We Love These 2025 Caribbean Kids’s Books for Your Classroom Library
The Caribbean has lengthy been a wellspring of storytelling reflecting wealthy histories, vibrant cultures, and deep-seated traditions, and its youngsters’s literature is not any exception. In 2025, a brand new wave of Caribbean-authored books guarantees to captivate younger readers with tales that commemorate the area’s numerous heritage, folklore, and landscapes. From adventures rooted in island life to tales that discover themes of identification and nature, these books provide home windows into the guts of the Caribbean and its diaspora.
Caribbean Image Books for Children
A Single Dreadlock by Xaiver Michael Campbell and Eugenie Fernandes
After a younger Black boy named Lovie immigrates from Jamaica to Newfoundland, his vanity plummets when his new classmates topic him to microaggressions associated to his hair. With the love and knowledge of his grandmother (who speaks Jamaican English), Lovie learns to embrace his pure tresses, symbolized by the expansion and care of his dreadlocks. Picturesque acrylic illustrations complement this affirming story that celebrates Afro-textured hair and the significance of staying true to oneself.
Purchase it: A Single Dreadlock
New Sneakers for Leo by Lauren Agra Deedy
This heartwarming image e book follows younger William, a Cuban American boy, on his quest to search out footwear for his cousin Leo, who lives in Cuba. As William faces challenges and discovers the deep connections inside his household, he learns about sacrifice and love. With hand-drawn illustrations rendered in Gal’s distinctive freewheeling, color-saturated type, this story explores generosity, cultural heritage, empathy, kinship, and identification. Again matter contains an creator’s word, illustrator’s word, and a glossary of Spanish phrases used within the textual content.
Purchase it: New Sneakers for Leo
Patty Desires by Nadia L. Hohn
On this upbeat image e book, a younger boy named August recollects the enjoyment of his Jamaican household’s patty enterprise, from their time on the island to their new life in Toronto. As August works together with his father to re-create the acquainted spicy pastries in a brand new nation, themes of resilience, cultural heritage, and household bonds shine. The cartoony, full-color illustrations are considerably overdramatized, bringing liveliness to the story’s celebration of dwelling and identification. The again matter consists of a postface about Toronto’s 1985 “patty wars.” A scrumptious story of foodways, adaptation, and custom.
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Treasured by Carlos Aponte
On this heartfelt image e book, Pedrito, a younger boy dwelling in Puerto Rico, navigates the challenges of a hurricane, household separation, and loss. With vivid, affecting storytelling, the e book explores resilience, neighborhood, and the consolation of music and pets. The bond between Pedrito and his new canine, Luna, symbolizes hope and therapeutic, making this a touching story of restoration and connection. Cartoony digital ink and pastel illustrations in full shade evoke heat, emotion, and the spirit of Puerto Rican tradition.
Purchase it: Treasured
Prepared, Set, Mango! by Tamla T. Younger
Two cousins navigate the thrill and challenges of summer season trip on “the island.” Whereas they squabble over all the things from mangoes to pebbles, their shared experiences and love for journey carry them nearer. Impressed by the creator’s
childhood journeys to Jamaica, this image e book highlights friendship, household, and the great thing about small, on a regular basis moments, reminding readers that even in rivalry, there’s room for enjoyable and connection. Full of life, full-color digital illustrations completely complement the playful tone of the textual content.
Purchase it: Prepared, Set, Mango!
Ripening Time by Patrice Gopo
This image e book follows a younger woman’s excited anticipation for plantains, a cherished household dish, to ripen. Because the fruit modifications shade, the kid’s pleasure grows, culminating within the pleasure of consuming crispy fried plantains. The story celebrates endurance, household, and the easy pleasures of meals and togetherness. Vibrant, expressive illustrations, wealthy in shade and texture, evoke heat and cultural connection. The again matter contains an creator’s word, pronunciation information, postface, and a recipe for fried plantains.
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The Final Final by Wendy J. Whittingham and Brianna McCarthy
This image e book fantastically captures a younger woman’s expertise of leaving her Jamaican dwelling for Canada. As her household prepares to immigrate, she takes one remaining stroll, savoring the final moments with acquainted sights, sounds, and smells. By way of vivid prose and vibrant, painterly illustrations, the bittersweet narrative delicately captures the complexity of transition, providing a touching reminder that whereas we create new reminiscences, the previous ones stay in our hearts. A shifting exploration of reminiscence, change, and hope.
Purchase it: The Final Final
The Peanut Man by Carmen Agra Deedy
A younger woman named Coqui immigrates from Cuba to the US on this poignant image e book that explores themes of reminiscence, dwelling, and belonging. By way of her reference to Emilio—a road vendor dubbed “the Peanut Man”—and their
shared love of baseball, the woman navigates the challenges of immigration. The narrative blends humor and heartfelt moments, providing a touching have a look at resilience and cultural roots. Illustrations rendered in watercolor, coloured pencil, and lithograph crayon create expressive, immersive scenes that evoke heat and obtain historic authenticity. Contains an afterword.
Purchase it: The Peanut Man
The Silver Shadow by Mariesa Dulak
Impressed by a real-life incident from her father’s childhood in Barbados, Dulak follows a younger woman’s encounter with a stranded child shark, capturing themes of empathy, bravery, and connection to nature. The narrative’s quiet pressure builds because the little one defends the shark towards her brother’s associates, finally making certain its security. With evocative, lyrical prose and a delicate exploration of braveness, this e book fosters respect for wildlife and the fragile stability of life. Textured digital illustrations, mixing gentle, flowing strains with luminous, colourful palettes create atmospheric seaside scenes that evoke surprise and emotional depth.
Purchase it: The Silver Shadow
Caribbean Kids’s Books for Center Grade Readers
Alyssa and the Enchanted Forest by Alexandra Sheppard
On this sequel to Alyssa and the Spell Backyard, British Jamaican Alyssa, a mixed-raced woman, and her cousins are transported to a spell backyard stuffed with magic herbs in Jamaica. To return dwelling, they should overcome the backyard’s hostility, unlock the
magic of their ancestors, and acquire the belief of the backyard’s guardian, Raheem. Because the backyard’s essence is threatened, they have to harness their newfound magic to guard it earlier than summer season ends.
Purchase it: Alyssa and the Enchanted Forest
How To Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares
On this graphic memoir, 12-year-old Carlos recounts his life in rural Cuba through the Cuban Revolution. After his father wins the lottery, the household strikes to town, however Carlos struggles with the modifications. When Fidel Castro’s revolution erupts, Carlos’ father mysteriously disappears, leaving Carlos torn
between loyalty to Cuba and the unsure journey to America. Confronted with Castro’s regime, Carlos should navigate household separation, worry, and the hope of reunion.
Purchase it: How To Say Goodbye in Cuban
The Island of Forgotten Gods by Victor Piñeiro
Nico’s summer season in Puerto Rico turns into an exhilarating journey when he encounters the legendary chupacabra whereas filming a documentary. Because the creature hunts him and his cousins, they uncover connections to historical Taino gods and a mysterious
cult. Nico should confront these highly effective beings to save lots of the island, all whereas discovering the true which means of household, custom, and his artistic goals. A suspenseful mix of folklore, mythology, and coming of age.
Purchase it: The Island of Forgotten Gods
Manner Off Monitor by Carl Brundtland
On this graphic novel, 12-year-old Nansi, a decided monitor athlete, faces defeat when snooty Tania outraces her along with her flashy footwear. To get her personal pair for tryouts, Nansi works laborious to boost $340. This humorous graphic novel blends Jamaican tradition with West African Anansi trickster lore, exploring themes of self-worth, the risks of social comparability, and perseverance. The web page layouts create an interesting visible
rhythm with versatile panels that assist to convey Nansi’s expressive persona.
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What Fell From the Sky by Adrianna Cuevas
In 1952 Texas, Cuban American Sixth-grader Pineda discovers an alien woman, Luisa, hiding in his barn throughout a army “coaching train.” As troopers seek for Luisa, Pineda and his associates work to guard her, rallying their divided city to assist her
return dwelling. This story of friendship, identification, and resistance explores themes of assimilation, belonging, and household, with a twin narrative that brings humor, braveness, and historic perception to an exhilarating journey.
Purchase it: What Fell From the Sky
