Happy Black History Month, everyone! This month (and every month) is a time to educate ourselves on stories of African-Americans overcoming adversity and making their mark on the world. And that education should begin as young as possible! So get your kiddos together and sit down for a reading sesh. We’ve included some great children’s books for Black History Month below. These books feature everything from notable Black figures throughout history to themes to explore as we continue to do anti-racist work. Click on the titles to purchase them from shops featured on Oprah’s 125 Black-Owned Bookstores in America That Amplify the Best in Literature.
1. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison, $14.44
This beautifully illustrated New York Times bestseller introduces readers of all ages to 40 Black women who changed the world. There’s also an edition that shines a spotlight on exceptional Black men, so we def recommend getting both!
2. Black Heroes: A Black History Book for Kids: 51 Inspiring People from Ancient Africa to Modern-Day U.S.A. by Arlisha Norwood, $14.99
Perfect for kiddos ages 8-12, this book features 51 Black leaders and role models with fascinating biographies, colorful portraits and more.
3. If You Were a Kid During the Civil Rights Movement (If You Were a Kid) by Gwendolyn Hooks, $7.95
Teach your children about the Civil Rights movement by following along with two girls as they find themselves in the middle of a civil rights demonstration.
4. I Am Enough by Grace Byers, $19
This gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others and always being kind comes from Empire actor and activist Grace Byers and talented newcomer artist Keturah A. Bobo. Read this powerful poem to your little ones to deliver a gentle and worthy message.
5. Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome, $18.99
Teach your children all about this American heroine with this beautiful lyrical biography. It begins with a glimpse of Harriet Tubman as an old woman and travels back in time through the many roles she played through her life: spy, liberator, suffragist and more.
6. Black Women in Science: A Black History Book for Kids by PhD Kimberly Brown Pellum, $9.99
This read brings something special to Black history books for kids, celebrating incredible Black women in STEM who have used their brains, bravery and ambition to beat the odds.
7. Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson, $17.99 $15.99
This book covers the Birmingham Civil Rights march, where thousands of children volunteered to march for their rights. Talk with your children about how they protested the laws that kept them separated from white children and how they can use their voice to change the world too.
8. Dad, Jackie, and Me by Myron Uhlberg, $8.95
Your little sports fan will love hearing all about Jackie Robinson, the legendary athlete and hero. This book captures the details of the period and the excitement of an entire city as Robinson and the Dodgers won the long-awaited pennant and brought an entire New York community together for one magical summer.
9. Yours for Justice, Ida B. Wells: The Daring Life of a Crusading Journalist by Philip Dray, $18.95
This inspirational story covers Ida B. Wells and her lifelong commitment to ending injustice. Award-winning illustrator Stephen Alcorn’s remarkable illustrations recreate the tensions that threatened to upend a nation while paying tribute to a courageous American hero.
10. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, $14.99
We’re absolutely in love with the Little People, BIG DREAMS series! This best-selling collection explores the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. Check out the Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks editions too!
Bookmark these children’s books for Black History Month and these some must-see films about the Black experience in America.
Allison Wheeler is a writer, Bruce Springsteen enthusiast, and sixth-generation Texan living in Denton, Texas.
