Children's Books for Black History Month
This article was originally published by Mesa Verde Living Magazine.
This month we are showing some love to books by Black authors in honor of Black History Month. February is the perfect month to visit your local library and explore the books on display about Black civil visit SocialJusticeBooks.org for a critically reviewed library of multicultural books for kids and educators too. Here is our family’s list of books we enjoy for Black History Month.
Change Sings, by Amanda Gorman
If you love the writing by young poet Amanda Gorman, this gorgeous book is a great one to add to your collection. With an inspiring message of a young girl who seeks to change the world, the book shows how we can all inspire each other.
Little People, BIG DREAMS: Mae Jemison, by Maria Isabel Sanchez
This book is one of a beautiful series of books about numerous multicultural icons. We chose Mae Jemison because my daughter loves reading about the extraordinary astronaut, doctor, engineer and teacher. However, there are many people to choose from for kids to enjoy.
The Day You Begin, by Jacqueline Woodson
National Book Award Winner Jacqueline Woodson brings us this great book about a girl who wants to fit in. Though she is different from her classmates, she finds a way to connect with them. It’s a sweet story about embracing our differences and appreciating our diversity.
Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea, by Amanda Gorman
A great book about two sisters getting their community involved. My girls love how the kids all work together to build a playground for their community. Everyone takes part and finds ways to contribute from supplies and ideas, to a delicious potluck meal.
I Am Ok to Feel, by Karamo Brown
We all have big emotions and this fantastic book shows how a father and son go through their day acknowledging and embracing emotions that arise. This is a brand new book by TV show host Karamo Brown from the Netflix series “Queer Eye.”
A Great Starter Pack:“You Should Meet” Series
These paperback collections of heroes are great for elementary aged students and you can select them by reading level. We have some with Black icons such as Misty Copeland, Katherine Johnson, and Jesse Owens. Each book tells about the person’s life with age-appropriate details and illustrations.