From picture books to YA, New York-based Astra Books for Young Readers publishes fifty titles annually under four imprints: Calkins Creek Books, Astra Young Readers, Hippo Park, and TOON Books. “It's important to us that our books have staying power. We want to publish books that resonate today and that will be resonant twenty years from now,” says Associate Publisher Susan Dobinick. Two such titles are Astra’s new books celebrating Black history.

This Hair Belongs by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Erin K. Robinson, January 2026, ISBN 9781662620867, is a paean to the historical and cultural significance of Black hair. Inspired by the author’s childhood memories of painful hair-straightening sessions, this picture book for young readers ages 4–8 uncovers the origins of Black hairstyles and their evolution with Black history. Powerful illustrations and detailed back matter depict how hair was an integral part of enslaved Africans’ stories, from the grains hidden in their hair to provide sustenance in the New World, to the secrets maps to freedom woven into their braids. “What came across to me was just how personal a story it is for both creators,” says Dobinick. “The text is poetic and layered, and the art is stunning.”

The Dream Builder’s Blueprint: Dr. King’s Message to Young People by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by E.B. Lewis, January 2026, ISBN 9781662680311, is a poetic interpretation of a 1967 speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Philadelphia’s Barratt Junior High School. Duncan created this “erasure poem” by condensing Dr. King’s 1765-word speech into a 277-word poetic text. This beautifully illustrated, inspirational book for readers ages 7–10 emphasizes King’s timeless values like self-worth, achieving excellence, social justice, and nonviolence.

“This is a picture book, but it’s one you can give to someone for a big milestone like a graduation,” notes Dobinick. “It’s a unique approach to bringing Dr. King into the classroom.”

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