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Observe and celebrate Black History Month by reading and sharing some of these stories about Black experiences in America and beyond. We invite you to also explore our Jazzy’ s Black History Month Bookshelf featuring a collection of great new book releases by Black American authors. Jazzy’s Black History Month Book Shelf on Bookelicious.com
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| Change Sings: A Children’s Anthemby Amanda Gorman (Author) Loren Long (Illustrator) Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem on Bookelicious Reading Level: K − 1st Grade A lyrical picture book debut from presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman and #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Loren Long I can hear change humming In its loudest, proudest song. I don’t fear change coming, And so I sing along. In this stirring, much-anticipated picture book by presidential inaugural poet and activist Amanda Gorman, anything is possible when our voices join together. As a young girl leads a cast of characters on a musical journey, they learn that they have the power to make changes–big or small–in the world, in their communities, and in most importantly, in themselves. With lyrical text and rhythmic illustrations that build to a dazzling crescendo by #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Loren Long, Change Sings is a triumphant call to action for everyone to use their abilities to make a difference. |
| When Langston Dancesby Kaija Langley (Author) Keith Mallett (Illustrator Reading Level: K − 1st Grade Inspired by watching a performance of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, a young black boy longs to dance and enrolls in ballet school. A young Black boy dreams of dancing in this exuberant, buoyant picture book celebrating the beauty of dance, and the wonder of Black Boy Joy–perfect for fans of Firebird and Crown! Langston likes basketball okay, but what he loves is to dance–ever since he saw the Alvin Ailey Dance Company perform. He longs to twirl into a pirouette, whirl into a piqué. He wants to arabesque and attitude, grand battement and grand jeté. When he walks, the whole street is his stage. With his neighborhood cheering him on, will Langston achieve his dream? |
| When the Schools Shut Down: A Young Girl’s Story of Virginia’s Lost Generation and the Brown V. Board of Education of Topeka DecisiBy Yoland Gladden (Author) Keisha Morris (Illustrator) Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade An awe-inspiring autobiographical picture book about a young African American girl who lived during the shutdown of public schools in Farmville, Virginia, following the landmark civil rights case Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka. Most people think that the Brown vs. Board of Education decision of 1954 meant that schools were integrated with deliberate speed. But the children of Prince Edward County located in Farmville, Virginia, who were prohibited from attending formal schools for five years knew differently, including Yolanda. Told by Yolanda Gladden herself, co-written by Dr. Tamara Pizzoli and with illustrations by Keisha Morris, When the Schools Shut Down is a true account of the unconstitutional effort by white lawmakers of this small Virginia town to circumvent racial justice by denying an entire generation of children an education. Most importantly, it is a story of how one community triumphed together, despite the shutdown. |
| Saving the Day: Garrett Morgan’s Life-Changing Invention of the Traffic Signal (A Sweet Blackberry Book)by Karyn Parsons (Author) R Gregory Christie (Illustrator) Saving the Day, Garrett Morgans’s Life-Changing Invention of the Traffic Signal on Bookelicious.com Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade Series: A Sweet Blackberry Book From Karyn Parson’s critically acclaimed Sweet Blackberry video series comes the little known story of Garrett Morgan, an African American inventor who created the traffic signal. Before Garrett Morgan became a successful inventor and saved countless lives with his creations, he was a little boy with a head full of ideas on how to make life better for everyone. At a tumultuous time filled with racism and discrimination, Garrett became a prominent business man and skilled inventor who produced the traffic signal, a gas mask, and others objects still used today. This second book from the award-winning children’s film series founded by Karyn Parsons, Sweet Blackberry, comes a little-known story about a man whose talent would be a gift to the world. |
| Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved Historyby Schele Williams (Author) Tonya Engel (Illustrator) Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History on Bookelicious.com Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade A proud, empowering introduction to African American history that celebrates and honors enslaved ancestors Your story begins in Africa. Your African ancestors defied the odds and survived 400 years of slavery in America and passed down an extraordinary legacy to you. Beginning in Africa before 1619, Your Legacy presents an unprecedentedly accessible, empowering, and proud introduction to African American history for children. While your ancestors’ freedom was taken from them, their spirit was not; this book celebrates their accomplishments, acknowledges their sacrifices, and defines how they are remembered–and how their stories should be taught. |
| A Day for Rememberin’: The First Memorial Dayby Leah Henderson (Author) Floyd Cooper (Illustrator) Day for Rememberin’: The First Memorial Day on Bookelicious.com Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade A moving tribute to the little-known history behind the first Memorial Day, illustrated by Coretta Scott King Award winner Floyd Cooper Today is a special day. Eli knows it’s important if he’s allowed to miss one second of school, his “hard-earned right.” Inspired by true events and told through the eyes of a young boy, this is the deeply moving story about what is regarded as the first Memorial Day on May 1, 1865. Eli dresses up in his best clothes, Mama gathers the mayflowers, Papa straightens his hat, and together they join the crowds filling the streets of Charleston, South Carolina, with bouquets, crosses, and wreaths. Abolitionists, missionaries, teachers, military officers, and a sea of faces Black, Brown, and White, march as one and sing for all those who gave their lives fighting for freedom during the Civil War. With poignant prose and celebratory, powerful illustrations, A Day for Rememberin’ shines a light on the little-known history of this important holiday and reminds us never to forget the people who put their lives on the line for their country. The book is illustrated by award-winning illustrator Floyd Cooper and includes archival photos in the back matter, as well as an author’s note, bibliography, timeline, and index. |
| Shirley Chisholm Dared: The Story of the First Black Woman in Congress by Alicia D. Williams (Author) April Harrison (Illustrator) Shirley Chisholm Dared: The Story of the First Black Woman in Congress on Bookelicious.com Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade Discover the inspiring story of the first black woman elected to Congress and to run for president in this picture book biography from a Newbery Honor-winning author and a Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe New Talent Award-winning illustrator. Meet Shirley, a little girl who asks way too many questions! After spending her early years on her grandparents’ farm in Barbados, she returns home to Brooklyn and immediately makes herself known. Shirley kicks butt in school; she breaks her mother’s curfew; she plays jazz piano instead of classical. And as a young adult, she fights against the injustice she sees around her, against women and black people. Soon she is running for state assembly…and winning in a landslide. Three years later, she is on the campaign trail again, as the first black woman to run for Congress. Her slogan? Fighting Shirley Chisholm–Unbought and Unbossed! Does she win? You bet she does. |
| Saving American Beach: The Biography of African American Environmentalist MaVynee Betsch by Heidi Tyline King (Author) Ekua Holmes (Illustrator) Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade This heartfelt picture book biography illustrated by the Caldecott Honoree Ekua Holmes, tells the story of MaVynee Betsch, an African American opera singer turned environmentalist and the legacy she preserved. MaVynee loved going to the beach. But in the days of Jim Crow, she couldn’t just go to any beach–most of the beaches in Jacksonville were for whites only. Knowing something must be done, her grandfather bought a beach that African American families could enjoy without being reminded they were second-class citizens; he called it American Beach. Artists like Zora Neale Hurston and Ray Charles vacationed on its sunny shores. It’s here that MaVynee was first inspired to sing, propelling her to later become a widely acclaimed opera singer who routinely performed on an international stage. But her first love would always be American Beach. After the Civil Rights Act desegregated public places, there was no longer a need for a place like American Beach and it slowly fell into disrepair. MaVynee remembered the importance of American Beach to her family and so many others, so determined to preserve this integral piece of American history, she began her second act as an activist and conservationist, ultimately saving the place that had always felt most like home. |
| The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones (Author) Nikkolas Smith (Illustrator) 1619 Project: Born on the Water on Bookelicious.com Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade The 1619 Project’s lyrical picture book in verse chronicles the consequences of slavery and the history of Black resistance in the United States, thoughtfully rendered by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and Newbery honor-winning author Renée Watson. A young student receives a family tree assignment in school, but she can only trace back three generations. Grandma gathers the whole family, and the student learns that 400 years ago, in 1619, their ancestors were stolen and brought to America by white slave traders. But before that, they had a home, a land, a language. She learns how the people said to be born on the water survived. And the people planted dreams and hope, willed themselves to keep living, living. And the people learned new words for love, for friend, for family, for joy, for grow, for home. With powerful verse and striking illustrations by Nikkolas Smith, Born on the Water provides a pathway for readers of all ages to reflect on the origins of American identity. |
| Oprah Winfrey (She Persisted) by Renee Watson (Author) Gillian Flint (Illustrator) Oprah Winfrey (She Persisted) on Bookelicious.com Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade Series: She Persisted Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger comes a chapter book series about women who stood up spoke up and rose up against the odds–including Oprah Winfrey! In this chapter book biography by award-winning author Renée Watson, readers learn about the amazing life of Oprah Winfrey–and how she persisted. When Oprah Winfrey was growing up, her family expected her to become a maid like her grandmother. But she had different dreams. She went after them and turned her dreams into reality, becoming a media superstar and inspiring countless other people along the way. Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Oprah Winfrey’s footsteps and make a difference! |
| Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan (Author) Keturah A Bobo (Illustrator) Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade The true story of Black activist Opal Lee and her vision of Juneteenth as a holiday for everyone celebrates Black joy and inspires children to see their dreams blossom. Growing up in Texas, Opal knew the history of Juneteenth, but she soon discovered that many Americans had never heard of the holiday that represents the nation’s creed of freedom for all. Every year, Opal looked forward to the Juneteenth picnic–a drumming, dancing, delicious party. She knew from Granddaddy Zak’s stories that Juneteenth celebrated the day the freedom news of President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation finally sailed into Texas in 1865–over two years after the president had declared it! But Opal didn’t always see freedom in her Texas town. Then one Juneteenth day when Opal was twelve years old, an angry crowd burned down her brand-new home. This wasn’t freedom at all. She had to do something! Opal Lee spent the rest of her life speaking up for equality and unity. She became a teacher, a charity worker, and a community leader. At the age of 89, she walked from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C., in an effort to gain national recognition for Juneteenth. Through the story of Opal Lee’s determination and persistence, children ages 4 to 8 will learn:
Featuring the illustrations of New York Times bestselling illustrator Keturah A. Bobo (I am Enough), Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free celebrates the life and legacy of a modern-day Black leader while sharing a message of hope, unity, joy, and strength. |
| Nina: A Story of Nina Simone by Traci Todd (Author) Christian Robinson (Illustrator) Nina, A Story of Nina Simone on Bookelicious.com Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade This illuminating and defining picture book biography illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Christian Robinson, tells the story of little Eunice who grew up to become the acclaimed singer Nina Simone and her bold, defiant, and exultant legacy. Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in small town North Carolina, Nina Simone was a musical child. She sang before she talked and learned to play piano at a very young age. With the support of her family and community, she received music lessons that introduced her to classical composers like Bach who remained with her and influenced her music throughout her life. She loved the way his music began softly and then tumbled to thunder, like her mother’s preaching, and in much the same way as her career. During her first performances under the name of Nina Simone her voice was rich and sweet but as the Civil Rights Movement gained steam, Nina’s voice soon became a thunderous roar as she raised her voice in powerful protest in the fight against racial inequality and discrimination. |
| Harriet Tubman: Fighter for Freedom! (Show Me History!) by James Buckley (Author) Izeek Esidene (Illustrator) Harriet Tubman: Fighter for Freedom! (Show Me History!) on Bookelicious.com Reading Level: 4th – 5th Grade Series: Show Me History! Harriet Tubman escaped slavery, helped dozens make it to freedom, and then became an abolitionist and women’s rights advocate. Here’s the remarkable life story of an American hero, told in an exciting graphic novel format. Harriet Tubman lived an incredible life, one more heroic than any comic book superhero. In 1849 she escaped slavery for the first time. Then she headed back into the South, helping about 70 slaves find freedom on more than a dozen dangerous journeys along an elaborate abolitionist network called the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman: Fighter for Freedom! is the latest in Show Me History! collection, previously featuring the stories of real-life American luminaries such as Abraham Lincoln, Alexander Hamilton, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Like the rest of Show Me History!, and befitting her almost unbelievable life, Fighter for Freedom! is presented in full-color, graphic novel format–a long-form comic book. |
| Stamped (for Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds (Author) Rachelle Baker (Illustrator) Stamped (for Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You on Bookelicious.com Reading Level: 4th – 5th Grade This chapter book edition of the #1 New York Times bestseller by luminaries Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds is an essential introduction to the history of racism and antiracism in America RACE. Uh-oh. The R-word. But actually talking about race is one of the most important things to learn how to do. Adapted from the groundbreaking bestseller Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, this book takes readers on a journey from present to past and back again. Kids will discover where racist ideas came from, identify how they impact America today, and meet those who have fought racism with antiracism. Along the way, they’ll learn how to identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their own lives. Ibram X. Kendi’s research, Jason Reynolds’s and Sonja Cherry-Paul’s writing, and Rachelle Baker’s art come together in this vital read, enhanced with a glossary, timeline, and more. |
| Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford (Author) Floyd Cooper (Illustrator) Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre on Bookelicious.com Reading Level: 4th – 5th Grade Celebrated author Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrator Floyd Cooper provide a powerful look at the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in our nation’s history. The book traces the history of African Americans in Tulsa’s Greenwood district and chronicles the devastation that occurred in 1921 when a white mob attacked the Black community. News of what happened was largely suppressed, and no official investigation occurred for seventy-five years. This picture book sensitively introduces young readers to this tragedy and concludes with a call for a better future. |
| The People Remember by Ibi Zoboi (Author) Loveis Wise (Illustrator) People Remember on Bookelicious.com Reading Level: 4th – 5th Grade The People Remember tells the journey of African descendants in America by connecting their history to the seven principles of Kwanzaa. It begins in Africa, where people were taken from their homes and families. They spoke different languages and had different customs. Yet they were bound and chained together and forced onto ships sailing into an unknown future. Ultimately, all these people had to learn one common language and create a culture that combined their memories of home with new traditions that enabled them to thrive in this new land. Sumptuously illustrated, this is an important book to read as a family–a story young readers can visit over and over again to deepen their understanding of African American history in relation to their own lives and current social justice movements. By turns powerful and revealing, this is a lyrical narrative that tells the story of survival, as well as the many moments of joy, celebration, and innovation of Black people in America. |
| Bold Women In Black History (Little Leaders) By Vashti Harison Bold Women In Black History (Little Leaders) on Bookelicious.com Reading Level: 4th – 5th Grade Series: Little Leaders A NEW YORK TIMES INSTANT BESTSELLER!A USA TODAY BESTSELLER!
An important book for all ages, Little Leaders educates and inspires as it relates true stories of forty trailblazing black women in American history. Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, politician Shirley Chisholm, mathematician Katherine Johnson, poet Maya Angelou, and filmmaker Julie Dash. Among these biographies, readers will find heroes, role models, and everyday women who did extraordinary things – bold women whose actions and beliefs contributed to making the world better for generations of girls and women to come. Whether they were putting pen to paper, soaring through the air, or speaking up for the rights of others, the women profiled in these pages were all taking a stand against a world that didn’t always accept them.The leaders in this book may be little, but they all did something big and amazing, inspiring generations to come. |
| The Story of Kamala Harris (A Biography Book for New Readers) by Tonya Leslie(Author) The Story of Kamal Harris on Bookelicious.com Reading Level: 4th – 5th Grade Series: A Biography Series for New Readers Discover the life of Kamala Harris-a story about fighting for justice for kids ages 6 to 9 Kamala Harris is the first woman, Black American, and South Asian American to become vice president of the United States. Before she made history, Kamala was a passionate kid who enjoyed traveling and attended civil rights protests with her family. She always wanted to help people, so she worked hard to become a lawyer, then a U.S. senator, and now, vice president! Explore how Kamala went from being a young girl to an American leader and role model. The Story of Kamala Harris includes: – Core curriculum – Learn the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Kamala’s life, and take a quick quiz to test your understanding. – Short chapters – Explore brightly illustrated, easy-to-read chapters that make you want to keep reading and learning more about Kamala Harris. – A visual timeline – Watch Kamala progress from a little girl to vice president of the United States with a visual timeline marking the major milestones in her life. |
| Black Men in Science: A Black History Book for Kids (Biographies for Kids) By Bryan Patrick Avery (Author) Black Men In Science, 15 Inspiring People You Should Know on Bookelicious.com Reading Level: 4th – 5th Grade Series: Biographies for Kids Incredible stories of Black men who changed the course of science―for kids ages 8 to 12 All throughout history, Black men have made important contributions to scientific discovery. This collection of biographies for kids explores 15 of these intelligent men and the extraordinary scientific accomplishments they achieved–even when they faced huge challenges. You’ll learn how they stood up against racism and inequality, and never stopped following their passions for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Meet talented Black men in history who have helped:
Dive into a world of inspiring men with this scientific entry into Black history books for kids. |
| Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy by Emmanuel Acho (Author) Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy on Bookelicious.com Reading Level: 6th — 7th Grade Adapted from Emmanuel Acho’s New York Times bestseller Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, comes an essential young readers edition aimed at opening a dialogue about systemic racism with our youngest generation. Young people have the power to affect sweeping change, and the key to mending the racial divide in America lies in giving them the tools to ask honest questions and take in the difficult answers. Approaching every awkward, taboo, and uncomfortable question with openness and patience, Emmanuel Acho connects his own experience with race and racism–from attending majority-white prep schools to his time in the NFL playing on majority-black football teams–to insightful lessons in black history and black culture. Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy is just one way young readers can begin to short circuit racism within their own lives and communities. |
