Books like 'Someone Builds the Dream'
Readers who enjoyed Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
realistic poc-mc children technology exploration
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Big by Vashti Harrison
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThis deeply moving story shares valuable lessons about fitting in, standing out, and the beauty of joyful acceptance.The first picture book written and illustrated by award-winning creator Vashti Harrison traces a child’s journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal...Categorized as:
realistic children poc-mc children-books fiction mental-illness contemporary bullying -
![Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen]()
Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratings“Family isn’t always your relatives. It’s the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love you no matter what.”Teachers do so much more than just teach academics. They build a sense of community within their classrooms, creating a home away from home where they make their students feel safe, included, and loved... -
![All Because You Matter by Tami Charles]()
All Because You Matter by Tami Charles
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA lyrical, heart-lifting love letter to black and brown children reminding them how much they matter, that they have always mattered, and they always will, from powerhouse rising star author Tami Charles and esteemed, award-winning illustrator Bryan Collier... -
![Brothers in Arms by Paul Langan]()
Brothers in Arms by Paul Langan
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMartin Luna, a new student at Bluford High, is at the center of this story. Haunted by the tragic death of his little brother, Martin seeks one thing: revenge. But his mother wants more for her only remaining child... -
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![Search for Safety by John Langan]()
Search for Safety by John Langan
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThere is no escape for Ben McKee. For weeks, he's covered the bruises on his body. He's even lied to his teachers and new friends at Bluford High School. But the trouble in Ben's house isnt't going away. And if he doesn't act soon, it could swallow him and his mother forever... -
![Blood Is Thicker by Paul Langan, D.M. Blackwell]()
Blood Is Thicker by Paul Langan, D.M. Blackwell
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsHakeem Randall can't take it anymore. First he learns that his father is sick and that his parents can no longer afford their home. Then he finds out he has to leave his friends at Bluford High and move in with his uncle in faraway Detroit--where he has to share a bedroom with his moody, secretive cousin Savon... -
![What If... by Samantha Berger]()
What If... by Samantha Berger
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsCreativity, the power of imagination, and the importance of self-expression are celebrated in this inspiring picture book written and illustrated by real-life best friends. This girl is determined to express herself! If she can't draw her dreams, she'll sculpt or build, carve or collage. If she can't do that, she'll turn her world into a canvas... -
![I Love My Hair! by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley]()
I Love My Hair! by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA modern classic, this whimsical story has been celebrating the beauty of African-American hair for 20 years!In this imaginative, evocative story, a girl named Keyana discovers the beauty and magic of her special hair, encouraging black children to be proud of their heritage and enhancing self-confidence... -
![No Way Out by Peggy Kern]()
No Way Out by Peggy Kern
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBluford High freshman Harold Davis is trapped. Medical bills for his sick grandmother are piling up, and a social worker has threatened to put him in a foster home. Desperate for money, he reluctantly agrees to work for Londell James, a neighborhood drug dealer. The choice leads him into a world of dangerous streets where no one is safe... -
![The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater]()
The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA beautiful lyrical story that introduces the concept of individuality, accepting of others differences, and respect for those around us.This is a tale about conformism and individualism, as Mr. Plumbean's expression of creativity and individuality challenges his neighbor's ideas about the importance of having a “neat street.” By repainting his house to reflect his colorful dreams, Mr... -
![Until We Meet Again by Anne Schraff]()
Until We Meet Again by Anne Schraff
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWelcome to Bluford High. This widely acclaimed teen series set in an urban high school features engaging, accessible writing and appealing, contemporary storylines.This summer was supposed to be different. With the school year over, Darcy Wills is looking forward to the best time of her life. But her plans are shattered by a series of unexpected events... -
![Calling Doctor Amelia Bedelia by Herman Parish, Lynn Sweat]()
Calling Doctor Amelia Bedelia by Herman Parish, Lynn Sweat
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsLearn to read with the classic Amelia Bedelia!Ever since Amelia Bedelia made her debut in 1963, young readers have been laughing out loud at the antics of this literal-minded but charming housekeeper.The doctor is out! But Amelia Bedelia is ready to help a crowd of grouchy patients... -
![Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Redd]()
Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Redd
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThis joyous and loving celebration of family is the first-ever picture book to highlight Black nighttime hair traditions--and is perfect for every little girl who knows what it's like to lose her bonnet just before bedtime. In my family, when the sun goes down, our hair goes up!My brother slips a durag over his locs.Sis swirls her hair in a wrap around her head... -
![Because by Mo Willems]()
Because by Mo Willems
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMo Willems, a number one New York Times best-selling author and illustrator, composes a powerful symphony of chance, discovery, persistence, and magic in this moving tale of a young girl's journey to center stage. Illustrator Amber Ren brings Willems' music to life, conducting a stunning picture-book debut... -
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![A Matter of Trust by Anne Schraff]()
A Matter of Trust by Anne Schraff
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsIn grade school, Darcy Wills and Brisana Meeks were friends. But all that changed at Bluford High when Darcy started hanging with "the zeros"--a group of students Brisana despises. Now the former friends are bitter rivals, and the tension between them is getting worse. For a while, Darcy tries to stay calm, ignoring her old friend's daily taunts... -
![Eyes That Weave the World's Wonders by Joanna Ho, Liz Kleinrock]()
Eyes That Weave the World's Wonders by Joanna Ho, Liz Kleinrock
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom New York Times bestselling Joanna Ho, of Eyes that Kiss in the Corners, and award-winning educator Liz Kleinrock, comes a powerful companion picture book about adoption and family. A young girl who is a transracial adoptee learns to love her Asian eyes and finds familial connection and meaning through them, even though they look different from her parents’... -
![Home is in Between by Mitali Perkins]()
Home is in Between by Mitali Perkins
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsShanti misses the warm monsoon rains in India. Now in America, she watches fall leaves fly past her feet. Still, her family’s apartment feels like a village: Mama cooking luchi, funny stories in Bangla, and Baba’s big laugh. But outside, everything is different – trick-or-treating, ballet class, and English books.Back and forth, Shanti trudges between her two worlds... -
![Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty]()
Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsBathe the floor? Sweep the dishes? This riotous romp of a picture book follows a frantic family as they try to get some chores done—with no help from the family cat, who keeps scrambling the list of chores with hilarious effects. Get ready for a rollicking read-aloud with a truly purrfect ending.It's cleaning day, but the family cat will do anything to avoid getting a bath... -
![Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady]()
Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFrom debut author Antwan Eady and artist Gracey Zhang comes a glowing tale about the young dreaming big. A perfect story to demonstrate how pride in where we come from can bring a shining confidence.When Nigel looks up at the moon, his future is bright. He imagines himself as…an astronaut, a dancer, a superhero, too!Among the stars, he twirls. With pride, his chest swells. And his eyes, they glow... -
![The Colors of Us by Karen Katz]()
The Colors of Us by Karen Katz
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA positive and affirming look at skin color, from an artist's perspective. Seven-year-old Lena is going to paint a picture of herself. She wants to use brown paint for her skin. But when she and her mother take a walk through the neighborhood, Lena learns that brown comes in many different shades... -
![The Sandwich Swap by Rania Al-Abdullah, Kelly DiPucchio]()
The Sandwich Swap by Rania Al-Abdullah, Kelly DiPucchio
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsLily and Salma are best friends. They like doing all the same things, and they always eat lunch together. Lily eats peanut butter and Salma eats hummus--but what's that between friends? It turns out, a lot. Before they know it, a food fight breaks out... -
![Rainbow Weaver / Tejedora del Arcoiris by Linda Elovitz Marshall]()
Rainbow Weaver / Tejedora del Arcoiris by Linda Elovitz Marshall
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA young Mayan girl isn't allowed to use her mother's thread to weave, so with a little ingenuity she discovers how to repurpose plastic bags to create colorful weavings. Based on an actual recycling movement in Guatemala... -
![Don't Touch My Hair! by Sharee Miller]()
Don't Touch My Hair! by Sharee Miller
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsAn entertaining picture book that teaches the importance of asking for permission first as a young girl attempts to escape the curious hands that want to touch her hair.It seems that wherever Aria goes, someone wants to touch her hair. In the street, strangers reach for her fluffy curls; and even under the sea, in the jungle, and in space, she's chased by a mermaid, monkeys, and poked by aliens... -
![Anni Dreams of Biryani by Namita Moolani Mehra]()
Anni Dreams of Biryani by Namita Moolani Mehra
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAnni’s on a mission to YUM!The café across the street from Anni’s home in Little India makes the best biryani in the world. Fluffy and fragrant, spicy and succulent—Anni could eat it every day. In fact, Anni loves that biryani so much that she’s determined to uncover the secret to the recipe. She has so many questions for Uncle, the grumpy chef and owner of the café... -
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![Little You by Richard Van Camp]()
Little You by Richard Van Camp
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsRichard Van Camp, internationally renowned storyteller and bestselling author of the hugely successful Welcome Song for Baby: A Lullaby for Newborns, has partnered with talented illustrator Julie Flett to create a tender board book for babies and toddlers that honors the child in everyone... -
![Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis]()
Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsJamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell, the New York Times bestselling team behind Today I Feel Silly and I’m Gonna Like Me, bring us a tender and funny picture book for every parent and child. Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born is a special celebration of the love and joy an adopted child creates for a family... -
![Please, Baby, Please by Kadir Nelson, Spike Lee]()
Please, Baby, Please by Kadir Nelson, Spike Lee
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsVivid illustrations from celebrated artist Kadir Nelson evoke toddlerhood from sandbox to high chair to crib, and families everywhere will delight in sharing these exuberant moments again and again... -
![Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie]()
Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFrom New York Times bestselling author Sherman Alexie and Caldecott Honor winning Yuyi Morales comes a striking and beautifully illustrated picture book celebrating the special relationship between father and son. Thunder Boy Jr. wants a normal name...one that's all his own. Dad is known as big Thunder, but little thunder doesn't want to share a name... -
![The Pink Refrigerator by Tim Egan]()
The Pink Refrigerator by Tim Egan
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“Try to do as little as possible.” This was Dodsworth’s motto. One morning, on his daily trip to the junkyard, he discovers a pink refrigerator.There’s not much to say about a pink refrigerator, except this one had a note on it. The note said, “Paint pictures.” And so Dodsworth did.The next day, a new note appeared on the pink refrigerator. And the day after that, and the day after that... -
![Novel Ideas: Judy Blume's Fudge Series: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing/Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great/Super Fudge/Fudge-A-Mania/Double Fudge by Crystal Rende]()
Novel Ideas: Judy Blume's Fudge Series: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing/Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great/Super Fudge/Fudge-A-Mania/Double Fudge by Crystal Rende
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNovel Ideas: Judy Blume's Fudge Series is an easy to use guide that will ensure your student will become a successful reader and writer! It will also engage the student in the learning process and provide creative opportunities to apply their new knowledge... -
![Runaway Retriever by Tui T. Sutherland]()
Runaway Retriever by Tui T. Sutherland
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAn exciting new series about those adorable pets that just won't behave--it's Marley & Me for middle-grade readers!Parker hadn't considered getting a dog, but when playful Merlin, the golden retriever, comes into his life, Parker is thrilled... -
![Jaded by Monica McKayhan]()
Jaded by Monica McKayhan
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat Jade Morgan wants: for her parents to get back together. Instead her dad proposes to his new girlfriend, who has the nerve to ask Jade to be a bridesmaid. Like that'll ever happen. Her new boyfriend, Terrence, thinks she should give her future stepmom a chance, try to get to know her. Yet Jade barely knows Terrence—who is cute and cool, but is seriously hiding something... -
![Let's Dance! by Valerie Bolling]()
Let's Dance! by Valerie Bolling
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThis rhythmic showcase of dances from all over the world features children of diverse backgrounds and abilities tapping, spinning, and boogying away!Tap, twirl, twist, spin! With musical, rhyming text, author Valerie Bolling shines a spotlight on dances from across the globe, while energetic art from Maine Diaz shows off all the moves and the diverse people who do them... -
![Our Pool by Lucy Ruth Cummins]()
Our Pool by Lucy Ruth Cummins
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOn a hot day, people come from all over the city to spend the day at the pool in this joyful picture book that’s a love song to summer, the city, community, and staying cool!Today is a pool day in the city! The sun is shining, so what are you waiting for? Friends and family. Kids and grandparents. Big bodies and small bodies... -
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![Moses Goes to a Concert by Isaac Millman]()
Moses Goes to a Concert by Isaac Millman
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIsaac Millman tells Moses Goes to a Concert in pictures and written English, and in American Sign Language (ASL), introducing hearing children to the signs for some of the key words and ideas.Moses and his school friends are deaf, but like most children, they have a lot to say. They communicate in American Sigh Language, using visual signs and facial expressions. This is called signing... -
![Song in the City by Daniel Bernstrom]()
Song in the City by Daniel Bernstrom
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFrom Daniel Bernstrom, the acclaimed author of One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree, comes a charming and irresistibly fun picture book about a young blind girl and her grandmother who experience the vibrant everyday music of their busy city.A young girl, filled with the sounds of her beloved city, shares a song with her grandmother that changes the two forever... -
![This Story is Not About a Kitten by Randall de Sève]()
This Story is Not About a Kitten by Randall de Sève
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA heartwarming picture book about a neighborhood coming together to help a kitten find a home, from a New York Times bestselling author and a Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator.Contrary to what you may believe, this story is not about a kitten, hungry and dirty, scared and alone, needing a home. It is also not about the dog who heard the kitten meowing sadly... -
![Besos for Baby: A Little Book of Kisses by Jen Arena, Blanca Gómez]()
Besos for Baby: A Little Book of Kisses by Jen Arena, Blanca Gómez
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAn adorable English/Spanish bilingual eBook that proves that love is the same in every language.Features:Read-Aloud functionality [where available]Book Description:Everyone has kisses for Baby, from Mami and Papi to perro and gato... -
![Wilma Jean The Worry Machine by Julia Cook]()
Wilma Jean The Worry Machine by Julia Cook
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMy stomach feels likeit’s tied up in a knot.My knees lock up, andmy face feels hot.You know what I mean?I’m Wilma Jean,The Worry Machine.Anxiety is a subjective sense of worry, apprehension, and/or fear. It is considered to be the number one health problem in America. Although quite common, anxiety disorders in children are often misdiagnosed and overlooked... -
![Paletero Man/�Que Paletero Tan Cool! by Lucky Diaz, Micah Player]()
Paletero Man/�Que Paletero Tan Cool! by Lucky Diaz, Micah Player
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWith the English and Spanish text side by side on the page, this bilingual edition of the vibrant picture book celebrating the strength of community and the tastes of summer is ideal for bilingual readers as well as Spanish speakers learning English and vice versa... -
![The Breaking News by Sarah Lynne Reul]()
The Breaking News by Sarah Lynne Reul
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen devastating news rattles a young girl's community, her normally attentive parents and neighbors are suddenly exhausted and distracted. At school, her teacher tells the class to look for the helpers—the good people working to make things better in big and small ways. She wants more than anything to help in a BIG way, but maybe she can start with one small act of kindness instead . . -
![Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color by Monique Fields]()
Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color by Monique Fields
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA young biracial girl looks around her world for her color. She finally chooses her own, and creates a new word for herself—honeysmoke.For multiracial children, and all children everywhere, this picture book offers a universal message that empowers young people to create their own self-identity...Categorized as:
realistic children poc-mc exploration children-books family fiction social-commentary -
![B Is for Baby by Atinuke]()
B Is for Baby by Atinuke
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsB is for Baby. B is for Brother. B is for going to see Baba! Baby’s brother is getting ready to take a basket of bananas all the way to Baba’s bungalow in the next village. He will have to go along the bumpy road, past the baobab trees, birds and butterflies, and all the way over the bridge... -
![Patchwork by Matt de la Peña]()
Patchwork by Matt de la Peña
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom a Newbery Medal-winning author and a New York Times bestselling illustrator comes a deeply moving ode to the complexity and uniqueness of every child...Categorized as:
realistic children poc-mc children-books fiction coming-of-age mental-illness audiobook -
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![Meesha Makes Friends by Tom Percival]()
Meesha Makes Friends by Tom Percival
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMeesha loves making things . . . but there's one thing she finds difficult to make – friends. She doesn't know quite what to do, what to say or when to say it. But one day she discovers that she has a special talent that might just help her navigate social situations - and maybe even make new friends...Categorized as:
realistic children poc-mc children-books mental-illness fiction friendship disability -
![Me & Mama by Cozbi A. Cabrera]()
Me & Mama by Cozbi A. Cabrera
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsMama's love is brighter than the sun, even on the rainiest of days. In the tradition of Someday, this celebration of a mother-daughter relationship is perfect for sharing with little ones!On a rainy day when the house smells like cinnamon and Papa and Luca are still asleep, when the clouds are wearing shadows and the wind paints the window with beads of water, I want to be everywhere Mama is... -
![The Big Bed by Bunmi Laditan]()
The Big Bed by Bunmi Laditan
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsFrom the creator of the Honest Toddler blog, The Big Bed is a humorous picture book about a girl who doesn't want to sleep in her little bed, so she presents her dad with his own bed―a camping cot!―in order to move herself into her parents' big bed in his place. A twist on the classic parental struggle of not letting kids sleep in their bed... -
![Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn]()
Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsLola has a big smile on her face. Why? Because it's Tuesday--and on Tuesdays, Lola and her mommy go to the library. Join Lola in this cozy celebration of books and the people who love them... -
![A New Home by Tania de Regil]()
A New Home by Tania de Regil
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAs a girl in Mexico City and a boy in New York City ponder moving to each other's locale, it becomes clear that the two cities -- and the two children -- are more alike than they might think.But I'm not sure I want to leave my home.I'm going to miss so much.Moving to a new city can be exciting... -
![The Mike Lupica Collection by Mike Lupica]()
The Mike Lupica Collection by Mike Lupica
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThree of New York Times bestseller Mike Lupica’s wildly popular sports stories gathered together in one box! Baseball and basketball fans will rejoice, for all of their favorite novels are available in one gorgeous...
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