Social justice issues aren't usually the provenance of children's books, but esteemed author Vera B. Williams, who died last week at 88, made it hers.

Williams deftly painted realistic portraits of urban life in her books, and they are celebrated for their diverse characters (racially and socioeconomically) and straightforward-but-sensitive handling of social and environmental concerns.

Read about Williams' life in her New York Times obituary, and check out her many books in multiple languages from NYPL. Here's a selection of our favorites.
 

A Chair for My Mother

A Chair for Always

Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart

Cherries and Cherry Pits

Stringbean's Trip to the Shining Sea




 

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend.

And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for 100 new recommendations every month!