Written & Illustrated by: Don Tate For Ages: 6-10 years Language: English Topics Covered: Enslavement, Historical Figures, Black Protagonists, Underground Railroad, Own Voices, Black Culture & Identity, Racism. Summary: William Still was born a free Black man, but his parents liberated themselves from enslavement and unfortunately had to leave several of their children behind. William…
Tag: Black Culture and Identity
A Place to Land
Written By: Barry Wittenstein Illustrated by: Jerry Pinkney For Ages: 7 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: Modern Black Freedom Struggle, Civil Rights, Historical Figures, Black Culture & Identity, Activism, American History. Summary: This picture book, aimed at slightly older readers, covers the night before and day of the infamous ‘I Have a Dream”…
Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom
Written by: Carole Boston Weatherford Illustrated by: Michele Wood For ages: 9 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: Historical Figures, Enslavement, Own Voices, Black Culture & Identity. Summary: It’s Juneteenth! As white folx, today is a day for reflection and continued learning. Unfortunately, I don’t have any of the wonderful Juneteenth books that exist in the world in…
Sunny
Written by: Jason Reynolds Cover Art by: Vanessa Brantley Newton For ages: YA Middle Grades (mention of maternal death) Language: English Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Growing Up, Sports, Black Culture & Identity, Track & Field, Dance, Single Parenthood, Friendship, Homeschooling, Resilience, Own Voices. Summary: This is the third in Jason Reynolds’ Track series, this time about team member Sunny. We find out that…
Counting the Stars: The Story of Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician
Written by: Lesa Cline-Ransome Illustrated by: Raúl Colón For ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: STEM, Women in Science, Historical Figure, Space, Segregation, Racism, POC-Centric Narratives, Black Culture & Identity, Historic Events. Summary: Katherine was an incredibly intellectually gifted child, starting 2nd grade at age 6, and 5th grade the year after. Her parents strongly valued education and moved the…
The Vast Wonder of the World (Biologist Ernest Everett Just)
Written by: Mélina Mangal Illustrated by: Luisa Uribe For ages: 5 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: STEM, Black Culture & Identity, Scientists, Historical Figure, Outdoors, Natural World, Trailblazers, Curiosity, Education, Racism. Summary: In 1911, Ernest was a scientist in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Woods Hole is on Cape Cod, and still a massive town for oceanic research today! Ernest was…
Making Our Way Home: The Great Migration and the Black American Dream
Written by: Blair Imani, Foreword by Patrisse Cullors (BLM Co-Founder) Illustrated by: Rachelle Baker For ages: YA Middle Grades, 12 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: Black Culture & Identity, American History, Enslavement, Reconstruction, Historical Figures, Family, Politics, Love. Summary: This book is meticulously researched and fascinating! Author Blair Imani takes readers on a journey through the American history that…
Althea Gibson: The Story of Tennis’ Fleet-of-Foot Girl
Written by: Megan Reid Illustrated by: Laura Freeman For ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Historical Figure, Women in Sports, Segregation, Trailblazer, Black Culture & Identity. Summary: Althea Gibson was the first Black person to win a Wimbledon trophy! This book talks about how sporty she was as a child, and how Althea could never stop moving. When Althea found…
Work it, Girl: Mae Jemison [released March 3]
Written by: Caroline Moss Illustrated by: Sinem Erkas For ages: 8-12 years Language: English Topics Covered: Women in STEM, Historical Figure, Biography, Astronauts, Trailblazer, Black Culture & Identity, Dancers. Summary: If you think we’re ever going to stop posting books about Mae Jemison, you would be sorely mistaken. This badass speaks 4 languages, and was the first Black woman in…
The Revolution of Birdie Randolph
Written by: Brandy Colbert For ages: YA (underage alcohol use, marijuana use, sex, substance use/addiction) Language: English Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Black Culture & Identity, Growing Up, Chicago, Relationships, Dating, Family, Police Interaction (racist treatment), Summary: In the summer between sophomore and junior year, Birdie’s aunt Carlene unexpectedly shows up at their apartment above the hair salon that Birdie’s mother…