Ten Diverse Children’s Books with Geographical Terms in the Title

This biography picture book tells the story of MaVynee Betsch, an African American opera singer turned environmentalist and the legacy she preserved. MaVynee loved going to the beach. But in the days of Jim Crow, she couldn't just go to any beach--most of the beaches in Jacksonsville were for whites only. Knowing something must be done, her grandfather (Abraham Lincoln Lewis) bought a beach that African American families could enjoy without being reminded they were second-class citizen; he called it American Beach. Buying a beach is a total boss move! Artists like Zora Neale Hurston and Ray Charles vacationed on its sunny shores. It's here that MaVynee was first inspired to sing, propelling her to later become a widely acclaimed opera singer who routinely performed on an international stage. But her first love would always be American Beach. After the Civil Rights Act desegregated public places, there was no longer a need for a place like American Beach and it slowly fell into disrepair. MaVynee remembered the importance of American Beach to her family and so many others, so determined to preserve this integral piece of American history, she began her second act as an activist and conservationist, saving the place that had always felt most like home. Today you can still visit American Beach located on Amelia Island in Florida. There is also a museum called American Beach Museum also in Florida.

This book takes young readers on a thrilling tour of a desert canyon ecosystem. Over the canyon, the sun scalds the air, baking desert mud to stone. But under the shade of the cliffs hides another world, where bighorn sheep bound from rock to rock on the hillside, roadrunners make their nests in sturdy cacti, and banded geckos tuck themselves into the shelter of the sand. Discover the wonders concealed in the curves of the canyon, the magic of a desert wildflower bloom, and all the unexpected creatures that bring the desert to life.

A Different Pond is an unforgettable story about a simple event - a long-ago fishing trip. As a young boy, Bao and his father awoke early, hours before his father's long workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. A successful catch meant a fed family. Between hope-filled casts, Bao's father told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam.

When Lola's teacher asks the students to draw a picture of where their families immigrated from, all the kids are excited. Except Lola. She can't remember The Island--she left when she was just a baby. But with the help of her family and friends, and their memories--joyous, fantastical, heartbreaking, and frightening--Lola's imagination takes her on an extraordinary journey back to The Island. As she draws closer to the heart of her family's story, Lola comes to understand the truth of her abuela's words: "Just because you don't remember a place doesn't mean it's not in you."

At the bottom of Syd's garden, through the gate and past the tree, is Grandad's house. Syd can let himself in any time he likes. But one day when Syd comes to call, Grandad isn't in any of the usual places. He's in the attic, where he ushers Syd through a door, and the two of them journey to a wild, beautiful island awash in color where Grandad decides he will remain. So, Syd hugs Grandad one last time and sets sail for home. Visiting Grandad's house at the bottom of the garden again, he finds it just the same as it's always been -- except that Grandad isn't there anymore. Sure to provide comfort to young children struggling to understand loss.

My Two Border Towns is a loving story about a father-son weekend journey. The book demonstrates the similarities of neighboring United States and Mexican border towns. Yet, eloquently explaining the complexities of the region and shedding light on the need for asylum among families from the Caribbean and Central America.

Captain Swashby loves the sea, his oldest friend. And he loves his life by the sea just as it is: salty and sandy and serene. One day, much to Swashby’s chagrin, a young girl and her granny commandeer the empty house next door. All Swashby wants is for his new neighbors to GO AWAY and take their ruckus with them. When Swashby begins to leave notes in the sand for his noisy neighbors, however, the beach interferes with the messages that are getting across. Could it be that the captain’s oldest friend, the sea, knows what Swashby needs even better than he knows himself?

I think Kate Messner’s series of non-fiction picture books are wonderful. Each one is chock full of interesting tidbits of factual information. This book in the series features a little brown boy and his mother exploring the pond together in a canoe. Together the boy and his mother narrate the story as they learn about some animals that call the pond their home. There are herbivores like: fish, beavers and moose. You’ll also find carnivores like: otters and raccoons. Under the pond is a whole hidden world of minnows and crayfish, turtles and bullfrogs. Over the pond, we skim past tall rushes. Whirligig beetles loop and twirl – skaters on a warm summer surface. I love the whole “over and under” concept as it gives little readers a glimpse of what happens both above and below the surface. Above the pond you see various birds, plants and trees and below you see animals that live in the pond. We even discovered a few new animals like: whirligig beetles, caddisfly larvae and pileated woodpeckers. The back matter includes a paragraph of information about each featured animal, an author’s note, and a list for further reading. Most of the information you’ll learn from reading the paragraphs in the back of the book. The rest of the book reads more like a story. The author’s note explains this story was inspired by a canoe trip on Barnum Pond at the Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center in the Adirondack Mountains. Overall, this is a beautifully illustrated and informative book that illustrates by working together all animals and organisms play an equal role in keeping their pond clean and healthy.

Harlem Grown tells the inspiring true story of how one man made a big difference in a neighborhood. After seeing how restless they were and their lack of healthy food options, Tony Hillery invited students from an underfunded school to turn a vacant lot into a beautiful and functional farm. By getting their hands dirty, these kids turned an abandoned space into something beautiful and useful while learning about healthy, sustainable eating and collaboration.

What good can a splash of color do in a community of gray? As Mira and her neighbors discover, more than you might ever imagine! Based on the true story of the Urban Art Trail in San Diego, California, Maybe Something Beautiful reveals how art can inspire transformation—and how even the smallest artists can accomplish something big. Pick up a paintbrush and join the celebration!