The Quarto Group

This is the story of a girl made of paper: bright, kind, and eager to please. But no matter what she folds herself into, it never feels like enough. A tender fable of self-care and discovering who you are. ★ "Stunning illustrations utilizing the Japanese art of kirie—paper cutting—enliven this fabulistic feminist tale." —Foreword Reviews, Starred Review "...a memorable, meaningful reading experience." —School Library Journal

Nimesh the Adventurer by Ranjit Singh

A little boy with a big imagination finds a shark in the hallway and a dragon in the library. There’s even a road in his neighborhood leading to the North Pole! Nimesh the Adventurer shows that with a little–or big–imagination, even the most ordinary moments can turn into something incredible.

Unbound: the Life and Art of Judith Scott by Joyce Scott, Brie Spangler, and Melissa Sweet, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

The twin sister of artist Judith Scott tells her sister’s story in this beautiful picture book about how our differences make us unique. Judith Scott, born deaf and with Down Syndrome, was institutionalized until she was reunited with her sister, Joyce, who enrolled her in art classes. Soon, Judith was proving that limitations are only imposed by others, as her art became celebrated and displayed in museums and galleries around the world.

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

Together, a mother and daughter watch a garden grow into a rainbow of colors in this classic cut-art picture book from Caldecott Honoree Lois Ehlert (Eating the Alphabet, Growing Vegetable Soup, and Snowballs). It’s a celebration of colors, gardening, and mother-daughter relationships that might even inspire children to start a garden of their own.

American Desi by Jyoti Rajan Gopal and illustrated by Supriya Kelkar

A young girl trying to figure out where she fits in realizes she doesn’t have to choose between her American and Indian identities in this lovely story about being bicultural. The story is paired with a collage of Indian and American fabrics to bring this colorful tale of cultural celebration to life.

Grow Big, Little Seed by Bec Nanayakkara and illustrated by Sarah Capon

A little girl and her mother experience loss in this gorgeous book from Bec Nanayakkara and Sarah Capon. When Nina plants a pumpkin seed in the garden, she imagines herself and her little sister playing in the leaves of a fully grown plant. But just as her little plant fails to grow, her mother experiences pregnancy loss. Nina can’t imagine planting another seed, but after a year, she’s ready to try again. Soon, she’s enjoying the garden with not just one little sister, but two.

One Yellow Ribbon by Marthe Jocelyn

In this delightfully imaginative picture book, the yellow ribbon from a girl’s hair transforms into a winter scarf, a field, and even a lion’s mane. Written without words, the collage-style illustrations encourage little readers to look closely and use their imagination to see all the things a ribbon might become.

I’m From by Gary R. Gray Jr. and illustrated by Oge Mora

This poetic picture book, featuring dreamy cut-paper art by Caldecott Honoree Oge Mora and debut author Gary R. Gray, is all about the things that define the place one young boy is from. It’s the homemade pancakes he wakes up to and the raucous bus ride and games with his family and friends that make his day–and his life–so wonderfully unique.

Clothes to Make Your Smile by Dr. Eric Darnell Pritchard and illustrated by Shannon Wright

I had the privilege of attending a reading of Pritchard’s lovely picture book at my local book festival earlier this year (shout out to NWA Bookfest!), and it’s one I can’t wait to share with the kiddos in my life. It tells the biographical story of influential Black fashion designer Patrick Kelly and how he learned to sew from his grandmother as a child. It’s a lovely story about being true to yourself and not letting others dictate your style or who you are.