GRADE 4 BOOKS
Dancing Hands by Margarita Engle* and illustrated by Rafael López*
FAMILY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY
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Celebrating music as a technical art form, this picture book focuses on the inspiring true story of Teresa Carreño, who spent her earliest years in Venezuela and then came to the United States. Throughout her life she was an acclaimed concert pianist who connected with people through
Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings by Francie Latour* and illustrated by Ken Daley*
In this vibrant picture book, a young Haitian American girl, affectionately referred to as Ti Chou, reminisces about traveling to Haiti to visit her aunt. Auntie Luce is a painter, and Ti Chou reflects on the time she sat for a portrait. During this experience, Ti Chou and Auntie Luce discuss Haiti’s
her music, but this picture book biography emphasizes the opportunity she had to play piano for Abraham Lincoln when she was nine years old. Her performance for Lincoln at the White House, where she played his favorite song, was her way of offering comfort to Lincoln and his family during a trying time. Planting Stories by Anika Aldamuy Denise* and illustrated by Paola Escobar*
complicated history, as well as the things that make Haiti home. Through the power of art, she discovers a new appreciation for her culture and identity.
Lety Out Loud by Angela Cervantes*
Lety Muñoz is excited to begin summer camp at the community animal shelter. She is eager to learn how to care for the animals and wants to be the
Pura Belpré wore many hats throughout her life. She was a
storyteller, a puppeteer, and even New York City’s first Puerto Rican children’s librarian. Pura used her gift of storytelling and love of reading to help children learn to visualize. Read along as the iconic Pura makes her way to the top.
Shelter Scribe, the person who writes pet profiles—but so does a boy named Hunter. To decide who gets the job, Hunter and Lety hold a competition. Lety’s first language isn’t English and, at first, she worries that she will not succeed as a scribe, but during camp, Lety uses her observational skills to write detailed profiles of the animals. She learns how to believe in herself and work with others to succeed.
STRONG AND RESILIENT
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Catching a Storyfish by Janice N. Harrington*
Fly, Girl, Fly! by Nancy Roe Pimm and illustrated by Alexandra Bye
When Keet starts school, kids tease her about her southern accent. Now Keet, who can “talk the whiskers off a catfish,” doesn’t want to open her mouth. Yet slowly, while fishing with her grandfather, she learns the art of listening—and through this new skill she makes her first new friend. But just as she’s beginning to settle in, her grandfather has a stroke. Now Keet is
This biography follows pilot Shaesta Waiz from her beginnings as a refugee to becoming the youngest woman to circle the globe in a single-engine airplane. Shaesta had to overcome her own fears and negativity from others.
Her interests in science and math, along with support from her family, opened many possibilities for Shaesta. She successfully flew around the world and spoke to children during her stops to inspire them to dream big!
determined to “reel” him back to her by telling him stories; in the process she finds her voice and her grandfather again.
Scholastic Rising Voices: Celebrating Girls of Color: Grade 4 Books | Back to Top | 21 *Denotes an author or illustrator of color † Comparable substitutes will be provided for titles no longer available.
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