The children's collection is filled with fascinating biographies of important figures in Black history for families to enjoy together - some already known, but many others' ingenuity, courage, and excellence finally being recognized for the first time in these pages. From a graphic novel about activist Claudette Colvin to a picture book about Augustus Jackson, the "Father of Ice Cream," take home a book to celebrate Black history this month and beyond. Here are some of my favorites and notable new titles.
Rosa Parks & Claudette Colvin : civil rights heroes
Baptiste, Tracey, author.
j323.092 Baptiste
"Introduces readers to two brave Black women who stood up against segregation, setting in motion the Montgomery Bus Boycott and showing the nation how positive change can start with a single defiant act"--
Ice cream man : how Augustus Jackson made a sweet treat better
Armand, Glenda, author.
j641.5092 Armand
"This picture book biography recounts the extraordinary life of Augustus Jackson, an African American entrepreneur who is known as the 'Father of Ice Cream.'"--
Maya's song
Watson, Renée, author.
jBIOGRAPHY Angelou, Maya
"This unforgettable picture book introduces young readers to the life and work of Maya Angelou, whose words have uplifted and inspired generations of readers. The author of the celebrated autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya was the first Black person and first woman to recite a poem at a presidential inauguration, and her influence echoes through culture and history. She was also the first Black woman to appear on the United States quarter. Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Award winner Renée Watson uses Angelou's beloved medium of poetry to lyrically chronicle her rich life in a deeply moving narrative. Vivid and striking collage art by Caldecott Honor recipient and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner Bryan Collier completes this unforgettable portrait of one of the most important American artists in history."--
You gotta meet Mr. Pierce! : the storied life of folk artist Elijah Pierce
Lee, Chiquita Mullins, author.
j730.92 Lee
"Based on the true story of artist Elijah Pierce and his community barbershop, this picture book biography is a new and engaging offering on a hidden figure in Black art history."--
King of ragtime : the story of Scott Joplin
Costanza, Stephen, author, illustrator.
jBIOGRAPHY Joplin, Scott
This toe-tapping picture book biography of African American composer Scott Joplin, whose ragtime music paved the way for jazz, is told through kaleidoscopic illustrations.
The green piano : how little me found music
Flack, Roberta, author.
jBIOGRAPHY Flack, Roberta
"Legendary singer Roberta Flack reflects on her early childhood and her love of music"--
H is for Harlem
Johnson, Dinah, author.
j974.71 Johnson
"A richly informative alphabet picture book celebrating Harlem's vibrant traditions, past and present"--
Who is Ketanji Brown Jackson?
Moses, Shelia P., author.
jBIOGRAPHY Jackson, Ketanji Brown
Born in Washington, DC, in 1970, and raised in Miami, Florida, Ketanji Brown Jackson developed an interest in law and politics at an early age. As a preschooler, she sat with her father and watched him complete his law school assignments. And even though some people, including a school guidance counselor, discouraged Ketanji from aiming high, she proved them wrong and graduated with honors from Harvard Law School. She went on to serve on the U.S. District Court in 2013 and the United States Court of Appeals in 2021 before making history and becoming the first Black woman to be confirmed to the United States Supreme Court in 2022.
Shirley Chisholm dared : the story of the first black woman in congress
Williams, Alicia R. (Alicia Renee), author.
jBIOGRAPHY Chisholm, Shirley
"Meet Shirley, a little girl who asks way too many questions! After spending her early years on her grandparents' farm in Barbados, she returns home to Brooklyn and immediately makes herself known. Shirley kicks butt in school; she breaks her mother's curfew; she plays jazz piano instead of classical. And as a young adult, she fights against the injustice she sees around her, against women and black people. Soon she is running for state assembly...and winning in a landslide. Three years later, she is on the campaign trail again, as the first black woman to run for Congress. Her slogan? "Fighting Shirley Chisholm--Unbought and Unbossed!" Does she win? You bet she does." -- Amazon.com.
Josephine : the dazzling life of Josephine Baker
Powell, Patricia Hruby, 1951-
jBIOGRAPHY Baker, Josephine
A portrait of the passionate performer and civil rights advocate Josephine Baker, the woman who worked her way from the slums of St. Louis to the grandest stages in the world. Meticulously researched by both author and artist, Josephine's powerful story of struggle and triumph is an inspiration and a spectacle, just like the legend herself.
All star : how Larry Doby smashed the color barrier in baseball
Vernick, Audrey, author.
jBIOGRAPHY Doby, Larry
In 1947, Larry Doby signed with the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first Black player in the American leagues. He endured terrible racism, both from fans and his fellow teammates. Despite this, he became a unifying force on and off the field, and went on to become a seven-time All Star. Illustrated with Cannaday Chapman's bold, stylized illustrations, this exceptional biography tells the story of an unsung hero who not only opened doors for those behind him, but set amazing records during his Hall of Fame career. More significantly, it examines the long fight to overcome racism in sports and our culture at large, a fight that is far from over.--
Mamie on the mound : a woman in baseball's Negro leagues
Henderson, Leah, author.
j796.357092 Johnson
"Mamie "Peanut" Johnson had one dream: to play professional baseball. She was a talented player, but she wasn't welcome on the all-white Girls Pro Baseball League team due to the color of her skin. However, a greater opportunity came her way in 1953 when Johnson signed to play ball with the Negro Leagues' Indianoplis Clowns, becoming the only professional female pitcher to play on a men's team. During the three years she played with the team, her record was an impressive 33-8. But more importantly, she broke ground for female pitchers like Mo'ne Davis and women everywhere"--
Bessie the motorcycle queen
Smith, Charles R., Jr., 1969- author.
j796.7 Stringfield
"Hop on the bike with Bessie Stringfield, the motorcycle queen of Miami, in this powerful picture book from Coretta Scott King medalist Charles R. Smith, Jr. and debut picture book illustrator Charlot Kristensen. In 1929, 18-year-old Bessie Stringfield hopped on her motorcycle and headed out on an adventure, an unusual choice for a young Black woman at the time. Paying her way by winning motorcycle races, she criss-crossed the country through small towns, big cities, and wide open spaces. But not everyone was happy to see Bessie's brown face peeking out from underneath her helmet. And more than once, Bessie found herself making some quick exits on the back of her bike to escape Jim Crow. A trailblazer in the world of women's racing and motorcycling, Bessie Stringfield was a figure who will inspire all children to pursue their dreams"--
Patricia's vision : the doctor who saved sight
Lord, Michelle, author.
jE Lord
"Born in 1940s Harlem, Patricia Bath dreamed of being a doctor--even though that wasn't a career option for most women. This biography follows Dr. Bath in her quest to become an ophthalmologist and restore sight to the blind. "Choosing miracles" when everyone else had given up hope, she invented a specialized laser for removing cataracts, becoming the first African American woman doctor to receive a medical patent"--
Florence Griffith Joyner
Williams-Garcia, Rita, author.
jBIOGRAPHY Joyner, Florence Griffith
"A chapter book biography of Florence Griffith Joyner, part of the She Persisted series"--
Because of you, John Lewis : the true story of a remarkable friendship
Pinkney, Andrea Davis, author.
j323.1 Pinkney
"When young Tybre Faw discovers Congressman John Lewis and his heroic march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the fight for the right to vote -- Tybre is determined to meet him. Tybre's two grandmothers take him on the seven-hour drive to Selma, Alabama, where Lewis invites Tybre to join him in the annual memorial walk across the Bridge. And so begins a most amazing friendship! In rich, poetic language, Andrea Davis Pinkney weaves the true story of a boy with a dream-together with the story of a real-life hero (who himself had a life-altering friendship with Martin Luther King Jr. when he was young!) Keith Henry Brown's deeply affecting paintings bring this inspiring bond between a young activist and an elder Congressman vividly to life. Both John Lewis and Martin Luther King, Jr. have left indelible marks on future generations. Will Tybre be next to carry the mantle?"--
An American story
Alexander, Kwame, author.
j973.00496 Alexander
From the fireside tales in an African village, through the unspeakable passage across the Atlantic, to the backbreaking work in the fields of the South, this is a story of a people's struggle and strength, horror and hope. This is the story of American slavery, a story that needs to be told and understood by all of us. A testament to the resilience of the African American community, this book honors what has been and envisions what is to be.