The Black Regiment of the American Revolution
Linda Crotta Brennan

During the Revolutionary War, an untested, predominatly African- American military unit valiantly faced off against professional Hessian soldiers in the fiercely-fought Battle of Rhode Island. The "Black Regiment" prevented the capture of a large Colonial force, influencing the very outcome of the war and establishing a proud tradition of African-American military service. Of national historical significance, this story has never before been detailed in a children's book. Illustrated with watercolors, maps, and historic images. Glossary, list of sources included.

All Ages

Fatuma's New Cloth
Leslie Bulion

Set in contemporary East Africa, a little girl helps her mother do the day's marketing, and looks forward to buying a piece of kanga cloth for a new dress. At the market, she meets many friendly vendors -- the tea-and-spice merchant, the dairy woman, and the pots-and-pans man. Each of them claims that his or her own product is the secret to a perfect cup of chai (tea). Whom should she believe? With her mother's calm guidance and some help from a Swahili proverb printed on her favorite kanga pattern, little Fatuma learns not to trust appearances, but to look deeper for true virtue.

The Hunter and the Ebony Tree
Nelda LaTeef

From the Zarma culture of West Africa comes this folk tale of a hunter who must overcome an impossible challenge before he can marry the girl he loves. Her father wants a strong man as a husband for his daughter. She understands that amiability and intelligence are more important, but her culture forbids her from contradicting her father. Success depends upon a good plan, good friends, superb archery skills...and the girl's clever strategy. Illustrated in a strikingly colorful collage technique.

The Invisible Seam
Andrew William Frew

M istress Shinyo, a renowned but aging kimono maker, values the talents of her new apprentice, Michi. The other apprentices resent Michi's skill, and they attempt to sabotage her work. But Michi has made a promise to always do her best, and she cannot allow peer pressure to break it. This historically accurate and culturally sensitive tale of jealousy, self-discipline, and forgiveness is based on a true incident in Japan around 1900.

The Family Book
Todd Parr

Winner of the 2004 Openheim Toy Portfolio Best Book award, The Family Book is a beautifully illustrated book with lots of color that both parents and children will enjoy. This book explores the many different types of families.

All Ages

Couldn't We Make A Difference
Michele Pace Hofbauer

Written by a parent and educator with the express purpose of teaching children the importance of accepting others, this lovely book begins with a world broken and literally deflated. Children of every race, religion, and ethnic background paint, clean, bandage, and work the pumps in an effort to re-inflate the world and restore it to health, harmony, and beauty. Colorfully illustrated and written in simple verse and rhyme, the narrative focuses on children discussing how they, working together, would fix the world's problems.

Ages: 3 - 8

Dhegdheer, A Scary Somali Folktale
Marian (Ubah) A. Hassan

One of the books offered by the Somali Bilingual Book Project which reflects the Minnesota Humanities Commission's commitment to promote and preserve heritage languages and increase English literacy skills of refugee and immigrant families.

About the Book: In this hair-raising cautionary tale from Somalia, the Hargega Valley is plagued by the monstrous Dhegdheer, who gobbles up anyone unlucky enough to cross her path. A widow and her young son try to escape her. Will they be Dhegdheer's next meal or will their virtue save them and help bring an end to Dhegdheer's reign of terror?

A bilingual Somali / English story.

The Lion’s Share/Qayb Libaax
Said Salah Ahmed

One of the books offered by the Somali Bilingual Book Project which reflects the Minnesota Humanities Commission's commitment to promote and preserve heritage languages and increase English literacy skills of refugee and immigrant families.

About the Book: A traditional Somali folktale about a lion and other animals "sharing" a kill. Beautiful illustrations.

A bilingual Somali / English story.

Wiil Waal
Kathleen Moriarty

One of the books offered by the Somali Bilingual Book Project which reflects the Minnesota Humanities Commission's commitment to promote and preserve heritage languages and increase English literacy skills of refugee and immigrant families.

About the Book: The heart? The leg? The ribs? What part of the sheep is the answer to the Sultan's riddle? When wise Somali leader Wiil Waal asks the men in his province to bring him the part of a sheep that best symbolizes "what can divide men or unite them as one," most present him with prime cuts of meat. But one very poor man's daughter has a different idea. In this clever folktale, a father reluctantly follows his daughter's advice and has astonishing results.

A bilingual Somali / English story.

Shades of Memnon - Book 1
Brother G

Ages: All Ages

Shades of Memnon - Book 2 - RA Force Rising
Brother G

Ages: All Ages

We All Have A Heritage
Sandy Lynne Holman

Ages: 4 - 8