Helping Kids Rise

Helping Kids Rise Let us help you find the best children's books and resources for the whole family! Follow our page, sign up for our newsletter, and browse our bookshop today!

KINDERGARTEN‼ Kindergarten is a big step. Whether your little one is buzzing with excitement or clinging a little tighte...
07/25/2025

KINDERGARTEN‼ Kindergarten is a big step. Whether your little one is buzzing with excitement or clinging a little tighter at drop-off, the right story can make all the difference. These children's books can help calm first-day jitters, boost confidence, and show kids that kindergarten can be a place of wonder, friendship, and fun.

Read them together, talk about the day ahead, and remind your child that it’s okay to feel nervous—and brave at the same time.

BOOKS FEATURED HERE:
💥The King of Kindergarten
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9781524740740
💥The Queen of Kindergarten
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780593111420
💥How to Be Kind in Kindergarten
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780593226940
💥Getting Ready for Kindergarten
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780593809983
💥I'm Going to Kindergarten
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780593433850
💥How to be Confident in Kindergarten
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780593659793
💥Kindergarten: Where Kindness Matters Everyday
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780593484623

Want a closer look at these titles? Head to our Bookshop to read the descriptions and see which one feels just right for your little kindergartener!

MY LOST FREEDOM‼ How does it feel to be treated as an enemy by your own country? In February 1942, 4-year-old George Tak...
07/05/2025

MY LOST FREEDOM‼ How does it feel to be treated as an enemy by your own country? In February 1942, 4-year-old George Takei experienced it firsthand when President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared anyone of Japanese descent an enemy of the United States - even if they were American citizens. ..
George Takei shares his own memories of this painful time to help readers understand the injustice his family faced and the courage they displayed to survive such a horrific situation. This powerful, timely story is a must read for both children and adults!

💥Please borrow it from your local library or check it out in our bookshop here: https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780593566350...
Here's the publisher's description: February 19, 1942. George Takei is four years old when his world changes forever. Two months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declares anyone of Japanese descent an enemy of the United States.

➡George and his family were American in every way. They had done nothing wrong. But because of their Japanese ancestry, they were removed from their home in California and forced into camps with thousands of other families who looked like theirs.

Over the next three years, George had three different “homes”: the Santa Anita racetrack, swampy Camp Rohwer, and infamous Tule Lake. But even though they were now living behind barbed wire fences and surrounded by armed soldiers, his mother and father did everything they could to keep the family safe.

Featuring powerful, meticulously researched watercolor paintings, this is a story of a family’s courage, a young boy’s resilience, and the importance of staying true to yourself in the face of injustice.

I, TOO, AM AMERICA‼️ Freedom didn’t come for everyone on Independence Day. That’s why this 4th of July, we’re sharing a ...
07/04/2025

I, TOO, AM AMERICA‼️ Freedom didn’t come for everyone on Independence Day. That’s why this 4th of July, we’re sharing a powerful children’s book by Langston Hughes and Bryan Collier — an important reminder that while some celebrated liberation, others were still fighting for theirs. And that fight for true freedom and equality continues today.

I TOO, by LANGSTON HUGHES

I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.

Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

THE 4TH OF JULY‼ These powerful children's books celebrate the truth of America—its struggles, its progress, and the peo...
07/04/2025

THE 4TH OF JULY‼ These powerful children's books celebrate the truth of America—its struggles, its progress, and the people who helped build this country.

From untold stories to bold illustrated histories, each book invites reflection, conversation, and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be American.

BOOKS FEATURED HERE
💥An American Story
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780316473125
💥America, My Love - America, My Heart
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780062993298
💥Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9781419748752
💥That Flag
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780063093447
💥Your Legacy Begins
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9781419748769
💥Born on the Water
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780593307359
💥Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780061730795
💥My Red, White, and Blue
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780593525708
💥Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780593463055
💥What Was Reconstruction
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780593225936
💥Lift Every Voice and Change
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780760374597
💥American Dreams: A Treasury of 40 Inspiring Americans
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780711285576
💥The Night Before Freedom
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780593567463
💥My Lost Freedom
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780593566350
💥Mumbet's Declaration of Independence
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780761365891

"This 4th of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn." Frederick DouglassOn July 5, 1852, Frederick Dougl...
07/04/2025

"This 4th of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn." Frederick Douglass

On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass gave a scathing "keeping it real" keynote address at an Independence Day celebration asking "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" Fast forward to 2025 and we see that we have a very long way to go.

"Fellow-citizens, pardon me, allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here to-day? What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us? And am I, therefore, called upon to bring our humble offering to the national altar, and to confess the benefits and express devout gratitude for the blessings resulting from your independence to us?

I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you this day rejoice are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity, and independence bequeathed by your fathers is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought life and healing to you has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.'

Read the full speech or hear it read by James Earl Jones here at the link in the comments.

MISSING MOMMA‼️ Some battles follow you home, even when the war is over. This timely picture book shares the far-reachin...
06/22/2025

MISSING MOMMA‼️ Some battles follow you home, even when the war is over. This timely picture book shares the far-reaching sacrifices of military service that extend even to the youngest members of a military family.

Here's the publisher's description: Momma wears combat boots, a camouflage jacket, and a U.S. ARMY tag on her chest. She is a fighter for her country's freedom, but she is also a fighter for her family. When Momma comes home from a long deployment, however, something has changed. Our narrator, Momma's "Baby," misses the big hugs, uniform fashion shows, and music mornings they used to share. And she really misses planting vegetables together. Now her Momma won't even come out to the garden. But maybe, just maybe, she can bring the garden to Momma.

Missing Momma is the poignant and ultimately hopeful, comforting story of a child with a parent affected by PTSD. Sensitively written by Winsome Bingham and movingly illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell, Missing Momma beautifully reminds kids that a family's love endures even on days that aren't picture perfect.

Find MISSING MOMMA in our bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9781419761553

SATURDAY PLANS SECURED‼️ A 24-hour Reading Rainbow marathon is happening Saturday, June 21st!📚Join LeVar Burton as he br...
06/21/2025

SATURDAY PLANS SECURED‼️ A 24-hour Reading Rainbow marathon is happening Saturday, June 21st!📚

Join LeVar Burton as he brings books to life and inspires our minds to read, dream, and explore.🌈

Settle in for a full day of storytelling, imagination, and discovery on PBS Retro. PBS Retro is available on Roku, Plex, and Prime Video.

JUNETEENTH‼️ Juneteenth is where history meets hope, and Black joy takes center stage.On June 19, 1865, more than 2 year...
06/19/2025

JUNETEENTH‼️ Juneteenth is where history meets hope, and Black joy takes center stage.

On June 19, 1865, more than 2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, freedom finally reached the enslaved people in Galveston, TX.

Children's books are a great way to teach readers about this important holiday.

Check out our bookshop to explore stories that will inspire meaningful conversations and bring the world to your bookshelf!
https://bookshop.org/lists/juneteenth-books-59115eae-6b68-4df5-a127-e71c353d3c97
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FREE FOR JUNETEENTH‼️ Today only, grab They Built Me for Freedom free thanks to Librofm.GRAB IT HERE:https://libro.fm/au...
06/19/2025

FREE FOR JUNETEENTH‼️ Today only, grab They Built Me for Freedom free thanks to Librofm.
GRAB IT HERE:
https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780063417465?bookstore=helpingkidsrise
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
This lyrical children’s book by Tonya Duncan Ellis tells the history of Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas—and the origins of Juneteenth.

In the voice and memory of the park itself--its fields and pools, its protests and cookouts, and, most of all, its people--the 150-year story of Emancipation Park is brought to life. Through lyrical text and vibrant artwork, Tonya Duncan Ellis and Jenin Mohammed have crafted an ode to the struggle, triumph, courage, and joy of Black America--and the promise of a people to remember.

Offer available June 19, 12:00 AM ET to 11:59 PM ET only!

WHERE THEY GATHER‼ As a tree grows, so too does a strong and loving Black family over generations in this gorgeous and l...
06/19/2025

WHERE THEY GATHER‼ As a tree grows, so too does a strong and loving Black family over generations in this gorgeous and lyrical picture book spanning centuries of persistence and hope.
"Roots take hold and settle in,
creeping far and free.
They stake their claim in barren ground—
a dream of what will be.
Here, they hope together."
A newly freed Black couple plant a pecan tree. The tree grows alongside each new generation of their family, weathering various seasons of change from the Jim Crow era to the Civil Rights period and into present day. Through difficult winters and the promise of spring, the tree continues to rise, mirroring the strength, resilience, and celebration of the family throughout time.

We'll have to wait until February 2026 to read and share this gem but preorder it now, so you don't miss out: https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9781665957816

SPELLING BEE TURNS 100‼ The first Scripps National Spelling Bee was held June 17, 1925, in Washington, D.C. with nine pa...
06/17/2025

SPELLING BEE TURNS 100‼ The first Scripps National Spelling Bee was held June 17, 1925, in Washington, D.C. with nine participants. In May 1936, MacNolia Cox became one of the first Black participants, along with Elizabeth Kenny. Jamaican born Jody-Anne Maxwell became the first Black person to win the spelling bee in 1998. Then, in July 2021, Zalia Avant-Garde became the first Black American to win the spelling bee.

Today, we're sharing children's books about two of these trailblazers. Maybe we'll get a book about Jody-Anne Maxwell soon!

BOOKS FEATURED HERE:
💥How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9781536215540

💥Words of Wonder from Z to A (by Zaila Avant-Garde)
https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9780593568934

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY‼To the dads who guide with gentle hands,And those who step in when life demands.Biological, chosen, n...
06/15/2025

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY‼

To the dads who guide with gentle hands,
And those who step in when life demands.
Biological, chosen, near or far—
Your love lights the way, just as you are.
BOOK SHARED HERE: Little Big Man by Varian Johnson and Reggie Brown - Find it in our bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/6778/9781338807431

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Our Story

Helping Kids Rise is on a mission to change lives through literacy, education, and social justice awareness. We do this by partnering with community organizations and schools to provide free and discounted resources to children and their families.

Our programs include:


  • THE TRAVELING BOOKSHELF: we visit family friendly events bringing fun, diverse books for parents and children to enjoy and gain inspiration from.

  • BOOKS FOR ALL: we set up diverse book baskets, bookshelves, and book displays in barbershops, doctor offices, youth centers, and more. We’re taking the books to the kids with this program! These books remain at their locations, so they are able to reach hundreds (sometimes thousands) of children over time. Thanks to all who donate books and bookshelves to make this program a success!