african american girls

The author shares her experience growing up during 1963, an important year of the civil rights movement.

Twelve-year-old Neva and her older brother Clayton have been left with their grandparents for the summer, and she is having a difficult time dealing with change: the changes to her body, changes with her relationships with her brother who is becoming involved with social activism and their multicultural community (and with Michelle, the sexy girl across the street), and with her best friend, Jamila, whose father is from Ghana--Neva is growing up and she is not sure that the dictionary has the right words to describe everything she is experiencing.

Azaleah and her sisters are delighted to spend a weekend at Auntie Sam's while their parents are away, but the cookies Azaleah tries to bake are awful and she is determined to learn why.

While giving a speech at her high school graduation, Faith, the class valedictorian, shares her childhood dreams, and the lessons that served as the foundation for her courage.

"When Sharon Langley was born, amusement parks were segregated, and African American families were not allowed in. This picture book tells how a community came together--both black and white--to make a change. In the summer of 1963, because of demonstrations and public protests the Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Maryland became desegregated and opened to all for the first time. Sharon and her parents were the first African American family to walk into the park, and Sharon was the first African American child to ride the merry-go-round. This was on the same day of Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Sharon's ride to remember demonstrated the possibilities of King's dream ... The carrousel, fully functional, now resides on the National Mall, near the Air and Space Museum"--Provided by publisher.

The author's poetry looks back at growing up in Harlem.

"Marley explores activism, social justice, volunteerism, equity, inclusion, and using social media for good. She offers practical tools for galvanizing kids' strengths in their homes, communities, schools, and libraries, while getting support from adults. Focusing on the importance of literacy and diversity, Marley shares her personal journey to compassionate social action and delivers hands-on strategies for becoming a lifelong reader"--Publisher.

Malika loves her new red shoes and wears them everywhere, but eventually she outgrows them, and her grandmother takes them to a second-hand shop--where they will become a special present for Amina (who fasted half the month of Ramadan) in Africa, who will enjoy her special red shoes every bit as much as Malika did.

"Eleven-year-old Jenae doesn't have any friends--and she's just fine with that. . . At home, Jenae has plenty of company, like her no-nonsense mama; her older brother, Malcolm, who is home from college after a basketball injury; and her beloved grandpa, Gee. Then a new student shows up at school--a boy named Aubrey with fiery red hair and a smile that won't quit. Jenae can't figure out why he keeps popping up everywhere she goes. The more she tries to push him away, the more he seems determined to be her friend. Despite herself, Jenae starts getting used to having him around. But when the two are paired up for a class debate about the proposed name change for their school, Jenae knows this new friendship has an expiration date. Aubrey is desperate to win and earn a coveted spot on the debate team. There's just one problem: Jenae would do almost anything to avoid speaking up in front of an audience--including risking the first real friendship she's ever had"--Provided by publisher.

"Azaleah loved her class field trip to the National Zoo in Washington D.C, and is looking forward to earning extra credit by building a diorama of a tiger in his natural habitat . . . --but before she can even begin her task she has to solve the mystery of her younger sister's favorite missing stuffed animal because her parents and older sister are too busy and Tiana is ready to throw a tantrum"--Provided by publisher.