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5 inspirational female role models from Black history

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13 wonderful children’s books by Black authors and illustrators

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Why representational role models in books matter

13 feminist kids' books that fight the patriarchy

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12 feminist kids’ books that fight the patriarchy

Little Leaders: Exceptional Men in Black History

'Athletes, especially black athletes, must use every resource at their command to right things that are wrong' - Arthur Ashe 
 
FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, VASHTI HARRISON 
 
Meet the little leaders. They're brave. They're exceptional. They changed the world. 
 
Did you know that the father of African cinema was originally a bricklayer? 
Or that Vogue's editor-at-large read his first Vogue magazine in his local library? 
 
Learn all about the exceptional black men who broke barriers and fought injustice to realise their dreams and make the world a better place. 
 
With Vashti Harrison's beautiful illustrations and illuminating writing, discover the stories of black men from all walks of life, including: 
 
Doctor Harold Moody 
Diplomat Kofi Annan 
Activist Paul Stephenson 
Architect Sir David Adjaye 
Comic book author Dwayne McDuffie 
Musician Prince 
 
Your own little leaders will be inspired to take on the world after learning about these incredible men.

Vashti Harrison (Author, Illustrator) 
 Vashti Harrison earned her MFA in Film/Video from CalArts and BA from the University of Virginia. Her experimental films and documentaries have shown around the world at film festivals. After a brief stint in television as a production coordinator, she is now a freelance graphic designer and a picture-book illustrator. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, USA.

This beautifully illustrated volume educates and inspires as it relates true stories of black men in history. Illuminating text paired with irresistible full-color art bring to life both iconic and lesser-known figures. 
 
Among these biographies, readers will find aviators and artists, politicians and pop culture icons. The men featured include writer James Baldwin, artist Aaron Douglas, photographer Gordon Parks, diplomat Kofi Annan, comic book author Dwayne McDuffie, and musician Prince.

Little Leaders: Visionary Women Around the World

Meet the little leaders. They're brave. They're bold. They changed the world. 
 
Featuring the true stories of 40 inspirational women creators - from writers to inventors, artists to scientists - this book is as inspirational as it is educational. Readers will meet trailblazing women such as revolutionary architect, Zaha Hadid, actor/inventor Hedy Lamarr, environmental activist Wangari Maathai, modernist painter and animator Mary Blair and physicist Chien-Shiung Wu. Some names will be familiar, some will not - but all these women had a lasting impact on their fields.

Vashti Harrison earned her MFA in Film/Video from CalArts and BA from  the University of Virginia. Her experimental films and documentaries  have shown around the world at film festivals. After a brief stint in  television as a production coordinator, she is now a freelance graphic  designer and a picture-book illustrator. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, USA.

Dream Big, Little Leader

This perfect bedtime board book is guaranteed to inspire big dreams 
 
Dream big, little one. 
There's so much you can do. 
Just look at all the women who came before you . . . 
 
Based on the New York Times bestselling sensation Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History this board book will inspire all little people of today to become the leaders of tomorrow

Vashti Harrison earned her MFA in Film/Video from CalArts and BA from  the University of Virginia. Her experimental films and documentaries  have shown around the world at film festivals. After a brief stint in  television as a production coordinator, she is now a freelance graphic  designer and a picture-book illustrator. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, USA

This perfect bedtime book is guaranteed to inspire big dreams 
 
Dream big, little one. 
there's so much you can do. 
Just look at all the women who came before you . . . 
 
Based on the New York Times bestselling sensation Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History this board book will inspire all little people of today to become the leaders of tomorrow

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

Meet the little leaders. They're brave. They're bold. They changed the world. 
 
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 
 
Featuring 40 trailblazing black women in the world's history, this book educates and inspires as it relates true stories of women who broke boundaries and exceeded all expectations. 
 
Debut author/illustrator Vashti Harrison pairs captivating text with stunning illustrations as she tells the stories of both iconic and lesser-known female figures of black history, including: 
 
Nurse Mary Seacole 
 
Politician Diane Abbott 
 
Mathematician Katherine Johnson 
 
Singer Shirley Bassey 
 
Among these biographies, readers will find heroes, role models and everyday women who did extraordinary things.

The appeal is very much that of [Goodnight Stories for] Rebel Girls or Frances Lincoln's Little People, Big Dreams series, but this is the only such collection to focus exclusively on black women.

You'll want to add [this little volume] to your list for the young readers in your life.

Be bold. Be courageous. Be you. Be true. That's the message of this empowering, informative, and beautifully illustrated book.

Vashti Harrison (Author, Illustrator) Vashti Harrison earned her MFA in Film/Video from CalArts and BA from the University of Virginia. Her experimental films and documentaries have shown around the world at film festivals. After a brief stint in television as a production coordinator, she is now a freelance graphic designer and a picture-book illustrator. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, USA.

A book of black heroes, role models and everyday women who did extraordinary things. 
 
Featuring 40 trailblazing black women in the world's history, this book educates and inspires as it relates true stories of women who broke boundaries and exceeded all expectations. Debut author/illustrator Vashti Harrison pairs captivating text with stunning illustrations as she tells the stories of both iconic and lesser-known female figures of black history - from nurse Mary Seacole, to politician Diane Abbott, mathematician Katherine Johnson and singer Shirley Bassey.

Hair Love ABCs

This heartwarming alphabet board book is inspired by the Oscar-winning short film Hair Love, with new illustrations and text from Matthew A. Cherry and Vashti Harrison. 
 
A is for Afro, N is for Natural, and W is for Waves. Letter by letter, follow Zuri and her father in their joy-filled journey through the kinks and curls of Black hair. 
 
Tender and empowering, Hair Love ABCs is perfect as a baby gift, for existing fans of "Hair Love", young readers embracing their natural hair, and toddlers learning their ABCs!

Matthew Cherry (Author) 
Chicago native Matthew A. Cherry is a former NFL wide receiver turned filmmaker who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers, and the Baltimore Ravens. In 2007 he retired and moved to LA to pursue a career in entertainment. Now, he directs music videos and short films, including "Hair Love", the animated short film on which this book is based. Matthew was named to Paste Magazine's list of Directors to Watch in 2016. 
 
Vashti Harrison (Illustrator) 
Vashti Harrison earned her MFA in Film/Video from CalArts and BA from the University of Virginia. Her experimental films and documentaries have shown around the world at film festivals. After a brief stint in television as a production coordinator, she is now a freelance graphic designer and a picture-book illustrator. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, USA.

This heartwarming alphabet board book is inspired by the Oscar-winning short film Hair Love, with new illustrations and text from Matthew A. Cherry and Vashti Harrison. 
 
A is for Afro, N is for Natural, and W is for Waves. Letter by letter, follow Zuri and her father in their joy-filled journey through the kinks and curls of Black hair. 
 
Tender and empowering, Hair Love ABCs is perfect as a baby gift, for existing fans of "Hair Love", young readers embracing their natural hair, and toddlers learning their ABCs!

Hello Star

Hello, Star. I know you're scared, but you're not alone. 
 
When a young girl learns that a bright light in the sky is coming from a dying star, she promises to keep it company until the light goes out. Every night she reassures her friend that she's still there. 
 
As the years pass, the girl learns everything she can about planets, space, and the universe, inspired by her dimming friend - until she realises she needs to do something more. 
 
This touching tribute to stars, space, and science celebrates how a small act of compassion can flourish into a life full of meaning and wonder. 
 
Stunningly illustrated by #1 New York Times bestselling artist Vashti Harrison and written by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic, Hello Star is an inspiring story about a love of science and the importance of empathy.

Hello, Star. 
I know you're scared, 
but you're not alone. 
 
From Stephanie Lucianovic and #1 New York Times bestselling artist Vashti Harrison, author of the Little Leaders series, Hello, Star is an inspirational picture book about a love of science and the importance of empathy. 
 
When a young girl learns that a bright light in the sky is coming from a dying star, she promises to keep it company until the light goes out. Every night the girl reassures her friend that she is still there. 
 
As the years pass, the girl learns everything she can about planets, space, and the universe, inspired by her dimming friend - until she realises she needs to do something more. 
 
This touching tribute to stars, space, and science celebrates how a small act of compassion can flourish into a life full of meaning and wonder.

Sulwe

From Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o comes a powerful, moving picture book about colourism, self-esteem and learning that true beauty comes from within. 
 
Sulwe's skin is the colour of midnight. She's darker than everyone in her family, and everyone at school. 
 
All she wants is to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. 
 
Then a magical journey through the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything. 
 
In this stunning debut picture book, Lupita Nyong'o creates a whimsical and heartwarming story to inspire children to see their own unique beauty.

A thoughtfully layered text and powerful illustrations address this sensitive topic in a uniquely nurturing way

By turns beguiling (as when Sulwe's mother counsels her tearful daughter) and magical (a shooting star darts into Sulwe's room to share the story of Night and Day), the volume also clearly conveys that colorism is real, and it hurts. Sulwe's story confronts it head-on, with words and images that celebrate the 'dark and beautiful, bright and strong.'

A welcome celebration of Black girls, an important lesson for all kids (and grownups), and a necessary message for any child who has been made to feel unworthy of love on account of their looks

Darkest in her family, Sulwe believes that her skin makes her unattractive and prays to be lighter, but when a shooting star tells her the story of sisters Night and Day, she finally understands that she doesn't need to change. Harrison's star-flecked glimmering illustrations evoke Night's mysterious beauty.

Lupita Nyong'o (Author) 
 Lupita Nyong'o is a Kenyan actress and producer. Her first feature film role was in the film 12 Years a Slave, for which she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress as well as multiple accolades, including the Screen Actors Guild® Award, the Critics' Choice Award, the Independent Spirit Award, and the NAACP Award. She has since starred in Mira Nair's Queen of Katwe, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Ryan Coogler's record-breaking box office hit Black Panther, and most recently in Jordan's Peele's critically acclaimed horror film, Us. Nyong'o earned a Tony nomination for her Broadway debut in Danai Gurira's play Eclipsed. She lives in Brooklyn. 
 
Vashti Harrison (Illustrator) 
 Vashti Harrison earned her MFA in Film/Video from CalArts and BA from the University of Virginia. Her experimental films and documentaries have shown around the world at film festivals. After a brief stint in television as a production coordinator, she is now a freelance graphic designer and a picture-book illustrator. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, USA.

Based on the Oscar-Winning Short Film

Hair Love

Based on the Oscar winning short film! 
 
It's up to Daddy to give his daughter an extra-special hair style in this story of self-confidence and the love between fathers and daughters. 
 
Zuri knows her hair is beautiful, but it has a mind of its own! 
 
It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Mum always does Zuri's hair just the way she likes it - so when Daddy steps in to style it for an extra special occasion, he has a lot to learn. 
 
But he LOVES his Zuri, and he'll do anything to make her - and her hair - happy. 
 
Tender and empowering, Hair Love is an ode to loving your natural hair - and a celebration of daddies and daughters everywhere.

Matthew Cherry (Author) 
 Chicago native Matthew A. Cherry is a former NFL wide receiver turned filmmaker who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers, and the Baltimore Ravens. In 2007 he retired and moved to LA to pursue a career in entertainment. Now, he directs music videos and short films, including "Hair Love", the animated short film on which this book is based. Matthew was named to Paste Magazine's list of Directors to Watch in 2016. 
 
Vashti Harrison (Illustrator) 
 Vashti Harrison earned her MFA in Film/Video from CalArts and BA from the University of Virginia. Her experimental films and documentaries have shown around the world at film festivals. After a brief stint in television as a production coordinator, she is now a freelance graphic designer and a picture-book illustrator. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, USA.

It's up to Daddy to give his daughter an extra-special hair style in this story of self-confidence and the love between fathers and daughters. 
 
Zuri knows her hair is beautiful, but it has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Mum always does Zuri's hair just the way she likes it - so when Daddy steps in to style it for an extra special occasion, he has a lot to learn. But he LOVES his Zuri, and he'll do anything to make her - and her hair - happy. 
 
Tender and empowering, Hair Love is an ode to loving your natural hair - and a celebration of daddies and daughters everywhere.

Vashti Harrison

Once there was a girl with a big laugh and a big heart and very big dreams. 
She grew and grew and grew. And it was good... until it wasn't. 
 
When the girl grows big, the world begins to make her feel small. She feels out of place and invisible, and soon she isn't herself at all. But with the girl's size comes huge inner strength - and this helps her look past the hurtful words to see how perfect she really is. 
 
With beautiful illustrations and a gatefold flap, this quietly reassuring story explores the experience of being big in a world that celebrates small, promoting body positivity and self-acceptance in young readers. 
 
BIG is the first picture book to be written and illustrated by Vashti Harrison, award-winning creator of the bestselling Little Leaders series.

Vashti Harrison

Books by Vashti Harrison

Articles featuring Vashti Harrison

Download our Little Leaders drawing sheet

5 inspirational female role models from Black history

13 wonderful children’s books by Black authors and illustrators

The best father figures in children’s literature

16 of the best children’s books about love

14 books for sports-obsessed kids

Why representational role models in books matter

12 feminist kids’ books that fight the patriarchy

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