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Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond

Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond is the author of Blue which recieved numerous praise and accolades. It was named one of the best books of 2022 by NPR, The New York Public Library, The Chicago Public Library, and Kirkus Reviews, nominated for an NAACP Image Award, and won the Orbis Pictus award for nonfiction in 2023. She lives in California.

James E. Ransome’s highly acclaimed illustrations for Before She Was Harriet received the 2018 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. His other award-winning titles include the Coretta Scott King winner The Creation; Coretta Scott King Honor Book Uncle Jed’s Barbershop; and Let My People Go, winner of the NAACP Image Award. He is also a recipient of the ALA Children’s Literature Legacy Award. James lives in New York’s Hudson River Valley region with his family.
Blue

Books

Blue

Books for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Each May, we honor the stories, histories, and cultures of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Below is a selection of acclaimed fiction and nonfiction books by AANHPI creators to share with your students this month and throughout the year. AANHPI Creators – Elementary School titles  

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Mental Health Awareness Month Resources

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and addressing student wellness and mental health is critical to help children learn how to manage emotions, develop healthy identities, empathize with peers, and pursue individual goals. We created thematic guides and book lists to help foster important conversations to build an inclusive environment where emotions matter. Explore our social emotional

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Books for Black History Month

Join Penguin Random House in celebrating the contributions of Black authors, creators, and educators. In honor of Black History Month, we’re sharing stories that highlight Black history, excellence, and joy. Browse the elementary collection   Explore additional books by Black creators that will educate, empower, and inspire students in the classroom all year round:  

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Celebrating Juneteenth

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. It commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the freedom of the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in Texas. The newly freed Black Americans observed Juneteenth as a celebration of freedom and

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