Black History Month for Kids

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

Updated January 6, 2024
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Africville
Grant, Shauntay
Paper Book
The French edition of the award-winning picture book. When a young girl visits the site of Africville, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the stories she?s heard from her family come to mind. She imagines what the community was once like--the brightly painted houses nestled into the hillside,...
Africville : an African Nova Scotian community is demolished - and fights back
Wesley, Gloria Ann
Paper Book
Beginning in the 18th century, Black men and women arrived from the U.S. and settled in various parts of Nova Scotia. In the 1800s, a small Black community had developed just north of Halifax on the shores of the Bedford Basin. The community became known as Africville and grew to about 400 people...
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...
The Halifax Explosion : 6 December 1917 at 9:05 in the Morning
Cooper, Afua.
Paper Book
CN
Hockey night in Kenya
Mutinda, Danson
Ebook
★ "This simple story of discovery, sport, and friendship is filled with likable characters and innocently joyful moments...Delightful."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review Kenyan orphans, Kitoo and Nigosi, spend their days studying, playing soccer, helping their elders...
The journey of little Charlie
Curtis, Christopher Paul
Paper Book
Newbery Medalist Christopher Paul Curtis brings his trademark humor and heart to the story of a boy struggling to do right in the face of history's cruelest evils. Twelve-year-old Charlie is down on his luck: His dad just died, the share crops are dry, and Cap'n Buck -- the most fearsome...
Lone runner
McLean, Dirk
Paper Book
Set in a diverse neighborhood, this book follows Michaela as she goes from a solitary runner to an athlete who contributes to the success of her cross-country team. Discouraged by an incident at her mostly-white summer camp, Michaela comes into her own as part of her racially diverse school track...
Mary Ann Shadd
Spence, Kelly
Paper Book
Mary Ann Camberton Shadd Cary, educator, publisher, abolitionist (born 9 October 1823 in Wilmington, Delaware; died 5 June 1893 in Washington, DC). Mary Ann Shadd was the first Black female newspaper publisher in Canada. Shadd founded and edited The Provincial Freeman. She also established a...
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...
The possible lives of WH, sailor
Junaid, Bushra
Paper Book
"What truths would you utter from your mouth If you could tell us your story"-- The Possible Lives of W.H., Sailor In this powerful and deeply moving poetic narrative, author/artist Bushra Junaid gives presence to W.H., a mysterious nineteenth-century sailor whose remains were...
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...
The Watsons go to Birmingham : 1963
Curtis, Christopher Paul
Paper Book
During one of the most important times in the civil rights movement, one unforgettable family goes on a road trip in this Newbery and Coretta Scott King Honoree, from author Christopher Paul Curtis, recipient of the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. ...
Welcome to the cypher
Dill, Khodi
Paper Book
Words burn bright in this joyful celebration of rap, creativity, and self-expression. "Welcome to the cypher! Now huddle up nice and snug. You feel that circle around you? Well, that's a hip hop hug!"  Starting with beatboxes and fingersnaps, an exuberant...
Underground to Canada
Smucker, Barbara
Paper Book
There's a place the slaves been whisperin' around called Canada. The law don't allow no slavery there. They say you follow the North Star, and when you step onto this land you are free ...... Taken away from her mother by a ruthless slave trader, all Julilly has left is the dream of freedom....
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...
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 world and...

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