Librarian Mom: Beyond Harriet Tubman: Picture Books for African-American History Month

Beyond Harriet Tubman: Picture Books for African-American History Month

When I was a kid in the 1970's, there weren't a ton of kids' books around on African-American history. I remember reading about only two events: Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, and Rosa Parks's refusal to move off the bus. I can still see the chalky blue illustrations of the book about Harriet Tubman, and the feel chill that ran through me when I realized how brave she must have been to continue helping people to freedom even with a price on her head and a visible, identifiable scar on her face. (Though I was interested to read, in this list of myths and truths about the Underground Railroad, that most slaves who escaped did so on their own and without "conductors" like Tubman.)

These days, there are so many titles about the African American experience that a comprehensive list would be close to impossible, though this website on African-American Heritage resources and this list of Coretta Scott King Award Winners would be a good start for anyone who wants to share this aspect of American history and heritage with the kids in their lives—or just to read some amazing kids' books for themselves.

The picture books listed below are some of my own favorites; my daughter and the kids at my library have enjoyed them as well:

Henry's Freedom Box, by Ellen Levine; illustrated by Kadir Nelson.

A fascinating tale, based on the true story of Henry Box Brown, who mailed himself to freedom. The illustrations won a Caldecott Honor award just this year. One 5^th grader I knew found this book so compelling that he decided to do his author study project on its author.

The Legend of Freedom Hill, by Linda Jacobs Altman; illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Wha Hu.

In a California Gold Rush settlement, two spirited heroines—one the daughter of an escaped slave, and one a member of the area's only Jewish family—who come up with an ingenious way to foil a slave catcher.

Goin' Someplace Special, by Patricia McKissack; illustrated by Jerry Pinkney.

Life under segregation, as seen through the eyes of one young girl making her first solo trip to the town library. I especially like the way the heroine keeps her grandmother's supportive words in mind to bolster her sense of self in the face of the Jim Crow laws that restrict her at every turn. Based on the author's childhood experiences.

Rosa, by Nikki Giovanni; illustrated by Bryan Collier.

My favorite book ever about Rosa Parks, and the only one I've seen that gives real weight to her background as a Civil Rights activist and to the community that supported her. Plus, the illustrations are stunning.

The Bat Boy and His Violin, by Gavin Curtis; illustrated by E. B. Lewis.

Reginald's dad, a coach in the Negro Baseball League, wants him to be a bat boy, but Reginald would rather play the violin.

The Other Side, by Jacqueline Woodson; illustrated by E. B. Lewis.

Two girls and a fence set the stage for one of the most powerful books I've ever seen about overcoming fear of difference. Woodson's understated text leaves lots of room for readers and listeners to draw their own conclusions.

Jamaica Tag-Along, by Juanita Havill; illustrated by Anne Sibley O'Brien.

No history lesson here: just a little girl whose big brother doesn't want her following him around. It might seem obvious, but it's worth keeping in mind that all kids—whatever their own ethnicity—can benefit from books about African-Americans as regular people, not subjects of prejudice or Big Historical Themes. Plus, Jamaica is just a great character who kids can relate to. First in a series of books about Jamaica and her friends.

Coming up in the next post: Chapter books and nonfiction for African-American History Month.

February 18, 2008