African American/Black History Month,  Book Lists,  Homeschool

Top 30 Black History Month Picture and Chapter Books

February 1st marks the start of Black History Month. While we incorporate African-American history throughout the year in our own homes, this month gives us a chance to dig deeper into some remarkable lives and stories.

We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite books that we’ve read to our children about African-American history and culture. A lot of the stories we have included are about children or are told from their point of view.

PERHAPS our list of book suggestions will help you further explore Black History Month with those you love too.

We've put together a list of some of our favorite books that we've read to our children about African-American history and culture. A lot of the stories we have included are about children or are told from their point of view.

#blackhistorymonth #africanamerican #kidlit #homeschool #booklist #childrensbooks  #picturebook  #raisingreaders #civilrightsmovement #undergroundrailroad #favoritereadalouds

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Be sure to check out our list of Over 35 of the Best African-American Read-Aloud Biographies.

Folklore, Family and Inspiration

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Abiyoyo
  • Seeger, Pete (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 48 Pages – 01/01/1994 (Publication Date) – Aladdin (Publisher)

Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger. This book is a childhood favorite of ours that we have shared with our children. It is the story of a town frightened by Abiyoyo, the giant, and a boy who saves the day with his ukulele. There is a follow up book called Abiyoyo Returns.

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John Henry (Picture Puffins)
  • Lester, Julius (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 40 Pages – 12/01/1999 (Publication Date) – Puffin Books (Publisher)

John Henry by Julius Lester. John Henry is an American folklore hero, larger than life. This book tells his story of strength and courage as he helps build roads and tunnels with sledgehammers and steam drills.

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Galimoto (Reading Rainbow Book)
  • Williams, Karen Lynn (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 32 Pages – 08/21/1991 (Publication Date) – HarperCollins (Publisher)

Galimoto by Karen Lynn Williams. This story is about a little boy who wishes to build a galimoto (toy truck) in Malawi, Africa. Not owning many things, he sets off to find the wire needed for his idea. This is also a childhood favorite of ours, that we have shared with our children.

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The Patchwork Quilt
  • Hardcover Book
  • Flournoy, Valerie (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 32 Pages – 03/29/1985 (Publication Date) – Dial Books (Publisher)

The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy. A warm story about the bonds of family centered around a girl and her grandmother who loves to quilt.

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Firebird
  • Hardcover Book
  • Copeland, Misty (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 40 Pages – 09/04/2014 (Publication Date) – G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers (Publisher)

Firebird: Ballerina Misty Copeland Shows a Young Girl How to Dance Like the Firebird by Misty Copeland. The author, American Ballet Theatre Soloist, Misty Copeland, gives words of encouragement to a young dancer who is unsure of herself. Great message about working hard, dreaming big and believing in yourself.

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When God Made You
  • Hardcover Book
  • Turner, Matthew Paul (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 48 Pages – 02/28/2017 (Publication Date) – Convergent Children’s (Publisher)

When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner. Beautiful book, written in rhyme, about how unique and special each one of us is… because God made us so.

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The Secret River
  • Hardcover Book
  • Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 56 Pages – 01/04/2011 (Publication Date) – Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Publisher)

The Secret River by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. This is the story of a little girl’s desire to help her family in a time of need during the Depression Era. Beautiful artwork shows her journey with her dog, Buggy Horse, as they find a secret river that just might help her family.

Underground Railroad

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt (Reading Rainbow Books)
  • Deborah Hopkinson (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 40 Pages – 07/10/1995 (Publication Date) – Dragonfly Books (Publisher)

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson. This book is a fictional story about a young slave girl, Clara, who uses a quilt to map out a way to freedom. Clara was taught to sew by an older woman who cares for her after she is separated from her mother on another plantation. Great book to discuss the Underground Railroad and slavery from the eyes of a child.

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Barefoot: Escape on the Underground Railroad
  • Edwards, Pamela Duncan (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 32 Pages – 01/01/1999 (Publication Date) – Katherine Tegen Books (Publisher)

Barefoot: Escape on the Underground Railroad by Pamela Duncan Edwards. This story is told through the eyes of a runaway slave on the Underground Railroad and the forest animals he encounters while on his journey. The night is darker than usual as the moon is hidden behind clouds. The runaway must look for other clues to lead him to safety. The artwork is great and does a wonderful job of making you feel like you too are on the dark, frightening journey.

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The Drinking Gourd: A Story of the Underground Railroad (I Can Read Level 3)
  • Monjo, F. N (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 64 Pages – 06/09/1970 (Publication Date) – HarperCollins (Publisher)

The Drinking Gourd; A Story of the Underground Railroad (I Can Read! Level 3) by F.N. Monjo. A little boy discovers runaway slaves in his barn after they followed the Drinking Gourd (the Big Dipper) on their journey on the Underground Railroad. Find out if the boy and his family are able to help the slaves escape to freedom. Simple, historical fiction book great for early readers.

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. . . If You Traveled on the Underground Railroad
  • Levine, Ellen (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 64 Pages – 02/01/1993 (Publication Date) – Scholastic Paperbacks (Publisher)

. . . If You Traveled on the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine. We love this series! This book is a great resource for introducing the Underground Railroad to younger children. It covers everything from how the Underground Railroad got its name, to what the President thought about it. Just enough information is given about each topic so it is not overwhelming to the reader.

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Hush Harbor: Praying in Secret (Carolrhoda Picture Books)
  • Used Book in Good Condition
  • Hardcover Book
  • Freddi Williams Evans (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 32 Pages – 09/01/2008 (Publication Date) – Carolrhoda Books (Publisher)

Hush Harbor: Praying in Secret by Freddi Williams Evans. Simmy is a young slave who has an important job… he must watch for danger as other slaves come together to worship in a secret location. Slaves were not allowed to gather in groups, which included even in prayer, and if caught, there was punishment. This book is based on the true practice of enslaved African Americans having to gather in secret to pray.

Harriet Tubman

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Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman
  • Schroeder, Alan (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 40 Pages – 12/01/2000 (Publication Date) – Puffin Books (Publisher)

Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman by Alan Schroeder and Jerry Pinkney. This historical fiction book is based on what life was like for a young Harriet Tubman, whose nickname was Minty. As a child, she was known as “difficult” and was sent out to be a field slave after it was decided she wasn’t fit to be a house slave. Minty never gave up hope, determination or her dreams of freedom.

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Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom (Caldecott Honor Book)
  • non-fiction african american book set
  • non-fiction black book set
  • non-fiction african american children’s book set
  • non-fiction black children’s book set
  • Hardcover Book

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford. Nicknamed Moses, Harriet Tubman was a deeply religious person who relied on her faith in God to help her with her work on the Underground Railroad. This book shows a fictional conversation between Harriet Tubman and God. It is a great resource for children already familiar with the Underground Railroad’s story.

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Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman
  • Sterling, Dorothy (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 192 Pages – 05/01/1987 (Publication Date) – Scholastic Paperbacks (Publisher)

Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman by Dorothy Sterling. This book highlights Harriet Tubman’s life and courageous work on the Underground Railroad. It is an easy to read chapter book.

Who Was Harriet Tubman?
  • Great product!
  • McDonough, Yona Zeldis (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 112 Pages – 12/30/2002 (Publication Date) – Penguin Workshop (Publisher)

Who was Harriet Tubman? by Yona Zeldis McDonough. Informative biography about Harriet Tubman in the “Who Was…?” series. The book contains illustrations also that help tell Harriet’s story.

Once a Slave

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More Than Anything Else
  • Hardcover Book
  • Marie Bradby (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 32 Pages – 09/01/1995 (Publication Date) – Orchard Books (Publisher)

More Than Anything Else by Marie Bradby. Booker T. Washington was born a slave. As a young child, Booker wanted to learn to read more than anything even though he knew slaves were not allowed. Inspiring story about the desire to learn and teach others. Booker T. Washington would grow up to build Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute… by hand.

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Brick by Brick
  • Smith Jr., Charles R. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 32 Pages – 01/06/2015 (Publication Date) – Amistad Books for Young Readers (Publisher)

Brick by Brick by Charles R. Smith. This book tells the story of how slaves, who had been rented out by their masters, contributed to building the White House. Construction was difficult work during this time before modern building equipment. Many of the slaves were later able to purchase their freedom using money earned from the skills they had learned.

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Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave
  • RANDOLPH CALDECOTT MEDAL – HONOR
  • Hardcover Book
  • Hill, Laban Carrick (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 40 Pages – 09/07/2010 (Publication Date) – Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Publisher)

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill. Beautiful story about a former slave who was a very skilled potter. He etched his pieces with poetry and some of his surviving works are pictured at the end of the book. Great choice for studying pottery as there is quite a bit of emphasis on the process of making a piece.

Hammering for Freedom: The William Lewis Story (New Voices)
  • Hardcover Book
  • Rita Lorraine Hubbard (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 32 Pages – 09/25/2018 (Publication Date) – Lee & Low Books (Publisher)

Hammering For Freedom by Rita Lorraine Hubbard. William Lewis was born a slave and from an early age learned to be a blacksmith. He was always fixing and making things for everyone to earn money. William was allowed to keep some of what he earned and dreamed of having enough to buy his family’s freedom. Remarkable story of determination.

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The Kidnapped Prince: The Life of Olaudah Equiano
  • Cameron, Ann (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 160 Pages – 01/25/2000 (Publication Date) – Yearling (Publisher)

The Kidnapped Prince: The Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano, adapted by Ann Cameron. Kidnapped at the age of 11 and sold into slavery, Olaudah writes of the terrible hardships endured during his time as a slave. You may wish to read the book first to know what to expect (for younger readers) regarding the horrible treatment of slaves mentioned in the story.

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Elijah of Buxton (Scholastic Gold)
  • Curtis, Christopher Paul (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 368 Pages – 02/01/2009 (Publication Date) – Scholastic Paperbacks (Publisher)

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis. This book is historical fiction set in Buxton, a Canadian settlement of runaway slaves near the United States border, and Elijah is the first child to be born free there. At eleven years old, Elijah heads out on a dangerous journey after someone steals money from his friend… money that was to be used to purchase his family’s freedom.

Civil Rights Stories

Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation
  • Hardcover Book
  • Pinkney, Andrea Davis (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 36 Pages – 09/30/2008 (Publication Date) – Greenwillow Books (Publisher)

Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation by Andrea Davis Pinkney. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus, thus sparking the Montgomery bus boycott. This book tells the story of Rosa Parks and her supporters’ efforts for justice.

Ruth and the Green Book
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Ramsey, Calvin Alexander (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 32 Pages – 11/01/2013 (Publication Date) – Carolrhoda Books (Publisher)

Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey. During the 1950’s, Ruth and her family are excited to travel in their new car (something most African Americans at the time could not afford). They soon found that not all hotels and gas stations treated them equally. Thankfully, a kind gas station attendant showed Ruth’s family The Green Book which was full of places that welcomed African Americans.

Steamboat School
  • Hardcover Book
  • Hopkinson, Deborah (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 40 Pages – 06/07/2016 (Publication Date) – Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Publisher)

Steamboat School by Deborah Hopkinson. This is based on the true story of Reverend John Berry Meachum who taught at a school in Missouri. A new law was passed that forbid African American education in the state and Meachum’s school was closed. Determined to teach his students, he comes up with a clever way to do just that!

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Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins
  • Weatherford, Carole Boston (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 32 Pages – 12/27/2007 (Publication Date) – Puffin Books (Publisher)

Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins by Carole Boston Weatherford. Connie is eight years old and lives during segregated times in North Carolina. She simply wants to order ice-cream and sit at the counter to enjoy it but signs are posted everywhere telling her she isn’t allowed to. One day she sees four young men take a stand at the restaurant which prompts the Greensboro Sit-Ins. Connie helps by making her own signs with her brother.

Child of the Civil Rights Movement
  • Used Book in Good Condition
  • Shelton, Paula Young (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 48 Pages – 07/23/2013 (Publication Date) – Dragonfly Books (Publisher)

Child of the Civil Rights Movement by Paula Young Shelton & Raul Colon. The author, Paula Young Shelton (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s niece), was four years old when the story takes place, at the start of the Civil Rights Movement. This book is told from her point of view, as a child, based on her family’s recollection of the events.

History

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Fort Mose: And the Story of the Man Who Built the First Free Black Settlement in Colonial America
  • Hardcover Book
  • Turner, Glennette Tilley (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 48 Pages – 09/01/2010 (Publication Date) – Harry N. Abrams (Publisher)

Fort Mose: And the Story of the Man Who Built the First Free Black Settlement in Colonial America by Glennette Tilley Turner. Fort Mose was the first free African American settlement to legally exist in an area that eventually became America. It was also part of the Underground Railroad and was the most southern point along the journey.

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1001 Things Everyone Should Know About African American History
  • Stewart, Jeffrey C. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 416 Pages – 05/04/1998 (Publication Date) – Crown (Publisher)

1001 Things Everyone Should Know About African-American History by Jeffrey C. Stewart. This book is jam-packed with fascinating stories about people and events throughout African American history.

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America’s Black Founders: Revolutionary Heroes & Early Leaders with 21 Activities (32) (For Kids series)
  • Used Book in Good Condition
  • Sanders, Nancy I. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 144 Pages – 01/01/2010 (Publication Date) – Chicago Review Press (Publisher)

America’s Black Founders by Nancy I. Sanders. A collection of stories about dozens of African American men and women who helped significantly during the founding of America.

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