05/01/2026
The St Helens DayBreakers Kiwanis club is partnering with Riverfront Bookstore the month of May to collect books for foster kids from infants to teen/young adult. ODHS has compiled a wish list of books broken into age groups and includes bilingual, LGBTQ, hair identity, and indigenous.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Come into Riverfront Bookstore located at 317 Strand Street in St Helens from May 1-May 31
You can shop from a wish list of requested books at the bookstore
You can donate $$$ towards purchasing books from the wish list
You can shop in the bookstore and select a wonderful book in stock
You can drop off NEW children’s books to the bookstore
WISH LIST FROM ODHS:
Ages 0–5 (15 books)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar / La Oruga Muy Hambrienta – Eric Carle (Bilingual)
Brown Bear, Brown Bear / Oso Pardo, Oso Pardo – Bill Martin Jr. (Bilingual)
Hair Love – Matthew A. Cherry (Black identity, hair)
I Love My Hair! – Natasha Anastasia Tarpley (Hair identity)
Fry Bread – Kevin Noble Maillard (Indigenous culture)
We Are Water Protectors – Carole Lindstrom (Indigenous, activism)
My Two Moms and Me – Michael Joosten (LGBTQ+ families)
My Two Dads and Me – Michael Joosten (LGBTQ+ families)
Stella Brings the Family – Miriam B. Schiffer (LGBTQ+ families)
Alma and How She Got Her Name – Juana Martinez-Neal (Latina identity)
Julian Is a Mermaid – Jessica Love (Gender expression)
Neither – Airlie Anderson (Nonbinary identity metaphor)
Eyes That Kiss in the Corners – Joanna Ho (Asian identity)
The Family Book – Todd Parr (All family types)
All Are Welcome – Alexandra Penfold (Inclusion, diversity)
Ages 6–10 (20 books)
Last Stop on Market Street – Matt de la Peña (Community, culture)
Dreamers – Yuyi Morales (Immigration, Spanish elements)
Sulwe – Lupita Nyong’o (Colorism, self-worth)
Hair Love (picture book version) – Matthew A. Cherry
Jabari Jumps – Gaia Cornwall (Confidence)
Magnificent Homespun Brown – Samara Cole Doyon (Identity, culture)
The Proudest Blue – Ibtihaj Muhammad (Muslim identity)
Your Name Is a Song – Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (Names, identity)
I Am Every Good Thing – Derrick Barnes (Black joy)
What If We Were All the Same! – C.M. Harris (Differences)
My Shadow Is Purple – Scott Stuart (Gender expression)
It Feels Good to Be Yourself – Theresa Thorn (Gender identity)
When Aidan Became a Brother – Kyle Lukoff (Trans identity)
The Day You Begin – Jacqueline Woodson (Belonging)
Merci Suárez Changes Gears – Meg Medina (Latina MG crossover)
Front Desk – Kelly Yang (Immigration, resilience)
A Boy Called Bat – Elana K. Arnold (Autism representation)
Ana & Andrew – Christine Platt (Black family early reader)
Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! – Grace Lin (Asian identity)
The Name Jar – Yangsook Choi (Cultural identity)
Ages 11–14 (15 books)
Ghost – Jason Reynolds (Trauma, growth)
New Kid – Jerry Craft (Race, belonging)
Class Act – Jerry Craft (Sequel, identity)
The First Rule of Punk – Celia C. Pérez (Latina identity)
Genesis Begins Again – Alicia D. Williams (Colorism, self-worth)
Brown Girl Dreaming – Jacqueline Woodson (Memoir, identity)
The Stars Beneath Our Feet – David Barclay Moore (Grief, art)
Rez Dogs – Joseph Bruchac (Indigenous story)
Indian No More – Charlene Willing McManis (Indigenous history)
The Parker Inheritance – Varian Johnson (Mystery + race history)
Starfish – Lisa Fipps (Body image)
Too Bright to See – Kyle Lukoff (Trans identity)
Different, Not Less – Chloe Hayden (Autism advocacy)
Rick – Alex Gino (Asexual identity)
George (Melissa) – Alex Gino (Trans identity)
Ages 15–18 (10 books)
The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas (Race, justice)
All Boys Aren’t Blue – George M. Johnson (Q***r Black memoir)
Felix Ever After – Kacen Callender (Trans, identity)
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe – Benjamin Alire Sáenz (Q***r, Latino)
They Both Die at the End – Adam Silvera (Q***r, grief)
Clap When You Land – Elizabeth Acevedo (Latina, grief)
The Poet X – Elizabeth Acevedo (Identity, voice)
I Wish You All the Best – Mason Deaver (Nonbinary identity)
This Book Is Gay – Juno Dawson (LGBTQ+ education)
We Are Not Free – Traci Chee (Asian American history)
Hair Affirming books (11 books - celebrating natural hair textures, styles and identity, highlighting the beauty of black or native hair)
Don't Touch My Hair! by Sharee Miller: A gentle, empowering book about setting boundaries and loving one's own hair.
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes: Celebrates the confidence and joy of a fresh haircut.
Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Redd: Highlights the nightly ritual of caring for Black hair.
Hair Like Mine by LaTashia M. Perry: Features a character looking for others with curls like hers.
My Powerful Hair by Carole Lindstrom: Explores the connection between hair, heritage, and power.
Princess Hair by Sharee Miller: Celebrates various natural hair types and textures.
Laxmi's Mooch by Shelly Anand: Centers on a young girl learning to embrace her facial hair.
The Hair Book by LaTonya Yvette: A board book celebrating all types of hair, from poufy to wavy.
Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega: Explores a young girl's journey to embracing her natural curly hair, tackling internalized societal pressure.
J.D. And The Great Barber Battle by J. Dillard: A fun story centered on hair, confidence, and entrepreneurship.
Curlfriends by Sharee Miller: A story of friendship and embracing hair journeys.
