Black history is 365 days a year!
The holidays are around the corner and if you’re looking for something to get the young ones, you can never go wrong with a book. While there are lots of books to choose from that are great for kids, including books about hip hop and food, ones highlighting the HBCU experience, books about financial literacy for young children, and even ones that affirm who we are, it still may get a little hard to choose the right one. If you can’t decide what to get, you can never go wrong with one that teaches children about our history.
To help you out, here is a list of 10 children’s books that will make Black history fun to learn and easy to remember:
Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed
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“A beautiful picture book for sharing, inspired by the life of the first African-American woman to travel in space, Mae Jemison.
A great classroom and bedtime read-aloud, Mae Among the Stars is the perfect book for young readers who have big dreams and even bigger hearts! When Little Mae was a child, she dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering. She wanted to be an astronaut.
Her mom told her, ‘If you believe it, and work hard for it, anything is possible.’
Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents’ encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African-American woman to travel in space. This book will inspire other young girls to reach for the stars, to aspire for the impossible, and to persist with childlike imagination.”
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Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
“Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History is the debut book from Vashti Harrison. Based on her popular Instagram posts from Black History Month 2017, it features 40 biographies of African-American women that helped shape history. It is a 96-page paper over board book published by Little Brown Books for Young Readers.”
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Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History by Vashti Harrison with Kwesi Johnson
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“New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Vashti Harrison shines a bold, joyous light on Black men throughout history.
An important book for readers of all ages, this beautifully illustrated and engagingly written volume brings to life true stories of black men in history.
Among these biographies, readers will find aviators and artists, politicians and pop stars, athletes and activists. The exceptional men featured include artist Aaron Douglas, civil rights leader John Lewis, dancer Alvin Ailey, filmmaker Oscar Micheaux, musician Prince, photographer Gordon Parks, tennis champion Arthur Ashe, and writer James Baldwin.
The legends in this book span centuries and continents, but what they have in common is that each one has blazed a trail for generations to come.”
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Stacey’s Extraordinary Words by Stacey Abrams
“#1 New York Times bestseller and NAACP Image Award winner! The debut picture book from iconic voting rights advocate and bestselling author Stacey Abrams is an inspiring tale of determination, based on her own childhood.
Stacey is a little girl who loves words more than anything. She loves reading them, sounding them out, and finding comfort in them when things are hard.
But when her teacher chooses her to compete in the local spelling bee, she isn’t as excited as she thought she’d be. What if she messes up? Or worse, if she can’t bring herself to speak up, like when facing bullies at school?
Stacey will learn that win or lose . . . her words are powerful, and sometimes perseverance is the most important word of all.”
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Have You Thanked an Inventor Today? by Patrice McLaurin
“Have You Thanked an Inventor Today? is a unique journey into the often forgotten contributions of the African-American inventors that have greatly enriched America’s landscape. It chronicles the day of a little boy, demonstrating with each page how the genius of African-American minds is utilized on a daily basis.”
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The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson
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“The 1619 Project’s lyrical picture book in verse chronicles the consequences of slavery and the history of Black resistance in the United States, thoughtfully rendered by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and Newbery honor-winning author Renée Watson.
A young student receives a family tree assignment in school, but she can only trace back three generations. Grandma gathers the whole family, and the student learns that 400 years ago, in 1619, their ancestors were stolen and brought to America by white slave traders.
But before that, they had a home, a land, a language. She learns how the people said to be born on the water survived.
And the people planted dreams and hope,
willed themselves to keep
living, living.
And the people learned new words
for love
for friend
for family
for joy
for grow
for home.
With powerful verse and striking illustrations by Nikkolas Smith, Born on the Water provides a pathway for readers of all ages to reflect on the origins of American identity.”
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Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz
“Malcolm X grew to be one of America’s most influential figures. But first, he was a boy named Malcolm Little. Written by his daughter, this inspiring picture book biography celebrates a vision of freedom and justice.
Bolstered by the love and wisdom of his large, warm family, young Malcolm Little was a natural born leader. But when confronted with intolerance and a series of tragedies, Malcolm’s optimism and faith were threatened. He had to learn how to be strong and how to hold on to his individuality. He had to learn self-reliance.
Together with acclaimed illustrator AG Ford, Ilyasah Shabazz gives us a unique glimpse into the childhood of her father, Malcolm X, with a lyrical story that carries a message that resonates still today—that we must all strive to live to our highest potential.”
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Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford
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“In this award-winning book, acclaimed author Carole Boston Weatherford and bestselling artist Kadir Nelson offer a resounding, reverent tribute to Harriet Tubman, the woman who earned the name Moses for her heroic role in the Underground Railroad…
In lyrical text, Carole Boston Weatherford describes Tubman’s spiritual journey as she hears the voice of God guiding her north to freedom on that very first trip to escape the brutal practice of forced servitude. Tubman would make nineteen subsequent trips back south, never being caught, but none as profound as this first one. Courageous, compassionate, and deeply religious, Harriet Tubman, with her bravery and relentless pursuit of freedom, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.”
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The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez
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“A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
B is for Beautiful, Brave, and Bright! And for a Book that takes a Bold journey through the alphabet of Black history and culture.
Letter by letter, The ABCs of Black History celebrates a story that spans continents and centuries, triumph and heartbreak, creativity and joy.
It’s a story of big ideas––P is for Power, S is for Science and Soul. Of significant moments––G is for Great Migration. Of iconic figures––H is for Zora Neale Hurston, X is for Malcom X. It’s an ABC book like no other, and a story of hope and love.
In addition to rhyming text, the book includes back matter with information on the events, places, and people mentioned in the poem, from Mae Jemison to W. E. B. Du Bois, Fannie Lou Hamer to Sam Cooke, and the Little Rock Nine to DJ Kool Herc.”
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The Story of Black History Box Set: Biography Books for New Readers by Rockridge Press
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“Stories of incredible Black visionaries for kids ages 6 to 9
Meet five amazing individuals who have changed the world through their courage, vision, and determination. This curated box set of Black history books for kids gives young readers a glimpse into the lives and contributions of these remarkable Black men and women. How will they inspire you?
Harriet Tubman―A celebrated leader in the fight to free people from slavery and an intrepid guide for the Underground Railroad.
Jackie Robinson―The first Black Major League Baseball player and an important figure in the fight for civil rights
Martin Luther King Jr.―Challenged racism and overcame hardships to follow his passion and do the right thing, becoming one of the most important civil rights leaders in America
Barack Obama―Made history becoming the first African American president of the United States, and fought for the environment, health care, and civil rights
Simone Biles―Became the greatest gymnast of all time, winning more medals than anyone in history, including five Olympic and 25 World Championships
Each of these Black history for kids books also includes a short quiz, visual timeline, definitions of new words and ideas, and a section to review each hero’s legacy for this generation and those to come.
Help kids learn about the lives of these important Black heroes, the moments that made them who they are, and how they made their mark on the world.”
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Happy Black History Holidays!!
10 children’s books that’ll make Black history fun to learn and easy to remember. Photo Courtesy of Roda Ahmed/Illustrated by Stasia Burrington/An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers