Book List: Black History Month!

Hi All!

Black History Month is about 11 months too short, so my goal in compiling this list is to share resources and ideas that I have found useful so that we can all integrate Black history and perspectives into our teaching on a regular basis. Whether you are teaching about bravery, courage, self-esteem, acceptance, ally-ship, or pivotal moments in American history, these texts are inspiring both in their words and illustrations. I would highly recommend adding these titles to your classroom library so that all students have an opportunity to see themselves in books.

Let me know how you facilitate Black History Month in your classroom, and how you honor diverse perspectives through literature!

Clicking on the book covers will take you straight to the Amazon listing, and please leave feedback in the comments below!

“Shades of Black”, Sandra Pinkney

This book is a true celebration of blackness, and all the hues encompassed in that identity. Many of my students are experiencing an increase in racial diversity when they enter my classroom, sometimes for the first time, so reading a book specifically celebrating different skin tones is exactly the place to start. I bought a few copies of this book so that students could access it during independent reading time, as well as during read alouds, because it is that important!

“The Otherside”, Jacqueline Woodson

A fence meant to divide becomes the meeting place for two young girls, each looking for a friend in a world segregated by race. The watercolor illustrations mimic the haze of summer, and the text is full of rich, understated meaning. I use this book to talk about friendship and kindness, as well as the history of racial inequality in our country.

“Henry's Freedom Box”, Ellen Levine

In this heartbreaking true story, Henry shows us the brutal reality of slave life, and demonstrates unimaginable courage as he seeks freedom. When I share this story, I do so in an established context of racial and historical narrative. Normally, I have already introduced the concept of slavery and shared a brief history of slavery in our country by the time I read this book. When we read it, we talk about why characters made the choices they did, and what that reveals about the individuals, as well as the society they lived in. I always bring conversations about history to the present day, specifically talking about the reality of continual racial discrimination in our country.

“Teammates”, Peter Golenbock

Growing up with the dream of becoming the first female Major League Baseball player, I idolized the courage and stoicism of Jackie Robinson in the face of racial discrimination. And while I hung up my own cleats years ago, I am still moved by Robinson’s legacy, both on and off the field. Golenbock’s historical narrative focuses on the friendship between Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese, Robinson’s white teammate who publicly supported Robinson as a teammate and friend. While this friendship did not save Robinson from a career of mistreatment among players, fans and the Major Leagues, it does provide an example of ally-ship to which we can all aspire.

“Tar Beach”, Faith Ringgold

A little girl surveys her domain from the top of her family’s apartment building in New York in the late 1930's, and in doing so, tells a story of racial tension among the people who built the city around her. I generally teach this book in tandem with my hometown of Seattle’s own history, discussing how cities often display physical manifestations of societal biases.

“Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom”, Carole Boston Weatherford

Harriet Tubman is known for her courageous work helping slaves escape from the South along the Underground Railroad, seeking freedom in the Northern states as well as Canada. But in Weatherford’s tribute to her, we see the deep emotions Tubman and many other slaves faced as they sought freedom: fear and uncertainty at every step, not knowing who to trust, always remembering the cost at which they ran. As Tubman journeys North, first to save herself and then later to save others, her faith fuels her courage. Beautiful and moving, this story demonstrates determination in the face of true danger.

“I Love My Hair”, Natasha Tarpley

Kenyana’s hair is beautiful, and each way she styles it reflects her unique personality. Hair can be just hair, but it can also be much more, and in a world where every child deserves to see themselves represented in stories, this book celebrates the heritage of hair and identity.

“Martin's Big Words”, Doreen Rappaport

Martin Luther King, Jr. is known for his words, and while society has changed significantly since his time, we still have far to go in achieving his dream. Rappaport’s gorgeously illustrated book shows Martin as a young man, a preacher, and a leader, and celebrates the legacy he left for us to continue.

“This Jazzman”, Karen Ehrhardt

Counting, rhyming, and singing along! In this fun jazz-inspired book, students count up to ten along with the band. Reading the book is fun on its own, but it is definitely worth looking online for video read alouds with music to emphasize the story. I’d recommend Miss Nina’s version available on YouTube.

“Follow the Drinking Gourd”, Cari Meister

In this adapted retelling of an American folksong, slaves in the South find their way North by following the Drinking Gourd, also known as the Big Dipper constellation. Like other song-based books, you can read the book aloud, as well as listening to a video read aloud with music. In the version on YouTube by Grammy’s Book Nook, the narrator mixes spoken word and singing to illustrate how the song was passed from plantation to plantation, spreading the “map to freedom” through song.

“Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race”, Margot Lee Shetterly

Bravery, courage, determination, brilliance, and tenacity- if I could impart these traits upon my students just by reading about them, I’d read this book everyday. As it stands, I read this text at least once a month, and will continue to integrate these historical accounts into our read aloud time until all stories of success, like NASA’s mission to put men on the moon, are told in a way that sheds light on every member who contributed. This text requires a bit of pre-teaching, specifically about gender bias and racial inequality, but even 5- and 6-year-olds are more than capable of understanding the story, as well as having a thoughtful conversation about how this history relates to our present day.

“What Color is My World”, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Not only is he the leading scorer in NBA history, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is also inspiring generations off the court with his historical narrative about significant African American inventors. In this book, Abdul-Jabbar focuses on many inventors, both known and obscure, who contributed to significant advancements in their fields, from technology to medical science. In my kindergarten classroom, I often use this book as an informational text to study with the class. But in older grades, this could be a great independent read!

“Heart and Soul”, Kadir Nelson

Kadir Nelson is known for his illustration work in books such as “Henry’s Freedom Box” and “Moses”, but here he is both the writer and illustrator weaving the history of America together through the African American perspective. Combining historical narrative with his own family’s history, Nelson’s words and paintings carry the reader from the slave trade to the Civil Rights movement, shedding light on Black history in our nation.

“Ada Twist, Scientist”, Andrea Beaty

From Beaty’s popular STEM series, “Ada Twist” reveals the power of scientific exploration, even in the face of defeat. The whimsical illustrations and the song-like cadence of the rhyming text make this book an easy favorite in any classroom.

“Ron's Big Mission”, Rose Blue

A boy sets out to go to the library to check out books about space. But because it is 1959 and the boy is African-American, the story is not just about the library. In this story about race, segregation, and (in)equity, students encounter many brave characters whose individual acts show courage in the face of societal biases.

“Beatrice's Goat”, Page McBrier

A goat can be a life-changing gift for many generations. When Beatrice and her family receive the gift of a goat from an international aid agency, the Ugandan family is better able to provide for themselves in both the short- and long-term, highlighting the positive ripple effect of such a gift. The afterward is written by Hilary Clinton and directly states that proceeds from book sales go to her local chapter of Heifer Project International, which sponsors gifts of livestock to impoverished families in rural areas.

“The Colors of Us”, Karen Katz

Pizza crust, cinnamon toast, chocolate… these delicious hues make up Lena’s neighborhood and celebrate the beauty of every skin color. I have recently begun to use this book to help students create self-portraits in which they describe their “inside” and “outside” selves, using examples from the book to convey both personality and physical features. We use paint to mix a color that best matches our skin, then use pastels to add our facial features. Like the book, we talk about how we look and seem on the outside, but we also explore how we feel about ourselves on the inside. This book is a great place to start having many productive conversations about race, skin color, and traits.

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