See our Special Tribute from the State of Michigan!

National Inspirational Role Models Month is always special to us, but this year it's extra special. NIRMV was recognized by the State of Michigan for promoting "the importance of role models" and inspiring people "to seek success, overcome challenges, and achieve their full potential." We hope you're celebrating who inspires you! See the Special Tribute signed by Governor Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist II (PDF).

Help Us Salute Legacies and Legends

Join us online for a tribute to Historic Role Model Zora Neale Hurston. Featuring Romare Bearden and Babatunde Oltunji, plus story telling by Ms. Gwen.

Just go to bit.ly/NIRMM2023SALUTE at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.

National Inspirational Role Models Month Legacies and Legends Salute invitation

Trunk or Treat Invitation

Bring your own bag and costumes are welcome at the 13th Annual Masonic Angel's With Treats Trunk or Treat on Sunday, Oct. 22 from 4 - 6 p.m. (or until treats are gone. This outdoor event will be held at 3500 McDougall, Detroit 48207.

This Year's Recommended Reading List is Here!

And just in time for those end-of-summer days when you're having trouble finding something to do. Now you can spend it reading some of the great recommendations on this list.

Some books focus on the NIRMV Ongoing Theme: “Celebrate Who Inspires You” and NIRMV 2023 Theme: “Gaining Inspiration from Legacies and Legends.” Remember, you can find and download this years and past reading lists under Remarkable Links.

NIRMV Recommended Reading List Kids Edition nominations can be made anytime via nirmvdetroit@gmail.com.

2023 NIRMV Recommended Reading List Kids Edition

Picture Books (Ages 3-7)

- After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santat
- Children Who Dance in the Rain by Susan Justice
- Going Places by Tonya Bolden
- In Every Life by Marla Frazee
- It Fell from the Sky by Terry Fan
- The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammed and S.K. Ali
- Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
- Lies and Other Tall Tales ~ Collected by Zora Neale Hurston, Adapted by Christopher Myers
- Lily Leads the Way by Margi Preus
- Magnolia Flower by Zora Neale Hurston, Adapted by Ibram X. Kendi
- The Making of Butterflies by Zora Neale Hurston, Adapted by Ibram X. Kendi
- Me and the Family Tree by Carole Weatherford
- Nothing Special by Desiree Cooper
- Parker Shines On: Another Extraordinary Moment by Parker Curry and Jessica Curry
- The Smallest Spot of a Dot: The Little Ways We're Different, the Big Ways We're the Same by Linsey Davis and Michael Tyler
- Sometimes It's Nice to Be Alone by Amy Hest
- The Talk by Alicia D. Williams
- What Does Brown Mean to You? by Ron Grady
- Why a Son Needs a Dad by Gregory E. Lang
- Woo Hoo! You're Doing Great by Sandra Boynton
- Yellow Dog Blues by Alice Faye Duncan
- You Matter to Me by Doyin Richards

Children's Literature/Chapter Books (Ages 8-12)

- Becoming Muhammed Ali by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander
- As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds
- Holler of the Fireflies by David Barclay Moore
- Larger Than Life: The Adventures of American Legendary Heroes by Robert D. San Souci
- Marya Khan and the Fabulous Jasmine Garden by Saadia Faruqi
- Moonwalking by Zetta Elliott
- Not An Easy Win by Chrystal D. Giles
- Ode to Nobody by Caroline Brooks DuBois
- The Superteacher Project by Gordon Korman
- Swim Team: Small Waves, Big Changes by Johnnie Christmas
- That Flag by Tameka Fryer Brown
- Virtually Me by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

Middle-Grades (Ages 13-16)

- The 9:09 Project by Mark H. Parsons
- All American Boys by Jason Reynolds
- Briarcliff Prep by Brianna Peppins
- The Davenports by Krystal Marquis
- Miles Morales Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds
- Miles Morales Suspended: A Spider-Man Novel by Jason Reynolds
- Nubia: The Awakening by Omar Epps and Clarence A. Haynes
- This Side of Home by Renée Watson
- You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen

Young Adult (Ages 16-20)

- The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
- They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman
- We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride
- We Weren't Looking to Be Found by Stephanie Kuehn
- When It All Syncs Up by Maya Ameyaw
- What's Coming to Me by Francesca Padilla

Nonfiction (Multiple Ages)

- An American Story by Kwame Alexander (Ages 4-8)
- Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer, Adapted by Monique Gray Smith (Middle Grade +)
- Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement by Angela Joy (Ages 8-12)
- A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put Americans on the Moon by Suzanne Slade (Ages 4-8)
- Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians but Were Afraid to Ask: Young Reader's Edition by Anton Treuer (Ages 13-18)
- How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee by Carole Weatherford (Ages 8-12)
- How to Write a Poem by Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido (Ages Preschool-10)
- Michaels Desserts: Sweets for a Cause Baking Cookbook by Michael C. Platt (Ages 13-17)
- Teen Girl's Survival Guide: How to Make Friends, Build Confidence, Avoid Peer Pressure, Overcome Challenges, Prepare for Your Future, and Just About Everything in Between by Jenn Higgins (Middle Grade +)
- What the Fact?: Finding the Truth in All the Noise by Dr. Seema Yasmin (Ages 13-17)
- Zora!: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston by Dennis Brindell Fradin (Ages 8-12)

Reading Rewards IV

Stay At Home Party Activity Links

Theme: Gaining Inspiration from Legacies and Legends

Date: Saturday, August 5, 2023

Time: Your choice!

Ages: 3 - 17

Please note: NIRMV will not post unsolicited links on this site or respond to inquiries about them.

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"What do you have to do? What do you want to do? Tomorrow is not promised. Make plans anyway." Playwright and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda