African Americans

Realistic fiction

Non-fiction

Traditional

Biography

Historical fiction

Poetry

Fantasy

CLICK ON THE BOOK’S TITLE TO LINK TO amazon.com TO PURCHASE YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS.

NOTE: RECENTLY ADDED TITLES APPEAR IN RED.

NOTE: TITLES ADDED WINTER 2008/2009 APPEAR IN BLUE.

Realistic Fiction:

Ackerman, K. (1999). By the dawn’s early light. Illustrated by C. Stock. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)

A young girl and her brother stay with their grandmother while their mother works at night. (card catalog)

Adoff, A. (1992). Black is brown is tan. Illustrated by E. A. McCully. New York: Harpercollins Juvenile Books. (K-3)

Momma is black and Daddy is white but the family is many colors. The members of their loving circle make the world sweet for the young children growing up tall and strong.

(amazon.com)

Allen, D. (2003). Dancing in the wings. Illustrated by K. Nelson. Puffin. (K-2)

This charming picture book focuses on the world of ballet classes, and children’s cruelty toward those who are different. Sassy loves to dance but she is tall, gangly, and has really big feet. Her desire to perform is her strongest asset. When she soars through the air in a giant leap, she feels like she can do anything. Sassy does indeed live up to her name. This African-American child is fresh, she is innovative-she wears a bright yellow leotard to stand out in the crowd-and she is determined. The story is sure to build self-esteem in those readers who can empathize with Sassy and they’ll cheer when she takes center stage in a dance festival in the nation’s capital. Nelson’s artwork conveys Sassy’s spirit and captures well the expressions of her smug, mocking classmates. A great read-aloud. (School Library Journal)

Barbara, B. E. (1996). Allie’s basketball dream. Illustrated by D. Ligasan. New York: Lee & Low. (K-3)

Allie cannot wait to get to the local courts with her new ball after going to a pro basketball game with her father, but her enthusiasm ebbs as her shots fall short of the basket, until, shrugging off comments about basketball being a “boy’s sport,” Allie scores, becoming the inspiration of the playground. (amazon.com)

Barbara, B. E. (1996). Saturday at The New You. Illustrated by A. Rich. Lee & Low. (K-2)

An expressively written and beautifully illustrated story of a young African American girl’s special Saturdays spent with her mother at The New You Beauty Parlor. The shop is set up for business, and the day unfolds to the wonderful smells of sweet peach shampoo, strawberry conditioner, and fresh coffee. Customers share laughter, chocolate-chip cookies, jelly donuts, and sweet-potato pies. Some enjoy napping while sitting under the dryer. As the day ends, Shauna sits down with her dolls and her comb and works on her "customers.” The first-person narration mirrors the myriad activities of the shop and the child’s enthusiasm about spending her day there. The double-spread illustrations feature the activities of the day, rendered predominately in vivid shades of peach and pink. (School Library Journal)

Buckley, H. (2000). Grandmother and I. Illustrated by J. Ormerod. New York: Harpercollins Juvenile Books. (K-3)

A little girl finds her grandmother’s lap the perfect place to be when she’s not feeling well, when lightning flashes, or when the cat has been gone for two days. Grandfather and grandson enjoy nice, slow nature walks together, while the rest of the family and the world around them rushes by. (The Horn Book, 1994)

Bunting, E. (1999). Smoky night. Illustrated by D. Diaz. New York: Harcourt Brace. (1-4)

When the smell of smoke wakens Daniel and his mother during the night, they flee from the rioting outside their apartment to a shelter. Inspired by an innocent comment from Daniel, his mother introduces herself to a neighbor; the African-American woman’s attempt to reach out to the Korean-American woman is a clear result of surviving the riots together. (The Horn Book, 1994)

Burrowes, A. J. (2000). Grandma’s purple flowers. New York: Lee and Low Books. (K-3)

The narrator’s favorite Grandma lives through the park and down the hill. On the way to visit her, the little girl picks purple flowers – Grandma’s favorite. One day, when the girl knocks on Grandma’s door, Grandma moves slowly and is too tired to play. That night, she passes away. Throughout winter, the little girl misses her terribly. But when spring arrives, the sight of purple flowers she and her grandmother planted in the garden makes her smile again. (amazon.com)

Cameron, A. (2000). Gloria’s way. Illustrated by L. Toft. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux. (1-3)

In this collection of six stories, Gloria has some fun adventures as she makes her way through each day. (Borders.com)

Cameron, A. (1999). Julian’s glorious summer. Illustrated by D. Leder. New York: Econo-Clad Books. (1-3)

When his best friend, Gloria, receives a new bike, seven-year-old Julian spends the summer avoiding her because of his fear of bikes. (Borders.com)

Chocolate, D. M. N. (1996). A very special Kwanzaa. New York: Scholastic. K-3

Remembering how the kids made fun of his dashiki, beads, and sandals the previous year, Charlie is reluctant to participate in the present year's Kwanzaa Festival at school, until he remembers the deeper meaning of Kwanzaa. (amazon.com)

Chocolate, D. M. N. (1999). My first Kwanzaa book. Illustrated by C. Massey. New York: Scholastic. (K-2)

During the last week of December, Kwanzaa is a time to dress up in African clothes and gather together with relatives from all over the country. Grandma brings special things to eat, Grandpa lights the candles, and everyone in the family celebrates their heritage. (amazon.com)

Clements, A. (2002). The jacket. Illustrated by M. Henderson. New York: Simon & Schuster. (4-6)

After wrongly accusing a boy--an African American boy—of stealing his brother’s jacket, Phil--a white boy--has some hard thinking to do. And a tough question for his mom: “How come you never told me I was prejudiced?” This seemingly small school incident turns into a painful, but ultimately satisfying, learning opportunity for the sixth grader, as he explores the myriad influences in his life and the way his thought patterns have formed... and finds a new friend in the process. The intellectual evolution Phil goes through may be somewhat facile for a child his age, but Andrew Clements’ message will undoubtedly hit home for many readers. This is exactly the kind of situation that arises every day in schools (and offices and buses) all over the world. (amazon.com)

Collier, B. (2000). Uptown. New York: Henry Holt & Company. (K-3)

Discover the vibrant world of Harlem, New York, as seen through the eyes of one little boy who lives there. (amazon.com)

Copage, E. (1995). A Kwanzaa fable. New York: William Morrow. (5-6)

Resenting the difficult responsibilities that are thrust upon him after his father's death, thirteen-year-old Jordan reluctantly helps his younger siblings and learns how the seven principles of Kwanzaa can be applied to everyday life. (amazon.com)

Crews, D. (1998). Bigmama’s. New York: Mulberry Books. (K-3)

Visiting Bigmama’s house in the country, young Donald Crews finds his relatives full of news and the old place and its surroundings just the same as the year before. (card catalog)

Crews, N. (1995). One hot summer day. New York: Greenwillow Books. (K-3)

It is summer and it is hot, but the running, dancing narrator enjoys every moment of her day--drawing, teasing her shadow, eating popsicles, and even the big, cool drops of rain when they begin to fall. (amazon.com)

Cunnane, K. (2006). For you are a Kenyan boy. Illustrated by A. Juan. Atheneum/Anne Schwartz Books. (K-3)

Imagine you live in a small Kenyan village, where the sun rises over tall trees filled with doves. You wake to the sound of a rooster’s crow, instead of an alarm clock and the school bus. Your afternoon snack is a tasty bug plucked from the sky, instead of an apple. And rather than kicking a soccer ball across a field, you kick a homemade ball of rags down a dusty road. But despite this, things aren’t that different for a Kenyan child than they would be for an American kid, are they? With so much going on around you, it’s just as easy to forget what your mama asked you to do! (amazon.com)

Daly, N. (2005). Ruby sings the blues. Bloomsbury. (K-2)

Ruby’s voice is so loud that her neighbors call her "Boom-box,” and "Loud-mouth,” and the kids at school won’t play with her. Feeling silenced and criticized, Ruby falls into a funk until her cool, jazz musician neighbors teach her to harness her amazing vocal chords. Soon Ruby is singing the blues and taking her school auditorium by storm. Daly tells a simple story of a child learning to focus and develop her talents. The nicely paced, rhythmic text will read well to a crowd, and the lyrical descriptions of what Ruby learns to do ("sing sharp, zooming notes like the sounds of the city . . and gentle breathy notes like a cool evening breeze”) will introduce children to the musicianship and emotion singers bring to their work. Daly’s mixed-media illustrations showcase a cast of urban hipsters wearing patterned outfits that extend the rhythms in the story, and present raucous scenes of folks in Ruby’s multicultural neighborhood grooving to tunes that celebrate music’s power to bring people together. (Booklist)

Diakite, P. (2005). I lost my tooth in Africa. Illustrated by B. W. Diakite. New York: Scholastic. (K – 4)

More than anything, Amina wants to lose her loose tooth while visiting her family in Mali, West Africa. Only then can she put it under a gourd for the African tooth fairy, who will exchange it for two chickens! Happily this happens, and even better, the chickens lay eggs. But will the eggs hatch before it’s time to return home to America? In this fresh, spontaneous story that is infused with close family warmth, Penda June Diakite joins forces with her award-winning author/artist father to give a charming peek at everyday life in Mali. (amazon.com)

England, L. (1998). The old cotton blues. Illustrated by T. Flavin. New York: M. K. McElderry. (K-3)

Dexter is a boy who loves three things: his mother, pork chops, and the “sound of Johnny Cotton's clarinet”. That last one makes Dexter feel “the blue-down blues, and the deep-down- shaking, slow-laughing feel-goods”. This city-dwelling boy, who has just one parent, has the strong desire to play, too; his dream of having a clarinet is not possible, but the kindly Johnny shares his time and encourages the boy with a story and a gift - his own father’s harmonica. (Kirkus Reviews, 1998)

English, K. (2004). Hot day on Abbott Avenue. Illustrated by J. Steptoe. Clarion Books. (K-2)

After having a fight, two friends spend the day ignoring each other, until the lure of a game of jump rope helps them to forget about being mad. (card catalog)

English, K. (1996). Neeny coming, Neeny going. Illustrated by S. Saint James. Mahwah, NJ: Bridgewater Books. (K-4)

Essie is excited to see her cousin Neeny, who recently moved to the South Carolina mainland from Daufuskie Island. Neeny is now a fancy young lady, no longer interested in the island way of life. But does anyone ever really forget their roots? Essie knows the answer and gives her cousin a special gift that will always keep the island close to her. (amazon.com)

English, K. (2007). Nikki and Deja. Illustrated by L. Freeman. Clarion Books. (2-4)

Can Nikki and Deja’s friendship survive the drill team club and the new girl? Meet Nikki and Deja, who live next door to each other and are best friends. They do everything together-watch Saturday morning cartoons, play jacks, jump double Dutch at recess, and help each other with their homework for Ms. Shelby’s third-grade class. But when an arrogant new girl arrives and Nikki and Deja form a club that would exclude her, the results are not what they expect. This warm, easy-to-read chapter book from an award-winning author captures all the joys and complexities of elementary school life-particularly friendships and cliques-with finesse and humor. (amazon.com)

Flourney, V. (1985). The patchwork quilt. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. New York: E. P. Dutton. (1-4)

Using scraps cut from the family’s old clothing, Tanya helps her grandmother make a beautiful quilt that tells the story of her family’s life. (card catalog)

Flourney, V. (1995). Tanya’s reunion. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. New York: Dial Books. (1-4)

Tanya visits a farm in Virginia where she helps her grandmother prepare for the family reunion and opens her eyes to special adventures. (amazon.com)

Greenfield, E. (1992). Africa dream. Illustrated by C. Byard. New York: HarperCollins Juvenile Books. (K-3)

An African-American child dreams of Africa, where she sees animals, shops in a marketplace, reads from a strange old book, and returns to the village where her granddaddy welcomed her so long ago. (amazon.com)

Greenfield, E. (1999). Grandmama’s joy. Illustrated by C. Byard. New York: Econo-Clad Books. (K-3)

When Rhondy’s grandmother is sad after learning that they must find another place to live, Rhondy reminds her that they will still have what is most important - each other. (card catalog)

Greenfield, E. (1988). Grandpa’s face. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York: Philomel Books. (K-3)

Seeing her beloved grandfather making a mean face while he rehearses for one of his plays, Tamika becomes afraid that someday she will lose his love and he will make that mean face at her.

Greenfield, E. (1993). She come bringing me that little baby girl. Illustrated by J. Steptoe. New York: HarperTrophy. (K-3)

After telling his mother to bring back a little baby brother from the hospital, Kevin is disappointed when she arrives home with a baby girl. (amazon.com)

Greenfield, E. (1993). William and the good old days. Illustrated by J. S. Gilchrist. New York: HarperCollins Children’s Books. (K-3)

A little boy remembers his grandmother before she became ill, and during her long recovery he tries to imagine how things will be when she comes home from the hospital. (card catalog)

Gilchrist, J. S. (1997). Madelia. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. (K-3)

Madelia can't wait to try out her six new jars of watercolors. But what will she paint? That Sunday, fidgeting as her daddy preaches, she has a burst of inspiration and knows exactly what she will paint. (amazon.com)

Hamilton, V. (1997). The bells of Christmas. Illustrated by L. Davis. New York: Harcourt Brace. (4-6)

Award-winning author Virginia Hamilton provides a heartwarming story perfect for the Christmas gift-giving season. (amazon.com)

Hamilton,V. (1993). Zeely. Illustrated by S. Shimin. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (4-6)

Greeder’s summer at her uncle’s farm is made special because of her friendship with a very tall, composed woman who raises hogs and who closely resembles the magazine photograph of a Watutsi queen. (card catalog)

Havill, J. (1990). Jamaica tag-along. Illustrated by A. S. O’Brien. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)

When her older brother refuses to let her tag along with him, Jamaica goes off by herself and allows a younger child to play with her. (card catalog)

Havill, J. (1999). Jamaica and the substitute teacher. Illustrated by A. S. O’Brien. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)

Jamaica likes the substitute teacher right away. Mrs. Duval is very nice, and she thinks of interesting things for the class to do. When the kids have to hunt for a hidden object, it's Jamaica who solves the clues. She figures out all the answers to the math puzzles, and Mrs. Duval praises her reading, too. But when it's time for the spelling test, Jamaica realizes that she is not prepared. Wanting so badly to please Mrs. Duval, she makes a poor decision. What will Mrs. Duval think of her now? (amazon.com)

Helldorfer, M. (1999). Silver Rain Brown. Illustrated by T. Flavin. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)

As a city neighborhood looks for ways to survive a long, hot, summer drought, a single mother and her young son await the birth of a new baby. The heat wave has tempers rising like mercury in a thermometer. Can’t cool down! Finally, it rains - a soft, silver rain that brings everyone outside. That night the baby arrives, like the rain, a blessing. Welcome to the world, Silver Rain Brown! (amazon.com)

Hesse, K. (1999). Come on, rain! Illustrated by J. J. Muth. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)

“Come on, rain!” Tess pleads to the sky as listless vines and parched plants droop in the endless heat. Then the clouds roll in and the rain pours. And Tess, her friends, and their mothers join in together in a rain dance to celebrate the shower that renews both body and spirit. (amazon.com)

Hoffman, M. (1991). Amazing Grace. Illustrated by C. Binch. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. (K-3)

Although a classmate says that she cannot play Peter Pan in the school play because she is black, Grace discovers that she can do anything she sets her mind to do. (card catalog)

Hoffman, M. (2000). Boundless Grace. Illustrated by C. Binch. New York: Puffin. (K-3)

In this sequel to Amazing Grace, Grace longs for the kind of family she reads about in books, but she barely remembers her own father who left home when she was small. Then he invites her to visit him and his new family in Africa, and Grace soon realizes that even in divided families, love can prove boundless. (Borders.com)

Hoffman, M. (2000). Starring Grace. Illustrated by C. Binch. New York: Penguin Putnam. (K-3))

Grace again takes center stage in her very own chapter book. School’s out for summer, and each day brings a new adventure for Grace and her friends. (borders.com)

Holman, S. L. (1998). Grandpa, is everything black bad? Illustrated by L. Kometiani. Davis, CA: The Culture CO-OP. (K-3)

An illustrated story of an African American boy who comes to appreciate his dark skin by learning about his African heritage from his grandfather. (card catalog)

Hort, L. (1997). How many stars in the sky? Illustrated by J. E. Ransome. New York: Mulberry Books. (K-3)

A boy receives help from his father in his quest to count the stars. Ransome’s striking oil paintings feature well-composed landscapes and graceful figures. A warm story of a father and son’s special night out. (Horn Book, 1991)

Howard, E. F. (1995). Aunt Flossie’s hats and crab cakes later. Illustrated by J. Ransome. New York: Clarion Books. (K-3)

Sunday afternoons are Sarah and Susan's favorite time of the week. That's when they visit Great-great-aunt Flossie--and hear her stories about days of long ago, when she was young. (amazon.com)

Howard, E.F. (1996). Whats’ in Aunt Mary’s room? Illustrated by C. Lucas. New York: Clarion Books. (K-3)

Susan and Sarah have always wondered what’s in the locked room, the one that used to be Aunt Mary’s, at Great-great-aunt Flossie’s house. Now, after helping Aunt Flossie locate the missing key, they find out at last! (amazon.com)

Hudson, C. W. & Ford, B. G. (1990). Bright eyes, brown skin. Illustrated by G. C. Ford. East Orange, NJ: Just Us Books. (K-3)

Four children who feel good about who they are and how they look enjoy the activities of a typical day at school, happy and brimming with confidence and self-esteem. (amazon.com)

Jackson, I. (1996). Somebody’s new pajamas. Illustrated by D. Soman. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. (K-3)

Robert and Jerome have great fun on a weekend sleepover. When bedtime comes Jerome is uncomfortable because Robert has a pair of blue pajamas. How does Jerome tell Robert that he’s never owned pajamas, and he sleeps in his underwear? (amazon.com)

Johnson, A. (1992). Tell me a story, Mama. Illustrated by D. Soman. New York: Orchard Books. (K-3)

A young girl and her mother remember together all the girl’s favorite stories about her mother’s childhood. (card catalog)

Johnson, A. (1999). The wedding. Illustrated by D. Soman. New York: Orchard Books. (K-3)

An African-American girl is thinking about her big sister's upcoming wedding, and all the joy and sadness it will bring. (Horn Book, 1999)

Johnson, A. (1993). When I am old with you. Illustrated by D. Soman. New York: Orchard Books. (K-3)

A child looks forward to when he is old and doing all the same things with his beloved grandfather that they share now. A warm, affectionate portrait of a special relationship with impressive watercolors that are full of life. (Horn Book, 1991)

Johnston, T. (2006). Angel City. Illustrated by C. Byard. Philomel. (2-4)

In the broken streets of Los Angeles, elderly Joseph finds a baby in a dumpster and brings him home to raise--his "gift from God.” In moving lines that read like free-verse poetry, Johnston describes how man and boy become a family. The survival struggle is clear and heartbreaking: "Will I get to grow up?” nine-year-old Juan asks after his best friend is killed by a stray bullet. The luxuriant field of corn that Juan and Joseph grow in a vacant lot is a symbol of hope, but children will be most reassured by the obvious, unwavering love between man and child. Johnston’s language frequently invokes God and also includes one curse: "The old man has promised to raise that baby. / Damned if he won't.” Byard’s feathery acrylics extend the sense of fierce love and even religious symbolism in scenes of Joseph cradling the swaddled infant and, later, the growing boy. For more powerful views of growing up in urban violence, suggest Eve Bunting’s Smoky Night (1994) and Barbara Joosse’s Stars in the Darkness (2002). (Booklist)

Joosse, B. M. (2005). Papa, do you love me? Illustrated by B. Lavallee. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. (PreK – 2)

This follow-up to the best-selling Mama, Do You Love Me? (over one million copies sold in 15 languages!) captures the universal love between a father and child. Set in Africa and featuring the Maasai culture, the beautiful watercolor illustrations, lyrical text, and enduring message are sure to make this another instant classic. (amazon.com)

Joosse, B. M. (2002). Stars in the darkness. Illustrated by R. G. Christie. San Francisco, CA; Chronicle Books. (!-5)

In the imagination of a young inner-city boy, police sirens sound like howling wolves, streetlights look like stars, and shots fired by neighborhood gangs sound like those stars cracking the darkness. But when his older brother joins a gang, he can no longer pretend. With the help of his mother, he comes up with a plan to save his brother and unite his neighbors in a stand for peace. The realistic yet uplifting words of best-selling author Barbara M. Joosse combine with powerful illustrations by award-winning artist R. Gregory Christie in this hope-filled story. One young boy’s courage can make a difference. (amazon.com)

Keats, E. J. (1998). Goggles. New York: Puffin. (K-3)

When Peter and his friend Archie find motorcycle goggles, some bigger boys try to take them away. (amazon.com)

Keats, E. J. (1987). Pet show. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)

When he can’t find his cat to enter in a neighborhood pet show, Archie must do some fast thinking to win a prize. (card catalog)

Keats, E. J. (1998). Peter’s chair. New York: Puffin. (K-3)

Peter learns to accept the new baby sister in the family in this endearing story of sibling rivalry. (amazon.com)

Keats, E. J. (1981). The snowy day. New York: Viking Press. (K-3)

The Snowy Day, a 1963 Caldecott Medal winner, is the simple tale of a boy waking up to discover that snow has fallen during the night. Keats’s illustrations, using cut-outs, watercolors, and collage, are strikingly beautiful in their understated color and composition. The tranquil story mirrors the calm presence of the paintings, and both exude the silence of a freshly snow-covered landscape. The little boy celebrates the snow-draped city with a day of humble adventures--experimenting with footprints, knocking snow from a tree, creating snow angels, and trying to save a snowball for the next day. Awakening to a winter wonderland is an ageless, ever-magical experience, and one made nearly visceral by Keats’s gentle tribute. (amazon.com)

Keats, E. J. (1998). Whistle for Willie. New York: Viking Penguin. (K-3)

First published in 1964, this book, now available in a durable board book edition, tells of a young boy who longs to whistle for his dog. (amazon.com)

Kroll, V. (1995). Wood-hoopoe Willie. Illustrated by K. Roundtree. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. (K-3)

Willie longs to express his musical talent with instruments created by his African ancestors such as guedras, ecasas, atumpan, and dundun drums, and he gets his opportunity at the Kwanzaa festival. (amazon.com)

Kurtz, J. (2000). Faraway home. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. New York: Harcourt Brace. (K-3)

From a Coretta Scott King Honor-winning artist, a powerful portrait of a contemporary American immigrant family. As her father prepares for a trip back to his childhood home in Ethiopia, Desta begins to worry. Where does her father truly belong-in the village of his youth or here in America with her? What was growing up in Ethiopia like? And will her father’s love for his family be enough to bridge these two worlds and bring him back to her? (amazon.com)

Lorbiecki, M. (1998). Sister Anne’s hands. Illustrated by W. Popp. NewYork: Dial Books for Young Readers. (K-3)

Based on the author's own childhood experiences, this poignant story tells of a black nun in the early 1960s and the lessons she imparts about the virtue of tolerance. (amazon. com)

McKissack, P. C. (2007). The all-I’ll-ever-want Christmas doll. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. Schwartz & Wade.

IT'S CHRISTMAS, AND NELLA is beside herself with excitement! She and her sisters have been given a real gift - a beautiful Baby Betty doll. But it’s hard to share something you’ve waited your whole seven-year-old life for, and Nella grabs the doll for herself. It isn’t long before she discovers that a doll can’t do the fun things she and her sisters do together. So, as Christmas day fades, Nella shares it with her sisters. Set in the Depression era South, here’s a heartwarming story that captures the essence of the holiday. (amazon.com)

McKissack, P. C. (2008). Stichin’ and pullin’: A Gee’s Bend quilt. Illustrated by C. A. Cabrera. Random. (1-3)

Mother and daughter, grandmother and granddaughter, aunt and niece, friend and friend. For a hundred years, generations of women from Gee’s Bend have quilted together, sharing stories, trading recipes, singing hymns—all the while stitchin’ and pullin’ thread through cloth. Every day Baby Girl listens, watches, and waits, until she’s called to sit at the quilting frame. Piece by piece, she puzzles her quilt together—telling not just her story, but the story of her family, the story of Gee’s Bend, and the story of her ancestors’ struggle for freedom. (amazon.com)

McKissack, P. C. (2003). Tippy Lemmey. Illustrated by S. Keeler. New York: Aladdin. (K-3)

Tippy Lemmey is no ordinary dog. Not only is he the only dog Leandra, Paul, and Jeannie have ever met with a first and a last name, he’s a living, breathing monster! When they ride their bikes, he chases them, snapping at their heels. When they run, he runs. If they cross the street, he follows. There’s no getting away from him -- over him or under him. He’s their number one enemy. Leandra, Paul, and Jeannie try to come up with a plan to stop Tippy Lemmey, but nothing works. But then Tippy does something totally unexpected, and the kids realize that maybe he’s not their enemy after all. (amazon.com)

Miles, C. (1996). Calvin’s Christmas wish. Illustrated by D. Johnson. New York: Puffin Books. (K-3)

Calvin dreams of getting a bike for Christmas, but when his friend, W.C., tells him there is no Santa Claus, he begins to doubt his dreams will come true. (amazon.com)

Mollel, T. M. (1999). My rows and piles of coins. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. New York: Clarion Books. (K-3)

A Tanzanian boy saves coins to buy a bicycle so he can help his parents carry goods to market. Then he discovers in spite of all he has saved, he does not have enough money. Glowing watercolor images capture the warmth and strength of a young boy’s giving heart. (Borders.com)

Monk, I. (1999). Hope. Illustrated by J. L. Porter. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner. (K-3)

After someone asks whether she’s ''mixed”, second-grader Hope, a biracial child, wonders what that means. Her great aunt assures her that as the child of a white father and an African-American mother, she represents ''generations of faith 'mixed' with lots of love”. While the story is somewhat contrived, it’s well told, and the illustrations, with their fluid, rounded shapes, are a dynamic accompaniment. (Horn Book, 1999)

Nikola-Lisa, W. (1995). Bein’ with you this way. Illustrated by M. Bryant. New York: Lee and Low. (K-3)

An African American girl visits the park and rounds up a group of her friends for an afternoon of fun and playground games. The children discover that despite their physical differences, they are all really the same. (amazon.com)

Nolen, J. (2007). Pitching in for Eubie. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Amistad. (1-3)

Lily knows that nothing is more important than family. She’s so proud when her sister, Eubie, wins a college scholarship. And when her family pulls together to earn the rest of the money Eubie needs, Lily wants to help out too. But she’s too young to do most jobs. What can she do to pitch in for Eubie? Through her lyrical prose, Jerdine Nolen shares a heartfelt story about people working together to make dreams come true. And as Caldecott Honor artist E. B. Lewis reminds us in his luminous, tender paintings, nothing is more important than those family ties that bind us. (amazon.com)

Oppenheim, S. L. (1996). Fireflies for Nathan. Illustrated by J. Ward. New York: Puffin. (K-3)

With the help of his grandparents, six-year-old Nathan catches fireflies and keeps them in a jar by his bed, just as his father did when he was six. (amazon.com)

Patrick, D. L. (1998). Red dancing shoes. Illustrated by J. E. Ransome. New York: Mulberry Books. (K-3)

Delighted with her shiny new red shoes, a little girl dances through town to show them off to everyone she knows. (card catalog)

Pinkney, G. J. (1999). Back home. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. New York: Puffin. (K-3)

Eight-year-old Ernestine returns to visit relatives on the North Carolina farm where she was born. (card catalog)

Pinkney, G. J. (1994). The Sunday outing. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. (K-3)

Ernestine, the young heroine of Back Home, and her great-aunt Odessa often ride the trolley to the railroad station to watch the trains from North Carolina come in. When Ernestine finally travels on a train to the place of her birth, everyone in her family sacrifices something to make her trip possible. Gloria Jean and Jerry Pinkney together depict family warmth as bright as sunshine. (amazon.com)

Pinkney, J. B. (1997). Max found two sticks. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)

One day when Max doesn’t feel too much like talking to anybody, he finds two sticks that make a perfect pair of drumsticks. Soon he is beating out a rhythm on anything he can find, from his thigh to a bucket to a large garbage can. Suddenly a marching band comes around Max's corner and the most wonderful thing happens. (amazon.com)

Polacco, P. (1998). Chicken Sunday. New York: Paper Star. (K-3)

To thank Miss Eula for her wonderful Sunday chicken dinners, three children sell decorated eggs to buy her a beautiful Easter hat. (card catalog)

Ringgold, F. (1996). Dinner at Aunt Connie’s house. New York: Hyperion Books. (K-3)

At Aunt Connie’s house this year, Melody gets to go swimming, eat great food, meet her new cousin, and investigate twelve paintings of famous African-American women, including Rosa Parks, Zora Neale Houston, and Mary McLeod Bethune. (amazon.com)

Rochelle, B. (1996). When Jo Louis won the title. Illustrated by L. Johnson. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3)

Jo's grandfather helps her feel better about herself when he tells her the story of why she is named after the heavyweight boxing champion, Joe Louis. (Borders.com)

Roberts, B. C. (2004). Jazzy Miz Mozetta. Illustrated by F. Morrison. Farrar. (K-2)

This story proves that the love of dance has no age limits. High-stepping, whirling images complement the rhythmic dialect of jazz clubs and bring Miz Mozetta...to life “faster than a rat can scat.” This upbeat, multigenerational tale will have broad appeal. (School Library Journal)

Rodman, M. A. (2005). My best friend. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Viking. (1-3)

In this elemental friendship story, Lily, six, wants to be best friends with Tamika, seven, and tries everything to get the older girl’s attention. But one year makes a big difference, and Tamika and her best friend are mean to Lily. They call her "baby,” but mostly they just ignore her. Even when Daddy teaches Lily to dive, they don’t seem to care. In the end, Lily gives up, and she reluctantly accepts Keesha, also six, as a best friend. This is more situation than story, but the setting makes things special. The action takes place during the weekly playgroup at the neighborhood pool, and Lewis’ beautiful, realistic double-page watercolors convey everything--the longing, the meanness, and the fun--through the body language and the splashing action of little African American girls in sunlit water and at the poolside. (Booklist)

Smalls, I. (2006). My Pop Pop and me. Illustrated by C. A. Johnson. Little Brown. (K-1).

This tasty love story is told by an African-American boy who shares his love for his grandfather and lemon cake. It captures a sweet memory of a child baking with his elderly relative and the wonder and love that go into the recipe. The rhyming text seems forced at times and is somewhat uneven, e.g., Sniff sniff the lemon whiff/Peel peel I love the lemon feel/Pish pish the lemon till it’s squished. However, the mood is cheery, the temperature is toasty, and the illustrations keep the story moving along until the cake is done. Johnson’s art swirls from page to page, using humor and changing perspective to add spark and sparkle to the story. This book would be a good choice for teaching young children about onomatopoeia and for discussing extended families and gender roles. (School Library Journal)

Suen, A. (2001). Hamster chase (Peter’s neighborhood). Illustrated by A. Eitzen. New York: Viking Children’s Books. (K-3)

Ezra Jack Keats’s classic picture books about Peter and his friends have delighted children for more than thirty years. Now Viking is pleased to introduce Peter’s Neighborhood, original stories designed specifically for beginning readers featuring Peter, Archie, Amy, and other favorite characters. It’s Peter’s turn to take care of the class hamster in Hamster Chase. But when the hamster accidentally gets loose, Peter, Archie, and Amy must do some quick thinking to find him. (amazon.com)

Suen, A. (2001). Willie’s birthday. Illustrated by A. Eitzen. New York: Viking Children’s Books. (K-3)

Ezra Jack Keats’s classic picture books about Peter and his friends have delighted children for more than thirty years. Now Viking is pleased to introduce Peter’s Neighborhood, original stories designed specifically for beginning readers featuring Peter, Archie, Amy, and other favorite characters. In Willie’s Birthday, a “Bring Your Pet” birthday party gets out of hand when the pets show more interest in chasing each other than in celebrating! (Borders.com)

Stuve-Bodeen, S. (1998) Elizabeti’s doll. Illustrated by C. Hale. New York: Lee & Low Books. (K-3)

A young girl named Elizabeti has a new baby brother. She imitates her mother by caring for a rock named Eva. (card catalog)

Stuve-Bodeen, S. (2002). Elizabeti’s school. Illustrated by C. Hale. New York: Lee & Low. (K-3).

In this third book in the Elizabeti series, the young Tanzanian girl discovers the joy of learning at school and finds a pleasant surprise at home. It’s the first day of school, and Elizabeti is so excited she can hardly sit still long enough for Mama to braid her hair. When she arrives at school, she feels shy and wishes she had stayed home instead. While the teacher talks, Elizabeti wonders if her family misses her. She’s happy when she leaves for the day, but in the evening she plays a game she learned at school and discovers she can use her new math skills to count her new kittens! (amazon.com)

Stuve-Bodeen, S. (2000). Mama Elizabeti. Illustrated by C. Hale. New York: Lee & Low Books. (K-3)

Elizabeti has a new baby sister. With her mother busy with the baby, Elizabeti now has to help take care of her younger brother, Obedi. She thinks she knows what to do, after tending to her own “baby”, a rock doll named Eva. But in this tender sequel to Elizabeth’s Doll, she finds that looking after a real child isn’t so easy. (amazon.com)

Tarpley, N. A. (2002). Bippity bop barbershop. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. New York: Little Brown Children’s Books. (K-2)

In this companion book to the bestselling I Love My Hair, a young boy, Miles, makes his first trip to the barbershop with his father. Like most little boys, he is afraid of the sharp scissors, the buzzing razor, and the prospect of picking a new hairstyle. But with the support of his dad, the barber, and the other men in the barbershop, Miles bravely sits through his first haircut. Written in a reassuring tone with a jazzy beat and illustrated with graceful, realistic watercolors, this book captures an important rite of passage for boys and celebrates African-American identity. (amazon.com)

Tarpley, N. A. (1998). I love my hair. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. New York: Little Brown Children’s Books. (K-2)

Tarpley’s first book for children joins a growing list of titles about African-American hair--linking it to issues of self- esteem and acceptance. Keyana tells how her mother sits her down each night to comb her hair and to rub coconut oil into her scalp; Mama’s touch and her words are always heartening. Keyana is lucky to have her head of hair because “it’s beautiful and you can wear it in any style you choose.'” It can be woven into a puffy bun, braided into corn rows, grown into an Afro style that is partly a political statement, or pulled into two ponytails that “stick out on either side of my head and slap in the air like a pair of wings,” making her feel free enough to fly. Lewis’s imaginative and warm interpretations of these exchanges as well as the inclusion of bits of African-American cultural history expand the personal content. (Kirkus Reviews, 1997)

Walter, M. P. (1990). Two and too much. Illustrated by P. Cummings. New York: Bradbury Press. (K-2)

A seven-year-old learns more about taking care of his typically disaster-prone two-year-old sister than he really wants to know. (Horn Book, 1990)

Wiles, D. (2001). Freedom summer. Illustrated by J. Lagarrigue. New York: Atheneum. (K-3)

"John Henry Waddell is my best friend,” begins the narrator of this story, set during a summer of desegregation in the South. John Henry is black and the narrator is white, so the boys swim together at the creek, rather than at the whites-only town pool, and the narrator buys the ice-cream at the segregated store. When new laws mandate that the pool, and everything else, must desegregate, the boys rejoice, until the town fills the pool with tar in protest and the narrator tries to see this town, "through John Henry's eyes.” The boy’s voice, presented in punchy, almost poetic sentences, feels overly romanticized, even contrived in places. It’s the illustrations that stun. In vibrantly colored, broad strokes, Lagarrigue, who illustrated Nikki Grimes’ My Man Blue (1999), paints riveting portraits of the boys, particularly of John Henry, that greatly increase the story’s emotional power. Beautiful work by an illustrator to watch. (Booklist)

Williams, K. L. (1994). When Africa was home. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York: Orchard Books. (K-3)

After returning to the United States, Peter’s whole family misses the warmth and friendliness of their life in Africa; so Peter’s father looks for another job there. (card catalog)

Williams, S. A. (1997). Working cotton. Illustrated by C. Byard. New York: Voyager Picture Books. (K-3)

This child’s view of a long day’s work in the cotton fields, simply expressed in a poet’s resonant language, is a fresh and stirring look at migrant family life. (amazon.com)

Williams, V. B. (1999). A chair for my mother. New York: Econo-Clad Books. (2-4)

A child, her waitress mother, and her grandmother save dimes to buy a comfortable armchair after all their furniture is lost in a fire. (card catalog)

Williams, V. B. (1986). Cherries and cherry pits. New York: Greenwillow Books. (K-4)

Bidemmi draws pictures and tells stories about cherries. (card catalog)

Winthrop, E. (2005). Squashed in the middle. Illustrated by P. Cummings. Holt. (K-3)

Beginning with the up-close, downcast face on the jacket, this direct picture book personalizes the frustration of a middle child wanting to be heard. Daisy’s parents and her older sister and younger brother talk to and about Daisy, and they talk over her head. But when Daisy speaks, nobody listens. When Daisy’s friend invites her to sleep over, everyone has a comment: "Daisy has never slept over at someone’s house before”; "She won't go anywhere without her stuffed duck.” Nobody pays attention when Daisy declares that she’s going anyway, and then leaves. Her courage surprises her family into finally understanding how she feels. Cummings’ recognizable robust style and intense palette are evident in the engaging design here, a bright amalgamation of bold full-page close-ups that clearly reflect Daisy’s feelings; small, square insets; and vigorous, varied double-page spreads--particularly the sweeping picture from which the cover illustration was drawn. All include homey and whimsical details that give Daisy and her African American family a thoroughly modern, familiar look: big sis is glued to her headphones; Dad chops carrots for dinner. Many kids, no matter their family pecking order, will respond to Daisy’s predicament; everyone likes to be heard! (Booklist)

Woods, B. (2003). The red rose box. Puffin. (4-6)

Leah Hopper and her younger sister, Ruth, live in segregated rural Louisiana in the early 1950s. For her 10th birthday, the older girl receives a traveling case-a "red rose box"-from her mother’s wealthy sister. Among other treasures, it contains train tickets for a family visit in Los Angeles. A long-lasting rift between Aunt Olivia and the children’s mother is finally mended during the reunion. In L.A. there is no sign of the racial prejudice that the Hoppers are so accustomed to as a black family in the South, and the girls reluctantly return home. Later, during a trip to New York City with Aunt Olivia and Uncle Bill, they feel the same way, and then a hurricane strikes their hometown, killing their parents. With this devastating loss, the sisters realize that riches and comforts cannot substitute for the kind of family life they had. This is a bittersweet story with good descriptions of settings; a skillful use of figurative language; and well-realized, believable characters. Ruth is the embodiment of a sassy eight-year-old and the adults are genuine, loving, and supportive. The one false note is the portrayal of race relations as near perfect outside the South. This story of grief and loss ends on a hopeful note and will appeal to readers. (School Library Journal)

Woodson, J. (2004). Coming on home soon. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Putnam. (K-3)

A beautifully written and illustrated story from the creators of The Other Side (Putnam, 2001), set during World War II. Ada Ruth waits for the return of her mother, who left home in search of a job. "They’re hiring colored women in Chicago since all the men are off fighting in the war.” Perfectly matched words and illustrations masterfully bring to life all the emotions that the girl is experiencing as she, her grandmother, and a stray kitten that has come to stay all try to comfort and console one another. As snow continues to fall, the large watercolor pages are filled with scenes of wistful longing–looking out the window, bringing in firewood, giving the kitten some milk, knitting, listening to news on the radio, and capturing the disappointment when the postman passes without stopping. Finally, a letter arrives and, with it, some much-needed money. The first line of the letter reads, "Tell Ada Ruth I’ll be coming on home soon.” Now, images convey a warm sense of anticipation. The final painting shows a woman with her back to readers approaching a house… home. A tender, heartfelt story that will touch readers. (School Library Journal)

Woodson, J. (2000). Miracle’s boys. New York: Putnam. (4-6)

For Lafayette and his brothers, the challenges of growing up in New York City are compounded by the facts that they’ve lost their parents and it’s up to eldest brother Ty’ree to support the boys, and middle brother Charlie has just returned home from a correctional facility. Lafayette loves his brothers and would do anything if they could face the world as a team. But even though Ty’ree cares, he’s just so busy with work and responsibility. And Charlie’s changed so much that his former affection for his little brother has turned to open hostility. Now, as Lafayette approaches 13, he needs the guidance and answers only his brothers can give him. The events of one dramatic weekend force the boys to make the choice to be there for each other--to really see each other--or to give in to the pain and problems of every day. (amazon.com)

Woodson, J. (2009). Peace, Locomotion. Putnam. (4-7)

In a moving companion to the National Book Award Finalist Locomotion (2003), Lonnie, now in sixth grade, speaks in letters to his beloved little sister, Lili. The siblings are still heartbroken about their separation, which followed the death of their parents in a fire. Both kids are now safe in loving foster families in their Brooklyn neighborhood, with friends and supportive teachers at school. After Lonnie’s foster brother returns home injured from war, the contrast between the peaceful home and the tragedy of war feels savage. While this does not have Locomotion’s poetic form, the spare, beautiful prose—both the dialogue and the fast first-person narrative—is as lyrical as the first book. The simple words are packed with longing and are eloquent about the “little things people don’t think real hard about,” little things that reveal the big issues of family, community, displacement, war, and peace. (Booklist)

Woodson, J. (2005). Show way. Illustrated by H. Talbott. New York: Putnam. (1-4).

Soonie’s great-grandma was just seven years old when she was sold to a big plantation without her ma and pa, and with only some fabric and needles to call her own. She pieced together bright patches with names like North Star and Crossroads, patches with secret meanings made into quilts called Show Ways—maps for slaves to follow to freedom. When she grew up and had a little girl, she passed on this knowledge. And generations later, Soonie—who was born free—taught her own daughter how to sew beautiful quilts to be sold at market and how to read.
From slavery to freedom, through segregation, freedom marches and the fight for literacy, the tradition they called Show Way has been passed down by the women in Jacqueline Woodson’s family as a way to remember the past and celebrate the possibilities of the future. Beautifully rendered in Hudson Talbott’s luminous art, this moving, lyrical account pays tribute to women whose strength and knowledge illuminate their daughters’ lives. (amazon.com)

Woodson, J. (2000). Sweet, sweet memory. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York: Jump at the Sun. (K-2)

A child misses her deceased grandfather but remembers his hopeful words about the cycle of life; everything and everyone goes on. She watches, like he told her to, and begins to see the changes from day to night, and from season to season – all displaying the continuous cycle of life and memory. Cooper’s illustrations have a dreamy quality that matches the contemplative mood of the story. (Book Links, December 2001/January 2002, p. 54)

Woodson, J. (2001). The other side. Illustrated by E. B. White. New York: Putnam. (K-3)

Beautifully rendered in Earl B. Lewis’s striking, lifelike watercolor illustrations, Jacqueline Woodson gives us a moving, lyrical narrative told in the hopeful voice of a child confused about the fence someone else has built in her yard and the racial tension that divides her world. (amazon.com)

Woodson, J. (2002). Visiting day. Illustrated by J. E. Ransome. New York: Scholastic. (1-3)

Only on visiting day is there chicken frying in the kitchen at 6am and Grandma in her Sunday dress, humming soft and low. As a little girl and her grandmother get ready for visiting day, her father, who adores her, is getting ready, too. The community of families who take the long bus ride upstate to visit loved ones share hope and give comfort to each other. Love knows no boundaries, and here is a story of strong families who understand the meaning of unconditional love. (amazon.com)

Woodson, J. (1998). We had a picnic this Sunday past. Illustrated by D. Greenseid. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. (K-3)

A young girl describes her various relatives and the foods they bring to the annual family picnic. (amazon.com)

Yolen, J. (2000). Miz Berlin walks. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York: Puffin. (K-3)

At first Mary Louise is afraid of old Miz Berlin who walks around the block of her Virginia home, talking to herself. But once she gets close enough to listen she is spellbound by Miz Berlin’s stories about the past. Oil-wash paintings complement the nostalgic tone of this rhythmic celebration of storytelling, and the intergenerational, interracial friendship it builds. (Horn Book, 1998)

Zolotow, C. (2000). Do you know what I’ll do? Illustrated by J. Steptoe. New York: HarperCollins. (K-3)

One day a little girl said to her brother, “ Do you know what I’ll do at the seashore? I’ll bring you a shell to hold the sound of the sea.” In a little girl’s magical question-and-answer game, Charlotte Zolotow captures, with unerring childlike simplicity, a sister’s special love for her little brother. Javaka Steptoe’s bold artwork offers a stunning new interpretation of the reassuring, lyrical text and brings to yet another generation of children this well-loved story. (amazon.com)

BACK

Non-fiction:

Bausum, A. (2006). Freedom Riders: John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the front lones of the Civil Rights Movement. National Geographic. (5-9)

Freedom Riders compares and contrasts the childhoods of John Lewis and James Zwerg in a way that helps young readers understand the segregated experience of our nation’s past. It shows how a common interest in justice created the convergent path that enabled these young men to meet as Freedom Riders on a bus journey south.
No other book on the Freedom Riders has used such a personal perspective. These two young men, empowered by their successes in the Nashville student movement, were among those who volunteered to continue the Freedom Rides after violence in Anniston, Alabama, left the original bus in flames with the riders injured and in retreat. Lewis and Zwerg joined the cause knowing their own fate could be equally harsh, if not worse. The journey they shared as freedom riders through the Deep South changed not only their own lives but our nation's history. (amazon.com)

Bial, R. (1997). The strength of these arms: Life in the slave quarters. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (3-6)

Bial gives a realistic view of what it was like to be a slave on a plantation. Photographs of slave artifacts add clarity to the story. (Book Links, June/July 2002, p. 32)

Bial, R. (1999). The Underground Railroad. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (4-6)

An illustrated portrait of the activities of the Underground Railroad in the years prior to the Civil War documents the routes, lives, hardships, and accomplishments of the “conductors” and their “passengers”, escaped slaves. (amazon.com)

Bolden, T. (2005). Maritcha: A nineteenth century American girl. Harry N. Abrams. (4-7)

Readers met Maritcha Rémond Lyons in Bolden’s Tell All the Children Our Story (Abrams, 2002), in a one-page entry that included an excerpt from her unpublished memoir. The author has now expanded her use of Lyons’s memoir, family archival materials, and other primary sources to tell the story of this free black child before, during, and after the Civil War. Maritcha’s achievements were extraordinary for her time, gender, and race. During her youth in lower Manhattan, she was exposed to many strong, well-educated adults. Her parents, their friends (some well known), and her own determination carried her through difficult times, including the Draft Riots of 1863, the destruction of the family home and business, and a fight for public education. Strength of family and education were the driving forces in this girl’s life. Bolden emphasizes these themes as she skillfully presents interesting facts and a personal view of an often-overlooked segment of history. While the book focuses on Maritcha’s childhood, a concluding note discusses her adulthood. (Lyons spent close to 50 years as an educator, including a term as assistant principal of Brooklyn's Public School No. 83.) A number of family documents and photographs are included; period sketches and paintings complete the picture of 19th-century life in New York City. The high quality of writing and the excellent documentation make this a first choice for all collections. (School Library Journal)

Bolden, T. (2003). Portraits of African American heroes. Illustrated by A. Pitcairn. Dutton Juvenile. (4-8)

While there is a wealth of information currently available to children about African-American historical figures, there is still a great deal of room for more biographies of contemporary African-American achievers. Bolden profiles 20 people, ranging from Matthew Henson, Thurgood Marshall, and Martin Luther King, Jr., to Paul Robeson, Ruth Simmons, Judith Jamison, and Charlayne Hunter-Gault. The sketches, as the author states in the introduction, are intended to capture something of the essence of these people. She succeeds by using lively language, anecdotal information, and quotations from the subjects themselves. The book is arranged chronologically, beginning with Frederick Douglass, born around 1818, and ending with Ben Carson, born in 1951. Each entry is accompanied by a striking, if somewhat glamorized, full-page portrait done in deep, rich shades of brown. A smaller painting of the subject appears on the final page of the profile. A lengthy list of suggested reading is appended. A fine addition to any library. (Booklist)

Bolden, T. (2002). Tell all the children our story: Memories and mementoes of being young and Black in America. Harry N. Abrams. (4-8)

This compilation of the African American experience, from colonial times through the twentieth century, reads and looks like a family scrapbook. Divided into three sections ("Out of Africa,” "Longing for the Jubilee,” and "Lift Every Voice and Sing”), the chronicle is an introspective celebration of the lifestyles, struggles, triumphs, and aspirations of both recognized and unknown African American children. Readers begin their journey with the first recorded birth of a black child in America and follow along through the plight of the Little Rock Nine to the moving speech given by 14-year-old Ayinde Jean-Baptiste at the 1995 Million Man March in Washington, D.C. Photographs, excerpts from diaries and memoirs, and reproductions of artwork by black artists such as Charles Altson beautifully bring the story of each generation to life. Bolden vibrantly delivers her historical message through a contemporary perspective. (Booklist)

Brady, A. (1995). Kwanzaa Karamu: Cooking and crafts for a Kwanzaa feast. Illustrated by B. Knutson. Photographs by R. Wolf. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books. (4-6)

A thorough introduction to the history and practices of Kwanzaa, as well as kitchen-safety hints, precede recipes for such dishes as Pick-a-Pepper Soup, Hopping John, and Baked Plantain on the Shell. Directions for making a kinara tapestry, a mkeka mat, and several other Kwanzaa-related crafts round out the volume, which is illustrated with attractive color photographs and artwork. (Horn Book, 1995)

Branch, M. M. (1998). Juneteenth: Freedom Day. Photographs by W. Branch. New York: Cobblehill. (4-6)

Juneteenth is the grandfather of all holidays for Black Texans.

From its spontaneous beginning on June 19, 1865, as slaves in Galveston, Texas, reacted to the delayed news of the Emancipation Proclamation, the holiday has spread nationwide among Black Americans. It is small gatherings on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, to immense crowds in Buffalo, New York. This ethnic holiday includes the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, retelling of legends about how it got its name, parades, parties, and family reunions. Join the author and photographer as they traveled to experience this celebration of freedom in various spots around the United States. (amazon.com)

Bryan, A. (2007). Let it shine: Three favorite spirituals. Atheneum. (K-4)

The inspiring words of three well-known spirituals, "This Little Light of Mine,” "Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In,” and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands,” are matched with powerful construction-paper collage illustrations. Each double-page spread of this oversize picture book is an explosion of shapes and bright colors. Stocky figures, silhouetted against swirling colors are created from geometric shapes woven together. Rather than conceive a story to accompany the lyrics, Bryan presents series of scenes to reflect each set of lyrics. Children dance around with candles and march with saints; God holds a world of colored objects in his hands. The musical notation and lyrics for each song appear at the end of the book, as does a brief note from Bryan about the history of the spiritual and the changes he made in some of the lyrics. This will be hard to read without breaking into song. (Booklist)

Chocolate, D. M. N. (1997). Kente colors. Illustrated by J. Ward. New York: Walker. (K-3)

A fascinating depiction of the fabric that is gradually becoming a symbol of the African-American identity. (Horn Book, 1996)

Chocolate, D. M. N. (1990). Kwanzaa. Illustrated by M. Rosales. Chicago: Children’s Press. (K-3)

Discusses the holiday in which African Americans celebrate their roots and cultural heritage from Africa. (card catalog)

Clinton, C. (2005). Hold the flag high. Illustrated by S. W. Evans. HarperCollins. (4-6)

This picture book celebrates the courage of William Carney----the first African American to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor--and his Union Army regiment, the Massachusetts Fifty-fourth. Readers familiar with the movie Glory will recognize the story of how the regiments stormed Fort Wagner in South Carolina. Here, the story begins the night before the attack, when Sergeant Carney encourages a young drummer boy, Ned. During the assault, Carney felt "a burning sensation as a bullet tore through his flesh,” yet he manages to lift up the flag when the soldier bearing it falls. Although the focus shifts between Ned and Carney, the story captures the fear and horror of battle as well as the bravery of the soldiers. Back matter includes an epilogue, a time line, and a few recommended books and Internet sites. Most effective when seen from a little distance, Evans’ paintings convey the emotions of the characters as well as their actions. The realistic depiction of battle, the vocabulary, and the story’s structure all point to an audience older than the usual picture-book crowd. (Booklist)

Colbert, J. & Harms, A. M., editors. (2000). Dear Dr. King: Letters from today’s children to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Photographs by E. C. Withers & R. Cajero. New York: Hyperion. (4-6)

Published to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination, "Dear Dr. King” features a collection of letters culled from a project masterminded by a Memphis schoolteacher and one Memphis parent of two school-age children. These letters represent the most thought-provoking, poignant, and sometimes humorous questions that children would liked to have asked Dr. King and provide a fascinating snapshot of race issues in America today. (amazon.com)

Dillon, L. & Dillon, D. (2007). Jazz on a Saturday night. Scholastic/Blue Sky. (K-4)

If you have ever been lucky enough to hear great jazz, then you will understand the pure magic of this book.  Leo and Diane Dillon use bright colors and musical patterns that make music skip off the page in this toe-tapping homage to many jazz greats.  From Miles Davis and Charlie Parker to Ella Fitzgerald, here is a dream team sure to knock your socks off.  Learn about this popular music form and read a biography of each player pictured-and then hear each instrument play on a specially produced CD. What's the featured song?  "Jazz on a Saturday Night," written and recorded to accompany this book. (amazon.com)

Farris, C. K. (2008). March on! The day my brother Martin changed the world. Illustrated by L. Ladd. Scholastic. (4-7)

From Dr. Martin Luther King’s sister, the definitive tribute to the man, the march, and the speech that changed a nation. On a hot August day in 1963, hundreds of thousands of people made history when they marched into Washington, D.C., in search of equality. Martin Luther King, Jr., the younger brother of Christine King Farris, was one of them. Martin was scheduled to speak to the crowds of people on that day. But before he could stand up and inspire a nation, he had to get down to business. He first had to figure out what to say and how to say it. So he spent all night working on his "I Have a Dream” speech, one that would underscore a landmark moment in civil rights history--the Great March on Washington. This would be one of the first events televised all over the globe. The world would be listening, as one of the greatest orators of our time shared his vision for a new day.

From the sister of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., comes this moving account of what that day was like for her, and for the man who inspired a crowd--and convinced a nation to let freedom ring. London Ladd’s beautiful full-color illustrations bring to life the thousands of people from all over the country who came to the nation’s capital. They sing, they join hands, they march, and they listen as speaker after speaker inspires social change, culminating in Dr. King's "I Have a Dream” speech. (amazon.com)

Feelings, T. & Henrik, J. (1995). The middle passage. New York: Dial Books. (all ages))

Alex Haley's Roots awakened many Americans to the cruelty of slavery. The Middle Passage focuses attention on the torturous journey which brought slaves from Africa to the Americas, allowing readers to bear witness to the sufferings of an entire people. (amazon.com)

Feelings, M. L. (1992). Moja means one: Swahili counting book. Illustrated by T. Feelings. New York: Dial Books. (K-3)

Primarily a Swahili counting book. Moja Means One is also meant to be a gift of heritage, a glimpse of what is unique about East Africa. (School Library Journal)

Freedman, R. (2006). Freedom walkers: The story of the Montgomery bus boycott. Holiday. (5-9)

Freedman begins this outstanding history by reminding his audience that the injustices of racial segregation did not happen that long ago in the United States. Throughout the book, he gives accounts of how much coordination and sacrifice went into conducting the Montgomery Bus Boycott–far more than students are likely to imagine from the usual popular and oversimplified versions offered in textbooks and on television. There is a refreshing emphasis on depictions of regular people and forgotten local crusaders working together to make the boycott possible and triumphant, from inspiring descriptions of drivers getting up at dawn to take others to work to accounts of well-known civil-rights lawyers working to find the right plaintiff to challenge unjust laws. Freedman’s prose style pulls readers into the narrative, integrating the actual recorded words and deeds of the people to tell the story. The high-quality, black-and-white photographs range from everyday scenes of African-American boycotters meeting, waiting for carpools, and protesting to representations of more famous figures, such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., etc. Extensive chapter notes, an annotated selected bibliography, and a thorough index round out the exemplary presentation. Pair this volume with Ann Bausum's Freedom Riders (National Geographic) and Nikki Giovanni's Rosa (Holt, both 2005) for a powerful introduction to the Civil Rights Movemen. (School Library Journal)

Haskins, J. and Benson, K. (1998). African beginnings. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Books. (4-6)

The first book in a seven-book series that explores and celebrates the powerful impact African-Americans have made on the history of our nation, “African Beginnings” introduces readers to a series of glorious civilizations that have had a lasting impact on the world’s history, and on American culture. (amazon.com)

Haskins, J. and Benson, K. (1999). Bound for America: The forced migration of Africans to the New World. Illustrated by F. Cooper. New York: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Books. (4-6)

Between about 1500 and 1850, millions of Africans were captured and transported across the Atlantic in one of the most tragic ordeals in human history. In this objective and profoundly moving book, Haskins and Benson open with discussions of slavery throughout history and of Europe and Africa at the time the African slave trade began, then closely examine every aspect of the Middle Passage. Included are sections on capturing the slaves, the march to the coast, the selection of slaves for purchase, conditions on slave ships, and slave revolts aboard ship. (amazon.com)

Haskins, J. and Benson, K. (2002). Building a new land: African Americans in colonial America. Illustrated by J. Ransome. New York: HarperCollins/Amistad. (4-6)

This title focuses on the lives of slaves in colonial America, their contributions to the foundation of this nation, and their attempts to preserve their African traditions and culture. (Book Links, June/July 2002, p. 33)

Haskins, J. (1999). The day Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot: A photo history of the civil rights movement. New York: Econo-Clad Books. (4-6)

No synopsis available.

Hoobler, D. & T. (1998). The African American family album. New York: Oxford University Press Children’s Books. (4-6)

A history of African Americans in the United States chronicles the experiences of many generations, from slavery, through eras of struggle, journeys from the Southern plantations to the West and industrial North, and contributions to American culture. (amazon.com)

Hopkinson, D. (2006). Up before daybreak: Cotton and people in America. Scholastic. (4-8)

In UP BEFORE DAYBREAK, acclaimed author Deborah Hopkinson captures the voices of the forgotten men, women, and children who worked in the cotton industry in America over the centuries. The voices of the slaves who toiled in the fields in the South, the poor sharecroppers who barely got by, and the girls who gave their lives to the New England mills spring to life through oral histories, archival photos, and Hopkinson’s engaging narrative prose style. These stories are amazing and often heartbreaking, and they are imbedded deep in our nation’s history. (amazon.com)

Igus, T. (1998). i see the rhythm. Illustrated by M. Wood. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press. (2 -up).

A visual and poetic introduction to the history of African American music, this striking picture book is also an excellent guide that music teachers might introduce in history units in the classroom. (Book Links, Aug./Sept.2000)

Jordan, A. D. & Schomp, V. (2006). Slavery and resistance. Benchmark. (5-8)

There are many books about slavery, but this volume in the Drama of African-American History series is a standout, with the elements both well done and well balanced. Foremost is the text, which is as engaging as it is solidly written. An introduction sets the stage, discussing the first colony at Jamestown and how both whites and blacks--some servants, some slaves--worked the land. The information flows organically, detailing how African Americans came to this new country (following one of the earliest families who bought their way out of indentured servitude) and explaining how slavery spread and took hold, more strongly in some places than in others. The Revolutionary War and the role of blacks are thoroughly covered, as is what life was like for slaves in both the North and the South. Series books often have a problem with design, but that’s not the case here. The pages are clean, and there are plenty of design elements to enliven them: the typeface is sharp, and sidebars are handled in a way that is complementary rather than intrusive. The handsome art, which includes paintings and photos (some reproduced on full pages), is compelling. A glossary and lists of further resources are appended. (Booklist)

Kallen, S. (1990). The twentieth century and the Harlem Renaissance: A History of Black people in America, 1880-1930. Vaughn, ON: ABDO & daughters. (4-6)

Discusses Black history during the early decades of the twentieth century, profiling such notables as W.E.B. DuBois, George Washington Carver, Langston Hughes, and Louis Armstrong. (card catalog)

King, W. (2000). Children of the Emancipation. First Avenue. (3-5)

Explains how the nearly four million slaves and nearly half a million free blacks gained freedom and basic rights as citizens, following Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. (card catalog)

Levine, E. (2000). Freedom’s children: Young civil rights activists tell their own stories. New York: Puffin. (4-6)

In this inspiring collection of true stories, thirty African-Americans who were children or teenagers in the 1950s and 1960s talk about what it was like for them to fight segregation in the South-to sit in an all-white restaurant and demand to be served, to refuse to give up a seat at the front of the bus, to be among the first to integrate the public schools, and to face violence, arrest, and even death for the cause of freedom. (amazon.com)

Levine, E. (1994). If you lived at the time of Martin Luther King. Illustrated by A. Rich. New York: Scholastic Trade. (4-6)

This book focuses on the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Full-color art and an engaging question-and-answer format help children learn what it was like to participate in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, stage a sit-in at a lunch counter, join the famous March on Washington, and more. (amazon.com)

Levine, E. (1993). If you traveled on the Underground Railroad. Illustrated by L. Johnson. New York: Scholastic Trade. (4-6)

In a question-and-answer format, the reader is introduced to what the underground railroad was and how it was used between 1830 and 1860 to help slaves in America escape to the North. (amazon.com)

McKissack, P. C. & McKissack, F. L. (1999). Black hands, white sails: The story of African-American whalers. New York: Scholastic Trade. (4-6)

Despite the dangers and challenges of whaling, many African-Americans took on the job between 1730 and 1880. A rare look at an important slice of American history describes their contributions to the whaling industry and their role in the abolitionist movement. (Borders.com)

McKissack, P. C. & McKissack, F. L. (2003). Days of Jubilee: The end of slavery in the United States. Illustrated by D. & L. Dillon. Scholastic. (5-8)

As this book clearly shows, there was no single day when slavery ended in the U.S. but a series of dates when groups and individual slaves celebrated their own "days of Jubilee.” The discussion begins after the Revolutionary War, when many of the African Americans who had fought were freed, but it quickly moves on to the Civil War era. Each chapter begins with a quotation from a historical document, followed by a boxed story that tells, for example, of a slave family escaping to the Union army or a Boston church congregation receiving word that Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The quotations are sourced (though often identified only as "slave Narrative”), but no source notes are given for the boxed narratives, which occasionally seem lightly fictionalized. The McKissacks do a remarkable job of explaining Civil War history as it relates to the end of slavery, and their lively account presents the war and its consequences in very human terms. For instance, it relates that in New York when, for the first time in history, photographs of the dead and dying soldiers on a battlefield went on display, "people cried out in horror.” The balanced perspective, vivid telling, and well-chosen details give this book an immediacy that many history books lack. Illustrations include reproductions of many period photographs as well as paintings, prints, and documents, and a time line and a bibliography are appended. (Booklist)

McKissack, P. C. & McKissack, F. L. (2002). Christmas in the big house, Christmas in the quarters. New York: Scholastic Trade. (4-6)

Describes the customs, recipes, poems, and songs used to celebrate Christmas in the big plantation houses and in the slave quarters just before the Civil War. (card catalog)

McKissack, P. C. & McKissack, F. L. (1996). Rebels against slavery: American slave revolts. New York: Scholastic. (5-6)

Collects the true stories of brave African-American rebels who fought against slavery, from Cinque, who pleaded his case before the Supreme Court, to Nat Turner, who led one of the greatest revolts in history. (amazon.com)

McWhorter, D. (2004). A dream of freedom: The Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to 1968. Scholastic. (5-9)

Motivated by her naive, youthful acceptance of racial injustice as a white, privileged child in Birmingham, AL, McWhorter directs her compelling retrospective at readers who likewise may not realize that history swirls around them. After a prologue that describes the emergence and impact of segregation in the United States, chapters follow chronologically, highlighting pivotal events, people, successes, and failures of "The Movement.” Against the backdrop of the constitutional and moral struggle between the White House and Southern politicians, the author recounts the flamboyant resilience of Birmingham’s Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, the battered determination of student leader John Lewis, the nonviolent leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the sacrificial commitment of the Freedom Riders. She also explores J. Edgar Hoover’s covert manipulation of the FBI, the power struggle between the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the shift from nonviolence to Black Power and urban race riots, and the national political focus on the Vietnam War. Protests, marches, boycotts, and infamous tragedies are sequenced and analyzed as catalysts that fueled the movement. Collections that already own Ellen Levine’s Freedom's Children (Putnam, 1993) and James Haskins's Freedom Rides (Hyperion, 1995) will be greatly enhanced by this title. Numerous archival photos add a powerful visual dimension to the text. This engaging, stirring narrative offers a balanced presentation of the heroism and idealism as well as the political turmoil surrounding and within the civil rights movement. (School Library Journal)

Medearis, A. S. & Medearis, M. R. (1997). Music (African American Arts). New York: Twenty First Century Books. (4-6)

Discusses the evolution of African American music from its roots in the rhythms and instruments from Africa through the development of the blues, gospel, and soul to modern rock and rap. (card catalog)

Musgrove, M. (1992). Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions. Illustrated by D. & L. Dillon. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. (4-6)

Explains some traditions and customs of twenty-six African American tribes beginning with the letters from A to Z. (card catalog)

Nelson, K. (2008). We are the ship: The story of NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL. Hyperion. (4-6)

The story of Negro League baseball is the story of gifted athletes and determined owners; of racial discrimination and international sportsmanship; of fortunes won and lost; of triumphs and defeats on and off the field. It is a perfect mirror for the social and political history of black America in the first half of the twentieth century. But most of all, the story of the Negro Leagues is about hundreds of unsung heroes who overcame segregation, hatred, terrible conditions, and low pay to do the one thing they loved more than anything else in the world: play ball. Using an “Everyman” player as his narrator, Kadir Nelson tells the story of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through its decline after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947. The voice is so authentic, you will feel as if you are sitting on dusty bleachers listening intently to the memories of a man who has known the great ballplayers of that time and shared their experiences. But what makes this book so outstanding are the dozens of full-page and double-page oil paintings--breathtaking in their perspectives, rich in emotion, and created with understanding and affection for these lost heroes of our national game. (amazon.com)

Pinkney, A. D. (1998). Seven candles for Kwanzaa. Illustrated by B. Pinkney. New York: Puffin. (K-3)

In this spirited introduction to Kwanzaa, Pinkney explains the meaning of the week-long African-American winter holiday and the special way each day is celebrated. (amazon.com)

Pinkney, S. L. (2000). Shades of black: A celebration of our children. Illustrated by M. C. Pinkney. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)

Indeed, there are many shades of black, and they are beautifully exemplified in this photo album that depicts the varied palette that makes up black skin. These gorgeous children are “gingery brown like a cookie,” “brassy yellow like popcorn,” and “midnight blue like a licorice stick.” And yes, “black” can be creamy white like vanilla ice cream. But the author and illustrator don’t stop there. They also look at eyes and hair, showing the beauty and uniqueness of eyes with hints of tiger-eye yellow and sturdy, coiling, woollike hair. All of it is black. All of it is beautiful. This may be just the kind of book that black children don't see enough of, but it can certainly be appreciated by children of any color. (Booklist)

Rappaport, D. (2001). Martin’s big words: The life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Illustrated by B. Collier. New York: Hyperion. (K-4)

In this elegant pictorial biography of Martin Luther King Jr., author Doreen Rappaport combines her spare, lyrical text with King’s own words for an effective, age-appropriate portrayal of one of the world’s greatest civil rights leaders. From King’s youth, when he looked up to his preacher father and vowed one day to “get big words, too,” to his death at a garbage workers’ strike (“On his second day there, he was shot. He died.”), Rappaport imbues the story with reverence. Acclaimed artist Bryan Collier depicts his subject with stunning watercolor and collage illustrations, balancing glorious recreations of stained glass windows with some of the more somber images of peace marchers and the famous bus that pitched Rosa Parks into the civil rights movement. A brief chronology and bibliography provide additional resources for readers. Here is an exquisite tribute to a world hero. (amazon.com)

Rappaport, D. (2003). Free at last! Stories and songs of Emancipation. Illustrated by S. W. Evans. Candlewick. (4-8)

Drawing on first-person accounts by leaders and ordinary people in song, poetry, memoir, letters, and court testimony, this history brings close the experience of black Americans in the U.S. from the time of emancipation to the 1954 Supreme Court decision that declared "separate but equal” illegal. The stories are riveting. Jane Kemper steals back her four children, who were forcibly "apprenticed” by her former slave master. Harriet Postle, seven months pregnant, confronts the night riders who crash into her home. And there’s no sentimentality. A letter tells of a slave family reunion that is painful and disappointing. A poem shows that convict labor was slavery under a new name. As in the author’s history of slavery, No More! (2002), Rappaport talks about her sources and how she has adapted them, and the readable, informal notes bring authenticity to the personal accounts. Like the narrative, Evans’ dramatic oil paintings, many of them full page, show the cruelty, even of a lynching, without exploiting the horror, and his portraits of individuals, from the famous to the unknown, celebrate the courage of people who helped break the color line. The clear, spacious design will encourage browsing, and a detailed chronology, a lengthy bibliography, and source notes will help readers to find out more. (Booklist)

Rappaport, D. (2006). Nobody gonna turn me ‘round: Songs and stories of the Civil Rights Movement. Illustrated by S. W. Evans. Candlewick. (4-7)

The last of the trilogy that includes No More! (2005) and Free at Last! (2006), this stirring picture book draws on first-person accounts from famous leaders of the civil rights movement as well as testimonies of unsung heroes. The brutality is evident--in horrific memories of segregation and the violence of hate groups. But there are also triumphant stories, some in Rappaport’s present-tense narrative, about Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and many more. Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership role and his famous "I have a dream” speech are celebrated, but Malcolm X gets little attention. Whereas most histories of this period are illustrated with famous documentary photos, this one features dramatic oil paintings, which show close up the courage of young people confronting hatred at sit-ins, on freedom rides, and behind bars. A detailed chronology, source notes, and a bibliography will connect readers with the many other fine biographies and histories of this period, such as Ellen Levine’s Freedom's Children (1992) and Diane McWhorter’s A Dream of Freedom (2004). (Booklist)

Rappaport, D. (2002). No more! Stories and songs of slave resistance. Illustrated by S. W. Evans. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. (3-6)

As Virginia Hamilton did in Many Thousand Gone (1993), Rappaport has collected slave narratives, biographies, and songs that tell the history of resistance from the Middle Passage to the plantation and then the Underground Railroad and the Civil War. There are episodes about the famous (Frederick Douglass’ triumphant fight with the “nigger-breaker,” for example) and about the secret rebellion of ordinary field workers. She also includes trickster tales and words and music for several songs--among them, "

“Go Down Moses.” Rappaport retells the stories in short, present-tense episodes and uses some composite characters, so this doesn’t have the authenticity of Hamilton’s direct excerpts from Equiano’s autobiography and other first-person narratives. But the research is documented, and younger readers can start with the experiences of ordinary people and then go on to the fuller histories listed in the bibliography. Evans’ large, dramatic oil paintings show both the suffering and the protest, as in one unforgettable close-up of a captured runaway in irons, his eyes closed, his head unbowed. (Booklist)

Rappaport, D. (2005). The school is not white!: A true story of the Civil Rights Movement. Illustrated by C. James. Jump at the Sun/Hyperion. (2-5)

This book tells the story of an African-American family in Mississippi in 1965. The author calls them not-yet-celebrated Americans and recounts their pursuit of an equal education at the beginning of desegregation. When the Carters make the unpopular and risky decision to send their seven children to an all-white school with better resources for students, they face many obstacles both inside and outside the building. Rappaport emphasizes the family’s determination and perseverance, especially the mother, Mae Bertha Carter, who tells her children that the school is not white and that they have every right to an education. The chalk-and-pastel illustrations are somber and realistic with moments of brightness that seem symbolic of hope. The Carters are injured, but they are not broken. Students will need some background information in order to fully appreciate this text. Teachers will find the book to be a useful resource for helping children to see how history does, in fact, include ordinary people. The author has included notes about how this book took shape through her own questions about the past. In addition, she provides an epilogue about the Carter children as successful adults. (School Library Journal)

Raven, M. T. (2004). Circle unbroken. Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. (2-5)

A grandmother tells the tale of Gullahs and their beautiful sweetgrass baskets that keep their African heritage alive. (card catalog)

Rediger, P. (1995). Great African Americans in civil rights. Niagara-on-the-lake, ON: Crabtree. (4-6)

Profiles notable African Americans in the field of civil rights including Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Marian Wright Edelman, Thurgood Marshall, and Roas Parks. (amazon.com)

Rediger, P. (1995). Great African Americans in literature. Niagara-on-the-lake, ON: Crabtree. (4-6)

Profiles notable African American writers, novelists and poets such as Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, Ralph Ellison, Alice Walker, Alex Haley and others. (amazon.com)

Rosinsky, N. M. (2005). Juneteenth. Compass Point. (1-3)

Double-page spreads, illustrated with archival and contemporary photographs, relate information on slavery, the first Juneteenth, early traditions, symbols, and how the holiday is observed today. This Let’s See – Holidays title concludes with additional Juneteenth facts, a glossary, bibliography, and list of furth resources. Denise M. Jordan offers similar information to the same age group in Juneteenth, Heinemann, 2003. (Book Links, Angela Leeper, January 2008).

Shore, D. Z. & Alexander, J. (2005). This is the dream. Illustrated by J. Ransome. Amistad/HarperCollins. (all ages)

Ransome (Satchel Paige) creates a striking juxtaposition of closely focused paintings and collage borders incorporating powerful historical photographs. These images will make a strong impression on readers of this expository chronicle of events preceding, during and following the civil rights movement, as Ransome’s artwork makes large ideas comprehensible through visual details. The singsong rhythm and "House-that-Jack-Built” meter creates a chilling contrast to what’s going on between the lines: "These are the buses—a dime buys a ride,/ but the people are sorted by color inside.” Ransome shows the demarcation of the bus’s white and black sections, and in a border across the top creates a collage of stirring portraits. Text and artwork similarly depict segrgated lunch counters, libraries and schools. One of the most powerful spreads portrays three black children stepping into a newly integrated school ("These are the students who step through the doors/ where people of color have not walked before”), Confederate flags flying, while a photocollage on the top edge shows the fractured images of angry white bystanders, effectively emulating a mob mentality. Concluding spreads demonstrate the contrast today, with images of a multiracial array of people waiting to use the same drinking fountain and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in one voice at school. This will provide a solid springboard for adult-child discussions, especially since younger readers might need help deciphering some of the poetic narrative’s references. (Publishers Weekly)

Supples, K. (2006). Speaking out: The Civil Rights Movement 1950-1964 (Crossroads America). National Geographic. (4-8)

"I have a dream.” Everyone is familiar with these words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but not everyone knows the struggle that surrounded them. In the 1950s, America was not a place of fulfilled dreams for the nation’s black population. Widespread prejudice and segregation had left African Americans with fewer civil rights than other Americans. Bravely, the people did not remain quiet—a vibrant movement for civil rights began in the United States—one that would last for decades and would face innumerable challenges. Speaking Out is the story of America’s extraordinary Civil Rights Movement. (amazon.com)

Weatherford, C. B. (2000). The sound that jazz makes. Illustrated by E. Velasquez. New York: Walker. (3-6)

A symphony of sound and color, The Sound That Jazz Makes is an eloquently rendered celebration of a remarkable heritage. Author Carole Boston Weatherford’s lyrical stanzas combine with the power of luminous oil paintings by Coretta Scott King New Talent winner, Eric Velasquez (The Piano Man) to trace the development of jazz. From African forests to wooden slave ships to Harlem nightclubs, the tragic and joyous legacy of the African-American experience gives jazz its passion and spirit. (amazon.com)

Westridge Young Writers Workshop. (1996). Kids explore America’s African-American heritage. Santa Fe, TX: John Muir. (4-6)

Examines the contributions of African Americans to American culture in such areas as music, food, literature, and other fields, discussing the early history of Africa, the contributions of civil rights leaders, ethnic crafts, and more. (amazon.com)

Yarbrough, C. (1999). Cornrows. Illustrated by C. Byard. New York: Econo-Clad Books. (2-5)

Explains how the hairstyle of cornrows, a symbol of Africa since ancient times, can today in this country symbolize the courage of outstanding Afro-Americans. (card catalog)

BACK

Traditional:

Aardema, V. (1997). Anansi does the impossible!: An Ashanti tale. Illustrated by L. Desimini. New York: Atheneum. (K-3)

With the help of his clever wife, Anansi performs three impossible tasks in order to buy the Sky God’s stories. Brilliant collage illustrations bring out the humor of this tale in which the round-bellied trickster spiders catch a python, a fairy, and forty-seven stinging hornets for the wrathful Sky God. (Horn Book, 1998)

Aardema, V. (1992). Anansi finds a fool: An Ashanti tale. Illustrated by B. Waldman. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. (K-3)

"When you dig a hole for someone else, you will fall into it yourself.” Acclaimed folklorist Verna Aardema once again weaves a funny and magical African tale about lazy Anansi, who wants a fishing partner who will do all the work with Anansi getting the fish. But when his clever friend Bonsu becomes his partner, Anansi's plan backfires. (amazon.com)

Aardema, V. (1992).Bimwilli and the Zimwi. Illustrated by S. Meddaugh. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. (K-3)

A Swahili girl is abducted by a Zimwi and told to be the voice inside his singing drum. (card catalog)

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