Black History Month for Kids

A selection of novels by Black Canadian authors and non-fiction books featuring Black Canadians in history.

Updated January 25, 2025
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
Africville
Grant, Shauntay.
Paper Book
Winner of the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award Winner of the Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Excellence in Illustration Finalist for a Governor General's Literary Award, Young People's Literature - Illustrated Books Finalist for a Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Books...
I am big
Sadu, Itah
Paper Book
In the middle of the ice, a young Black hockey player finds joy in his talent and confidence in the cheers of his family, his coach, and the other players. Their support gives him the power to face down those who see him as a threat and to focus on the thrill of the game. Young people of...
Amazing Black Atlantic Canadians : inspiring stories of courage and achievement
Ruck, Lindsay
Paper Book
This fascinating, full-colour illustrated book features over 50 amazing Black people from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, sharing their incredible stories and accomplishments, past and present. Among these amazing Black Atlantic Canadians...
Beatrice and Croc Harry : a novel
Hill, Lawrence
Paper Book
"A book to treasure and share across generations." --David Chariandy, author of Brother Beatrice, a young girl of uncertain age, wakes up all alone in a tree house in the forest  How did she arrive in this cozy dwelling, stocked carefully with bookshelves and oatmeal...
Dreamer
Aliu, Akim
Paper Book
This honest, engrossing graphic memoir tells the story of professional athlete and activist Akim Aliu's incredible life as a hockey prodigy in Canada. Akim Aliu -- also known as "Dreamer" -- is a Ukrainian-Nigerian-Canadian professional hockey player whose career took him all around the...
Garden of lost socks
Edugyan, Esi
Paper Book
Two-time Scotiabank Giller Prize winner Esi Edugyan debuts her picture book, lovingly illustrated by Amélie Dubois, a whimsical story about friendship, curiosity and the magic of a vibrant community  Akosua was always told she was too nosy. Her parents loved her very much, but...
The Halifax Explosion : 6 December 1917 at 9:05 in the Morning
Cooper, Afua.
Paper Book
CN
Malaika, carnival queen
Hohn, Nadia L.
Paper Book
Malaika learns about her father, who came to Canada as a migrant farm worker when she was just a baby and who shared her love of carnival. Malaika dreams about a man with a basket of fruit and guesses that the dream is about her father. Mummy explains that her daddy passed away long ago,...
Meet Mary Ann Shadd
MacLeod, Elizabeth
Paper Book
Meet Mary Ann Shadd: anti-slavery activist, newspaper publisher, and social justice pioneer! The award-winning Scholastic Canada Biography series highlights the lives of remarkable Canadians whose achievements have inspired and changed the lives of those who followed. Mary Ann Shadd...
Meet Viola Desmond
MacLeod, Elizabeth
Paper Book
Meet Viola Desmond, community leader and early civil rights trailblazer! On the night of November 8th 1946, Nova Scotia businesswoman Viola Desmond stood up for her right to be in the "unofficial" whites-only section of a New Glasgow movie theatre . . . and was arrested for it. Supported...
My hair is beautiful
Grant, Shauntay
Paper Book
Natural, knotty, fluffy, frizzy, twisted, tangled, pony, puffed! A celebration of natural hair, from afros to cornrows and everything in between, My Hair is Beautiful is a joyful board book with a powerful message of self-love. Governor General's Award-nominated author...
The probability of everything
Everett, Sarah
Paper Book
"One of the best books I have read this year (maybe ever)." --Colby Sharp, Nerdy Book Club NPR Books We Love 2023 | Publishers Weekly Best of 2023 | Winner of the Governor General's Literary Awards for Young People's Literature A heart-wrenching middle grade debut about Kemi, an...
Swim Team
Christmas, Johnnie.
Paper Book
"Combines wonderful characters and history to create a story that will make you want to dive right in!" JERRY CRAFT, author of the Newbery Medal-winning New Kid A splashy, contemporary middle grade graphic novel from bestselling comics creator Johnnie Christmas! Bree can't wait for...
Underground to Canada
Smucker, Barbara Claassen
Paper Book
Two slave girls escape from a plantation near Vicksburg, Mississippi, and steal toward Canada on the Underground Railroad.
Viola Desmond won't be budged!
Warner, Jody
Paper Book
Finalist for the 2011 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction "On behalf of the Nova Scotia government, I sincerely apologize to Mrs. Viola Desmond's family and to all African Nova Scotians for the racial discrimination she was subjected to by the justice system ... We...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.