Black History Month Children's Books

To celebrate Black History Month this year I've compiled a list of children's book to read throughout this month. Some of these books we own, others we checked out at our local library.  Below you'll read about the underground railroad, a march during the Civil Rights Movement, and a mule at Gee's Bend, the biography of Sun Ra, a beautiful and touching story of a slave family, an empowering book for girls, and the story of a little girl, and her new shoes. 

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Age Range: 5 - 8 years

A sweet story of a mule in Gee's Bend, Alabama  who played a played a key role in the civil rights movement-- and a young boy who sees history anew.

Age Range: 6 - 9 years

A simple act of not being able to try on shoes in a store during the segregation era inspires a young girl, and her friend to have their own shoe sale by washing, and restoring shoes; and welcoming everyone to try on all the shoes they wanted. 

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Age Range: 3 - 7 years

A telling story of the journey through the underground railroad  told by Cassie, who soars into the sky with her brother Be Be. They meet a train full of people, and Be Be joins them. But the train departs before Cassie can climb aboard. With Harriet Tubman as her guide, Cassie retraces the steps escaping slaves took on the real Underground Railroad and is finally reunited with her brother at the story's end. 

Age Range: 4 - 8 years 

The story of a family who silently crawls along the ground running barefoot through unlit woods, sleep beneath bushes, take shelter in a kind stranger's home. They are heading for freedom by way of the Underground Railroad.

Age Range: 6 - 9 years

This is the story of Jazz musician Sun Ra (1914–1993).  Sun Ra said that music is what holds us all together. 

Age Range: 5 - 10 years

A young girl taken away from her Africa home describes the pain of being kidnapped, made to march while chained, and taken to America to be sold at an auction, she undergoes the brutalities of slavery.

Age Range: 4 - 8 years

A simple yet powerful book on the march taken place on August 28, 1963.  Beginning with the march at the Washington Monument and ended with a rally at the Lincoln Memorial, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech, advocating racial harmony.

An empowering book on strong, and courageous Black women today. 

For more post on my blog on Black History Month make sure you read African-American Poetry for Kids, an African Exhibit, and Folktale, a review on Rosa Parks, and The Color of Us; and lastly a Black History Month in Spanish.  

This post is part of the Multicultural Kid Blogs Black History Month Series.  So make sure to scroll all the way down to participate in the awesome giveaway!  Sorry it's over! 

Welcome to our third annual Black History Month series and giveaway! Follow along all month long as we explore the rich history and cultures of Africa and African-Americans. Be sure to enter our giveaway below and link up your own posts at the bottom of the page.

You can also follow our Black History board on Pinterest:

Follow Multicultural Kid Blogs's board Black History on Pinterest.

February 1 All Done Monkey on Multicultural Kid Blogs: George Washington Carver: Facts, Activities, and Resources

February 3 The Art Curator for Kids: Faith Ringgold's Celebration of African American Women

February 4 Mama Smiles

February 5 Kid World Citizen

February 8 Are Those Your Kids? on Multicultural Kid Blogs

February 9 A Crafty Arab

February 12 Discovering the World Through My Son's Eyes

February 15 Mother in the Mix

February 17 Creative World of Varya

February 19 The Art Curator for Kids

February 22 Crafty Moms Share

February 24 La Cité des Vents

February 26 LadyDeeLG

February 29 Hispanic Mama

An InLinkz Link-up

African-American Poetry for Kids

We're celebrating Black History Month with a compilation of African-American poetry for kids. Reading the beautiful poems from poets from the past, and the present allows my child to have a deeper, and more profound appreciation of his African-American culture, and heritage. 

This post contains affiliate links.  Please see disclosure page**

An African Exhibit, Folktale, and Music

During the last day of Black History Month little one and I had the opportunity to visit and see one of the largest collection of African Art exhibition in South Carolina located at the I.P. Stanback Museum. 

Africa Revisited: The Art of Power and Identity is a beautiful exhibition with artifacts and art work from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Zaire, and Zambia.   The exhibition includes works in wood, bronze and Ashanti gold, from masks and figures to musical instruments and objects of adornment. You can read more about the exhibit here. 

Learning About Black History Month in Spanish

As a parent it is my responsibility to teach my son about his Black, and Latin heritage. I remember my first post on embracing your roots and culture, and it's directed to him so he can learn to appreciate the beauty and richness of both his cultures.  Although he's still too young to understand  that particular post or even his grandmother's interview I feel that I've already sowed the seeds of heritage in his little mind. Seeds that one day will fully bloom with knowledge and full awareness of his cultural background. 

With that being said, I've had the opportunity to review a wonderful Black History Month packet completely in Español! Can we say double score!  I was thrilled, and excited to use it with my little man. 

However, the grade levels are for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and homeschoolers. My baby is just in kindergarten! But, keep reading so I can show you how I used this packet for my 5 yr. old. :)

 

Growing Up Black During the Segregated Era {Interview With My Son’s Grandparents} Part I

This is part one of a series that has truly and profoundly touched me. I've had the opportunity to interview both my son’s grandparents on his Daddy’s side. Being able to look through old pictures, talk to them, and research this sad and unfortunate time in the history of the segregated South in America, has been a personal eye-opening experience. 

For quite some time, I've been wanting to write for my son a special post about his African American/Black heritage. Though sadly enough my son’s Black ancestry has a dark history of oppression that needs to be shared from his grandparents own unique perspective. 

What better way to do so during Black History Month, and to teach our son his heritage through his grandparents, their history, also his story. My son is so blessed to have both his grandparents on his Daddy’s side alive, and well to share their story. 

Book Review: Rosa and A Kid's Guide to African American History {Black History Month Blog Hop}

Black History Month is an annual observance here in the United States, Canada; and celebrated also in the United Kingdom during the month of October.  

Join me and six other bloggers from the Multicultural Kids Blog together as we celebrate Black History Month. During this month long celebration we will be remembering the contributions of African Americans who played an important role during the Civil Rights movement.  Please be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom, and visit the other participating bloggers. 

Celebrating MLK Day {Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service}

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I am a member of the Multicultural Kid Blogs, and I couldn't be any happier to join them in celebrating a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service by challenging their readers (and ourselves!) to take the time to do service with our children.To celebrate this day a group of wonderful bloggers are sharing ideas about the kinds of volunteer work they have done with their kids. You can check all of the bloggers below! Just make sure to scroll all the way to the bottom.

From a very young age we have been instilling in our child the values that we believe in - teaching him to be kind, and to serve others.

Martin Luther King is the perfect day to highlight acts of service, and teach him to "live the dream." Martin Luther King's dream: "One day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”  I read to him two books about Martin Luther King, Jr. although intended for older children we were able to discuss King's legacy, and acts of service.

Book Review: The Color of Us

Black History Month is celebrated from February 1 through February 28th. Before we say goodbye to this month I wanted to share a beautiful book that I bought for little one. The Color of Us by Karen Katz. It is a wonderful book for children to explore multiculturalism and diversity. 

Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the link, and make a purchase I will receive a small monetary compensation. Thank you! 

The book is about a 7 yr. old girl who is learning to mix colors, and wants the right color of brown to make a painting of herself. However, her Mom tells her that there are different shades of brown, and off they go to explore the neighborhood. They talk about  the different hues, and shades of skin color of the people they come across with.  

The description of skin colors that the author uses are beautiful!   Ranging from honey, to ginger to coconuts and coffee toffee. Thus, helping us appreciate the beauty in each color within each race and culture such as Asians, Indians, Latinos and Blacks.

After reading the book to little one we made some crafts! :)  I traced his hand on construction paper, and cut out the hands for him to color. He colored each hand with his new Multicultural Crayons. (Note: I had to order the crayons on-line because they don't sell them in stores).

He had fun coloring the hands as we described the colors, and matched the colored hands to the characters in the book.  He was even looking for crayon shades that matched our skin color as well.  He said that we (he and I) are honey, and that Daddy was a caramel color. :)   This book is a keeper, and I especially love it because of how it brings out the beauty of everyone's skin color. You just can't help but feel special about your own skin color! 

How do you teach your children about multiculturalism and diversity? Would love to hear from you! Please comment, like, share or pin.