If were to list all the things my mom (an English teacher) did right, filling my childhood bookshelves with exciting, memorable stories would be tops. It wasn’t until my friends started having children that I realized we didn’t grow up reading the same books. Oh, the books we read at school were the same, but I was nurtured in a different wealth of literary magic at home. That’s what inspired this Black History Month Reading List for Young Readers — to have suggestions at the ready when asked. If you were hoping for a similar  Reading List for Adults, don’t worry; I have you covered.  

 Compiling this multicultural book list just in time for Black History Month was a fun, nostalgic walk down memory lane. Most of the stories on this list were on my childhood bookshelf. Others have been written since my childhood. Some depict historical realities, while others showcase the richness of the African Diaspora. Parents can use this list to encourage a positive self-identity, strengthen empathy, and as a way to bond with their little learners. For teachers, this Black History Month Reading List for Young Readers can serve as a learning aid. Even if the stories are not read right away, simply having access to the books is fortunate.

Representation and Inclusion

Less than 3% of children’s books published in 2015 featured black characters. The statistical correlation between young black boys’ disinterest in reading and the lack of stories that feature them is little of wonder. Books transmit values. They explore our shared humanity. What message is sent to all children when some children are not represented in books?

 When books (movies and toys, for that matter) reflect the truly diverse world we live in, children can better speak to more experiences and show our differences and commonalities in a positive light. The six books in this section of the Black History Month Reading List for Young Readers aim to celebrate and include.  Minimal emphasis isplaced on race. 

Several of these titles won’t be found on my list. This picture is just my way of slipping more books on this short 28-book list.

1. Corduroy by Don Freeman – A cute little story about a cute little bear who is loved by a cute little girl named Lisa.  Perfect for younger children with no emphasis on race but simply a representation (and humanization) of black characters. This classic has been enjoyed for over 50 years! It can be found on YouTube.
2. A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman– The equally charming sequel to Corduroy.
3. Cherries and Cherry Pits by Vera B Williams – My kindergarten librarian read this to our class.  I remember the beautiful colors more than the plot. It’s easy for little ones to identify with the main character who is a very creative artist. Plus, she wears her hair in ball-balls just like I did.  The pictures steal the show in this book and encourage imagination.
4. Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman. — I adore this story about a little girl who adores stories!  This is an encouraging account of a little girl with a big imagination and a talent for acting.  It’s a reminder not to listen to the critics, and you can do anything you put your mind to. Besides, this book makes references to other well-known stories, some of which are found in this reading
   list (hint: Anansi the Spider). Although not cultural, the book Chrysanthemum, written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes, also pairs well with the theme of Amazing Grace.
5. John Henry by Julius Lester – This Caldecott Medal Winner encapsulates several John Henry tall tales in one.  Conclude reading this story with the Ballad of John Henry (you can find the song on YouTube). Make it an American Tall Tale theme by including the adventures of Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan and Babe the Big Blue Ox, Johnny Appleseed, and Thunder Rose.
6. You Can Do It by Tony Dungy. – This New York Times Best Seller encourages little ones to press through challenges and recognize their own special gifts. It’s also a great read to remind parents to take advantage of opportunities to encourage their children.  The story makes strong religious references and is read aloud on YouTube.

Black History Month Reading List for Young Readers

The next 12 stories in this reading list provide a historical narrative into the wide range of challenges and triumphs of Americans.

1. Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco — My mom read this to me and cried. Then my fifth-grade teacher read it to our class, and she cried.  I recently watched it read aloud on YouTube, and everyone was commenting that they were crying.  I’m crying writing about it. You’ll probably cry too.  You must read it! It’s based a true story that discusses the unlikely friendship forged during the Civil War.
2. Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine — The true account of a young American man’s daring and creative escape to freedom.
3. The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles. — NoThis is the true story of the little kindergarten girl’s quest to go to school. Ruby now lives in the Biloxi Area.
4. White Socks Only by Evelyn Coleman and Tyrone Geter uses
   African American Vernacular English (AAVE) to capture a time in our nation’s history. This might be a good time to discuss AAVE as one of the many forms of English spoken in America. All countries have their own vernacular and dialect of the primary language. It’s a pattern of speaking and based on oral tradition and some people switch back and forth from Standard American English and AAVE. The story is about a Mississippi girl who thinks “Whites Only” means white socks only.  Although this book wasn’t published until after my childhood, it reminds me of a story that one of my elementary school teachers told our class. She remembered seeing the signs and always thought the “colored” signs meant colored water. She was disappointed when she wasn’t allowed to use the colored fountain to see the colorful water come out. It’s read aloud on YouTube.
5. Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights by Carole Boston Weatherford. The Author is a Boston native who provides an autobiography of
   a soulful singer and activist during civil rights.  It has received Caldecott Honor, NAACP, Robert F. Sibert, John Steptoe, and Coretta Scott King Award recipient. It’s steeped in poems and colorful illustrations celebrating the life of this powerful-voiced voting rights champion. Be sure to listen to music by Fannie Lou Hamer as well as supplement the book with references from YouTube, movies, or biographies for more historical context.
6. Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz. — This picture book written by his daughter focuses on Malcolm’s childhood.  This story ends triumphantly in the seventh grade when he, the only African American at school, is elected class president.  At 48 pages, this is for older readers or will take multiple reading sessions.
7. Dear Benjamin Banneker by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney.—This is a look at the life and times of the 18th-century scientist.  It focuses on his correspondence with Thomas Jefferson and the dichotomy between his Declaration of Independence and his enslavement of people (including his own children).  On display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture is one of Thomas Jefferson’s drafts of The Declaration, which included a paragraph on slavery.  Rather than drawing attention to the obvious misalignment, both northern and southern slaveholding delegates objected to its inclusion when the document was presented to the Continental Congress on July 1, 1776.
8. I, too, am America by Langston Hughes — This Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award book introduces children to the 1925 classic poem of Harlem’s Poet Lauriat. You can see the poem recited by Denzel Washington on the Great Debaters with additional historical context and reference to other poetry of the time. This picture book could be used for memorization and recitation.
9. Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey and Gwen
   Strauss—This is a reminder that cross-country road trips (including military members PCSing) were certainly a bit more treacherous for African Americans in 1950.  Told from the perspective of a little girl who leaves Chicago to visit her grandma in Alabama, this is book is a good gateway to introduce “Sundown Towns” and concerns black Americans still may have to consider when traveling. Ruth’s story is fiction, but The Green Book and its role in helping a generation of
   African-American travelers avoid some of the indignities and safety risks of America, a historical fact.
10. Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles and Jerome Lagarrigue — Two best friends are just alike in all ways, except in the way they look. They learn that in the South in 1964, it takes more than a new law to change hearts.
11. The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson— Clover’s mom says it isn’t safe to cross the fence that segregates their African-American side of town from the white side where Anna lives. But the two girls strike up
    a friendship, and get around the grown-ups’ rules by sitting on top of the fence together.
12. Bill Pickett: The Rodeo-Ridin’ Cowboy by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney— The biographical, sweat-and-dirt tale of the feisty cowboy-child who became one of the most famous rodeo performers who ever lived. Today, there’s even a rodeo invitational named after him. It will make you want to saddle up. Includes a note about the history of the black West and a bibliography.

 

Classic Tales of the African Diaspora

Lastly, on our Black History Month Reading List for Young Readers, we have ten stories that focus on celebrating the diverse and vibrant cultures of the African Diaspora. Some tales, like Uncle Remus, are unique to America. Others, like Anansi, are classic to a particular tribe in Ghana and shared all over.

Why do chameleons change color? Why is the ocean blue? Children are naturally curious about the wonders of nature, and sometimes, parents don’t always have the answer.  Pourquoi tales [por-kwa] (means “why” in French) are a theme of stories around the diaspora. They attempt to answer the inquiries while inspiring imagination and feeding little one’s interest in the natural world. All cultures have their own version of pourquoi tales, and they provide insight into cultural cues.

1. Why Mosquitos Buzz in People’s Ears by Verna Aardema – This is the quintessential Pourquoi tale depicting a West African Jungle disaster with vibrant Caldecott Medal Winning Illustrations. There are many other similar stories but knowing this story is an absolute must.
2. Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott– This Caldecott Medal-winning Pourquoi tale explains how the moon came to be.  This is just one of the many stories and adventures of Anansi, a well-known character from Ashanti folklore that spread throughout the diaspora. This particular tale reminds readers that everyone has their own special gifts for the greater good.  You can watch animations of the spider on YouTube.
3. Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe – This is my favorite princess story! It’s a classic tale that serves as a constant reminder that a queen is, as a queen does. This book has also been adopted into Spanish and can be found read aloud on Reading Rainbow and YouTube.
4. Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit by Julius Lester                                          Uncle Remus is the Aesop of America. The Uncle Remus tales are an oral tradition, originally written down by Joel Chandler Harris, were first published over a hundred years ago, and serve as
   the largest collection of American folklore.  The way you tell the stories are almost more important than the stories themselves. If you are going to tell the tales, you got to tell it right. If your southern mama didn’t introduce you to the stories herself, be sure you practice and watch movies or YouTube to get the voices right.  Disney even has a ride based on the Tar Baby, and once you know the stories, you appreciate the ride even more.
5. A Pride of African Tales by Donna L. Washington— This book reintroduces Anansi from Ghana and offers new stories from The Congo, Nigeria, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (don’t miss the opportunity to explain the difference between the Congo). Each story teaches a valuable life lesson in character development.
6. The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales by Virginia Hamilton. This book houses a cannon of African American folklore with gorgeous illustrations. The well-known author retells 24 American folk tales in sure storytelling voice. They include animal tales, supernatural tales, fanciful and cautionary tales, and slave tales of freedom. All are beautifully readable. With the added attraction of 40 stunning paintings by the Dillons, this collection is calling to be part of your library. I was mesmerized by the images long before I read a page.
7. Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl by Virginia Hamilton — Make sure your little one knows the story of the Tar Baby first. This tale is retold in Gullah, not Southern AAVE.
8. Big Mama’sby Donald Crews— Auto-biographic, depiction of family nostalgia.  In addition to sharing the love and warmth of family, it also provides cultural insight. I once brought a friend to my southern gospel-style church.  While I readily recognize “Mee-ma, and “Mammaw” as terms for grandmother, it never occurred to me that my friend would need to ask, “Who is Big Mama?” This book serves to bridge cultural understanding.
9. The Hundred Penny Box by Sharon Bell Mathis–                                                                          Winner of a Newbery Honor, this beautiful story is infused with family warmth.  As a child, I liked the story, but it wasn’t until I was an adult and experiencing the challenges of my late age grandparents
   did I spontaneously recalled this story and thought, “This is just like the Hundred Penny Box.” I suddenly identified with it even more.
10. Jambo Means Hello: A Swahili Alphabet Book by Muriel Feelings                                                Africa is the second-largest continent in the world with 53 nations with a combined total population twice the size of the United States. It is a vast and diverse land of waterfalls, mountains, deserts, rainforests, and grasslands. The languages of Africa are also diverse, with 800-1,000 different languages spoken among the people.  One of the most common languages spoken is Swahili (or Kiswahili, which is the proper way to identify the language.) Kiswahili is an Arabic word meaning “of the coast” or people of the coast. It is one of 80 Bantulanguages, and is the national language of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and is spoken in Burundi, Rwanda and Zaire, and other parts of central and eastern Africa. This book introduces a word for each of the 24- letters in the Swahili alphabet (No Q or X) with a brief explanation of each word introduces an East African custom.

Unfortunately, my local Barnes and Noble doesn’t have half of these classics. So, to get them in time for February, you may need to order online or check them out from your local library. Remember, this Black History Month Reading List for Young Readers isn’t just for February — it can and should be read year-round.