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The extraordinary memoir of Michaela DePrince, a young dancer who escaped war-torn Sierra Leone for the rarefied heights of American ballet.

The month of February is a time when many communities pause and celebrate the great contributions made by African Americans in history. At Lee & Low we like to not only highlight African Americans who have made a difference, but also explore the diverse experiences of black culture throughout history, from the struggle for freedom in the South and the fight for civil rights to the lively rhythms of New Orleans jazz and the cultural explosion of the Harlem Renaissance.

We put together a list of titles – along with additional resources – that align with 7 core values and
themes to help you celebrate both Black History Month and African American culture all 365 days of the year.

It’s important to remember that heritage months, like Black History Month, can encourage a practice of pulling diverse books that feature a particular observed culture for only one month out of the year. To encourage a more everyday approach, we developed an 8-step checklist for building an inclusive book collection that reflects the diversity of the human experience. Teaching Tolerance also offers some helpful solutions to connect multicultural education with effective instructional practices and lists insightful “dos and don’ts” for teaching black history that are applicable to any culturally responsive curriculum or discussion.

How do you celebrate during Black History Month? Or, better yet, how do you help children discover the cultural contributions and achievements of black history all year long? Let us know in the comments!

Perseverance, Determination, & Grit

• Etched in Clay: The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and Poet
• Frederick Douglass: The Last Day of Slavery
• George Crum and the Saratoga Chip
• In Her Hands: The Story of Sculptor Augusta Savage
• Knockin’ on Wood: Starring Peg Leg Bates
• Little Melba and Her Big Trombone
• Night Golf
• Ray Charles
• Richard Wright and the Library Card

Leadership & Courage

• Game, Set, Match, Champion Arthur Ashe
• Joe Louis, My Champion
• The Last Black King of the Kentucky Derby
• Paul Robeson
• Seven Miles to Freedom
• Seeds of Change

Teamwork & Collaboration

• Rent Party Jazz
• Juneteenth Jamboree
• Sweet Music in Harlem
• The Legend of Freedom Hill
• The Piano
• Up the Learning Tree
• Drumbeat in Our Feet
• The Secret to Freedom

Responsibility & Commitment

• Dear Mrs. Parks
• Game, Set, Match, Champion Arthur Ashe
• John Lewis in the Lead
• The Bus Ride

 Optimism & Hope

• Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl’s Baseball Dream
• Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree
• As Fast as Words Could Fly
• Howard Thurman’s Great Hope

Compassion & Love

• Children of Long Ago
• DeShawn Days
• I and I Bob Marley
• Love to Langston
• Love Twelve Miles Long
• Mama’s Window
• Sweet Potato Pie

Passion & Pride

• i see the rhythm
• The Palm of My Heart: Poetry by African American Children
• Black All Around!
• Drummer Boy of John John
• Going Back Home

Discussion questions when reading and learning about core values:

1. How does/do the character(s) show (core value)?
2. What positive effects are associated with having/showing (core value)?
3. How do you show (core value)?
4. How can you work towards having/showing (core value)?
5. What core values do you think are important to apply in our classroom? Why?

Further reading on teaching core values with students:

• How to Choose Books for Core Value Study
• How to Teach Core Values to Kids Meaningfully

Looking for additional resources for teaching Black History? Check out these lesson plans, videos, and tips:

• African American History Month from the Library of Congress
• Anti-Defamation League: Black History Month
• African American History from ArtsEdge, an education program from the Kennedy Center
• ASALH: A Century of Black Life, History, and Culture
• Guide to Black History Month Teaching Resources from EDSITEment, a project of the National Endowment for the Humanities
• Black History Month Lessons & Resources from the National Education Association
• Celebrate Black History Month from The New York Times’ The Learning Network
• Black History Month resources for the classroom from PBS NewsHour
• Black History Month from Reading Rockets
• Black History Teaching Resources from Smithsonian Education
• African American History Month from TeachingHistory.org
• Remembering Cortez Peters from Lee & Low
• Why Remember Bill Traylor? from Lee & Low
• Why Remember Florence “Baby Flo” Mills? from Lee & Low
• Why Remember Arthur Ashe? from Lee & Low
• Why Remember Toni Stone? from Lee & Low
• Why Remember Robert Smalls? from Lee & Low

Veronica has a degree from Mount Saint Mary College and joined LEE & LOW in the fall of 2014. She has a background in education and holds a New York State childhood education (1-6) and students with disabilities (1-6) certification. When she’s not wandering around New York City, you can find her hiking with her dog Milo in her hometown in the Hudson Valley, NY.

February is Black History Month. The origins of Black History Month began with historian Carter G. Woodson launching Negro History Week in 1926. Woodson felt that teaching African American history was essential for the survival of the African American race.

In 1969, students at Kent State University proposed expanding Black History Week to Black History Month. The first Black History Month was celebrated a year later. In 1976, Black History Month was recognized by the federal government and has been celebrated ever since.

Today, heritage months can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, relegating culturally diverse books to specific months of the year can mean these books are overlooked the rest of the year. It can also separate Black history from American history, when in fact black history is American history.

On the other hand, we are still working to undo a long history in which the achievements and contributions of people of color were routinely ignored. Having a special time of year to highlight these achievements can help fill in the gaps in our history.

Our opinion? Black History Month isn’t a time for once-a-year books; the books you use this month should be in your regular rotation. But Black History Month is a good time to give your collection of African American titles a little extra love–or updating, if it needs it.

LEE & LOW is proud to offer a number of different Black History Month collections. Check them out below:

Black History Month Collection, Grades K-2

This paperback collection features a mix of historical fiction and biographies from African Americans who excelled in arts and politics for young readers.

Featured Books:

Love Twelve Miles Long, written by Glenda Armand and illustrated by Colin Bootman – Frederick Douglass’s mother travels twelve miles late at night to visit him in another plantation. Mama recounts why every step of the way is special to her.

Knockin’ On Wood, by Lynne Barasch – Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates, a legendary 20^th century tap dancer, lost his leg in an accident at the age of twelve. He taught himself how to dance, first with crutches and then later with a peg leg.

Purchase this collection here

Black History Month Collection, Grades 3-6

This collection explores the lives of great African Americans with a wide range of picture book biographies and historical fiction books for young readers.

Featured Books:

Little Melba and Her Big Trombone, written by Katheryn Russell-Brown and illustrated byFrank Morrison – This award-winning biography follows the life of Melba Liston, a trailblazing musician and a great unsung hero of jazz.

Ira’s Shakespeare Dream, written by Glenda Armand and illustrated by Floyd Cooper -Ira Aldridge dreamed of being on stage one day performing the great works of William Shakespeare. Due to little opportunity in the United States, Ira journeyed to Europe and through perseverance and determination became one of the most respected Shakespearean actors of his time.

Purchase this collection here

Black History Month Collection, Grades 7-12

This collection is perfect for a wide range of middle to high school level readers. Readers will be able to explore the history of African American music, Civil Rights, and sports.

Featured Books:

i see the rhythm, written by Toyomi Igus and illustrated by Michele Wood – This book explores African American music throughout history, starting with its roots in Africa.

I and I Bob Marley, written by Tony Medina and illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson – This book of poems explores the life of famous musician Bob Marley.

Purchase this collection here

Black History Month Special Collection This collection features a mix of award-winning hardcover and paperback biographies of great African Americans at a range of reading levels.

Featured Book:

Love to Langston, written by Tony Medina and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie – Fourteen original poems explore the life of Langston Hughes, one of America’s most beloved poets.

Purchase this collection here

Black History Month Paperback Collection

This collection features hand-picked award winning books, available in paperback.

Featured Book:

In Her Hands, written by Alan Schroeder and illustrated by JaeMe Bereal – Augusta Savage enjoyed sculpting with clay, despite her stern father thinking it was a waste of her time. To pursue a career as an artist, Augusta leaves everything she knows behind and journeys to New York.

Further Reading:

Who Is Ira Aldridge?

Remembering Cortez Peters

Why Remember Bill Traylor?

Why Remember Florence “Baby Flo” Mills?

Why Remember Author Ashe?

Why Remember Robert Smalls?

Why Remember Toni Stone?

Storyline Online: Catching the Moon

Seven Core Values to Celebrate During Black History Month

Why You Should See Selma

Katheryn Russell-Brown on the Research Behind Little Melba and Her Big Trombone

Protesting Injustice Then and Now

Resources for Teaching About Wangari Maathai and Seeds of Change

Three Ways to Teach Etched in Clay

The Origins of the Coretta Scott King Award

More Resources

Twelve Months of Books

The Problem with Ethnic Heritage Months

African American History Month (Library of Congress)

Which five words best describe Lillian’s Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965? America’s racist history surrounds us.

Set in the 1950s during the infamous days of Jim Crow, New Shoes is a story of an African American girl who comes up with a brilliant idea to remedy the far-too-often degrading experience of buying shoes, especially for back-to-school.

February is African American History Month. Sharing these books with young readers comes with the responsibility to discuss ... progress towards equality.

In this conversation, we talked to Draper about the inspiration behind Stella by Starlight and the basic goodness in humanity.

Stella by Starlight, by esteemed storyteller Sharon M. Draper, is a poignant novel that beautifully captures the depth and complexities within individuals, a community, and society in 1932, an era when segregation and poverty is at the forefront.

Click on event name for more information

Black History Month~ Canada

African American History Month~ USA

National African American Read-in~  USA

The Katha Chitrakala Award (Excellence in Children’s Book Illustrations) Winners Announced~ India

The Golden Age of the Picture Book: 1920s & 1930s – History’s Message to Children~ ongoing until Feb 6, Tokyo, Japan

The 11th Annual National Storytelling Week~ ongoing until Feb 5, United Kingdom

Kolkata Book Fair~ ongoing until Feb 6, Kolkata, India

Tales in the Garden Festival~ ongoing until Feb 12, Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand

Mirror, an Exhibition by Children’s Author and Artist Jeannie Baker~ ongoing until Feb 13, Australia

2011 Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Children’s Book Award~ submissions accepted until Feb 25, United Kingdom

International Youth Library Exhibit: The Fabulous World of John Kilaka, Pictures and Drawings by a Tanzanian Artist~ ongoing until Feb 28, Munich, Germany

Entries Accepted for The Growing up Asian in America Contest~ ongoing until Mar 10, San Francisco, CA, USA

2011 PBBY-Alcala Prize~ submissions accepted until Mar 30, Philippines

International Youth Library Presents Walls: A Book and an Exhibition~ ongoing until Apr 5, Munich, Germany

International Youth Library Exhibit: Manga From Japan~ ongoing until Apr 5, Munich, Germany

Making Books Sing Presents a One-Woman Play Based on The Storyteller’s Candle/La velita de los cuentos by Lucía Gonzalez~ ongoing until spring, New York, NY, USA

Partners in Wonder: Selections from the Collection of Jane Yolen~ ongoing until May 1, Amherst, MA, USA

Look! The Art of Australian Picture Books Today~ ongoing until May 29, Melbourne, Australia

The Art Institute of Chicago Exhibit: Real and Imaginary: Three Latin American Artists – Raúl Colón, David Diaz and Yuyi Morales~ ongoing until May 29, Chicago, IL, USA

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