SCPL Logo
Kids

Kids

Book Lists

Book Lists

Black History Month - Get outside and explore!

Picture books featuring African American and children of color enjoying nature and the great outdoors.

Rockey, Francine, author.
JEASY ROC
Three children find different treasures in nature as they spend a day following a trail in the woods.

Mangal, Mélina, author.
J PIC+ MAN
"Nine-year-old Jayden loves the outdoors, but his mother is nervous about him playing in their neighborhood. With the help of his neighbor Mr. Curtis, can Jayden help Mama see that nature and beauty are all around?"-- Provided by publisher.

Archer, Micha, author, illustrator.
JEASY ARC
"The people in Daniel's neighborhood always say, "Have a good day!" But what exactly is a good day? Daniel is determined to find out, and as he strolls through his neighborhood, he finds a wonderful world full of answers as varied as his neighbors."--Page [2] of cover.

Bryon, Nathan, author.
JEASY BRY
While visiting her grandparents, who run whale-watching tours in Jamaica, Rocket sees first-hand how plastic is harming ocean creatures, and organizes a crew to clean up the local beach.

King, Heidi Tyline, 1966- author.
J BIO BETSCH
"A biography of MaVynee Betsch, an African American opera singer turned environmentalist who worked to preserve American Beach, Florida as a historical landmark"-- Provided by publisher.

Noakes, Polly, 1964- author, illustrator.
JEASY NOA
Friends play hide-and-seek in the meadow on a beautiful summer day.

Grimes, Nikki, author.
JEASY GRI
Jayden expects to see nothing but brown his first morning in New Mexico, but after being surprised by colorful rocks, flowers, birds, and animals, he wonders if this place could become home.

Bryon, Nathan, author.
JEASY BRY
Aspiring astronaut Rocket draws her community together to see a rare appearance of the Phoenix Meteor Showers, hoping especially that her big brother, Jamal, will look up from his phone.

Bernstrom, Daniel, author.
JEASY BER
"A fearless little girl takes off in search of a giant gator--but she's not going into that swamp alone! No way! She wants YOU, the reader, to come along. Off you go, peering through the lush landscapes, looking for that gator! But each time you think you see it? Oops! Just a fox. Or some ducks! Or a snake. Maybe you'll never find the gator, gator, gator...With stunning illustrations from Sendak Fellow Frann Preston-Gannon, readers experience the feeling of being on a real adventure deep in the swamp. Rhyming, repeating, and exhilarating, the text is a delightful read-aloud romp that will entertain and make everyone's heart skip a beat!" -- (Source of summary not specified)

Mann, Jennifer K., author, illustrator.
JEASY MAN
Ernestine is beyond excited to go camping. She follows the packing list carefully (new sleeping bag! new flashlight! special trail mix made with Dad!) so she knows she is ready when the weekend arrives. But she quickly realizes that nothing could have prepared her for how hard it is to set up a tent, never mind fall asleep in it, or that swimming in a lake means that there will be fish -- eep! Will Ernestine be able to enjoy the wilderness, or will it prove to be a bit too far out of her comfort zone?

Rockwell, Anne F, author.
JEASY ROC
A little girl and her family go hiking up a nearby mountain for the very first time.

Oswald, Pete, author, illustrator.
JEASY OSW
A father and child head out on a hike, keeping a cherished family tradition alive.

Farrell, Alison, 1979- author, illustrator.
JEASY FAR
Three friends set out on a day hike to explore their local forest, intending to climb to the top of the hill, where they will plant a flag, read a poem, and release feathers into the wind.

Keats, Ezra Jack.
JEASY KEA
The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day.

Bogan, Carmen, author.
JEASY BOG
Rodney was inside, but always wanted to be outside. His class takes a field trip to the park.

Burgess, Matthew, author.
JEASY BUR
A new boy nicknamed Bird Boy by teasing classmates enjoys imaginative flights as various birds, gaining self-confidence and new friends.

Archer, Micha, author, illustrator.
JEASY ARC
"Two curious children go for a walk, asking imaginative questions about the natural beauty that surrounds them"-- Provided by publisher.

Brown-Wood, JaNay, author.
JEASY BRO
There are many plants on Amara's farm. Today is the day she looks for her pumpkins.

Derting, Kimberly, author.
JEASY DER
"Vivi loves science! In this STEM-themed Level 3 I Can Read! title, Vivi and her friends visit the aquarium and are introduced to the concepts of density and buoyancy. A great choice for aspiring scientists, emerging readers, and fans of Andrea Beaty's Ada Twist, Scientist. Includes activities, a glossary, and a fun experiment to do at home. "-- Amazon.

Doyon, Samara Cole, author.
JEASY DOY
Joyful young narrators celebrate feeling at home in one's own skin.

Flett, Julie, author, illustrator.
JEASY FLE
"Join celebrated artist Julie Flett on a joyful romp with animals. From chasing, chirping birds, to swimming, squirting whales, this book for young readers reminds them how animals play just like them. This picture book, with gorgeous images and sweet simple text, is a marvelous celebration of the interconnectedness of all creatures, and includes some Cree phrases. It is based on the Cree teaching of wahkohtowin, interconnectedness and play, and includes as well the English and Cree names of the animals in the book, all of whom are from 'Turtle Island' (North America)."-- Provided by publisher.

MacLachlan, Patricia, author.
JEASY MAC
Die-cut pages invite reader to explore how Earth is a friend to all creatures, watching over us as the year cycles through the seasons.

Magruder, Nilah, author.
JEASY MAG
"Equipped with a camera and determination, an adventurous little girl tries to track down an elusive red fox, which proves more difficult than she thought"-- Provided by publisher.

Messner, Kate, author.
J 577.63 MES
Celebrates the forms of life that live above and under a pond, including turtles, red-winged blackbirds, blue herons, minnows, frogs, and catfish.

Thompson, Laurie Ann, author.
J BIO YEBOAH
Born in Ghana, West Africa, with one deformed leg, he was dismissed by most people--but not by his mother, who taught him to reach for his dreams. As a boy, Emmanuel hopped to school more than two miles each way, learned to play soccer, left home at age thirteen to provide for his family, and, eventually, became a cyclist. He rode an astonishing four hundred miles across Ghana in 2001, spreading his powerful message: disability is not inability. Today, Emmanuel continues to work on behalf of the disabled.

Williams, Karen Lynn.
JEASY WIL
When his father tells him not to leave the lion he is drawing on the beach, a little boy starts making a very, very long tail--and a trail to follow back.

Lyons, Kelly Starling, author.
JEASY LYO
Alan looks forward to the annual family reunion at the farm where Daddy grew up, but everyone is supposed to share something special and Alan worries about arriving with empty hands.