11 Feb Black History Month Picture Books
Observe Black History Month by reading picture books that honor the struggles, highlight the contributions, and celebrate the experiences of Black Americans.
Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed
“When young Mae Jemison is asked by her teacher what she wants to be when she grows up, African American Mae tells her mostly white classmates that she wants to be an astronaut, a dream that her parents wholeheartedly support.”
Goin’ Someplace Special by Patricia McKissack
“In segregated 1950s Nashville, a young African American girl braves a series of indignities and obstacles to get to one of the few integrated places in town: the public library.”
There Was A Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds
“A celebration of Langston Hughes and African American authors he inspired, told through the lens of the party held at the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in 1991.”
Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea by Meena Harris
“One day, Kamala and Maya had an idea. A big idea: they would turn their empty apartment courtyard into a playground! Based on a true story, this is the uplifting tale of how the author’s aunt and mother first learned to persevere in the face of disappointment and turned a dream into reality. This is a story of children’s ability to make a difference and of a community coming together to transform their neighborhood.”
Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment by Parker Curry
“When Parker Curry came face-to-face with Amy Sherald’s transcendent portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama at the National Portrait Gallery, she didn’t just see the First Lady of the United States. She saw a queen–one with dynamic self-assurance, regality, beauty, and truth who captured this young girl’s imagination.”
“American Ballet Theater soloist Misty Copeland encourages a young ballet student, with brown skin like her own, by telling her that she, too, had to learn basic steps and how to be graceful when she was starting out, and that some day, with practice and dedication, the little girl will become a firebird, too.”
Lillian’s Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by Jonah Winter
“An elderly African American woman, en route to vote, remembers her family’s tumultuous voting history in this picture book published for the fiftieth anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.”
A Song for Gwendolyn Brooks by Alice Faye Duncan
“A collection of poems profiles the Chicago author who gave voice to the urban African American experience in the twentieth century.”
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
“Originally performed for ESPN’s The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world’s greatest heroes.”
Our country would not be what it is without the rich contributions of Black Americans, whose creativity, intelligence, courage, and leadership have shaped our nation. Click here for even more picture books featuring their stories and experiences!
Written by Carolyn L., Youth Services Program and Outreach Coordinator
