February is traditionally considered a time that schools especially celebrate Black History Month. I always found this a bit weird. Do we or should we only focus on it one time a year? Personally, I think not. As educators, we should be seeking to include and incorporate the stories of African Americans in all aspects of our curriculum at all times.
However, since this is Black History Month, I wanted to share a few of my favorite picture books. As I tell my students, not all picture books are for preschoolers. Many of these books span the age range from preschool to high school and beyond. Some are geared more for 4th or 5th grade and older. Whatever the age, they are nearly all award winning books and if they don't have a shiny medal affixed to their cover they should.
MY PEOPLE by Langston Hughes
Photography by Charles R. Smith, Jr.
From the moment, I flipped through the pages of this book I knew I had to have it. Hughes' poem rises to new meaning as it is brought to life with the photographs taken by Smith. I am already thinking about how I will use this book during National Poetry Month.
HENRY'S FREEDOM BOX by Ellen Levine
Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Even if this book wasn't illustrated by Kadir Nelson, I would probably still love it. The book tells of the decision Henry Brown, a slave, made to mail himself to freedom. With the assistance of a compassionate white man, Henry packs himself into a wooden crate and is shipped to Philadelphia. First, I can not imagine being in a box for any length of time, let alone the time it took for this crate - in less than ideal conditions - to arrive north. The story is powerfully told and will stick to the reader.
THE LISTENERS by Gloria Whelan
Illustrated by Mike Benny
Beautiful illustrations support this story about children of slaves who learned to "listen" in order to gain access to information to protect themselves and their families. Often after a day in the fields, these young children would crouch outside the windows of their masters' homes to learn about the goings on and to discover what might be their fate.
MOSES by Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
I willing admit that I am partial to the work of Kadir Nelson. Weatherford presents a fictionalized account of Harriet Tubman's journey to free herself and others. The focus of the book is on Tubman's spiritual connection to God and the message she believed that He was encouraging her to heed. It is well done and offers a lot for discussion.
UNDERGROUND by Shane W. Evans
Through the use of simple text, and simple but powerful illustrations, the readers witness one family's journey to escape from slavery and find freedom. Very different from MOSES (see above), the pictures and text come together to tell the story of slaves escaping for freedom. One page background information in the back of the book is helpful to teachers.
DAVE THE POTTER: ARTIST, POET, SLAVE by Labin Carrick Hill
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
There is a reason that this book walked away with a 2011 Caldecott Honor Medal and a Corretta Scott King Award for Illustrations. The paintings in this book are amazing. The story provides a look at a different aspect of the life of a slave. One who had a skill as a potter, and was also able to read and write, and included poetry on his pottery.
SOJOURNER TRUTH'S STEP-STOMP STRIDE by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
This story is not only a powerful book for Black History Month but could also be used to celebrate National Women's History (March). Sojourner Truth was six feet tall at the age of 9. As the story says, "She was big. She was black. She was so beautiful." Sojourner Truth fought for the rights of blacks and women. She was brave and not afraid to speak the truth.
JAZZ by Walter Dean Myers
Illustrated by Christopher A. Myers
This picture book is comprised of 15 poems by Walter Dean Myers around the subject of jazz music. They capture the mood, rhythm and feel of jazz. There is an appendix at the back that includes music/jazz terms and one that includes a jazz timeline. Myers' son Christopher illustrated this book and the paintings nicely bring to life the text.
WE ARE THE SHIP Written and Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
I know that I can get all fangirl about Kadir Nelson's work but he really has done a fabulous job with this story. Told in the format of innings each chapter follows the history of Negro League Baseball. Nelson's illustrations provide are slanted it in a way to highlight these "giants of baseball" and truly make them seem "bigger than life". Readers can nearly step into the illustrations and be transported back in history. For grades, 5th and up.
FREEDOM SUMMER by Deborah Wiles
Illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue
This simple story of friendship between two children in the south during the tail end of segregation is very touching. Both boys have so much in common and yet because one is white and the other black, their worlds are so different. When I got to the part about the pool, I nearly sobbed.
MARCHING FOR FREEDOM: WALK TOGETHER CHILDREN AND DON'T YOU GROW WEARY by Elizabeth Partridge
As I mentioned above, not all picture books are for little ones. The photos in this non-fiction book clearly tell the story of the landmark march from Selma to Montegomery in 1965. Between the powerful text and the stunning photos, I felt transported back in time. The fear, the pain, and the courage of those who made that journey rise off the pages of this book. An inspiring look at the fight for the right of African Americans to vote. To be used with grades 4th and up.
SIT-IN: HOW FOUR FRIENDS STOOD UP BY SITTING DOWN by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Woolworth's lunch counter sit-in, this book told in poetic prose shares what happened when 4 college students took Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's words to heart and dared to sit at a "whites only" lunch counter. This book is perfect for 4th grade and higher.
MARTIN'S BIG WORDS by Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
Through the use of Martin Luther King Jr.'s own words, the history of his life is simply told.
The book begins with Martin as a child as he begins to understand the inequity between whites and blacks and begins to question the words that he has heard. The story follows through King's life and provides children with a sense that they can accomplish significant things with their life as well. At the end of the book, there is a list of significant dates and a bibliography of resources which can be used by educators as part of a classroom curriculum.
OUR CHILDREN CAN SOAR: A CELEBRATION OF ROSA, BARACK, AND THE PIONEERS OF CHANGE by Michelle Cook
This picture book is actually comprised of the illustrations of many individuals. Each page looks at the life and contributions of significant African-American athlete, politician, activitist and his/her contribution to the quest for equality and freedom and ends with Barrack Obama. This is certainly a book for anytime and for all children.
