Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival 2026: Alleanna Harris’s Featured Books
Thanks so much for visiting me at my table! Below are the books that were available at my table. Read on for book summaries and links to purchase.
O Holy Night: A Modern Christmas Carol
written and illustrated by Alleanna Harris
With lyrics adapted from the classic carol "O Holy Night," Alleanna Harris's luminous picture book celebrates the peace, light, and joy of Christmas.
O holy night, our hearts are brightly shining
Spreading our light and our love 'round the earth.
Follow along to the tune of the beloved song and join a family amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Bask in the magical moments of Christmas traditions, from hunting for the perfect tree and hanging lights to brighten dark winter nights, to attending a Christmas Eve church service as a family.
With its modern take on a favorite carol, this lyrical, radiant picture book will inspire you to cherish time together with your nearest and dearest and be a light to others through the holiday season and beyond!
Onward, We Marched
written by Erica Martin, illustrated by Alleanna Harris
A stunning and lyrical picture book introduction to the Civil Rights Movement from celebrated author Erica Martin.
“Powerful and engaging.” —Kirkus reviews
From Jim Crow laws and the 1896 “separate but equal” Supreme Court ruling, to the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, acclaimed author Erica Martin tells the story of the Civil Rights Movement in spare and evocative poetic verse.
Illustrated by Alleanna Harris, Onward, We Marched is a poignant introduction to the some of the most critical moments in our nation’s reckoning with racial injustice, a vital history lesson, and a much-needed conversation starter for the youngest audience. Perfect for readers of Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre and The 1619 Project: Born on the Water.
Cooking Up Change: Grandma’s Recipes from a Year in Black History
written by Michael Platt, illustrated by Alleanna Harris
In Cooking Up Change—the eagerly awaited sequel to teen chef and food justice advocate Michael Platt’s Recipes for Change—Platt journeys through a year in Black history with a little help from his beloved grandmother as he retells 12 important historic events and shares a recipe inspired by each one.
Cooking Up Change is both a celebration of Black history and an invitation to experience it through the lens of food. With biographies of figures who shaped important events and mouthwatering recipes that carry their essence, this book will inspire future leaders with real stories of trailblazers who helped to change the world.
One event per month is highlighted. After sharing the story of a person related to each event—such as Dorothy Height for International Women’s Day in March—Platt pairs each moment with a delectable recipe that carries the essence of the occasion. All the stories and recipes featured are inspired by his grandmother; the person who guided him in unearthing his Black heritage and moved him to fall in love with cooking.
Each page features engaging color illustrations from Alleanna Harris.
Oshún and Me: A Story of Love and Braids
written by Adiba Nelson, illustrated by Alleanna Harris
Tenderly illustrated by Alleanna Harris, Adiba Nelson's debut picture book Oshún and Me is a heartwarming ode to family, identity, and the beauty of braided hair. Also available in Spanish!
It’s Sunday, and that means it’s Hair Day! As Mami weaves gold and cowrie shells into Yadira’s hair, she tells her the story of the goddess Oshún, showing Yadi how her Afro Latin heritage is lovingly tucked into each braid and shell.
The next day, Yadi arrives for her first day at a new school. She's nervous about making friends, but with her beautiful braids, the click-clack of the cowrie shells, and a little guidance from Oshún, she finds she has everything she needs to be her best, most authentic self.
A letter from the author and visual examples of different kinds of braided hairstyles are included in the back of the book.
All the Greatness in You
written by Tameka Fryer Brown, illustrated by Alleanna Harris
Bursting with warmth and words of encouragement, this lyrical picture book celebrates growing up and believing in yourself—the perfect gift for graduations, birthdays, the first day of school, and beyond.
You are brave.
You are enough.
You are your own best thing.
All the Greatness in You is a sweet and affirming story told from the perspective of a loving mother as she recounts all the things she admires about her young son and his burgeoning independence—from his boundless curiosity and his can-do attitude to his resilience when times get tough. When faced with a daunting challenge—like a solo in his church’s choir—she encourages him to find his inner strength and courage.
Award-winning author Tameka Fryer Brown and up-and-coming artist Alleanna Harris craft a joyful ode to the milestones and special moments in every little one’s life, empowering them with the confidence to try new things, ask questions, make mistakes, and most of all, believe in their own greatness.
Marvelous Mabel: Figure Skating Superstar
written by Crystal Hubbard, illustrated by Alleanna Harris
Meet Mabel Fairbanks, the skating superstar who became the first Black athlete inducted into the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
After watching ice skaters glide and spin at a rink in Central Park, Mabel Fairbanks was determined to learn to skate. But in the 1930s, many places didn’t allow Black skaters on the ice, so Mabel practiced on a homemade rink in her bedroom! There she learned how to perform sharp turns and whizzing spins of her own creation.
It wasn’t long before Mabel needed more room to practice skating, and she returned to one of the rinks that denied her entrance. This time she refused to take no for an answer. She knew that if they just let her on the ice, she would be the most marvelous skater anyone had ever seen. And she was right, as her trailblazing talent continues to influence the sport today.
Written and illustrated with warmth and spirit, this is the true story of how Mabel Fairbanks’s determination and grit led her to become America’s first Black skating superstar.
"Hungry? Check the Green Book. Tired? Check the Green Book. Sick? Check the Green Book."
In the late 1930s when segregation was legal and Black Americans couldn't visit every establishment or travel everywhere they wanted to safely, a New Yorker named Victor Hugo Green decided to do something about it. Green wrote and published a guide that listed places where his fellow Black Americans could be safe in New York City. The guide sold like hot cakes! Soon customers started asking Green to make a guide to help them travel and vacation safely across the nation too. With the help of his mail carrier co-workers and the African American business community, Green's guide allowed millions of African Americans to travel safely and enjoy traveling across the nation.
In the first picture book about the creation and distribution of The Green Book, author Keila Dawson and illustrator Alleanna Harris tell the story of the man behind it and how this travel guide opened the road for a safer, more equitable America.