Best Selling Books by Jabari Asim

Poignant and powerful, this debut collection from preeminent writer and critic Jabari Asim heralds his arrival as an exciting new voice in African American fiction. ______________________________________________________________________ Through a series of fictional episodes set against the backdrop of one of the most turbulent years in modern history, Asim brings into pin-sharp focus how the tumultuous events of ''68 affected real people''s lives and shaped the country we live in today. The sixteen connected stories in this exciting debut are set in the fictional Midwestern town of Gateway City, where second generation off-spring of the Great Migrators have pieced together a thriving, if fragile existence. With police brutality on the rise, the civil rights movement gaining momentum, and wars raging at home and abroad, Asim has conjured a community that stands on edge. But it is the individual struggles with love, childrearing, adolescence, etc, lyrically chronicled here, that create a piercing portrait of humanity. In I''d Rather Go Blind and Zombies, young Crispus Jones, who while sensitive to the tremors of upheaval around him is still much more concerned with his crush on neighbor Polly and if he''s ever going to be as cool as his brother. When Ray Mortimer, a white cop, kills the owner of his favorite candy store, Crispus becomes aware of malice even more scary than zombies and the ghost that he thinks may be haunting his house. In The Wheat from the Tares and A Virtuous Woman, Rose Whittier deals with her abusive husband with a desperate resignation until his past catches up with him and she''s given a second chance at love. And Gabriel, her suitor, realizes that his whole-hearted commitment to The Struggle may have to give way for his own shot at romance. And in Ashes to Ashes we see how a single act of despicable violence in their childhoods cements a lasting connection between two unlikely friends. From Crispus'' tender innocence to Ray Mortimer''s near pure evil, to Rose''s quiet determination, the characters in this book and their journeys showcase a world that is brimming with grace and meaning and showcases the talents of a writer at the top of his game.

A little boy’s joyous encounter with his hero, boxing champion and poet Muhammad Ali, is everything he’s dreamed of—and more! Like most of the kids he knows, Langston is a huge fan of boxing champ Muhammad Ali. After all, Ali is the greatest for so many reasons—his speed, his strength, his confidence—and his poetry. Langston loves that Ali can float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, and Ali’s words give him confidence to spin his own poems. When Langston hears the champ is coming to the local high school, he’s ecstatic—this will be a day that will go down in history for him. When the big day arrives, Langston gets a special haircut, and floats like a butterfly to meet his hero—so imagine his disappointment when a guard tries to stop him at the door, saying the event is just for students. Fortunately, Langston has learned a thing or two about fearlessness from the champ and is quick about not taking “no” for an answer. And just like that, a dream comes true for Langston that leaves him feeling wrapped in a warm glow and chanting I’m quick and I’m strong. I’m Black and I’m free. I’m brave and I’m bold, like Muhammad Ali!

Examines racism from the perspective of its most volatile word, revealing the institutionalization of bigotry in every aspect of American society and arguing that the word is a slur that helps keep blacks at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder.

Booker dreamed of making friends with words, setting free the secrets that lived in books. Born into slavery, young Booker T. Washington could only dream of learning to read and write. After emancipation, Booker began a five-hundred-mile journey, mostly on foot, to Hampton Institute, taking his first of many steps towards a college degree. When he arrived, he had just fifty cents in his pocket and a dream about to come true. The young slave who once waited outside of the schoolhouse would one day become a legendary educator of freedmen. Award-winning artist Bryan Collier captures the hardship and the spirit of one of the most inspiring figures in American history, bringing to life Booker T. Washington''s journey to learn, to read, and to realize a dream.

A Finalist for the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay Insightful and searing essays that celebrate the vibrancy and strength of black history and culture in America by critically acclaimed writer Jabari Asim "A fantastic essay collection...Blending personal reflection with historical analysis and cultural and literary criticism, these essays are a sharp, illuminating response to the nation’s continuing racial conflicts."—Ron Charles, The Washington Post In We Can’t Breathe, Jabari Asim disrupts what Toni Morrison has exposed as the “Master Narrative” and replaces it with a story of black survival and persistence through art and community in the face of centuries of racism. In eight wide-ranging and penetrating essays, he explores such topics as the twisted legacy of jokes and falsehoods in black life; the importance of black fathers and community; the significance of black writers and stories; and the beauty and pain of the black body. What emerges is a rich portrait of a community and culture that has resisted, survived, and flourished despite centuries of racism, violence, and trauma. These thought-provoking essays present a different side of American history, one that doesn’t depend on a narrative steeped in oppression but rather reveals black voices telling their own stories.

A timely and sharp analysis about what the Obama phenomenon means for the future of American politics and society, by the celebrated "Washington Post" columnist.

A New York Times Best Illustrated Book Critically acclaimed author Jabari Asim and Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator E. B. Lewis give readers a fascinating glimpse into the boyhood of Civil Rights leader John Lewis. John wants to be a preacher when he grows up—a leader whose words stir hearts to change, minds to think, and bodies to take action. But why wait? When John is put in charge of the family farm’s flock of chickens, he discovers that they make a wonderful congregation! So he preaches to his flock, and they listen, content under his watchful care, riveted by the rhythm of his voice. Celebrating ingenuity and dreaming big, this inspirational story, featuring Jabari Asim’s stirring prose and E. B. Lewis’s stunning, light-filled impressionistic watercolor paintings, includes an author’s note about John Lewis, who grew up to be a member of the Freedom Riders, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and demonstrator on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. John Lewis is now a Georgia congressman, who is still an activist today, recently holding a sit-in on the House floor of the U.S. Capitol to try to force a vote on gun violence. His March: Book Three recently won the National Book Award, as well as the American Library Association''s Coretta Scott King Author Award, Printz Award, and Sibert Award.

Jamestown''s American Portraits, an American saga of families and friends, traces the fascinating history of America through many generations and cultures and through the eyes of adolescent girls and boys. Jamestown''s American Portraits is a unique, enriching reading program designed to teach reading skills and strategies while exploring exciting historical novels.

Children are invited to explore their toes by playing "This Little Piggy.

"The Water Dancer meets The Prophets in this spare, gripping, and beautifully rendered novel exploring love and friendship among a group of enslaved Black strivers in the mid-nineteenth century"--

"Asim has given us a book that is at once entertaining and evocative of a moment that truly was a turning point in black and American history." — Chicago Tribune Jabari Asim''s debut novel returns readers to Gateway City, the fictional Midwestern city first explored in his acclaimed short story collection, Taste of Honey. Against a 1970s backdrop of rapid social and political change, Only the Strong portrays the challenges and rewards of love in a quintessential American community where heartbreak and violence are seldom far away. Moved by the death of Martin Luther King Jr., Lorenzo "Guts" Tolliver decides to abandon his career as a professional leg-breaker and pursue a life of quiet moments and generous helpings of banana pudding in the company of his new, sensuous lover. His erstwhile boss, local kingpin Ananias Goode, is also thinking about slowing down—but his tempestuous affair with Dr. Artinces Noel, a prominent pediatrician, complicates his retirement plans. Meanwhile, Charlotte Divine, the doctor''s headstrong protégée, struggles with trials of her own. With prose that''s sharp, humorous, and poetic, Asim skillfully renders a compelling portrait of urban life in the wake of the last major civil-rights bill. Massive change is afoot in America, and these characters have front-row seats. "[A] heartfelt, polyphonic ode to 1970s black America." — The Wall Street Journal "Captivating." —Jane Ciabattari, NPR Book Concierge: Best Books of 2015 "Incomparable charisma and verve." — The Root, Best Fiction of 2015 "Lean, mean, and moving." — Kirkus Reviews, Kirkus Prize nominee "Thoroughly entertaining and stylish . . . deserves favorable comparison to the works of Chester Himes and Walter Mosley." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

The perfect Halloween gift for your baby or toddler! With My Baby Loves Halloween, celebrate all the lovely things that Baby discovers about Halloween: Baby loves the crisp autumn air. Baby loves candles in pumpkins that grin. Baby loves candy... Celebrate all the sweet things that Baby discovers about Halloween. This Own Voices board book, the perfect gift for a new baby, features rhythmic poetry from Jabari Asim and adorable art from Tara Nicole Whitaker.

Takes a loving look at knees from the vantage point of a mother''s lap.

A comprehensive, entertaining look at heroes, heroines, and critical moments from African American history -- from the slave trade to the Black Lives Matter movement -- by award-winning author Jabari Asim. Jabari Asim goes beyond what''s taught in the classroom to reveal a fact-filled history of African American history through politics, activism, sports, entertainment, music, and much more. You''ll follow the road to freedom beginning with the slave trade and the middle passage through the abolitionist movement and the Civil War where many African Americans fought as soldiers. You''ll learn how slave songs often contained hidden messages and how a 15-year-old Jamaican-born young man named Clive Campbell helped to create hip-hop in the early 1970''s. You''ll experience the passionate speeches, marches, and movements of the Civil Rights era along with and the sacrifices of Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, and many others. Along the way there are dozens of profiles of political trailblazers like Shirley Chisholm, the first black women elected to Congress in 1968; dominants athletes like Tiger Woods who, in 1995, was only the second African American to play in a Master''s Golf Tournament which he went on to win in 1997; popular musicians like Miles Davis, one the most influential artists of the twentieth century; and inspiring writers like Toni Morrison, the first African American to win the Nobel Prize in literature. Filled with beautiful illustrations by Lynn Gaines that bring these figures and events to life, plus a removable historical timeline poster, A Child''s Introduction to African American History is a fascinating and comprehensive guide to this often overlooked yet immensely important part of American history.

Get ready to swing with A Child’s Introduction to Jazz, an interactive journey into one of the richest and most soulful music genres in the world. Listen while you learn with QR codes that will connect you to the instruments and musical flair of jazz. Welcome to jazz! Feel the music and rhythms of all the different styles of jazz, from swing and Dixieland to the blues and bebop, with this interactive introduction to the world’s coolest music. Author Jabari Asim will take you on the journey through the history of jazz as you discover the most important musicians and singers while hearing some really cool sounds. You’ll learn all about the roots of jazz in Africa and New Orleans and how the music traveled to different parts of the United States and around the world. Along the way you’ll meet legendary trumpeter Louis Armstrong, who shaped a new form of jazz called improvisation; pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington, who helped create the big band sound of the swing era; and the singer Billie Holiday, whose songs such as “God Bless the Child,” “Don’t Explain,” and “Lady Sings the Blues” have become jazz standards. Listen along to the sounds of jazz by downloading music and hearing instruments such as trumpets, clarinets, trombones, and even singers scatting as they improvise melodies. With a pull-out poster showing the different instruments of jazz, A Child’s Introduction to Jazz hits the perfect beat and will have you bebopping and scatting in no time!

The perfect Valentine''s gift for your baby or toddler! In My Baby Loves Valentine''s Day, celebrate all the lovely things that Baby discovers about Valentine''s Day: Baby loves hearts made of paper and lace. Baby loves kisses and a loving embrace. Baby loves pretty red roses... Celebrate all the lovely things Baby discovers about Valentine''s Day! This board book, the perfect gift for a new baby, features rhythmic poetry from Jabari Asim and adorable art from Tara Nicole Whitaker.

Patrick Dorismond, Abner Louima, and Amadou Diallo -- hear what a jury of prominent African Americans has to say about the black man''s struggle for justice in America Prompted by the killing of Amadou Diallo and the acquittal of the four New York City police officers who mistook him for an armed criminal, this collection of essays by prominent black male writers offers twelve unique and startling perspectives on what it''s like for a black man living in an inherently racist society. Coming from a broad spectrum of economic and social backgrounds, the poets, journalists, lawyers, writers, and academics that make up this jury write forcefully and eloquently about growing up and raising sons, identifying with others and yearning to be set apart, attempting reasonable discourse, and succumbing to unspeakable anger. Together these essays deconstruct the monolithic myths that shroud our nation''s black men and offer small rays of hope that on the streets, at school and work, and in the courtroom justice will be served.

Romance que aborda amor e amizade narrado do ponto de vista de negros escravizados. A história se passa em uma região não especificada no sul dos Estados Unidos, por volta dos anos 1850, na fazenda Placid Hall. Nela, os escravizados — ou "Sequestrados", como se autodenominam — são submetidos aos caprichos de um tirânico e excêntrico captor e nunca sabem o que pode lhes ocorrer além do trabalho físico desumano de todos os dias: um castigo brutal ou a venda inesperada de um ente querido. Porém, o que mais fere William, Cato, Margaret, Pandora e o Pequeno Zander é a falsa crença de que são incapazes de amar. Ainda que tenham aprendido o idioma e a doutrina religiosa de seus captores — chamados por eles de "Ladrões" —, possuem linguagem e rituais próprios e desejam, a todo instante, estar "em algum lugar lá fora", uma realidade distinta daquela em que vivem. Até que o pastor Ramson, homem negro liberto com um passado misterioso, começa a incutir neles ideias de liberdade. Jabari Asim, em um monumental trabalho de pesquisa e imaginação, nos faz refletir sobre o vergonhoso legado deixado pelos países escravistas do continente americano a partir de uma narrativa poderosa e comovente.

Brringgg! The alarm clock sings. I know it¿s very early but there¿s lost of work to do. Daddy¿s going to his office and I¿m going too! Nothing is more thrilling than going to work with Daddy! ¿The workers are getting younger every year,¿ the guard on the fourth floor says. In the office, faxes beep, phones ring, chair wheels squeak, and helping with memos and presentations is serious business. At the end of the day, father and daughter head home, proud of each other¿s hard work. This warm depiction of a loving African-American family captures the wide-eyed excitement of joining a parent at work. Full-color illustrations.