BOOKS
(Scroll down & click on book covers to visit individual pages)

The Soldier’s Friend
Walt Whitman’s Extraordinary Service in the American Civil War

Kirkus, Publishers Weekly
*starred reviews*

Kirkus Best Book 2024

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Everywhere Beauty is Harlem
The Vision of Photographer Roy DeCarava

Kirkus, Publishers Weekly,
Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books
Shelf Awareness
*starred reviews*

Kirkus Best Book 2024

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Sonny Rollins Plays the Bridge

Kirkus, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and
School Library Journal

*starred reviews*

NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English)
Notable Poetry Book Selection

Junior Library Guild "Gold Standard" Selection

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Dark Was the Night
Blind Willie Johnson's Journey to the Stars

Kirkus Best Books of 2020

Kirkus Best Picture Book Bios of 2020

NY Public Library Best Books for Kids 2020

Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature 2020

Air & Space Magazine - Best Children's Books of 2020

African-American Children's Book Project Best Books of 2020

FINALIST - Golden Kite Nonfiction Text for Younger Readers Award

Bank Street College Best Books of the Year 2021

Evanston Public Library Best Books of 2020

Missouri Association of School Librarians Dogwood Nonfiction List

LibraryAware 101 Great Books for Kids 2020

2022 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List

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SMILE
How Young Charlie Chaplin
Taught the World to Laugh (and Cry)

Junior Library Guild selection

New York Public Library - Best Books of 2020

NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book 2020

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Carlos Santana
Sound of the Heart, Song of the World

Booklist Top Ten Arts Books for Youth 2018

Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature
Best Books of 2018


The Horn Book - Recommended Books for 2018

Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices 2018

Bank Street College - Best Books of 2019

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Strange Fruit
Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song

ALA Notable 2018

NCTE Notable Children's Book 2018

Kirkus Best Book of 2017

NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book 2018

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Bird & Diz
Two Friends Create Bebop

ALA Notable 2016

Junior Library Guild Selection

School Library Journal - Best of Nonfiction 2015

School Library Journal - Diversity List 2015

SLJ - "Great Books" Music List 2015

CCBC "Choices 2016" List

International Youth Library

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Spirit Seeker
John Coltrane's Musical Journey

Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of the Year in 4 Categories!

New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading & Sharing

School Library Journal -100 Magnificent Children's Books of 2012

Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices 2013 List

Bank Street College Best Children's Books of 2013

About.com Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2012

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When Bob Met Woody
The Story of the Young Bob Dylan

2012 National Parenting Publications Award

Children's Cooperative Book Center Best Books of the Year

2012 Bank Street College Best Children's Books of the Year

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JIMI: Sounds Like A Rainbow
A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix

2011 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award

New York Times Bestseller

Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Books of the Year 2011

NCTE Notable Children's Book in English Language Arts

California Reading Association's Eureka! Award

NY Public Library Nonfiction Picture Book Award

NY Book Show Nonfiction Children's Book Award

100 Titles for Reading and Sharing

Oregon Reader's Choice Award 2012-2013

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