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We Read Diverse Books: Home

A selection of diverse & representative reads, including #ownvoices works, at our library!

Representative Books

Interested in more representative reads? These are just a few of the books available here at SXU—and there are many resources for finding more!

Picture Books

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander & Kadir Nelson (National Book Award longlist, #ownvoices)

Across the Bay by Carlos Aponte (Pura Belpré Illustration Honor, 2020)

Besos for Baby by Jen Arena & Blanca Gómez

A Friend for Henry by Jen Bailey & Mika Song

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes & James Gordon (CSMCL Best Books of the Year)

The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer & Ekua Holmes

A Drop of the Sea by Ingrid Chabbert & Raúl Nieto Guridi

The Three Lucys by Hayan Charara & Sara Khan (Arab American Book Award: Children's Literature)

Hair Love by Matthew Cherry & Vashti Harrison

Bowwow Powwow! by Brenda J. Child & Jonathan Thunder, with Ojibwe translation by Gordon Jourdain

Señor Pancho Had a Rancho by René Colato Laínez & Elwood H. Smith

Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment by Parker Curry, Jessica Curry, & Brittany Jackson

¡Olinguito, de la A a la Z! Descubriendo el Bosque Nublado / Olinguito, from A to Z! Unveiling the Cloud Forest! by Lulu Delacre 

Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peña & Christian Robinson (Américas Award: Commended Title. CSMCL Best Books of the Year list)

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña & Christian Robinson (#ownvoices)

My Beautiful Birds by Suzanne del Rizzo

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Denise & Paola Escobar

Islandborn by Junot Díaz & Leo Espinosa

La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya, Juana Martínez-Neal, & H.C. Anderson

Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle & Rafael López

All the Way to Havana by Margarita Engle & Mike Curato (CSMCL Best Books of the Year list, Américas Award Honor Book)

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle & Rafael López

Yo Soy Muslim: A Father's Letter to His Daughter by Mark Gonzales & Mehrdokht Amini

All Around Us by Xelena González & Adriana Garcia

Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Ecuador by Susan Hood & Sally Wern Comport

All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah by Emily Jenkins & Paul O. Zelinksy

Tomorrow by Nadine Kaadan

Missing Daddy by Mariame Kaba & Bria Royal

Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Kensky, Patrick Downes, & Scott Magoon

Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets: A Muslim Book of Shapes by Hena Khan & Mehrdokht Amini

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A  Muslim Book of Colors by Hena Khan & Mehrdokht Amini

Under My Hijab by Hena Khan & Aaliya Jaleel

I've Loved You Since Forever by Hoda Kotb & Suzie Mason

Lost and Found Cat: The True Story of Kunkush's Incredible Journey by Doug Kuntz, Amy Shrodes, & Sue Cornielson

Auntie Luce's Talking Paintings by Francie Latour & Ken Daley (Américas Award Honor Book)

Drawn Together by Minh Lê & Dan Santat

A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin

Julián Is A Mermaid written & illustrated by Jessica Love

When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Luckoff & Kaylani Juanita

When Angels Sing: The Story of Rock Legend Carlos Santana by Michael Mahin & José Ramírez

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Nobel Maillard & Juana Martínez-Neal

Miracle on 133rd Street by Sonia Manzano & Marjorie Priceman

Alma And How She Got Her Name written & illustrated by Juana Martínez-Neal

Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina & Angela Dominguez 

Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez & Jaime Kim

La Frontera: El Viaje con Papá / La Frontera: My Journey with Papa by Deborah Mills, Alfredo Alva, & Claudia Navarro (Américas Award Commended Title)

Book Fiesta! by Pat Mora & Rafael López

My Singing Nana by Pat Mora & Alyssa Bermudez

Sweet Dreams / Dulces Sueños by Pat Mora & Maribel Suárez

Dreamers written & illustrated by Yuyi Morales

Little Night / Nochecita written & illustrated by Yuyi Morales

The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth, and Harlem's Greatest Bookstore by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson & R. Gregory Christie

Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o & Vashti Harrison

Finding Grandma's Memories by Jiyeon Pak

Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border by Mitali Perkins & Sara Palacios

A Different Pond by Bao Phi & Thi Bui

Mi papi tiene una moto por Isabel Quintero y Zeke Peña

My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero & Zeke Peña 

¡Vamos! Let's Go to the Market! written & illustrated by Raúl the Third

The Bell Rang by James Ransome

Another by Christian Robinson

Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Journey by Margriet Ruurs & Nizar Ali Badr with Arabic translation by Falah Raheem (Arab American Book Award: Children's Book)

I Got the Christmas Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison & Frank Morrison

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly, Winifred Conkling, & Laura Freeman (NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work - Children's. Coretta Scott King Award: Illustrator Honors)

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorrell & Frané Lessac (CSMCL Best Books of the Year list)

Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sandra Sotomayor & Rafael López

Shubh Diwali! by Chitra Soundar & Charlene Chua

Mommy's Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow & Ebony Glenn

Soldier for Equality: José de la Luz Saénz and the Great War written & illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh

'Twas Nochebuena by Roseanne Thong & Sara Palacios

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson & Rafael López (CSMCL Best Books of the Year list)

The Boring Book by Shinsuke Yoshitake

 

Easy Readers & Early Chapter Books

Easy Readers

Don't Throw It To Mo! by David Adler & Sam Ricks 

Stop! Bot! by James Yang

Chapter Books

Lola Levine Is Not Mean! by Monica Brown & Angela Dominguez (#OwnVoices)

King & Kayla and the Case of the Lost Tooth by Dori Hillestad Butler & Nancy Meyers

Dragons and Marshmallows by Asia Citro & Marion Lindsey

Katie Fry, Private Eye: The Lost Kitten by Katherine Cox & Vanessa Brantley Newton

Rafi and Rosi: Pirates! by Lulu Delacre

Nikki & Deja by Karen English & Laura Freeman

Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqi & Hatem Aly

Yasmin in Charge! by Saadia Faruqi & Hatem Aly

Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen by Debbie Michiko Florence & Elizabet Vukovic

Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth by Debbie Michiko Florence & Elizabet Vukovic

Juana & Lucas by Meg Medina (#ownvoices)

My Family Adventure! by Jacqueline Jules & Kim Smith

My Vida Loca! by Jacqueline Jules & Kim Smith

Zapato Power! boxed set by Jacqueline Jules & Miguel Benítez

Earth Day (from the Robin Hill School series) by Margaret McNamara & Mike Gordon

Wash Your Hands! (from the Robin Hill School series) by Margaret McNamara & Mike Gordon

Juana & Lucas: Big Problemas by Meg Medina (#OwnVoices)

Ugly Cat & Pablo by Isabel Quintero & Tom Knight

Keena Ford and the Secret Journal Mix-Up by Melissa Thomson & Frank Morrison

Middle Grade

My Name is María Isabel by Alma Flor Ada

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander, Chris Colderley, Marjory Wentworth, & Ekua Holmes

This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews

Little Man, Little Man by James Baldwin & Yoran Cazac, edited by Nicholas Boggs & Jennifer DeVere Brody

Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar

El Deafo by Cece Bell & David Lasky

They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid's Poems by David Bowles

Hurricane Child by Kacen Callender

Lowriders to the Center of the Earth by Cathy Camper & Raúl the Third

Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya 

Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish! by Pablo Cartaya 

Lety Out Loud by Angela Cervantes

The Treasure of Maria Mamoun by Michelle Chalfoun

Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransom

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Stella Díaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez

George by Alex Gino

You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P.! by Alex Gino

Ban This Book! by Alan Gratz

Refugee by Alan Gratz

Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess by Shari Green

Real Friends by Shannon Hale & LeUyen Pham with Jane Poole et al

Sal & Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Alberto Hernández

The Dragon Slayer: Folktales from Latin America by Jaime Hernández 

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

Fish In a Tree by Linda Mulally Hunt

Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada Kelly

Hello, Universe! by Erin Entrada Kelly

Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina 

A Dash of Trouble (from the Love Sugar Magic series) by Anna Meriano & illustrated by Mirelle Oretga

The Turtle of Oman by Naomi Shihab Nye

Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel José Older

Auggie & Me by R.J. Palacio 

White Bird: A Wonder Story by R.J. Palacio

The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez 

La primera regla del punk by Celia C. Pérez

Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers by Celia C. Pérez

A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée

As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds 

Ghost by Jason Reynolds 

Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks by Jason Reynolds with Alexander Nabaum

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

My Jasper June by Laurel Snyder

Guts by Reina Telgemeier

All the Greys on Green Street by Laura Tucker

The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman

Stargazing by Jen Wang

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Some Places More than Others by Renée Watson

Genesis Begins Again by Alicia Williams

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Young Adult

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo 

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo 

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Love, Hate, & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed (local author)

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali

Saints & Misfits by S.K. Ali

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Mirage by Somaiya Daud

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

Jazz Owls: A Novel of the Zoot Suit Riots by Margarita Engle

Ironheart: Those With Courage by Eve L. Ewing, Lucciano Veccio, & Kevin Libranda, et al

You're Welcome, Universe by Whitney Gardner 

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour 

Legend by Marie Lu

Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older (también en español)

Anger Is A Gift by Mark Oshiro

Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez

The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus

Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

The Education of Margot Sanchez by Lilliam Rivera 

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez (local author; también en español)

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Cursed by Karol Ruth Silverstein

Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith

It's Not Like It's a Secret by Misa Sugiura

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki & Rosemary Valero-O'Connor

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Undocumented: A Worker's Fight by Duncan Tonatiuh

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Frankly In Love by David Yoon

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon

American Street by Ibi Zoboi

Nonfiction

Elementary & Middle Grade Nonfiction

A Kid's Guide to Arab American History by Yvonne Dennis et al (Arab American Book Award: Children's Book of the Year)

Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle & Rafael López

When Angels Sing: The Story of Rock Legend Carlos Santana by Michael Mahin & José Ramírez

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Nobel Maillard & Juana Martínez-Neal

The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth, and Harlem's Greatest Bookstore by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson & R. Gregory Christie

The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Rescued Jews During the Holocaust by Karen Gray Ruelle & Deborah Durland DeSaix

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly, Winifred Conkling, & Laura Freeman (NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work - Children's. Coretta Scott King Award: Illustrator Honors)

Riding a Donkey Backwards: Wise and Foolish Tales of Mullah Nasruddin retold by SeanTaylor & the Khayaal Theatre Company with Shirin Adl

Soldier for Equality: José de la Luz Saénz and the Great War written & illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh

Math Games & Activities from Around the World by Claudia Zaslavsky

More Math Games & Activities from Around the World by Claudia Zaslavsky

Young Adult & Middle Grade Nonfiction

Ibn Battuta: The Journey of a Medieval Muslim by Edoardo Albert

Balcony on the Moon: Coming of Age in Palestine by Ibtisam Barakat

The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown

Infinite Hope: A Black Artist's Journey from World War II to Peace by Ashley Bryan

#NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women edited by Lisa Charleyboy & Mary Beth Leatherdale

The Women Who Caught the Babies: A Story of African American Midwives by Eloise Greenfield & Daniel Minter

A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 by Claire Hartfield

Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card by Sara Saedi

1919: The Year that Changed America by Martin Sandler

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Bilingual Texts

Picture Books & Board Books

Bowwow Powwow!Bagosenjige-niimi'idim by Brenda J. Child & Jonathan Thunder, with Ojibwe translation by Gordon Jourdain

¡Olinguito, de la A a la Z! Descubriendo el Bosque Nublado / Olinguito, from A to Z! Unveiling the Cloud Forest! by Lulu Delacre 

La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya, Juana Martínez-Neal, & H.C. Anderson

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes / Cabeza, Hombros, Piernas, Pies by Annie Kubler et al

Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina & Angela Dominguez 

La Frontera: El Viaje con Papá / La Frontera: My Journey with Papa by Deborah Mills, Alfredo Alva, & Claudia Navarro (Américas Award Commended Title)

Book Fiesta! by Pat Mora & Rafael López

Sweet Dreams / Dulces Sueños by Pat Mora & Maribel Suárez

Little Night / Nochecita written & illustrated by Yuyi Morales

The Wheels on the Bus / La ruedas del autobús adapted by Elodie Pope, illustrated by Laura Zarrin, & translated by Marta Núñez

First 100 Words / 100 Primeras Palabras by Roger Priddy

Words / Palabras by Roger Priddy

¡Vamos! Let's Go to the Market! written & illustrated by Raúl the Third

Mouse Paint / Pintura de ratón by Ellen Stoll Wash et al

Easy Readers & Beginning Chapter Books

Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqi & Hatem Aly

Yasmin in Charge! by Saadia Faruqi & Hatem Aly

Books in Spanish

Picture Books

Sembrando Historias: Pura Belpré: Bibliotecaria y Contadora de Cuentos por Anika Denise & Paola Escobar

Mango, Abuela, y Yo por Meg Medina y Angela Dominguez 

Soñadores por Yuyi Morales

Middle Grade Books

Me Llamo María Isabel por Alma Flor Ada

La Matadragones: Cuentos de Latinoamérica por Jaime Hernández

La Primera Regla del Punk por Celia C. Pérez

Young Adult Books

La formasombras by Daniel José Older

Yo No Soy Tu Perfecta Hija Méxicana por Erika L. Sánchez

Books in Translation

The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe & translated by Lilit Thwaites

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