Past Monthly Book Selections
July 2010 Book Selections
Toddler/Preschool: Shades of Black: A Celebration of our Children by Sandra L. Pinkney
Toddler/Preschool: Fruits: A Caribbean Counting Poem by Valerie Bloom
K-2nd: Homemade Love by Bell Hooks
K-2nd: J is for Jamaica by Benjamin Zephaniah
3rd-5th: Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine
3rd-5th: Keep Climbing, Girls by Beah E. Richards
6th-8th: Trouble Don't Last by Shelley Pearsall
6th-8th: Crossing Jordan by Adrian Fogelin
High School: To Be Young, Gifted and Black by Lorraine Hansberry
June 2010 Book Selections
Toddler/Preschool: Whose Knees are These by Jabari Asim
Toddler/Preschool: Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats
K-2nd: One Hen - How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference by Katie Smith Milway
K-2nd: My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson-Peete, Ryan Elizabeth Peete
3rd-5th: A Horn for Louis by Eric A. Kimmel
3rd-5th: Amy Hodgepodge: Lost and Found by Kim Wayans, Kevin Knotts
6th-8th: Change has Come: An Artist Celebrates our America by Kadir Nelson
6th-8th: Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters by Andrea Davis Pinkney
High School: King: The Special Edition (a comic biography) by Ho Che Anderson
May 2010 Book Selections
Toddler/Preschool: Julius by Angela Johnson
Toddler/Preschool: He's Got the Whole World in His Hands by Kadir Nelson
K-2nd: Raising Dragons by Jerdine Nolen
K-2nd: Black Cowboys, Wild Horses by Julius Lester
3rd-5th: Slam Dunk by Sharon Robinson
3rd-5th: Sometimey Friend by Pansie Hart Flood
6th-8th: We Beat the Street: How a Friendship Led to Success by Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt
6th-8th: Last Summer with Maizon by Jacqueline Woodson
High School: Staying Pure by Stephanie Perry Moore
High School: Prime Choice by Stephanie Perry Moore
April 2010 Book Selections
Toddler/Preschool: Baby Blessings: A Prayer for the Day You Are Born by Deloris Jordan
Toddler/Preschool: Furaha Means Happy: A Book of Swahili Words by Ken Wilson-Max
K-2nd: Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel by Nikki Grimes
K-2nd: Before John was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane by Carole Boston Weatherford
3rd-5th: Me and Uncle Romie by Claire Hartfield
3rd-5th: Nikki and Deja by Karen English
6th-8th: Looking for Red by Angela Johnson
6th-8th: Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
High School: Mare's War by Tanita S. Davis
High School: They Cleared the Lane: The NBA's Black Pioneers by Ron Thomas
March 2010 Book Selections
Toddler/Preschool: Brown Sugar Babies by Charles R. Smith, Jr
Toddler/Preschool: Bright Eyes, Brown Skin by Cheryl Willis Hudson
K-2nd: The Moon Over Star by Dianna Hutts Aston
K-2nd: Brothers of the Knight by Debbie Allen, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
3rd-5th: Starring Grace by Mary Hoffman
3rd-5th: The Jones Family Express by Javaka Steptoe
6th-8th: Talkin' About Bessie by Nikki Grimes
6th-8th: Safe at Home by Sharon Robinson
High School: Life is a Party that comes with Exams: A Youth Empowerment Guide by Denise Crittendon
February 2010 Book Selections
Black History Month Special Selections
K-2nd: Our Children can soar: A Celebration of Rosa, Barack, and the Pioneers of Change by Michelle Cook
3rd-5th: A Kid's Guide to African-American History by Nancy I. Sanders
6th-8th: 1001 Things Everyone Should Know About African American History by Jeffrey C. Stewart
Monthly Book Selections
Toddler/Preschool: Peekaboo Bedtime by Rachel Isadora
Toddler/Preschool: These Hands by Hope Lynne Price
K-2nd: Peeny Butter Fudge by Toni Morrison, Slade Morrison
K-2nd: Uptown by Bryan Collier
3rd-5th: Celeste's Harlem Renaissance by Eleanora E. Tate
3rd-5th: Bird by Zetta Elliott
6th-8th: Stepping Out with Grandma Mac by Nikki Grimes
6th-8th: Darnell Rock Reporting by Walter Dean Myers
High School: Dancer : Everybody Has a Dream by Lorri Hewett
High School: Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper
January 2010 Book Selections
Toddler/Preschool: Cassie's Colorful Day by Faith Ringgold
Toddler/Preschool: Honey Baby Sugar Child by Alice Faye Duncan
Girls
K-2nd: Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth
3rd-5th: Danitra Brown, Class Clown by Nikki Grimes
6th-8th: Crossing Jordan by Adrian Fogelin, illustrated by Suzy Schultz
Boys
K-2nd: Beautiful Blackbird by Ashley Bryan
3rd-5th: The Jacket by Andrew Clements
6th-8th: Fairway Phenom by Matt Christopher
Boys and Girls
High School: Copper Sun by Sharon Draper
December 2009 Book Selections
Toddler/Preschool: The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming
Toddler/Preschool: Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Girls
K-2nd: Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
3rd-5th: Willimena Rules: How to Have the Best Kwanzaa Ever (and Christmas Too!) by Valerie Wilson Wesley
6th-8th & High School: Of Beetles and Angels by Mawi Asgedom
Boys
K-2nd: The Bat Boy and His Violin by Gavin Curtis, Illustrated by E.B. Lewis
3rd-5th: Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story by Angela Shelf Medearis
6th-8th & High School: Of Beetles and Angels by Mawi Asgedom
November 2009 Book Selections
Toddler/Preschool: Feast for Ten by Cathryn Falwell
Toddler/Preschool: Dexter gets Dressed by Ken Wilson-Max
Girls
K-2nd: Girls Hold up this World by Jada Pinkett-Smith
3rd-5th: Grace for President by Kelly Dipucchio
6th-8th: Maizon at Blue Hill by Jacqueline Woodson
High School: Jazmin's Notebook by Nikki Grimes
Boys
K-2nd: Clean Your Room, Harvey Moon! by Pat Cummings
3rd-5th: Mr. Chickee's Funny Money by Christopher Paul Curtis
6th-8th: The Conspiracy of the Secret Nine by Celia Bland
High School: The Battle of Jericho by Sharon Draper
October 2009 Book Selections
Toddler/Preschool: Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn
Toddler/Preschool: Whose Toes are Those by Jabari Asim
Girls
K-2nd: Thunder Rose by Jerdine Nolen
3rd-5th: Amy Hodgepodge: All Mixed Upby Kim Wayans, Kevin Knotts, Soo Jeong (Illustrator)
6th-8th: Standing against the Wind by Traci L Jones
High School: Splitsville: Lig Gloss Chronicles by Shelia M. Goss
Boys
K-2nd: Across the Alley by Richard Michelson
3rd-5th: Miami Jackson Gets it Straight by Patricia McKissack, Michael D. Chesworth (Illustrator), Fredrick McKissack
6th-8th: Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes
High School: Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama
September 2009 Book Selections
Toddler/Preschool: Baby Dance by Ann Taylor
Toddler/Preschool: Ten Nine Eight by Molly Bang
Girls
K-2nd: Honest-to-Goodness Truth by Patricia C. McKissack
3rd-5th: Solo Girl by Andrea Davis Pinkney
6th-8th: Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson
High School: Cousins by Virginia Hamilton
Boys
K-2nd: Hewitt Anderson's Big Life by Jerdine Nolen, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
3rd-5th: The Case of the Elevator Duck by Polly Berrien Berends
6th-8th: The Pact: Three Young Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream by Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Lisa Frazier Page, Rameck Hunt
High School: The Pact: Three Young Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream by Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Lisa Frazier Page, Rameck Hunt
August 2009 Book Selections
Toddler/Preschool: Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora
Toddler/Preschool: Please, Puppy, Please by Spike Lee & Tonya Lewis Lee, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Girls
K-2nd: Matthew and Tilly by Rebecca C. Jones, illustrated Beth Peck
3rd-5th: Real Lucky Charm by Charisse Richardson
6th-8th: Carmen Browne: Sweet Honesty by Stephanie Perry Moore
High School: Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper
Boys
K-2nd: Peter's Chair by Ezra Jack Keats
3rd-5th: Night Golf by William Miller, Illustrated by Cedric Lucas
6th-8th: Junebug by Alice Mead
High School: Game by Walter Dean Myers
July 2009 Book Selections
Girls
K-2nd: Keena Ford and the Second Grade Mix-Up by Melissa Thomson, Illustrated by Frank Morrison
3rd-5th: Sassy: Little Sister is not my Name by Sharon M. Draper
6th-8th: When the Black Girl Sings by Bil Wright
High School: Letters to a Young Sister by Hill Harper
Boys
K-2nd: Take The Court: Hey L'il D! by Heather Goodyear, Bob Lane, Desire Grover (Illustrator)
3rd-5th: Stars and Sparks Onstage: Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs by Sharon M. Draper
6th-8th: Keeping the Night Watch by Hope Anita Smith
High School: Letters to a Young Brother by Stephanie Perry Moore
Parents
How to Make Your Child a Reader for Life by Paul Kropp
Awakening the Natural Genius of Black Children by Amos N. Wilson
June 2009 Book Selections
Girls
K-2nd: What's Cooking Jamela? by Niki Daly
3rd-5th: Ruby Booker and the Booker Boys: Ruby Flips for Attention by Derrick Barnes (illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton)
6th-8th: Charlie Pippin by Candy Boyd
High School: Letters to a Young Sister by Hill Harper
Boys
K-2nd: Babu's Song by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen
3rd-5th: Joseph by Sheila P. Moses (Illustrated by Aaron Boyd)
6th-8th: All of the Above by Shelley Pearsol
High School: Letters to a Young Brother by Stephanie Perry Moore
May 2009 Book Selections
Girls
K-2nd: Flower Girl Butterflies by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard, Christiane Kromer (Illustrator)
3rd-5th: Sugar Plum Ballerinas: Plum Fantastic by Whoopi Goldberg
6th-8th: After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson
High School: 16 Isn't Always Sweet by Cassandra Carter
Boys
K-2nd: By My Brother's Side by Tiki & Ronde Barber
3rd-5th: Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World by Mildred Walter
6th-8th: Miracle's Boys by Jacqueline Woodson
High School: Problem Solved by Stephanie Perry Moore
April 2009 Book Selections
Girls
K-2nd:The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice N. Harrington, Shelley Jackson (Illustrator)
3rd-5th: The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street by Sharon Flake, Colin Bootman (Illustrator)
6th-8th: Heaven by Angela Johnson, John Jude Palencar (Illustrator)
High School:With Friends Like These by ReShonda Tate Billingsley
Boys
K-2nd:Metal Man by Aaron Reynolds, Paul Hoppe (Illustrator)
3rd-5th:Mr. Chickee's Messy Mission by Christopher Paul Curtis
6th-8th: Slam Dunk Shoes by Jake Maddox, Sean Tiffany (Illustrator), Chris Kreie
High School: Slam! by Walter Dean Myers