We know how important it is for all children to see, learn about, and interact with role models who represent them and reading about strong figures in the black community is one way to meet this need for children of color. Similarly, for all children who don’t often experience diverse communities, books can be one way to expose them to the variety of ways passion, leadership, and integrity manifest. From historical figures who have achieved great accomplishments to fictional characters who embody the identity and experience, the following books are a selection of suggestions that can be used to expand your child’s reading list on black history and experience.
PART 2 – FOR INDEPENDENT READERS
You can find Part 1, our list for early readers, here.
Young, Gifted and Black: Meet 52 Black Heroes from Past and Present by Jamia Wilson
Suggested Ages: 7-10 years
Meet 52 icons of color from the past and present in this celebration of inspirational achievement—a collection of stories about changemakers to encourage, inspire, and empower the next generation of changemakers. Jamia Wilson has carefully curated this range of black icons and the book is stylishly brought together by Andrea Pippins’ colorful and celebratory illustrations. Highlighting the talent and contributions of black leaders and changemakers from around the world, readers of all backgrounds will be empowered to discover what they too can achieve.
The Gold Cadillac by Mildred Taylor
Suggested Ages: 7-11 years
Lois and Wilma are proud of their father’s brand-new gold Cadillac, and excited that the family will be driving it all the way from Ohio to Mississippi. But as they travel deeper into the rural South, there are no admiring glances for the shiny new car; only suspicion and anger for the black man behind the wheel. For the first time in their lives, Lois and her sister know what it’s like to feel scared because of the color of their skin.
What Color Is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld
Suggested Ages: 8-12 years
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, basketball legend and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, champions a lineup of little-known African-American inventors in this lively, kid-friendly book. Offering profiles with fast facts and framed by a funny contemporary story featuring two feisty twins, here is a tribute to black inventors whose ingenuity and perseverance against great odds made our world safer, better, and brighter.
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
Suggested Ages: 8-12 years
This beautifully illustrated New York Times bestseller introduces readers of all ages to 40 women who changed the world. 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.
The Dream Keeper and Other Poems by Langston Hughes
Suggested Ages: 8-12 years
This classic collection of poetry features Hughes’ inspirational messages to young people. Although never a biological father himself, Hughes speaks directly to the heart and spirit of children as he richly describes how dreams can channel hopes, drive us forward, and support us as we experience challenges, insecurities, and fears. Each poem is as relevant to children and adults alike today as it was when it was first penned in 1932.
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