by Steven C. Thedford, illustrated by LaSquizzie Kern, tells the story of the first Kwanzaa. The book shows a group of children, or “watoto”, coming to their local library to listen to a storyteller, or “griot”, talk about the history of the holiday. In 1965, against the backdrop of racial injustice, Dr. Maulana Karenga created a harvest festival similar to those in Egyptian and Zulu cultures, to celebrate African heritage. He chose the name Kwanzaa from the Swahili phrase, “matunda ya kwanza” meaning “first fruits (of the harvest).” The book includes a glossary of terms and more information about the history of Kwanzaa! (Holiday Books)