back to the people who harvested and created them.
With Maria Gianferrari's informed and poetic text and monumental artwork from Monica Mikai, Thank a Farmer gently emphasizes the importance of agriculture in our day-to-day lives and reminds readers to give thanks to farmworkers around the world.”
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Build A House
Written by Rhiannon Giddens
Grammy Award winner Rhiannon Giddens celebrates Black history and culture in her unflinching, uplifting, and gorgeously illustrated picture book debut.
I learned your words and wrote my song. I put my story down.
As an acclaimed musician, singer, songwriter, and cofounder of the traditional African American string band the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Rhiannon Giddens has long used her art to mine America's musical past and manifest its future, passionately recovering lost voices and reconstructing a nation's musical heritage. Written as a song to commemorate the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth--which was originally performed with famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma--and paired here with bold illustrations by painter Monica Mikai, Build a House tells the moving story of a people who would not be moved and the music that sustained them. Steeped in sorrow and joy, resilience and resolve, turmoil and transcendence, this dramatic debut offers a proud view of history and a vital message for readers of all ages: honor your heritage, express your truth, and let your voice soar, even--or perhaps especially--when your heart is heaviest.
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My Name is a Story
Written by Ashanti
From Grammy Award-winning singer Ashanti comes an empowering story about a girl who learns to love her unique name.
First days aren't easy for a girl with a name like Ashanti. It feels like no one can pronounce it correctly! But with some encouragement from her mom, Ashanti spells her name and learns just how special it is.
A is for awesome, S is for sunsets, H is for hand games, A is for art...
Inspired by Ashanti's own experience, this delightful picture book shares the joy that one child finds in her name.
A perfect pick for classrooms and all story times!
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You Are Getting Sleepy
Written by Lori Alexander
Lull your little one to sleep with this adorable bedtime board book, about a wide-awake baby who does not want to go to sleep!
Tick-tock, peek at the clock.
It's time to sleep, sweet baby.
First a bath to soak...relax.
Are you getting sleepy?
A calming bedtime tune for all those wide-awake babies, this board book is about to become a favorite step of your sleepytime routine. Take your little one through the motions of bedtime, from bathtime to jammies and kisses galore. Featuring gentle text from author Lori Alexander, and joyful, colorful, tender illustrations from illustrator Monica Mikai, this board book is just-right for bedtime, everytime!
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The Proudest Color
Written by Sheila Modir and Jeffrey Kashou
For me, brown is more than feeling proud.
It's the color I see when I see me.
Zahra sees the world in vivid color. When she's happy, she feels a razzle-dazzle pink in her hands. When she's sad, she feels a deep blue behind her eyes. But she isn't quite sure how to feel about the color of her skin. Kids at school tell her she is different, but her mother tells her to be proud! From a diverse team and based on extensive research, The Proudest Color is a timely, sensitive introduction to race, racism, and racial pride.
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Stacey Abrams: Lift Every Voice
Written by Sarah Warren
How do we move our country forward? Stacey Abrams has an answer in this bright and stirring biography, perfect for discussions of voting rights and how people working together can make a difference.
Stacey Abrams: Lift Every Voice follows Stacey's life from her girlhood to the present, but it also portrays the ordinary people that Stacey fights for -- the beautiful and diverse America that shows up to stand with one another. Backmatter includes a timeline of changes in US voting-rights law from the Constitution through the present day, demonstrating both how far the country has come and how far we have to go. With its spirited text and vivid illustrations, Stacey Abrams: Lift Every Voice will inspire readers to take their own steps forward.
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Coming Soon
These Titles are in the works! Join the newsletter to be notified when they are available for Pre-order.
My Quiet Place - Written by Monica Mikai, published by Chronicle Books
A March for Hope - Written by Valerie Bolling, published by Norton Young Readers
Candy- Written by Monica Mikai, published by Nancy Paulsen/Penguin Random House
Haircut With Pops- Written by Monica Mikai, published by Crown Publishers
Beyond Alaska’s Window - Written by Patrice Gopo, published by Viking Children’s Books/ Penguin Random House