The contributions that Black women have made to our global community are so numerous they deserve their own blog post. As a mother of girls it is vitally important that I raise them knowing that in spite of the limitations others may try and put on them because of their gender and race they are capable of achieving anything. Without realizing it I have compiled a list of books heavy with stories that feature our Black History sheroes when they were children, which gives the added bonus of humanizing these larger than life figures. I hope you feel empowered, enlightened and bolder when you share these beautiful picture books with the little history makers in your life.
- BOLD WORDS FROM BLACK WOMEN curated by Dr. Tamara Pizzouli a bold and bright coffee table book with two page spreads that featuring 50 Black women leaders and their most famous sayings.
- Nina: A Story of Nina Simone by Traci N. Todd
- Goodnight Rebel Girls: 100 Real Life Tales of Black Girl Magic by Lily Workneh Nina Simone’s life story is beautifully illustrated by Christian Robinson. He paid special attention to the importance the piano had in her life and how the civil rights movement impacted her music. Traci Todd captures this biography in just the right amount of text for young audiences.
- Stacey’s Extraordinary Words by Stacey Abrams brand new from voting rights champion Stacey Abrams comes an adorable story from her childhood. With unique illustrations we here about young Stacey’s logophilia (love of words), when she stood up to a bully and the power of perseverance.
- Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles by Michelle Meadows before she was record breaking olympic gymnast, Simone Biles, she was a kid in foster care. Her family went through many changes but it didn’t dull Simone’s optimism. This is another great story of perseverance and hard work and could lead to discussions on self-care, mental health and staying positive.
- A History of Me by Adrea Theodore this one made me tear up just a little. A mother’s recounting of her own experience being the only brown face in school serves a powerful message for her own daughter facing similar challenges. A moving book for anyone who has ever been the only… in a room.
- Born to Swing: Lil Hardin Armstrong’s Life in Jazz by Mara Rockcliff We’ve all heard about the great Louis Armstrong but Lil Hardin was the women who started his career and eventually became his second wife. She was an amazing piano player and fought for a spot playing in the male dominated big-band industry. She eventually struck out on her own, forming her own band, and continued to have success until her death in 1971, where she passed away at the piano while playing a tribute to the late Louis Armstrong. Fascinating read with lots of extended information in the back of the book.
- The Doctor with and Eye for Eyes: The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath by Julia Finley Mosca a nonfiction biography with a side of rhymes. Dr. Bath is not a Black History figure that I learned about in school so I was happy to make this discovery for my girls. All of the books in Julia Mosca’s biography series feature adorable and bright cartoon illustrations and lyric text. They are all worth checking out.
- We Wait for the Sun by Katie McCabe is an absolutely gorgeous intergenerational story from civil rights lawyer Dovey Roundtree’s childhood. Grandma Rachel and little Dovey leave home early one morning in search of the sweetest, ripest blackberries. I love sharing stories that feature our heroes and sheros when they were children. It humanizes them and let’s our own children know that they can aspire to greatness from humble beginnings.
- Pies From Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Dee Romito Stories like Georgia Gilmore’s are the stories of the unsung. We don’t here about these quiet giants that used their simple gifts to feed hundreds. Georgia Gilmore’s food and restaurant served as a meeting ground for Dr. King and his organizers. You can’t march for civil rights on a empty stomach.
- Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston by Alicia D. Williams another childhood tale of a prominent Black History figure. Zora Neale Hurston is a literary treasure and she loved to tell and capture stories from everyone around her. ‘Now, her mama always told her that if she wanted something, “to jump at de sun”, because even though you might not land quite that high, at least you’d get off the ground. ‘
- Molly by Golly: The Legend of Molly Williams, America’s First Female Firefighter by Dianne Ochiltree This story about little known she-ro, Molly Williams, is the stuff of legends. She was the cook in the local firehouse soaking up the knowledge and the know-how from the men around her. When the entire fire unit came down with the flu, Molly alone organized the town to fight a raging fire.
- Little People, Big Dreams: Michelle Obama by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara One of the newest editions this epic series of biography books profiles the beautiful and classy former first lady. I love the illustrations and the bite size information in this one. It’s always so important for kids to hear about the accomplishments from someone that is still living, it makes history and achievements more tangible for them.
For more great book recommendations for Black History Month make sure to follow @dramamamareads on instagram all February long.
