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Black Characters that Show the Diversity of Black People

Black Characters that Show the Diversity of Black People & 2 Inscribed Book GIVEAWAY!

 

Multicultural Children’s Book and The Children’s Book Council are thrilled to team up to present the 2022 #ReadYourWorld Book Jam. Please welcome Torrey Maldonado with his list of Black Characters that Show the Diversity of Black People.

We are giving away 2 signed and inscribed copies of What Lane? by Torrey Maldonado. To enter, please use the Rafflecopter at the bottom.

What Lane? by Torrey Maldonado

“STAY IN YOUR LANE.” Stephen wears a bracelet that says “What lane?”, a basketball reference to staying in your lane, and he doesn’t want to be sidelined into one lane and doesn’t want that for anyone else. Hold on tight as Stephen swerves in and out of lanes as a biracial Brooklyn boy on a roller-coaster ride of experiences to learn where his lane is as a kid with a White mom and a Black dad. Anything his friends can do, he should be able to do too, right? So why’re adults treating him differently than his white friends? If you’ve ever felt like you’re living in two worlds with different rules, and ever wondered what true friendship looks like, this book is for you. [middle grade, ages 10 and up]

 

Black Characters that Show the Diversity of Black People

 

The Antiracist Kid by Tiffany Jewell, illustrated by Nicole Miles

Tiffany Jewell–#1 New York Times best-selling author of This Book is Anti-Racist–does it again with art by Eisner-nominated illustrator Nicole Miles to deliver an illustrated chapter book that empowers young readers to be antiracist. [nonfiction middle, ages 6 and up]

Octopus Stew by Eric Velazquez

Put on your superhero cape as you fly through this “Bank Street Best Book of the Year”! A clever tale of twists and turns of a boy and his imagination as he rescues his Grandma from an octopus she’s trying to cook. Beautiful illustrations celebrating childhood memories, family, creativity, a grandmother * grandson bond and Afro-Puerto Ricans and Latinx food and culture. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Fans of Raina Telgemeier and Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, get ready for a book you won’t want to finish. Ever felt new at a new school with struggles to fit in? Then meet Jordan Banks who is a new seventh grader in a private school where he’s one of the only kids of color. Without leaving your seat, take a hilarious trip from Washington Heights to upscale Riverdale and find yourself torn between two worlds and feeling the ups and downs of fitting while staying true to yourself. [middle grade graphic novel, ages 8 and up]

Brown Baby Lullaby by Tameka Fryer Brown, illustrated by AG Ford

Journey through the day of a beautiful brown baby and family from sunset to bedtime as you snuggle into a must-have book draped in praise, including Parents Latina Magazine Best Latino Children’s Book of the Year. New York Times-bestselling and NAACP-Award-winning illustrator AG Ford brings Tameka Fryer Brown’s words to gorgeous, heartwarming life. [picture book, ages 2 and up]

Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Keith Mallett

“Lift Every Voice and Sing” . . . this song stirs pride and uplifts and so does this book that celebrates the Black National Anthem. A Piedmont Laureate for North Carolina, Kelly Starling Lyons joins with Keith Mallett to travel us through a story about generations of families that used this song as fuel and hope to rise and live inspired lives. Bet you’ll be singing at the end! [picture book, ages 5 and up]

Ways to Grow Love: a Ryan Hart Story by Renee Watson

Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Award winner Renée Watson continues her young middle grade series that are celebrated as A New York Times and A School Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year and more. This time, meet Ryan Hart who is a fifth grade girl who could wear an “S” on her t-shirt for SUPER Spirit and Sunshine. Wholesomely full of fun family and friend dynamics of summer vacationing, sleepaway camp! Great book to show boys and girls how to glow and grow. [chapter book, ages 7 and up]

Operation Sisterhood by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich

Fans of the Netflix reboot of The Babysitters Club, you’re in for a treat. Four sisters band together in New York City in a joyful book about change, loyalty, and family. Award-winning author Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich shines light on Black girl joy with humor and warmth. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Keeping It Real by Paula Chase

Paula Chase is the author of Middle Grade books whose popularity stretches into the upper grades. This book is Project Runway meets Hip Hop reality shows in middle school. It explores betrayal, fitting, forgiving, family, and finding your people. Fans of Rebecca Stead and Renée Watson will love this!” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

2 Inscribed Copies of What Lane? GIVEAWAY!

We are giving away 2 signed and inscribed copies of What Lane?. To enter, please use the Rafflecopter below. We can only mail to U.S. and A.F.O addresses.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Torrey Maldonado

Torrey Maldonado was born and raised in Brooklyn, growing up in the Red Hook housing projects. He has been a teacher for New York City public schools for nearly 25 years and his fast-paced, compelling stories are inspired by his and his students’ experiences. His popular novels for young readers include What Lane?, which garnered many starred reviews and was cited by Oprah and the New York Times for being an essential book to discuss racism and allyship; Tight, which won the Christopher Award, was an ALA Notable Book, and an NPR and Washington Post Best Book of the Year; and his very first novel, Secret Saturdays which has been in print for over ten years. To learn more, visit his website, and connect with him on Instagram and Twitter @torreymaldonado.

 

Join us Friday, January 28th at 9 pm EST for our #ReadYourWorld Twitter party. We will be giving away book bundles of 9 books each every five minutes!

 

 

Black Characters that Show the Diversity of Black People

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12 Comments

  • Danielle Hammelef

    January 24, 2022 11:27 am

    You Should See Me in a Crown, I Wanna Be Where You Are, and Class Act are just a few of my favorites.

  • Lori

    January 24, 2022 6:20 pm

    Class Act and Ways to Grow Love are two of my current favorites!

  • Leanna

    January 24, 2022 11:35 pm

    We love New Kid and Class Act!

  • Bonita

    January 28, 2022 11:55 am

    With 2 growing g-boys in the home, it will be nice for them to explore girl voices as well.

  • Melissa

    February 3, 2022 8:35 am

    I love New Kid and Ways to Grow Love!

  • Abraham Schroeder

    February 3, 2022 3:41 pm

    What an awesome group of books!

  • Raven Randall

    February 7, 2022 6:51 pm

    I would have to mention both
    The Beles by Dhonielle Clayton
    and
    Red At The Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

  • Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

    February 12, 2022 9:17 pm

    New Kid is a definite favorite! I also loved You Should See Me in a Crown.

  • David Smith

    February 16, 2022 10:01 pm

    Love the character of Ryan in Ways to Grow Love

  • Tara Brown

    February 18, 2022 11:27 am

    This giveaway is awesome!! Thank you! Our classroom fictional favorites are:
    1. Crossover series by Kwame Alexander
    2. Track series by Jason Reynolds

    Our classroom nonfiction favorite is:
    3. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (YA version)

  • Sandra

    February 18, 2022 11:37 am

    Books worth celebrating!

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