Story Tags

Akissi

My Introduction to Graphic Novels

Shamefully, I have to admit that I read my first graphic novel two months ago. I wrote them off as childish and because of my ignorance I have missed out on great books over the years. As with most of the books I read, I look for characters that I see myself in: characters that are beautiful, smart, responsible and passionate about the world around them. What makes it extra special for me is finding these qualities in Black people across the African diaspora. Surprisingly, finding graphic novels with such specific criteria was not hard to find in our catalog.  

Sun is Also a Star

People of Color Protagonists in Romance-ish Novels

Growing up, romance novels were not on my radar. At all. I thought they were cheesy and I had the image of Fabio associated with the genre. Additionally, I never found Young Adult romance books with characters that were not white or middle class. However! I have gotten older and wiser and now *love* cheesy romance and romance-ish novels (fiction books with a sprinkle of romance) and have found books with fulfilling diverse characters of different races and socioeconomic statuses.

Mark of the King cover

Historical Fiction with Faith

Christian novels set between the 18th and 19th centuries

Historical fiction has been a long favorite genre of mine. A few years ago, I added historical Christian fiction novels for my reading enjoyment. Below are a few novels that I've enjoyed set between the 18th to 19th centuries. Copies are available to check out and download.

Signature of All Things

Dream Faraway

Let your imagination have at it conjuring up the images and feelings from these novels. A wide range of emotions as well as personal, social and political experiences are explored giving the reader a window into other cultures and points of view. The signature of all things by Elizabeth Gilbert   

Chicken in the Kitchen

Children’s Picture Books Set in Africa

I chose this topic for my eight-year-old self who wanted to read books with characters that came from where she came from, ate the foods she ate, and looked like her.     Baby Goes to Market by Atinuke and illustrated by Angela Brooksbank

Annotated African American Folktales cover

World Folklore

Adult collections of tales and myths

Enjoy folktales from around the world!  If you're looking to explore more about your heritage or simply curious, you'll have a rich reading experience. Below are a selection of titles available to check out from the library system.

Bring Me Back book cover

Well Read Ears

Noteworthy Audiobook Performances

Did you know that audiobooks are one of the fasting growing ways to read a book? If this is news to you, welcome to your new obsession! There’s no better way to multi-task while cooking, driving, working out or when you can’t easily keep your eyes on the page. Audiobooks have come a long way from “books-on-tape,” and the library has lots of ways to enjoy them.

Lovely cover

Learning About Differences

Not just for adults any more!

In cities like Washington, D.C. there are so many people and they are all unique. This curated list contains a variety of protagonists and thoughts about differences. Let's celebrate the beautiful diversity of our city with diverse reads! Picture books for early readers Lovely by Jess Hong

Lost and Found Cat

The Shelter of Each Other

Picture Book Stories of Resilience and Hope Amidst Displacement

War, climate change, persecution and economic hardship are forcing many children and families worldwide from their homes to seek refuge elsewhere. Leaving behind a home and country, often never to return nor knowing where the journey will lead, can be traumatic. These picture book stories about displacement, all of which are true stories or based on true events, will resonate with children who have had similar experiences. They also introduce children without such experiences to the plight of refugees, in a way that fosters understanding and empathy.

HomeGoing

Ghanaian Authors

Ghana Ghana. The first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence, a regional power in West Africa, and home to 30 million people. Ghana like many other African countries has a rich oral literature history. For this post, I wanted to discover the writings of Ghanaians and I think this selection of books is a good introduction to Ghanaian authors and a peek into Ghanaian culture and history. Each one of these authors were either born and/or raised in Ghana or have a parent who is Ghanaian.

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