http://mppl.org/services/youth-department/good-books/?list=Rise+2023+Early+Reader+Fiction&category=awards
List: Rise 2023 Early Reader Fiction
Loujain dreams of sunflowers
"Loujain watches her beloved baba attach his feather wings and fly each morning, but her own dreams of flying face a big obstacle: only boys, not girls, are allowed to fly in her country. Yet despite the taunts of her classmates, she is determined to do it--especially because Loujain loves colors, and only by flying can she see the color-filled field of sunflowers her baba has told her about. Eventually, he agrees to teach her, and Loujain's impossible dream becomes reality--and soon other girls dare to learn to fly."--
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Smile, Sophia
Sophia loves finding fossils and digging up dinosaur bones. But she doesn't love the way all the grownups just want her to smile. What does smiling have to do with the very serious business of being a scientist?!
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Child of the flower-song people : Luz Jiménez, daughter of the Nahua
A fictionalized account of a Nahua woman who grew up in Mexico during the early 1900s, became a model for artists, worked with scholars to preserve Nahuatl language and stories, and was known as the "soul of Mexico." Includes author's note, timeline, and glossary.
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I love my body because
"A picture book about different bodies around the world and why we each love our bodies"--
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El cuarto turquesa = The turquoise room
"A bilingual story based on the lives, dreams, and accomplishments of three generations of creative, imaginative, artistic girls as they grew up in the author's family. "--
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The katha chest
Asiya loves to visit Nanu's house and rummage through her katha chest filled with quilts that tell stories about the bold and brave women in Asiya's family.
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Everything in its place : a story of books and belonging
"A shy girl who feels most at home in the school library gains the courage to extend herself to others when she encounters a group of unique, diverse, inspiring women at the diner where her mother works"--
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Maya and the Beast
Young Maya always hears of everyone in her fishing village being scared of "The Beast," the giant wave that crashes into the shoreline every day, and after seeing boys surfing it she is determined to surf it herself, showing everyone the beauty it has to offer.
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Berry song
As a young Tlingit girl collects wild berries over the seasons, she sings with her Grandmother as she learns to speak to the land and listen when the land speaks back.
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This book is not for you!
When the bookmobile librarian refuses to lend Stanley the story he wants, he learns the importance of advocating for the book of his choosing, and in doing so teaches the librarian the virtue in allowing everyone to select the stories they enjoy.
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'Twas the night before Pride
A glittering celebration of queer families puts Pride gently in perspective--honoring those in the LBGTQ+ community who fought against injustice and inequality. Pride Day is a day that means "Together, we are strong!" With bright, buoyant illustrations and lyrical, age-appropriate rhyme modeled on "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," it tackles difficult content such as the Stonewall Riots and the AIDS marches.
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A sky-blue bench
"Young Aria returns to school after recovering from an accident and being fitted with a prosthetic leg, but the school has no furniture and sitting on the floor is too painful. She finds a way to build her own bench, surprising and inspiring her classmates. A sensitive author's note addresses the author's experience growing up in Afghanistan during the civil war and the legacy of landmines."--
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What I am
A young narrator describes herself as many things at the same time - a girl, a granddaughter, Indian, American, both selfish and generous, mean and kind - and these seeming contradictions are precisely what makes her a unique individual.
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The me I choose to be
"The possibilities are endless in this uplifting ode to the power of potential. With lyrical text by bestselling author Natasha Anastasia Tarpley and images by Regis and Kahran Bethencourt -- the team behind CreativeSoul Photography -- each page of The Me I Choose To Be is an immersive call for self-love that highlights the inherent beauty of all Black and brown children. "--
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A history of me
"A mother's account of her experience as the only Black child in school serves as an empowering message to her daughter"--
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Herizon
Herizon follows the journey of a Diň girl as she helps her grandmother retrieve a flock of sheep. Join in her venture across land and water with the help of a magical scarf that will expand your imagination and transform what you thought possible. The inspiring story celebrates creativity and bravery, while promoting an inclusive future made possible through intergenterational strength and knowledge.
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I love my beautiful hair = Amo mi hermoso pelo
"Take a trip to the hair salon in this adorable celebration of family tradition and natural hair!" --
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Phoenix gets greater
Phoenix loves to play with dolls and marvel at pretty fabrics. Most of all, he loves to dance-- ballet, Pow Wow dancing, or just swirling and twirling around his house. Sometimes Phoenix gets picked on and he struggles with feeling different, but his mom and brother are proud of him. With their help, Phoenix learns about Two Spirit/Niizh Manidoowag people in Anishinaabe culture and just how special he is.
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Three little vikings
"A mysterious creature is running wild and terrorizing a village of Vikings. Can three little girls uncover the source and put an end to the mayhem?"--Back cover.
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Mama's Home
"Home can be a blue house with white trim you share with your mama. But it can be bigger than that, with lots of Big Mamas to take care of you when your mom works--different houses for every day of the week. Mondays mean Nurse Louella and bike riding. Tuesdays mean eating fufu with your fingers with Miss Zikora. And Wednesdays . . . well, no matter where you are, as long as you are with your Big Mamas, you are home."--
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