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The Windows & Mirrors List

Since 2015, a committee of NECBA community members has curated an annual list of diverse and inclusive children's titles that they feel best represent the concept of Windows & Mirrors (as articulated by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop). After selecting titles submitted by publishers and booksellers, NECBA presents that year's Windows & Mirrors list at the annual NEIBA Fall Conference, as well as at various ABA, NEIBA, and NECBA events. Committee members write short blurbs for 20 featured titles, which are posted here along with an Edelweiss collection of the complete list. Each year's list includes titles with a range of diverse experiences and identities, for every age.

Updates & Resources

  • To view Edelweiss collections for previous Windows & Mirrors lists, click the year:

2025 Windows & Mirrors List

To view this list as an Edelweiss collection, please click here.
 

Picture Books

Another Word for Neighbor by Angela Pham Krans and illustrated by Thai My Phuong

Since losing his beloved wife, Han is happy with the peaceful life he has established for himself. But when two inquisitive children move in next door, he finds himself sharing things he thought he had lost, and realizes that keeping those memories alive can actually help to fill the void. Full of humor and charm, this unexpected friendship story is about kindness, grief, and the importance of sharing memories.

–Laure Colodner, Odyssey Bookshop (South Hadley, MA)
 

City Summer, Country Summer by Kiese Laymon and illustrated by Alexis Franklin

A gorgeous moment of relating, connecting, and loving despite and because of difference. This book has stunning artwork and moving storytelling. Lovely.

–Fred Rossero, Oblong Books (Millerton, NY)
 

The Fabulous Edweena by Edwin Dumont and illustrated by Melissa Cho

Dressed up in his favorite clothes and accessories from his sister’s closet, Edwin becomes Edweena at his school's figure-skating competition. A vibrantly illustrated and inspiring story celebrating bravery, acceptance, and drag.

–Alyssa Raymond, Copper Dog Books (Beverly, MA)
 

A Map for Falasteen: A Palestinian Child’s Search for Home by Maysa Odeh and illustrated by Aliaa Batawi

When Falesteen is asked to find her family’s country of origin on a map, she is stunned. Why isn’t Palestine on the map? What follows is evocative and bittersweet memories from Falesteen’s grandparents and her mother as they share with her how special Palestine is. The vibrant illustrations by Aliaa Batawi are warm and full of love, and Maysa Odeh’s tender and heartfelt words stay with you long after the story ends.

–Kokie, High Five Books (Florence, MA)
 

Prisons Must Fall by Mariame Kaba and Jane Ball, and illustrated by Olly Costello

How can harming someone teach that causing harm is wrong? Mariame Kaba and Jane Ball’s powerful words expose how harmful the carceral system is. Their words read as a song or a chant that can be repeated over and over, reminding us of how imprisoning people is not the way to change them or make our society better. Prisons Must Fall encourages readers to envision a more just society, based in compassion and restorative action and accountability. Illustrator Olly Costello’s vibrant, contrasting colors and bold shapes make each page a visual masterpiece.

–Kokie, High Five Books (Florence, MA)
 

Chapter Books

Millie Magnus Won’t Be Bullied by Brittany Mazique and Illustrated by Ebony Glenn

I loved Millie Magnus, her mom Mayor Maude, her mettle and mercy in the face of meanness and misunderstanding—but most of all, I loved her baby chicken, Extra Spicy! It can be difficult to reach out to people who have hurt you, even when they've done it because they're hurting themselves. But Millie Magnus handles it magnificently.

–Fred Rossero, Oblong Books (Millerton, NY)
 

Summer of the Bone Horses by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve and illustrated by Steph Littlebird

Set during the summer of 1944 on the Rosebud Reservation, Driving Hawk Sneve weaves a gentle tale of family, community, and finding joy in the small moments. Littlebird’s illustrations are stunning, with vibrant colors and a distinctive block print style that transport the reader to the Dakota Plains. An absolute gem!

–Lauren D'Alessio, Wellesley Books (Wellesley, MA)
 

Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship by Shifa Saltagi Safadi and illustrated by Alliya Jaleel

Arriving in Indianapolis from Syria just in time for a new school year, STEM loving Amina has a foolproof plan for making new friends. Though things aren’t quite as easy as she hoped, Amina is supported by her loving family and new classmates. Further buoyed by attending her new masjid and the chance to share a favorite recipe at school, she learns that fitting in isn’t about conforming, but about being yourself.

–Lauren D'Alessio, Wellesley Books (Wellesley, MA)
 

The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class: Ayana Ndoum Takes the Stage by Kekla Magoon and  illustrated by Kat Fajardo

Do you remember the first time you realized your parents stuck out? Ayana Ndoum certainly won't forget—her doting father is volunteering in her classroom and his booming Cameroonian accent and goofy questions are all she can think about, instead of preparing for the upcoming variety show. She's going to overcome her embarrassment AND find something she can perform in the end...she just has to find the right balance first.

–Kristin Richland, Phoenix Books (Essex, VT)
 

Adventurous Adeline and the Back-to-School Party by Mary Fashik and illustrated by Danielle Pioli

Are you afraid your wheelchair is going to keep you from joining the fun? What to do? What to do? Well if you are Adventurous Adeline, you plan, you strategize, you have friends who have your back, and when you show up, you have a blast! Told from the POV of a girl with a disability who is tired of answering questions about it, this story transmits the frustration of having to plan a LOT around finding places that are wheelchair accessible, but is still about the joy of girls going to a skating party and making friends and having fun.

–Andrea Iriarte Dent, Molly's Bookstore (Melrose, MA)
 

Middle Grade:

Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna

A fresh, whimsical fantasy adventure about a British-Indian girl navigating ADHD, a mysterious school, and an enchanting yet perilous world of magical creatures. One of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time!

–Alyssa Raymond, Copper Dog Books (Beverly, MA)
 

Ours to Tell: Reclaiming Indigenous Stories by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger

An enlightening anthology of Indigenous peoples across history, including well known figures and modern creators. Collected and told by Indigenous voices, this compilation introduces middle grade readers to Indigenous stories by subject rather than chronologically. In honest and understandable language, these profiles are written in a way that highlights Indigenous history and culture and connects it globally as well. Visuals from paintings to modern photographs accompany each vignette, and make this a must-have book for any nonfiction shelf.

–Tildy Lutts, Belmont Books (Belmont, MA)
 

Let the Monster Out by Chad Lucas

This book has it all—parental abuse, a single parent, racism, bullying, an irresponsible corporation. But it is so NOT a downer! See, the single parent is a model of strength and is there to protect her kids. The kids who feel alone find each other and play to their strengths to fight the evil corporation, which in this case is turning people into ZOMBIES. The boy is always standing up to bullying, even if it gets him in trouble. There is baseball, there are kids who have funny dreams, there are scenes that explain neurodivergence in a mind blowing way. It's fun, funny, exciting. I LOVED it!

–Andrea Iriarte Dent, Molly's Bookstore (Melrose, MA)
 

The Flicker by H.E. Edgmon

In a dried-out, climate disaster world, step-siblings Millie and Rose set out with their baby brother to find Millie's grandma, hopeful her Seminole knowledge will have kept her safe. Sounds depressing but it's not! The Flicker is both deeply moving and laugh-out-loud funny. Millie and Rose are so different but the power of their family connections—to their brother, to their family who've passed away, and to the family they're building—give the story its heart.

–Sara Waltuck, Brookline Booksmith (Brookline, MA)
 

Ollie In Between by Jess Callans

“Coming of age" is too simple a term for Ollie's journey. The upheaval of being almost 13 is messy and courageous and terrifying all at once. Everyone's telling Ollie it's normal to feel uprooted and they'll grow into a woman like they're supposed to. But...fitting in as a kid with autism was hard enough, and now there's all this gender stuff complicating things. What if Ollie's not a girl at all? I felt like Ollie invited me into their head and showed me their soft smashers. (IYKYK) This story is a gift.

–Sara Waltuck, Brookline Booksmith (Brookline, MA)
 

Young Adult

Love, Misha by Askel Aden

This. Book. Is. Incredible!! It's so cool—I couldn't stop reading. And the parent/kid dynamic is so nuanced and real. It's hopeful, and there's a generous, open spirit to it that allows the characters to grow and begin to heal, despite having a very difficult relationship for very valid reasons.

–Fred Rossero, Oblong Books (Millerton, NY)
 

Ruin Road by Lamar Giles

Cade Webster is a Black football star who attends a primarily white prep school and when he wishes everyone would stop acting so scared around him, it literally starts happening… with disastrous side effects. As it turns out, maybe a little fear is a good thing. This book is gripping and horrifying—the kind of horror that crawls inside and gets its hooks in you because it does such a good job of mirroring the everyday horrors of our world. As Lamar writes in his reader’s note, “some systems make atrocities not only possible but profitable.” There are times we might wish to be fearless in the face of those atrocities, but fear also lets us know we care and gives us something to fight for. If you're not sure where to start, read this book and see what road it takes you down (but be wary of the wishes you make along the way!)

–Kinsey Foreman, High Five Books (Florence, MA)
 

All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis

An incredibly strong voice and a powerful, moving story of identity, family, and finding your place. Aiden and Brandon are brothers who love football. Aiden is autistic, Brandon is the high school star quarterback. When Aiden makes the team, not everyone is happy about it, and tensions lead to a fight where the police are called. Suddenly, the brothers' world is upside down and they must grapple with the spotlight on their small town and repercussions of unspoken racism and ableism among their friends and classmates.

–Tildy Lutts, Belmont Books (Belmont, MA)
 

Little Moons by Jennifer Storm and illustrated by Ryan Howe

Powerful and moving, this short graphic novel packs an emotional punch while shedding light on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis happening in Indigenous communities around the country. It is a very personal story about 13-year old Reanna whose life is turned upside down when her older sister suddenly disappears. As the grief overcomes her family, Reanna turns to Ojibwe traditions in the hopes of finding some sense of peace after such a heartbreaking tragedy. It is not to be missed.

–Laure Colodner, Odyssey Bookshop (South Hadley, MA)
 

Fitting Indian by Jyoti Chad and illustrated by Tara Anand

Get ready for an emotionally honest dive into how tightly knit communities often stigmatize mental health issues. Nitasha’s desires are pretty standard teen fare, but she's taken to unhealthy habits to deal with her family's high expectations. The mental health conversation that she finally broaches with her family, one by one, was very relatable and is something I hope readers will take inspiration from.

–Kristin Richland, Phoenix Books (Essex, VT)