Black History Month books for kids by various authors and illustrators
c.2024, 2025, $17.95 – $18.99, various page counts
Your mother tells you stories.
She talks about things that happened before you were born. Grandpa does it, too, and you like to hear every tale. So why not have these stories about Black history on your shelves?
For the boy who loves looking good, โSaturday Morning at the โShopโ by Keenan Jones, illustrated by Ken Daley (Beach Lane Books, $18.99) is a great book to have around. One day each week, everything happens at the barber shop,and not just haircuts. This is a fun read and a cultural touchstone for boys ages 4 to 8.
Young cooks will love โJollof Dayโ by Bernard Mensah, illustrated by Annalise Barber-Opp (Dial, $19.99). Itโs the story of father and son in the kitchen for a special event that starts early and ends in mouthwatering goodness. Kids will love the story, and parents will love the recipe at booksโ end.
The child who has activism in their soul will want โWe Miss You, George Floydโ by Shannon Gibney, illustrated by Leeya Rose Jackson (University of Minnesota Press, $17.95). Itโs a brief but well-done look about the life and murder of Floyd and why itโs important. Younger kids will like the pictures, but older children will understand the story best.
Itโs also important for kids to know about their heroes. โSharing the Dreamโ by Shelia P. Moses, illustrated by Keith Mallett (Nancy Paulsen Books, $18.99) begins with an exciting trip: The whole family is going to the March on Washington, and young Agnes knows why itโs important. Read this story to children ages 3 to 8, and be sure your older ones know about the biographies at booksโ end.
Speaking of heroes, โUnstoppable Johnโ by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Jerry Jordan (Viking, $18.99) is a slice-of-life story thatโs perfect for kids who crave books. Itโs the tale of young John Lewis, who loved to read almost anything he could get his hands on, but he couldnโt get a library card. Back then, libraries were only for white folks, but John knew that if he was persistent and kept working on it, soon libraries and other places would open up to people who looked like him. This is a heroic book for 5-to-9-year-olds and a nice launching point for other, similar biographies.
And finally, for the child who loves world history, โThrough Sand and Saltโ by Elizabeth Zunon (Bloomsbury, $18.99) is a book youโll want to share. Itโs the tale of a young Malik who travels with his fatherโs caravan across the Sahara desert to take salt to Timbuktu. Itโs a long journey filled with danger and excitement, new friends and old lessons. Just beware, thereโs a lot to this book, in a longer story thatโs perhaps too much for a small child in one sitting. Break it up into two read-alouds, or give it to older kids, ages 9 to 12. Theyโll enjoy it much more.
If these Black History Month books arenโt enough, be sure to ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for more. For kids of all ages, theyโve got stories.
