Passing through Black History Month and into Women’s History Month, I have noticed a trend in newer non-fiction biographies. These beautifully illustrated picture books are being published with much hype but I really don’t think they seem to know or understand who their target audience actually is. I am speaking mostly about books with a reading label of 4-8years old. Issues like lengthy paragraphs, complex storyline’s, and illustrations of Black and Brown people being beaten or attacked cause my own kids to disengaged or become downright resistant to yet another history themed read-a-loud. I’ve even run across vague or poetic mentions of inappropriate parts of a subjects past ( ex. alluding to sexual abuse in a Maya Angelou story ) I argue that it’s an important part of Dr. Angelou’s story but does not belong in a picture book for this age group.
This isn’t just a matter of what conversations you want to have or avoid with your young kids, even if i’m just talking about the read aloud entertainment factor ….my 4yr old will definitely walk away on some of these newer books supposedly geared toward her comprehension level. AND my oldest, who just turned 7, is sensitive and incredibly inquisitive and reading above her grade level, meaning: nothing is getting past her.
So for March I’ve compiled this adorable and joy-filled list, not of the newest, or most popular books out right now, but books that I am actually reading to my kids. Books that foster great conversations, keep them engaged and educate them on strong Black women in history. I have the lofty aspiration for my girls to be inspired and possibly even enjoy (or at least respect) learning about history. I don’t want them to run in the other direction because the word history is immediately equated with pain, trauma, confusing and lengthy texts, or is just plain boring. This list is for my girls, for your girls AND boys too if they are pre-k through 2nd grade.
Flying Free: How Bessie Coleman’s Dreams Took Flight by Karyn Parsons
‘Black Girl, Black Girl, Shine bright for the whole world, Show your spark and show your twirl, Let those beautiful wings unfurl!’. This phrase repeats itself throughout this rhyming book about the life of Bessie Coleman the first African-American female pilot. She faced discrimination and even had to go to France to train and obtain her license because it was not permitted at the time in American. She became a stunt pilot and social justice activist and was nicknamed Queen Bess. Her untimely death in a plane accident is left out of this book. We paired this book with stunt pilot videos on YouTube Kids.
Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills by Renee Watson
I have an illustration crush on Christian Robinson so I’m always a little biased toward his books, but Renee Watson’s story of Florence Mills is pretty great too. Florence was a beautiful, singer during the Harlem Renaissance whose birdlike voice catapulted her all the way to the stages of 1920s Broadway where she inspired everyone from songwriters to playwrights inspite of racism along the way. Sadly she died in her 30’s of tuberculosis, what’s more shocking is that no video or audio of her performing has ever been found.
Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield’s First Ride by Joel Christian Gill
I had never heard of Bessie Stringfield, the first Black woman to ride cross country on a motorcycle. This book was such a fun read and the girls were captivated. It starts with Bessie’s first race on her little bicycle. The neighborhood boys told her she wasn’t fast enough and we see Bessie finding the courage to beat those boys and any naysayer in the future. While the story is part fiction and part tall-tale the author readily admits that he is embellishing because Bessie Stringfield was known for embellishing her own upbringing. The fact that what is really true about Bessie’s history isn’t quite known makes this story of the “Negro Motorcycle Queen” even more intriguing.
Fearless Mary: Mary Fields, American Stagecoach Driver by Tami Charles
This is such a powerful story and so much history here. Mary fields, a former stage, travels alone to the west to seek opportunities. She takes a job driving a stagecoach and has to defend it and herself from outlaws and animals looking for food. The year was 1895 AND she was in there 60’s when she started. What a strong and unsung hero of the American West for our girls to read about.
Molly, by Golly! The Legend of Molly Williams America’s First Female Firefighter by Dianne Ochiltree
Molly is the cook at the fire station but cooking isn’t the only thing she’s good at. When all the firefighters in town are sick Molly fights through a snowstorm to organize the townspeople and put out a fire. This one is short which makes it good for a young audience and can pair nicely with fire safety games and activities.
Pies From Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Dee Romito
I heart this book! Georgia Gilmore’s ability to feed the people of Montgomery both body and soul as they endured their fight for equal rights was such a learning experience for all of us. There are so many people in the civil rights movement of the 50’s and 60’s that we just don’t know about. My take away was this, you don’t have to be the leader, or the most vocal to make a change. Just use what you’re good at and help others.
Ice Breaker: How Mabel Fairbanks Changed Figure Skating by Rose Vina
Some people make major changes in the fight for equality and justice and some people just move the needle a little. Mabel Fairbanks was one such needle mover. Although her fight for equality is the world of competitive figure skating did not end with a gold medal, she did shed light on inequality in that field and helped to train future Black figure skaters.
Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice by Nikki Grimes
I loved the set up of this story. A little girl, Eve, comes home from first grade frustrated because a boy says that girls can’t be president, which is exactly what Eve wants to be when she grows up. Her mother imparts strong life lessons to her daughter through the telling of Kamala Harris’ history.
Flying High: The Story of Champion Simone Biles by Michelle Meadows
Before she was 6yrs old, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles spent time in foster care. The same year she was adopted by her grandparents she was introduced to gymnastics and her passion took off. Her rise to the top is amazing and this is such a sweet introduction to young readers. Short paragraphs and lot of rhyming, alteration and repetitive words make this a fun read aloud for Black History, Women’s history or anytime of the year.
Human Computer: Mary Jackson, Engineer by Andi Diehn
‘In the Picture Book Biography series, children encounter real-life characters who are thrilled to learn and experiment, eager to make a difference, and excited about collaborating with crew members.’ This series feels like it actually is geared toward it’s target audience of 5-8yr olds. Hidden figures focused on all 4 Black women that worked at NASA but in this book we just focus on Mary Jackson, the first African-American female engineer at NASA. There are activity questions, vocabulary and STEM activities in the back of the book which makes this temporarily homeschooling mom so happy! (Also check out Computer Decoder: Dorothy Vaugh, Computer Scientist)
The Doctor With An Eye For An Eye: The Story of Patricia Bath by Julia Finley Mosca
This is such a great series of books about famous women in science (The girl with a mind for math is another). With easily readable rhyming text and cute and quirky illustrations, this book gets a HUGE A+ from this mom. I love when non-fiction is made fun and accessible for kids. Patricia Bath was the first Black female ophthalmologist
Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins by Michelle Meadows
Rhyming lyrical poem that tells the story of Janet Collins the first African American prima ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera in 1930’s and 1940’s. It’s heartbreaking that she was accepted into Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo upon the condition that she paint her skin white for performances, she refused. Told in the familiar phrasing of “this is the dancer bold as the sun, a prima ballerina in 1951”. Beautiful book, with soft sweet illustrations.
Shirley Chisholm Is A Verb! by Veronica Chambers
Shirley Chisholm was unbought, and unbossed, she was an absolute force! She was a congresswoman, she started head start, WIC, and other initiatives to help America’s families. Most importantly she was the first woman to put in a bid for president. So why is she not talked about as much as a Rosa Parks or a Maya Angelou? This book does a beautiful job of highlighting her accomplishments without being to above young children’s heads.
Jump at the Sun: The Truce Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston by Alicia D. Williams
Zora Neale Hurston , famed author of Their eyes were watching God, is captured so beautifully in this picture book. From her humble beginnings in Eatonville, FL young Zora has a love her listening to and eventually telling stories. This love for the spoken and written words and her mother’s encouragement to “jump at the sun” pushes her to fight for her education and become the author she is known for today. Another book that does a wonderful job of highlighting it’s subject for young audiences.
Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya by Donna Jo Napoli
The story of Wangari Maathai, also known as Mama Miti is a beautiful one. Her village in Kenya becomes barren after industrialists cut down too many trees to make room for cities. She starts the greenbelts movement, encouraging women from villages all over to plant trees and restore the ailing countryside. She ends up winning the Nobel Peace Prize because of it.
