Not Norman, by Kelly Bennett

I've been so focused on writing about newer library books that we're into that I neglected a long-time favorite we just came across again!

Not Norman follows the story of a young black boy who desperately wants a pet, but is not so thrilled to receive a goldfish for his birthday.  He has various plans to get rid of Norman, but in the process finds himself enjoying Norman's company.  It's a straightforward well told story that we both enjoyed reading over and over, and one that I would highly recommend to all families.  Absolutely no downsides to this wonderful book!

BUY HERE (or request at your local library!)

The Bat Boy & His Violin, by Gavin Curtis

Reginald, a young black boy who excels at the violin, lives with a father who prefers baseball, and in fact manages the Dukes - a team in the Negro National League.  His father signs him up to be bat boy, a task Reginald is largely uninterested in.  However, it turns out that the players love Reginald's music and it even seems to inspire them to play better!

This book was a natural fit for my sports (and music) obsessed son.  It does require that your child have a basic understanding of discrimination - the book is set in 1948, when baseball teams are becoming integrated but at the same time the Dukes aren't able to find a hotel to sleep in the night before their big game (with one clerk stating "We don't exactly cotton to coloreds sleepin' in our beds").  If your child loves Jackie Robinson as much as mine, this will deepen their understanding of his bravery and historical significance.

An added bonus is that this book is both written and illustrated by black men!

BUY HERE (or request at your local library!)

I Am Jazz, by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings

I grabbed this at the library, grateful for a book that would help explain what it means to be transgender but at the same time honestly not expecting much (given that we haven't generally liked many children's books written by celebrities - though Jazz Jennings is perhaps better viewed as an activist).  However, I was pleasantly surprised by this story!  While there isn't really a story - there is a clear narrative of Jazz's experience as a transgender child and my son really, really just got it on the first reading. 

One minor caveat - the book does present gender very simplistically, in that it seems to point to Jazz's interests in princesses, mermaid costumes, and dresses (versus trucks or tools) as a reason that she is a girl.  Problematic when my son is at an age where he is starting to come home from school and make pronouncements like "I hate princesses" (despite his obsession with Moana).  And while these may be specific things that Jazz is (and is not) interested in I didn't want to convey the message to my son that girls like these things and boys like these other things, and so I ended up changing a few of the parts of the book when I read it aloud to my son.  However, overall this book is an excellent introduction to what transgender means for younger readers.  

BUY HERE (or request at your local library!)