Books

A story for every occasion

My mission is to center Black heroes, celebrate family, friendship and heritage and show all kids the stories they hold inside.

Easy Readers

Ty’s Travels: Join Ty on his imaginative adventures in Ty’s Travels: All Aboard!, a My First I Can Read series by acclaimed author and illustrator team Kelly Starling Lyons and Niña Mata. Family time and imagination and play are highlighted in this fun story, perfect for sharing with children 3 to 6.

A Girl Named: The A Girl Named series tells the stories of how ordinary American girls grew up to be extraordinary American women.

Chapter Books

Jada Jones: Fans of Princess Posey and Ivy and Bean will enjoy engaging with science-loving Jada Jones in these easy-to-read chapter books.

Miles Lewis: From the award-winning author of the Jada Jones chapter books comes an illustrated spinoff series perfect for STEM fans!

She Persisted: Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who spoke up and rose up against the odds.

Picture Books

Anthologies

Reviews

What readers say:

Great book about a little girl spending the day with her grandmother and baking cinnamon bread together. Zoe, the little girl, tells readers that her grandmother’s hands have a lot of stories to tell, and she wonders what stories her own hands will tell. There’s a recipe for cinnamon bread at the end of the book – definitely worth a try if you like cinnamon bread!

— NC Mom
My Hands Tell a Story
My daughter developed anxiety about reading and has experienced a tough time with reading fluency. We’ve TRIED ALMOST EVERYTHING, but this series is one of the only strategies that has worked to assuage her disdain for reading.

— DH
Ty’s Travels: All Aboard!
I bought this book for my daughter and I think she read it in one sitting. She says she loved it!

— Robyn Roberts
Jada Jones: Rock Star #1
My son is 7 and can read higher level books but still prefers books with some pictures when he reads on his own. This is a great story and reader for those easing out of graphic novels into more text in books that quick reads. We loved reading about Willie O’Ree and started watching Soul on Ice to learn more. We’re big fans of this author.

— AG
Miles Lewis: King of the Ice #1
This award-winning book is adorned with rich, lush illustrations that follow a loving family coming together for a reunion. The sense of pride among the family members is almost palpable as they commemorate all that they have accomplished and have to be grateful for. This is a truly beautiful story on many levels.

— LibraryMom
Going Down Home with Daddy
My four year old loves to follow along and help me read this book. This is my second “Ty” story because my kid loved the adventures.

— Amazon Review
Ty’s Travels: Zip, Zoom!
This was purchased for my 9 year old. She has been enjoying the Jada series.

— James Whitt III
Jada Jones: Class Act #2
An honest, inspiring STEM-focused story starring an incredibly relatable future scientist.

— Kirkus
Miles Lewis: Whiz Kid #2
I listened to the author read this book aloud and it was such a delightful experience. The writing and illustration are both so lovely and the story comes to a heartwarming conclusion. Five stars!

— L. Kline
Tiara’s Hat Parade
My children loved this book. They were engaged throughout the whole story. This is our 2nd Ty travels book and I plan to purchase more.
— Jasmine
Ty’s Travels: Beach Day!
I purchased the Jada Jones series book 1-4, for my 9 year old granddaughter she read all 4 of them the same day of delivery. She asked if the series was continuing I asked her to reread then complete a book report which she has done for all 4 books.

— Santa Price
Jada Jones: Sleepover Scientist #3
This book profiles the uplifting voice of an activist worth recognizing in her own right [and] Lyons manages to weave in a healthy amount of emotion into this account . . . A brief but effective account of not-often-taught figure that would nicely complement curriculum units on the Civil Rights Movement.

— School Library Journal
She Persisted: Coretta Scott King
I LOVE this book and so did my students. I read this story for my school’s Black History Month read-a-thon. All the students asked if I could read it again and some of the teachers were emotional towards the end of the story. Beautiful story!

— Zakiah S Baker
Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations
It is all what I thought it would be and more! I think this book portrays a very important message to all (Young,old,white,black etc…

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!

— ZAB
We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices
My little one enjoyed this story. The graphics are very good as well. Definitely recommend!

— Amazon Customer
Ty’s Travels: Lab Magic
Like the overall plot! Good book for my 8 year old daughter.

— Kierra
Jada Jones: Dancing Queen #4
Another great addition to this ­heartwarming series that introduces young readers to STEM activities along with a lesson about giving back to one’s community.

— School Library Journal
Miles Lewis: Matchmaker #3
This was a beautiful story about a beautiful person. Very inspirational.

— Andre Vega
Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon
Great book for beginner reader.

— Candace D
Ty’s Travels: Winter Wonderland
The books are for my granddaughter and she loves them.

— Priscilla Poitier
Jada Jones: Sky Watcher #5
This story takes place in the reconstruction period after slavery had been abolished. Before this time Ellen’s parents were not allowed to marry, and so they like many others participated in ceremony where they jumped over the broom together into marriage. I really enjoyed this book and it would be a perfect pairing for teaching kids about this time period in American history. Even though the illustrations for this book were honored, I think the story itself is wonderful too. I think an appropriate age range for this book would be 5-7 years old.

— Heather Dawson
Ellen’s Broom
Beautifully illustrated with a story to match. The simplicity and power of the prose makes this book a winner for parents and children. My chest swells with pride every time I read it, just like I felt watching the Million Man March! Well done!

— Dawn Blagrove
One Million Men and Me
My 10 year old granddaughter loves ballet…a moving book to support her passion of ballet with an emphasis on inclusion & race…one day if this is her future she knows what footsteps she’s following…thank you Amazon for the inclusion of products for girls!

— Janie Lewings
A Girl Named Misty: The True Story of Misty Copeland
For my 3rd grader – pretty easy breezy, but interesting! Nice job!!

— zenstella
Jada Jones: Nature Lover #6
I liked how Kelly has given an historical depiction of slavery from a child’s point of view.

— DSmith
Hope’s Gift
Thanks to Random House Children’s, Crown Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Recognize! is a collection of very short stories, nonfiction pieces, and beautiful artwork all showcasing Black history and amplifying Black lives. This book deserves a place in every middle-grade classroom and school library.

— readin_robin
Recognize!: An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life
The illustrations are vivid and eye-catching and show great details that move the story’s tension forward as well as show off-stage humorous happenings (see prehistoric frog as the story unfolds). The text makes fun read aloud material with repeating text to get listeners involved with the story.

— Danielle
One More Dino on the Floor
I just used stories from the book with 7th graders as models for them to write their own school memories. The premise of having authors write a true incident and then take off from that memory to create fiction is just fantastic.

— Barb
Been There, Done That: School Dazed
My 6-year-old daughter who is Asian American read this book and loved it! It reminded her of her grandmother who tells stories of the past and loves to cook for her. I enjoyed how the recipe is a part of the narrative and we, as readers, can relive Grandma Honey’s legacy by baking the teacakes ourselves. Great story to be shared for both children AND adults.

— Young Haas
Tea Cakes for Tosh
Sign Up &

Download Now!

Subscribe to the Kelly Starling newsletter and receive a FREE downloadable poster, news, latest blogs, as well as updates on upcoming books.

Sign up and get downloading!