Perkins, Useni Eugene. Hey Black Child. New York, NY: LB Keys/Little, Brown and Company, 2017. [Preschool-grade 3] A lyrical, empowering poem that celebrates black children and seeks to inspire all young ones to dream big and achieve their goals.

Barnes, Derrick. Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut. Chicago, IL: Bolden, an Agate imprint, 2017. [Grades kindergarten-3] This rhythmic, read-aloud title is an unbridled celebration of the self-esteem, confidence, and swagger boys feel when they leave the barber’s chair—a tradition that places on their heads a figurative crown, beaming with jewels, that confirms their brilliance and worth and helps them not only love and accept themselves but also take a giant step toward caring how they present themselves to the world. The fresh cuts. That’s where it all begins.

de la Peña, Matt. Last Stop on Market Street. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Son’s, an imprint of Penguin Group, 2017. [Grades kindergarten-2] A young boy rides the bus across town with his grandmother and learns to appreciate the beauty in everyday things.

Elliott, Zatta. Bird. New York, NY: Lee & Low Books Inc., 2008. [Grades 1-5] Bird, an artistic young African American boy, expresses himself through drawing as he struggles to understand his older brother's drug addiction and death, while a family friend, Uncle Son, provides guidance and understanding.

Thomas, Angie. The Hate U Give. New York, NY: Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2017. [Ages 14+] After witnessing her friend's death at the hands of a police officer, Starr Carter's life is complicated when the police and a local drug lord try to intimidate her in an effort to learn what happened the night Kahlil died.