Black History Month for Kids (VPL)Like this list

50 items

• One Crazy Summer

  the Graphic Novel

  Williams-Garcia, Rita

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  The acclaimed 2010 novel gets a graphic novel reboot that retains the emotion and charm of the original. In the summer of 1968, 11-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters head to California from New York to see their mother. Things do not go…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• A Single Dreadlock

  Campbell, Xaiver Michael

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  When Lovie moves from Jamaica to Newfoundland, he misses having his grandma do his hair. Over the summer, a single dreadlock forms and Lovie loves it, but then one of his classmates expresses disgust. Will Lovie hide away his single lock forever or…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• My Hair Is a Book

  Oso, Maisha

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  A proud art piece embracing Black people's hair in all of its glory, this book shares the history and culture that can be found in a head of hair if only one looks for it. A good candidate for creative writing units. Grades K - 4

• Cicely Tyson

  Watson, Renée

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  Cicely Tyson had a long and successful career as a model and then actress. Free-verse poetry accompanied by fabric art recounts Cicely's life and many accomplishments, including receiving, three Emmy Awards, one Academy Award, a Tony, and the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Ripening Time

  Gopo, Patrice, 1979-

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  A young girl eagerly waits for a bunch of plantains to ripen. Each day, she assesses the colour of the fruit. As it transitions from green to yellow to brown, she anticipates the delicious meal that her mama will make with them. Preschool - Grade 1

• Rap It Up!

  Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956-

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  A young rap artist who was "born holding a mic" provides exuberant instruction for creating your own rap. The vocabulary is rich, which might make this an intimidating or inspirational text, depending on the reader. The rhythm is undeniable. This…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Onyx & Beyond

  McBride, Amber

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  Ever since his grandmother died, 12-year-old Onyx has been solely responsible for keeping his mother's early onset dementia a secret. Between school, maintaining the house, and taking care of his mother, Onyx's plate is full. When social services…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Smoke & Mirrors

  Ransaw, Rosalyn

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  12-year-old Andy is staying with is aunt in a small town while his dad awaits his parole hearing. One of only a few Black kids in the community, Andy faces prejudice and discrimination. Things come to a head when he is falsely accused of starting a…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• City Summer, Country Summer

  Laymon, Kiese

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  A man remembers the summer that a New York boy came to visit his grandma in the Mississippi. Despite being initially intimidated by each other and communicating a bit differently, three boys build a bond that they will forever remember. While this…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Ballet Brown

  Dancing With Heart

  Woodard, Bellen

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  Teen author and activist describes how she moved ballet studios to find one that would let her wear ballet gear appropriate for her skin tone. Told as a simple story, with lots of interesting back matter for those who want more detail. Also…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Radiant

  Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux

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  10-year-old Cooper is the only Black student in her class and has a bully who never lets her forget it. To make matters worse, her mother cleans for the bully's family. Cooper is proud of who she is, but still struggles with wishing that she and her…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Ceecee

  Underground Railroad Cinderella

  Keller, Shana, 1977-

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  In this unique retelling, the classic story of Cinderella is reimagined with the protagonist being an enslaved girl called CeeCee. After being forcibly separated from her mother, CeeCee is given to a household with two girls who are only slightly…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Prince Among Slaves

  the Remarkable True Story of An African Prince Enslaved in Mississippi, and His Journey Home

  Senzai, N. H.

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  Born a prince in Fouta Djallon, Abdulrahman Sori spent the first 26 years of his life being educated and trained as the king's heir. After being captured by a rival tribe, he was sold to English traders. For the next 40 years, Sori was a slave. At…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• When I Hear Spirituals

  Hudson, Cheryl Willis

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  Spirituals and gospel music hold an important place in Black North American history and modern culture. In this ode to spirituals, a girl talks about the way spirituals make her feel and the historical context that fostered their creation. Due to…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Cesaria Feels the Beat

  Adusei, Denise R.

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  Cesaria is excited to perform with her dance team at the seaside Carnival, in a beautiful peacock costume. But the shoes she is supposed to wear for the costume stop her from feeling the music in her bare feet. This story celebrates Deafness,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Go Forth and Tell

  the Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller

  McDaniel, Breanna J.

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  Learn of the remarkable life of Augusta Braxton Baker, from her early days as a keen story listener to her influential role as a pioneering storyteller and advocate for diverse literature. With her mantra of "select well, prepare well, and just…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Light She Feels Inside

  Wallace, Gwendolyn

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  "a trip to the library helps Maya discover how Black women throughout history used their feelings to help change the world for the better."

• Meet Mary Ann Shadd

  MacLeod, Elizabeth

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  Mary Ann Shadd was the first Black female newspaper editor in North America, among many other achievements! Learn about her in this book from the Scholastic Canada Biography series.

• Warrior on the Mound

  Headen, Sandra W.

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  Conflict ensues when an all-Black baseball team "trespasses" on a whites-only baseball field. Can this be settled on the mound? End notes include information on Negro Leagues, including timelines and reading lists. Also available as an ebook.

• One Big Open Sky

  Cline-Ransome, Lesa

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  A verse novel narrated by three Black women on a tumultuous westward journey to start a new life with their own plots of land. The author's end notes ground the story in the historical context including the theft of land from Indigenous peoples.