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Washington County Library (MN)
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New and Recommended Children's Books to celebrate Black History Month
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Updated January 27, 2025
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Lewis and Clark Public Library
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The ABCs of Black history
Cortez, Rio
Paper Book
In this New York Times Bestseller, B is for Beautiful, Brave, and Bright! And for a Book that takes a Bold journey through the alphabet of Black history and culture. Letter by letter, The ABCs of Black History celebrates a...
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All aboard the schooltrain : a little story from the Great Migration
Armand, Glenda
Paper Book
"Schooltrain! Schooltrain! Don't be late! The school bell rings at half past eight!" This tender family story, inspired by the author's own, illuminates a dynamic chapter in American history known as the Great Migration -- and the many trains people rode toward freedom.<...
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All the Greatness in You
Brown, Tameka Fryer
Paper Book
Bursting with warmth and words of encouragement, this lyrical picture book celebrates growing up and believing in yourself--the perfect gift for graduations, birthdays, the first day of school, and beyond. You are brave. You are enough. You are...
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Baby Dunks-a-Lot
Tatum, Jayson
Paper Book
The Boss Baby meets Space Jam in this hilarious tale of a baby turned basketball superstar from NBA All-Star Jayson Tatum, author Sam Apple, and illustrator Parker-Nia Gordon When a big kid teaches his little brother how to play basketball for the first time,...
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Barracoon
Hurston, Zora Neale
Paper Book
An Instant New York Times and Indie Bestseller! In the first middle grade offering from Zora Neale Hurston and Ibram X. Kendi, young readers are introduced to the remarkable and true-life story of Cudjo Lewis, one of the last survivors of the Atlantic human trade, in an...
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Born on the water / Born on the Water
Hannah-Jones, Nikole
Paper Book
The 1619 Project's lyrical picture book in verse chronicles the consequences of slavery and the history of Black resistance in the United States, thoughtfully rendered by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and Newbery honor-winning author Renee Watson. A...
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The boy who found his voice
Gordon, Tyler
Paper Book
From teen activist and artistic prodigy Tyler Gordon comes a heartwarming picture book inspired by his own life about a boy with a speech difference who learns the power of self-expression through art.There once was a young boy who had trouble with words. He paused and stuttered and stammered, which...
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Brown Girl, Brown Girl
Honor, Lesl/ Cabrera, Cozbi A. (ILT)
Paper Book
This powerful and hopeful picture book--inspired by the historic election of Vice President Kamala Harris--celebrates brown and Black girls and is magnificently illustrated by a Caldecott Honor-winning artist. Brown girl, brown girl, what did you see?...
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Claudette Colvin : I Want Freedom Now!
Hoose, Phillip/ Colvin, Claudette/ Jackson, Bea (ILT)
Paper Book
Civil rights icon Claudette Colvin teams up with Phillip Hoose--author of the Newbery Honor and National Book Award-winning blockbuster biography Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice--to tell her groundbreaking story in this unforgettable picture book illustrated by New York Times-bestselling...
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Good Hair
Sewankambo, Yvonne
Paper Book
When a little girl declares that she hates her hair, her parents show her that good hair is whatever hair you have in this celebration of self-acceptance--and the diversity of beauty. Birungi doesn't want to go to school today. Waking up is hard, but doing her hair is harder. "I...
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Hair love
Cherry, Matthew A
Paper Book
A New York Times Bestseller and tie-in to Academy-Award Winning Short Film "Hair Love" "I love that Hair Love is highlighting the relationship between a Black father and daughter. Matthew leads the ranks of new creatives who are telling unique stories of the Black...
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Hold them close : a love letter to black children
Thompkins-Bigelow, Jamilah
Paper Book
When happy things come to you, hold them close and never let go. From celebrated author of Your Name Is a Song Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, fine artist Patrick Dougher, and photographer Jamel Shabazz, Hold Them Close is a picture book celebration of Black past, present,...
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Little leaders : bold women in black history
Harrison, Vashti
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Meet the little leaders. They're brave. They're bold. They changed the world. Featuring 40 trailblazing black women in history, this book educates and inspires as it relates true stories of women...
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Little legends : exceptional men in black history
Harrison, Vashti
Paper Book
Author-illustrator Vashti Harrison shines a bold, joyous light on black men through history in this #1 New York Times bestseller. An important book for readers of all ages, this beautifully illustrated and engagingly written volume brings to life...
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Mae among the stars
Ahmed, Roda
Paper Book
A beautiful picture book for sharing and marking special occasions such as graduation, inspired by the life of the first African American woman to travel in space, Mae Jemison. An Amazon Best Book of the Month! A great classroom and bedtime read-aloud, Mae Among the Stars is the...
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Mae makes a way : the true story of Mae Reeves, hat & history maker
Rhuday-Perkovich, Olugbemisola
Paper Book
Tip your hat to fashion designer and civil rights icon Mae Reeves in this picture book biography written in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture! "A fine introduction to a determined trailblazer." -The New York Times...
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A man called Horse : John Horse and the Black Seminole Underground Railroad
Turner, Glennette Tilley
Paper Book
John Horse (c. 1812-1882, also known as Juan Caballo) was a famed chief, warrior, tactician, and diplomat who played a dominant role in Black Seminole affairs for half a century. His story is central to that of the Black Seminoles-descendants of Seminole Indians, free Blacks, and escaped slaves...
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My Smock Is a Story
Nantogmah, Reuben
Paper Book
When a young boy receives his first smock as a gift, his Dada tells him that every smock has a special story. Will his smock make him as joyful as a harvest dancer Or as powerful as his royal elders, the Dagomba In his smock, what will his story be ...
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Never Caught, the story of Ona Judge : George and Martha Washington's courageous slave who dared to run away
Dunbar, Erica Armstrong
Paper Book
"A brilliant work of US history." --School Library Journal (starred review) "Gripping." --BCCB (starred review) "Accessible...Necessary." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) A School Library Journal Best Nonfiction Book of 2019!...
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Ruby Bridges: A Talk with My Teacher
Bridges, Ruby
Paper Book
Acclaimed civil rights icon, Ruby Bridges, shares the touching tale of reuniting with the first-grade teacher who changed her life, Mrs. Henry. Once again, you have shown me that you never get too old to learn. Teaching really is the noblest of professions. When Ruby...
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Sharing the Dream
Moses, Shelia P.
Paper Book
An inspiring portrait of a monumental day in US history, seen through a child's eyes Agnes can hardly contain her excitement! She's headed to the March on Washington. Sitting on her father's shoulders, she's awed by the sea of people-people of every color, gathered together to be...
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Sing a song : how "Lift Every Voice and Sing" inspired generations
Lyons, Kelly Starling
Paper Book
"Lyons delivers the history of a song that has inspired generations of African-Americans to persist and resist in the face of racism and systemic oppression. . . . A heartfelt history of a historic anthem."--Publishers Weekly Sing a song full of the faith that the dark...
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Slavery and the African American story
Williams Dockery, Patricia
Paper Book
Until now, you've only heard one side of the story- how slavery began, and how America split itself in two to end it. Here's the true story of America from the African American perspective. From the moment Africans were first brought to the shores of the United States,...
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Stacey Abrams and the Fight to Vote
Todd, Traci N./ Freeman, Laura (ILT)
Paper Book
"A brilliant introduction to a powerful Black female politician and voting rights activist. Todd and Freeman bring this to life in their creative biography of Georgia-based politician Abrams." --Kirkus Reviews (starred reviews) "Freeman's airbrush-style digital art leans into...
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They Call Me Teach : Lessons in Freedom
Cline-Ransome, Lesa/ Ransome, James E. (ILT)
Paper Book
In this stirring and powerfully illustrated story, an enslaved young man uses his ability to read and write to educate others in the pursuit of freedom. Back inside the store I write up receipts for Master's deliveries for Master's orders...
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The undefeated
Alexander, Kwame
Paper Book
Winner of the 2020 Caldecott Medal A 2020 Newbery Honor Book Winner of the 2020 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award The Newbery Award-winning author of THE CROSSOVER pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time...
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The United States v. Jackie Robinson
Bardhan-Quallen, Sudipta
Paper Book
A moving and inspiring nonfiction picture book about Jackie Robinson's court martial trial--an important lesser-known moment in his lifetime of fighting prejudice with strength and grace. Students who have been introduced to this American hero from such books as Brad Meltzer's I Am...
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Unstoppable John: How John Lewis Got His Library Card--And Helped Change History
Zietlow Miller, Pat
Paper Book
A poignant picture book biography on how John Lewis got his library card and helped change history. All John Lewis wanted was a library card, but in 1956, libraries were only for white people. That didn't seem fair to John, and so he spent a lifetime advocating for...
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A voice of hope : the Myrlie Evers-Williams story
Salomon, Nadia
Paper Book
The remarkable life of Myrlie Evers-Williams is honored and celebrated in this stunningly illustrated picture book biography of a civil rights hero--the very first of its kind. Myrlie Evers-Williams' voice is gentle yet strong, soft yet powerful. It is a soaring song of hope.
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We are free, you & me
Kaepernick, Colin
Paper Book
Activists Colin Kaepernick and Nessa Diab present a poetic anthem to your brilliance, your beauty, your very existence. Every child has the right to be free. . . the right to reach. . . the right to dream. . . This lyrical affirmation of what freedom truly means celebrates the...
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You gotta meet Mr. Pierce! : the storied life of folk artist Elijah Pierce
Lee, Chiquita Mullins
Paper Book
A picture book biography about the barber shop of woodcarver Elijah Pierce, recipient of the highest folk art honor in the United States. "Creeeeak!" goes the screen door to self-taught artist Elijah Pierce's barbershop art studio. A young boy walks in for an ordinary...
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