Book picks similar to
Black Cowboys by Kyla Ryman


carly
storytime
bipoc-characters
board

Butterfly Park


Elly MacKay - 2015
    But when she opens the gate, there are no butterflies. Determined to lure the butterflies in, the girl inspires her entire town to help her. And with their combined efforts, soon the butterflies -- and the girl -- feel right at home. Elly MacKay's luminous paper-cut illustrations and enchanting story encourage community, friendship, and wonderment in the beauty of everyday life. Free poster on reverse side of book jacket.

Look Look Outside!


Peter Linenthal - 2012
    In striking black-and-white images perfect for infant eyes, ladybugs fly, cars zoom, and clouds float. With bold, simple text and art, this board book makes an ideal learning experience for very young babies and a perfect shower gift.

One Fish, Two Fish, Three, Four, Five Fish!


Dr. Seuss - 2005
    Seuss Nursery Collection introduces the most beloved Dr. Seuss characters to the littlest of listeners. Based on Dr. Seuss's signature art and rollicking rhymes, each book introduces the most popular characters of the title on which it's based in a bold and simple format, which will engage babies and toddlers at each stage of development.

Thank You, Bees


Toni Yuly - 2017
    Sun gives us light.Thank you, sun. Clouds bring the rain that makes puddles to splash in. Sheep give us wool for our sweaters and hats. The honey that sweetens our bread comes from bees (thank you, bees). With spare, repetitive text and bright, torn-paper collage artwork, this picture book gives even the youngest readers a subtle sense of how everyday things are related -- and inspires an appreciation for life's simple gifts.

You Are Light


Aaron Becker - 2019
    Now hold the page up to the light and enjoy the transformation as the colors in those circles glow. In an elegant, sparely narrated ode to the phenomenon of light, Aaron Becker follows as light reflects off the earth to warm our faces, draws up the sea to make the rain, feeds all the things that grow, and helps to create all the brilliant wonders of the world, including ourselves.

Becoming Vanessa


Vanessa Brantley-Newton - 2021
    Vanessa isn't so sure. She wears her fanciest outfit so her new classmates will notice her right away. They notice, but the attention isn't what she'd hoped for. As the day goes on, she feels more self-conscious. Her clothes are too bright, her feather boa has way too many feathers, and even her name is too hard to write.The next day, she picks out a plain outfit, and tells her mom that her name is too long. She just wants to blend in, with a simple name like the other girls--why couldn't her parents have named her Megan or Bella? But when her mother tells her the meaning behind her name, it gives her the confidence she needs to introduce her classmates to the real Vanessa.

All Fall Down


Mary Brigid Barrett - 2014
    LeUyen Pham’s adorable, vibrant illustrations bring Mary Brigid Barrett’s singsong text to life in a board book for the very young.From a bright tower made of blocks to a boisterous family playing a game of Ring Around the Rosie, there are many ways to join things together — and watch them tumble in a delightful heap!

Good Night, World


Willa Perlman - 2011
    Elsewhere in the world it's light, it's morning there, but here it's night. As the sun sets from east to west, this book takes children on a magical round-the-world journey to bid good night to the world's natural wonders, from plants and animals to mountains, oceans, and wide desert plains. Willa Perlman's soothing, lyrical text combines with Carolyn Fisher's sweeping illustrations to paint a vivid picture of everything, everywhere going to sleep--including an imaginative little boy.

Peekaboo Kisses


Barney Saltzberg - 2002
    A perfect gift for babies and toddlers! Peekaboo! What's hiding behind those paws? Why, it's something woolly, something fluffy, something fuzzy, and something squeaky . . . a colorful menagerie of playful animals, each eager to be covered with kisses. With flaps to lift, a squeaker to press, and a peek-at-yourself mirror at the end, this touchable, smoochable book is is loaded with fun, surprises, and, of course, plenty of kisses.

Desert Girl, Monsoon Boy


Tara Dairman - 2020
    One boy. Their lives couldn't be more different.While she turns her shoulder to sandstorms and blistering winds, he cuffs his pants when heavy rains begin to fall.As the weather becomes more severe, their families and animals must flee to safety--and their destination shows that they might be more alike than they seem.The journeys of these two children experiencing weather extremes in India highlight the power of nature and the resilience of the the human spirit.

Tails


Matthew Van Fleet - 2003
    Engaging, cartoonish animals from tigers to pangolins romp across the pages as the rhyming text bounces along: “Tails fluffy, / Tails stringy, / Scaled tails strong and—clingy!” Pull tabs, lift-able flaps, tufts of fur, and even a scratch-and-sniff skunk tail provide plenty of tactile surprises. Along the way, youngsters will learn about counting, opposites, and how animals use their tails. A tried and true tail-wagger!

Bedtime for Chickies


Janee Trasler - 2014
    Young readers will love to fall asleep along with the Chickies!

Evelyn del Rey Is Moving Away


Meg Medina - 2020
    . . and the sofa that we bounce on to get to the moon.Evelyn Del Rey is Daniela's best friend. They do everything together and even live in twin apartments across the street from each other: Daniela with her mami and hamster, and Evelyn with her mami, papi, and cat. But not after today--not after Evelyn moves away. Until then, the girls play amid the moving boxes until it's time to say goodbye, making promises to keep in touch, because they know that their friendship will always be special. The tenderness of Meg Medina's beautifully written story about friendship and change is balanced by Sonia Sánchez's colorful and vibrant depictions of the girls' urban neighborhood.

Bindu's Bindis


Supriya Kelkar - 2021
    This charming picture book is about a little girl who loves her bindis (and the many creative shapes they come in!). The bindis are also a connection to her Nani who lives in India. When Nani comes to visit Bindu and brings the bindis to her, it is just in time to wear something new to the school talent show. Bindu and Nani work together to shine their brightest and embrace their sparkle, even when they stand out from the crowd.

Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree


Eileen Christelow - 1991
    Crocodile.