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15 Empowering Children’s Books for Moving Beyond Black History Month


Today is the last day of Black History Month. It is always a wonderful and exciting time to remember, honor, and celebrate the pioneering achievements and transformative events that have shaped the Black community and American society. We can thank Carter G. Woodson and his brilliant colleagues for the foundational principles that culminated into BHM being declared a national observance in 1976. All too often, however, much of the information, inspiration, and consciousness amassed from the literature read during the month slowly dissipates. It is just as vital today as it was decades ago for Black children to feel empowered and encouraged. The books listed can serve to consistently strengthen and foster self-awareness, knowledge of culture, and freedom of voice beyond Black History Month.



The Night Is Yours

Abdul-Razak Zachariah | Keturah A. Bobo | Dial Books, July 2019 (Available for Pre-order) | Amazon


Hands Up!  

Breanna J. McDaniel | Shane W. Evans | Dial Books, 2018 | Amazon | IndieBound


Woke Baby

Mahogany L. Browne | Theodore Taylor III | Roaring Brook, 2018 | Amazon | IndieBound


Seeing into Tomorrow 

Nina Crews | Richard Wright | Millbrook Press, 2018 | Amazon | IndieBound


I Am Enough

Grace Byers | Keturah Bobo | Balzer + Bray, 2018 | Amazon | IndieBound



Being You

Alexs Pate | Soud | Capstone, 2018 | Amazon | IndieBound


Black Girl Magic: A Poem

Mahogany L. Browne | Jess X. Snow | Roaring Brook Press, 2018 | Amazon | IndieBound


Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy

Tony Medina | Various | A Penny Candy Books, 2018 | Amazon | IndieBound


Hey Black Child

Useni Eugene Perkins | Bryan Collier | Little, Brown BYR, 2017 | Amazon | IndieBound


I, Too, Am America

Langston Hughes | Bryan Collier | Simon & Schuster BYR, 2012 | Amazon | IndieBound



My People

by Langston Hughes | Charles R. Smith Jr. | Atheneum BYR, 2009 | Amazon | IndieBound


Pretty Brown Face

Andrea Davis Pinkney | Brian Pinkney | HMH BYR, 1997 |  Amazon | IndieBound


Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea 

Joyce Carol Thomas | Floyd Cooper | HarperCollins, 1993 |Amazon


Soul Looks Back in Wonder

Various Author | Tom Feelings | Dial, 1993 | Amazon


Bright Eyes, Brown Skin

Cheryl Willis Hudson | Bernette G. Ford | George Ford | Just Us Books, 1990 | Amazon


What are your thoughts on our uplifting book list? Do you have any titles to add? Leave a comment below.


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