Authors: Tseganesh Chala, Joy Ugwu

Illustrator: Joy Ingram

In Joy-Grace and the Dress Dilemma, authors Joy and Tseganesh wanted to write a book about the challenges--and the beauty!--of having a multicultural identity. Joy-Grace is a fashionista, and this week is her school’s culture day. She wants to bring in a garment to reflect her background, but there’s only one problem: her family is from Nigeria, Jamaica, AND Ethiopia! Will Joy-Grace be able to find the perfect dress to celebrate all of who she is in time for culture day?

En Joy-Grace y el dilema del vestido, las autoras Joy y Tseganesh quisieron escribir un libro sobre las dificultades —y la belleza— de tener una identidad multicultural. Joy-Grace es una fashionista, y esta semana es el día de la cultura en su escuela. Quiere llevar un vestido que refleje sus raíces, pero solo hay un problema: su familia es de Nigeria, Jamaica y Etiopía. ¿Podrá Joy-Grace encontrar el vestido perfecto a tiempo para celebrar todas sus culturas?

• ISBN: 978-1-950807-39-0

• Age: 4-9

• Lexile: AD570L

• Page Count: 40

• Published: Fall 2021

Authors: Andy Pina, Antonia Marisol Garcia, Pedro Reyes, Yunior Jose Garcia

Illustrator: Ian L. Springer

In Jasmín Pictures Home, Andy, Marisol, Pedro and Yunior wanted to write a book that explores what it’s like to be different in a new country. In this book, a group of friends are the only kids in their school who are not from the same town. These four best friends are all immigrants --from four different countries!--and they all speak Spanish. Though they bond over their shared language and their shared love of soccer, it’s not always easy being different from everyone else. The newest arrival, Jasmin, is having the hardest time and she spends all her time drawing. Hector, Manolito, and Jorge don’t like seeing Jasmin struggle. Can they work together to help Jasmin see the beauty in being different?

En Jasmín ilustra su hogar, Andy, Marisol, Pedro y Yunior quisieron escribir un libro que explorara cómo es ser diferente en un país nuevo. En este libro, un grupo de amigos son los únicos en la escuela que no son del mismo pueblo. Estos cuatro mejores amigos son inmigrantes —de cuatro diferentes países— y todos hablan español. Aunque forman lazos a través de su idioma compartido y su amor hacia el fútbol, no siempre es fácil ser diferente a los demás. A la recién llegada, Jasmín, es a quien más le cuesta, y pasa todo su tiempo dibujando. A Héctor, Manolito, y Jorge no les gusta ver a Jasmín sufrir tanto. ¿Podrán trabajar juntos para ayudar a Jasmín a ver la belleza de ser diferente?

• ISBN: 978-1-950807-41-3

• Age: 4-9

• Lexile: AD580L

• Page Count: 40

• Published: Fall 2021

Authors: Deyssy Mosso, Yenner Rengifo Chaverra

Illustrator: Fatima Seck

In Perla’s Magical Goodbye, Deyssy and Yenner wanted to write a book that reflects the experience of leaving home to move to another country. Perla has been friends with Pablo and Genesis for as long as they can remember. But now that Perla is moving away from her hometown of San Unicornio to the US, she is sad about leaving them. After making a wish at the town’s unicorn fountain, Perla and her friends are visited by a magical creature who helps them spend one last beautiful day together. How can Perla and her friends learn to hold onto these magical memories and say goodbye?

En El adiós mágico de Perla, Deyssy y Yenner quisieron escribir un libro que reflejara la experiencia de dejar su hogar y mudarse a otro país. Perla ha estado con sus amigos Pablo y Génesis desde que tiene memoria. Pero ahora que Perla se va a mudar de su pueblo natal, San Unicornio, hacia los EE. UU., está triste por dejarlos. Después de pedir un deseo en la fuente del unicornio del pueblo, Perla y sus amigos son visitados por una criatura mágica que los ayuda a compartir un último y hermoso día juntos. ¿Cómo aprenderán Perla y sus amigos a preservar estas memorias mágicas y decir adiós?

• ISBN: 978-1-950807-40-6

• Age: 4-9

• Lexile: AD550L

• Page Count: 40

• Published: Fall 2021

Authors: Mario Serrano, Jamileth Brito

Illustrator: Yurieli Otero-Asmar

In Searching for Sancocho, Jamileth and Mario wanted to write a book that celebrated the deep connection of family recipes and honored their lost loved ones. Aurora misses her abuela, who recently passed away. Neighbors and friends in D.C. keep bringing dishes to the house to help her family mourn, but all Aurora wants is Abuela's famous sancocho. After finding a magic pink bike that flies her all the way to the Dominican Republic, Aurora visits all Abuela’s old favorite places in hopes of finding the recipe. Will Aurora be able to find the secret ingredient and keep Abuela’s famous sancocho alive?

En En busca del sancocho, Jamileth y Mario quisieron escribir un libro que celebrara la conexión íntima de las recetas familiares y honrara a los seres queridos que han perdido. Aurora extraña a su abuela, la cual falleció recientemente. Sus vecinos y amigos en D.C. llevan comida a la casa para ayudar a su familia a pasar el luto, pero lo único que quiere Aurora es el famoso sancocho de Abuela. Después de encontrar una bicicleta rosada mágica que la vuela hasta la República Dominicana, Aurora visita todos los lugares favoritos de Abuela con la esperanza de encontrar la receta. ¿Podrá encontrar Aurora el ingrediente secreto y mantener vivo el famoso sancocho de Abuela?

• ISBN: 978-1-950807-38-3

• Age: 4-9

• Lexile: AD530L

• Page Count: 40

• Published: Fall 2021

By Chase, Kevin, Khalil, and Josiah of Beacon House

Over the course of a historic year characterized by the COVID-19 pandemic, Black Lives Matter protests, and widespread social reckoning, four Black middle school boys from Beacon House in Washington, DC came together virtually, to dream. Pushing up against the hardship of current events, these new authors decided to create a collection of imaginative stories that share messages they believe the world needs to hear today about resilience, self-expression, and staying true to your dreams.

In this collection, you will meet Kobe, a teenage basketball player grappling with the death of his role model; Zim, a sword-wielding orphan on a quest to save his grandmother’s life; Ava, a cyborg girl who just wants to be normal; and Brandon, a boy struggling to choose between his passion and his family. This motley crew of heroes all learn to decipher their changing worlds, carrying with them necessary guidance for readers on how they can process their own. Artfully illustrated, and written in both poetry and prose, this book has something for every type of reader.

• ISBN: 978-1-950807-37-6

• Age: 9+

• Lexile: 590L

• Page Count: 120

• Published: Fall 2021

Voices on Youth Incarceration

• A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

• Foreword Indies Finalist

• Independent Press Award Winner

• “A powerful, devastating, essential read” - Starred review in Kirkus Reviews

When You Hear Me (You Hear Us) is an anthology of poetry and personal stories centering the voices of those directly impacted by the incarceration of young people in the United States. Compiled by Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop, this rich collection includes firsthand accounts from both the young people charged and incarcerated in the adult criminal legal system and from the community at large: the mothers, the loved ones, the correctional staff, public defenders, prosecutors, and others harmed and left with unhealed trauma. These critical voices, uniquely combined, illustrate the ecosystem that surrounds youth who are incarcerated--and expose the ripple effects that touch us all. This book challenges us to hear these voices calling out for accountability, transformative justice, and healing. Together, they demonstrate the collective impact of the prison system, and our collective responsibility to create a society where every one of us can thrive.

• ISBN: 978-1-950807-34-5

• Age: 12+

• Page Count: 288

• Published: Fall 2021