“Write what you know” is never more real than in memoiristic picture books. These stories, whether real or imaginative, draw on actual experiences of their authors. Memoiristic stories draw on deep emotional roots and serve to connect us in our shared humanity.
Watercress by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Jason Chin
When her parents stop by the side of the road to pick watercress, the narrator is less than excited. She hides her face from oncoming cars and wrinkles her nose at the snails and mud that comes with picking food out of a ditch. And eating it? No way! But when her mother tells a story she’s never shared before, about her Chinese family and her life before America, everything changes. Written as both an “apology and a love letter” to her Chinese immigrant parents, this beautiful story celebrates the importance of memory, family, and telling our stories.
I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith
A boy wakes in the morning, surrounded by words that he cannot always speak. With sounds that stick in his mouth and feel like roots in his throat, he dreads speaking assignments in school. On a bad speech day, his father takes him to the river and holds him close. His words of comfort allow the boy to come to peace with his own struggle. Written to explain his stutter to his children, Jordan Scott’s I Talk Like a River is a lyrical tribute to love, resilience, and understanding. I also recommend listening to author & poet Jordan Scott personally read the book and speak of the experiences which inspired it— you can find his read aloud on YouTube.
We Wait for the Sun by Dovey Johnson Roundtree & Katie McCabe, illustrated by Raissa Figuera
Dovey and her grandmother pick blackberries before dawn. Joined by Grandmother’s grown-up friends who look like shadows in the early morning darkness, Dovey listens, smells, and tastes the familiar moments of blackberry picking. And when the dawn comes, Grandmother makes sure their faces are always tilted into the sunlight. Based on the childhood experiences of civil activist Dovey May Roundtree, this beautiful story of belonging, love, and family belongs in every library!
A Different Pond by Bao Phi, illustrated by Thi Bui
A boy joins his father for an early morning trip to a fishing pond. His father tells him stories of fishing in a pond in his native Vietnam, before the war that killed his brother and resulted in a move to America. As they catch fish for dinner, the boy thinks of the place his father grew up, the man his father is now, and his own place in their family. With stirring illustrations and simple text, this is a story of sacrifice, family, resilience, and love.
This is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by James Ransome
The narrator’s grandmother jumps a rope as a girl in South Carolina, then uses the same rope years later to tie her family’s belongings to the top of their car headed north. She, her daughter, and then granddaughter, string the rope with laundry, skip the rope with friends, and ultimately use it to tie even more belongings in a car headed for college. As the family evolves, so does the rope, interlacing itself throughout beautiful moments of Great Migration history and time.
Bird by Zetta Elliot, illustrated by Shadra Strickland
Intended for older readers, Bird tells the story of Mekhai’s experiences growing up with his older brother Marcus. While Mekhai, otherwise known as Bird, watches birds and draws pictures, his older brother escapes to the roof of their apartment building, only to come back with red eyes and a huge appetite. Over time, Mekhai learns that Marcus has a drug problem, which eventually leads to his brother’s death. With those that he loves, Mekhai seeks to reconcile his love for his brother and the fact that you can mend a broken bird, but a broken soul isn’t so easy to fix. This book beautifully illustrates the complexities of love amid the very real struggles of addiction that many people and their loved ones face.
The Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield, illustrated by the Fan Brothers
Chris loves exploring Mars while he’s in the bathtub. He battles aliens when he’s supposed to get ready for bed. His dreams center around planets and stars. But sleeping in his own room– in the creepy, scary dark? No way. At least not until he and his parents watch real-life astronauts land on the moon. Suddenly, the dark isn’t so creepy anymore!Based on actual experiences of the author, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, this sweet memoiristic story reminds us that we can overcome our fears—and dreams really do come true.
The Most Beautiful Thing by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Khoa Le
In Kalia’s family, caring for her grandmother is a gift. She, her cousins, and her siblings prepare their grandmother’s clothes, care for her feet, and listen to her stories. But despite the love they have for each other, Kalia’s family cannot afford to buy Kalia a new dress for school or braces to straighten her teeth. When her disappointment feels overwhelming, it’s Grandmother that reminds Kalia of all the things that matter most, and through her, Kalia comes to realize the Most Beautiful Thing. Based on the author’s actual experiences growing up with her grandmother, this story is filled with beautiful illustrations, resilience, and love.
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
With gorgeous, expansive illustrations, Yuyi Morales tells the story of a mother and baby who leave their home country and become immigrants in the United States. Drawing on her own experiences, Morales illustrates the difficulties she faced as a new mother who didn’t understand the language or culture. The mother in the story ultimately discovers an incredible, magical place that changes both her life and the life of her child—the public library. With a library card in hand, they learn and grow, understand and dream. This wonderful story reminds us of our shared humanity and the incredible power of public libraries.
Drawn Together by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat
When a young boy visits his grandfather’s house for the afternoon, both the boy and his grandfather struggle to connect. His grandfather eats Thai food, watches movies in Thai, and speaks Thai, while his grandson eats hot dogs and only speaks English. But when the boy pulls out a marker and sketchpad, his grandfather grabs his own sketchbook and paintbrush. Together, they create a world that moves past their differences to a place filled with love and real connection. Written in graphic novel style, this beautiful book illustrates the complex, loving relationships both Vietnamese-American Minh Lê and Thai-American Dan Santat shared with their grandparents.