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Edited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi (American Street), and with contributions from critically acclaimed authors like Jason Reynolds, Nic Stone, and Rita Williams-Garcia, this anthology of stories about being a Black teenager in America is varied and compelling. Touching on class, romance, immigration, sexuality, and friendship, Black Enough provides a great introduction to a host of wonderful writers, and an important reminder of the cultural, personal, and experiential diversity within a community often treated as a demographic monolith.

Oh, how we love Renée Watson! She’s never afraid to tackle difficult and divisive subjects like race, religion, family trauma, and the failure of institutions like schools to help children of color. She writes believably from children’s perspectives, resulting in characters and situations that ring true and provide a great deal for both young and adult readers to discuss. In her middle grade novel, Some Places More Than Others, Watson explores Harlem from the point of view of Amara, a self-proclaimed “sneakerhead” who convinces her dad to take her on a business trip to New York so she can meet his side of the family (and secretly repair the rift between her dad and grandpa). A fun, thoughtful, and touching portrait about learning to understand and appreciate the people and places that shape us, Some Places More Than Others will have broad appeal.

Set in Harlem’s St. Nicholas housing projects, this powerful debut novel for middle grade and young adult readers examines the life of a 12-year-old boy, Lolly, in the aftermath of his brother’s gang-related death. Trying hard to avoid bullies and the lure of violence himself, Lolly, who wants to be an architect, focuses his energies on building an elaborate LEGO city with the help of his new friend Rose. Working through themes of grief, disability, ambition, and the vital role of communities in fostering safety and growth, The Stars Beneath Our Feet is an absorbing, fully realized portrait of a vibrant child and his memorable network of friends and family.

Another excellent story featuring a 12-year-old protagonist, Hurricane Child follows Caroline, aka “Hurricane Child,” who lives in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Caroline struggles with bullying at school — from children and adults — and from the stresses of living in a single-parent home and discovering that she has feelings for her new best friend, Kalinda; confusing matters further is “the woman in black,” a spirit that only Caroline can see. A propulsive book that highlights the Caribbean’s natural beauty and dangers, as well as the Virgin Islands’ cultural nuances, Hurricane Child is a stunning coming-of-age novel and a special boon to readers seeking diverse LGBT+ characters.

This unique and beautiful picture book for older children (elementary and above) takes a multimedia approach to telling the story of award-winning children’s writer Ashley Bryan’s experiences as a solider in WWII. Containing drawings, paintings, photographs, excerpts from journals and letters, ticket stubs, and more, Infinite Hope does a fantastic job of relating the difficulty of being a soldier of color during segregation, and of demythologizing WWII and D-Day to reveal the horror and lasting impacts of war.

Introduce your little ones to the history and art of hip-hop with Weatherford and Morrison’s dynamic illustrations and fun, rhyming narrative. In addition to the music, The Roots of Rap explores graffiti art, dance, and hip-hop fashion, with profiles of artists ranging from Langston Hughes to Queen Latifah. Kirkus writes, “No way around it, this book is supa-dupa fly, with lush illustrations anchored in signature hip-hop iconography for the future of the global hip-hop nation.” Follow up storytime with a dance-a-thon!

This adorable book by Matthew A. Cherry and staff favorite Vashti Harrison features a little girl, Zuri, who has to teach her dad how to style her curls. We love so many aspects of Hair Love: the father-daughter bond, the joyful illustrations, Zuri’s pride in her hair, and the patient way she walks her dad through the styling process. When Zuri’s mom returns from a trip, we share her delight in beautiful Zuri and their warm, supportive home.

Most of us know at least one child who loves early reader series, especially if they’re about princesses. Finding a lack of stories about princesses of color, author Fields developed Princess Cupcake Jones so that her own princess-loving daughter could read a series with characters who look like her. The books in the Princess Cupcake series are simple and sweet, organized around a gentle and relatable principle like picking up one’s toys. Children will enjoy Princess Cupcake’s exuberance and LaDuca’s colorful illustrations. (Note: For the truly princess series-obsessed, check out the very cute Princess Arabella series by Dutch American author Mylo Freeman.)

Another wonderful picture book from husband-and-wife team Lesa Cline-Ransome and James Ransome, Overground Railroad follows a family of sharecroppers who take a train to New York as part of the Great Migration. Though the family are not slaves, their trip north is difficult and frightening due the discrimination and violence inherent in the sharecropping system and the segregated train journey. With bright, detailed illustrations and vivid, candid prose, Overground Railroad illuminates a time and tenor in American history frequently overlooked in children’s books.