This week I will feature award winners and honors from the Coretta Scott Book Awards. This year’s winners and honors:
2025 Author Winner: Twenty-four Seconds From Now by Jason Reynolds
2025 Illustrator Award Winner: My Daddy is a Cowboy illustrated by C. G. Esperanza
2025 Author Honor Book: Black Girl You are Atlas by Renee Watson
2025 Illustrator Honor Book: Coretta, The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King illustrated by Ekua Holmes
Habara Gani! What’s the News? Umoja. . .Day 1 of Kwanzaa, a cultural celebration starting December 26-January 1. A few books about Kwanzaa
Book 1: Kwanzaa by Maulana Karenga
Book 2: K is for Kwanzaa by Juwanda Ford
Book 3: Kwanzaa From Holiday to Every Day by Maitefa Angaza
Jean-Michel Basquiat was born on December 22, 1960. He was a phenomenal artist whose art expanded the art world.
Book 1: Jean Michel Basquiat King Pleasure
Book 2: To Repel Ghosts by Kevin Young
Book 3: Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe
Here is a sneak preview of the 2025 MISelf Booklist . MISelf Books is a list of books developed by Michigan school libraries. More titles will be revealed at a later date.
Book 1: Gamerville A Graphic Novel by Johnnie Christmas
Book 2: Boy 2.0 by Tracey Baptiste
Belated birthday wishes to Cicely Tyson who was born on December 19, 1924.
Her memoir: Just As I Am
A children’s book about Cicely was written by Renee Watson; illustrated by Sherry Shine
These books tell the story of the legendary Bass Reeves, the first Black Deputy Marshal in the Wild West
Book 1: Black Gun, Silver Star
Book 2: Bass Reeves
Book 3: Bass Reeves Biography
Book 4: Bad News for Outlaws by Vaunda Michael Nelson
Since 2020, BCALA has published a list of Best of the Best (BOTB) Books for PreK-Grade 12. These books are selected based on criteria, that represents the black experience with authenticity. The 2025 BOTB will be published early next year. In the meantime, I will post a medley of books from the 2024 BOTB list.
Book 1: Bridges Instead of Walls The Story of Mavis Staples by Mavis Staples and Carole Boston Weatherford ; illustrated by Steffi Walthall
Book 2: Moko Magic Carnival Chaos by Tracey Baptiste
Book 3: Love Requires Chocolate by Rayvnn K. Stringfield
Today’s posts will feature books from the 2024 MiSelf in Books PK-Grade 12 booklist. These are diverse, are exemplary in literary merit and authentic representation.
Book 1: Bros by Carole Boston Weatherford; illustrated by Reggie Brown. (Grades PreK-1)
Book 2: The Last Stand by Atwan Eady; illustrated by Jarrett & Jerome Pumphrey (Grades 2-3)
Book 3: Duel by Jessixa Bagley; illustrated by Aaron Bagley (Grades 3-7)
Book 4: The Order of Things by Kaija Langley (Grades 6-8)
Book 5: Forever is Now by Mariama J. Lockington (Grades 9-12)
Book 1: The Weather Officer: The Story of Alonzo Smith, Jr. . . .
Book 2: The Meteorologist in Me by Brittney Shipp
Although we should be giving throughout the year, Thanksgiving-Christmas is often highlighted as the “giving” season. These two books focus on the power of giving.
Book 1: The Power of Giving by Goblee Smith
Book 2: What is Given From the Heart by Patricia C. McKissack; illustrated by April Harrison.
The CamaraIfe Maktaba 