A Night for the Rice Carriers
Written by Carmen Rubin
Illustrated by Matt Williams
Published by Rise x Penguin Workshop
Mae and her grandmother, Coco, spend the day preparing Coco’s garden for a full-moon celebration with neighbors and friends. This will be the night that Mae, herself, shares her ancestors’ powerful story of rebellion and survival. Through music, food, and joyous revelry, Coco and her guests honor the legacy of two courageous women-Yaya and Paanza-who carried grains of rice hidden in their braids to forge a new life when they escaped enslavement.
The stories of these West African “rice carriers” have lived on through oral tradition, but are being shared in this picture book for the very first time. Written by a historian and children’s literacy advocate, this celebratory book captures the spirit of good rebellion and great community. It was inspired by real rice carriers, Yaya and Paanza, and includes backmatter text and photographs.
Primary ISBN: 9780593890974
Publication Date: August 2026
Available As: Hardcover, eBook
Picture Book, Age 04 or older
Community Represented: Surinamese/Surinamese American, Unspecified (West African)
Themes: Celebrations, Cultural Empowerment, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Celebrations & Traditions, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Family, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Food, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Identity, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Storytelling, Discrimination: Racial, Family Relationship: Grandparents, Genre: Historical, Outdoor Exploration, Own Voices/Lived Experience
Setting: United States
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Unknown Arrival
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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