Black History Month may be the shortest month of the year, but it’s always a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Black history and to find great reading resources. Picture book readers are at a distinct advantage, because they can read a book a day without overdoing it. With that in mind, I’ve compiled one picture book per day (and it’s fortunately a leap year, so there’s an extra day) for the month to learn about different aspects of Black history. I hope adults and children alike will find new information, new stories, new creators, and more from these picture books.
The People Remember by Ibi Zoboi, illustrated by Loveis Wise
The People Remember is a Kwanzaa story, but it’s still perfect for Black History Month. It tells the history of African Americans by connecting that history to the principles of Kwanzaa. It’s an excellent learning resource for both history and Kwanzaa, and the art and poetic writing style really bring it all together beautifully.
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Floyd Cooper
Unspeakable is a gorgeously written and illustrated account of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Carole Boston Weatherford shares something very serious in a way that is sensitive to young readers without concealing the truth. It’s surprisingly in depth, and I’ve read books about the subject for older audiences that didn’t include all the details she fits here.
Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrated by Luisa Uribe
Your Name is a Song tells the story of a young girl whose classmates can’t pronounce her name, but her mother teaches her that her name is like a song. It’s beautifully written and illustrated, like a song itself, and it teaches and shares the beauty of names from many cultures: African American, African, Arabic, Asian, and more.
Clap Your Hands: A Celebration of Gospel by Toyomi Igus, illustrated by Michele Wood
Told through poetry, Clap Your Hands is about the history of gospel music. The narrative ties the history of gospel music into the broader history of Black people in the USA, and it’s pretty thorough in its history of gospel. Fans of Black history in general and music history in particular will enjoy this one.
The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez, illustrated by Lauren Semmer
With vibrant art and flowing poetry, The ABCs of Black History is exactly what it promises to be. It offers an alphabet of Black history, covering a wide variety of topics, making it a great introductory point for young readers. It also includes extra information at the end that will help satisfy the curiosity of older readers.
There Was A Party For Langston by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Jerome and Jarrett Pumphrey
There Was a Party for Langston is an ode to the works of Langston Hughes, and also celebrates his impact on Black literature for generations to come, celebrating many of the writers who were influenced by him by sharing the story of the party that served as the grand opening of the Langston Hughes Auditorium at the Schomburg Center.
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, illustrated by Oge Mora
The Oldest Student is a touching and warm look into the life of Mary Walker, a woman born into slavery, found freedom as a teenager, lived through generations of history, and learned to read at the age of 116, before passing away at the age of 121. It celebrates the extraordinary life of an ordinary woman, with beautiful illustrations to accompany.
Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome
There are so many picture books about Harriet Tubman to choose from, but I chose Before She Was Harriet because I love its scope. In this beautifully illustrated, poetically written book, we get to see parts of Tubman’s life that aren’t often shown. We see her life as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, as a Union spy and general, as a nurse, as a suffragist, and more.
Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshal by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Bass Reeves was a formerly enslaved man who became a US Marshal and one of the most successful lawmen in the Old West, with over three thousand arrests and limited deaths at his hands. Bad News for Outlaws retells his story for young readers in a way that is fun to read and visually imaginative to look at, with many pages styled like wanted posters.
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Written as a poem and with vivid illustrations, The Undefeated is an ode to Black history, offering an overview of African American history. The end of the book also includes short biographies of the many historical figures featured throughout the illustrations and poetry, making it an enjoyable and educational read.
Nina: A Story of Nina Simone by Traci N. Todd, illustrated by Christian Robinson
Nina: A Story of Nina Simone is on the longer side for a picture book, but it manages to cover many details of Nina Simone’s personal life, her musical career, and her work as a Civil Rights activist. It’s a surprisingly thorough picture book biography, and the vibrant illustrations really pop off of the page.
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly and Winifred Conkling, illustrated by Laura Freeman
Hidden Figures is the picture book adaptation of the adult book of the same name, also by Shetterly (and also adapted to the movie of the same name). With gorgeous pictures, it tells the story of how Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden turned a passion for math into brilliant careers in NASA despite racism and misogyny.
Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Ekua Holmes
Another entry from Carole Boston Weatherford, Voice of Freedom is the picture book biography of activist Fannie Lou Hamer. Hamer was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, and a strong activist for voting rights and women’s rights. Using moving poetry and bold illustrations, this book tells the story of her life and her vital work.
Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement by Angela Joy, illustrated by Janelle Washington
Many of us know the devastating story of the brutal murder of fourteen year old Emmett Till, but Choosing Brave looks at his story from a new angle. With papercut illustrations, we learn the story of Mamie Till-Mobley, Emmett’s mother. It follows her throughout her life, throughout her son’s death, and through her hard work to ensure justice for him and others like him.
Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o, illustrated by Vashti Harrison
Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o wrote Sulwe, a stunningly illustrated book that tackles colourism through a young girl who feels less-than because she has the darkest skin in her family and at her school. With a magical journey through the night sky, she learns to love the beauty of her dark skin.
Magnolia Flower by Zora Neale Hurston, adapted by Ibram X. Kendi, illustrated by Loveis Wise
Zora Neale Hurston was one of the most important Black writers in the first half of the twentieth century, and Magnolia Flower is a retelling of one of her classic short stories. Magnolia Flower is the daughter of one parent who survived and fled slavery and another who survived the Trail of Tears, and the story follows her as she finds her own way in the world.
This Is the Rope: A Story From the Great Migration by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by James E. Ransome
This Is The Rope tells the story of the Great Migration through multiple generations of one family and the rope that accidentally becomes a piece of family history. A young girl in the South finds a piece of rope one summer and keeps it, and it is used by her and her family for generations, including during their journey north. It’s a beautiful introduction to the history of the Great Migration.
Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan
Ashley Bryan used real slave auction and plantation estate documents to create fictionalised stories for eleven different real enslaved people. Using free verse, Freedom Over Me breathes life into cold documents so that children might understand the real people those documents represented, humanising those who were inherently dehumanised.
The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth & Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
The Book Itch tells the story of the real-life Harlem bookstore owned and operated by the author’s great-uncle, shown through the eyes of his son. We learn about books, bookstores, the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, and important people who visited the bookstore like Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X.
Coretta Scott by Ntozake Shange, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Coretta Scott King is best remembered as the wife of Martin Luther King Jr, but Coretta Scott tells us her story. We learn about her childhood in the segregated South, life before her husband, and life as an activist in her own right through Ntozake Shange’s beautiful poetry, and stunning illustrations from Kadir Nelson.
Fearless Mary: Mary Fields, American Stagecoach Driver by Tami Charles, illustrated by Claire Almon
Fearless Mary tells the story of 19th century icon Mary Fields who became the first ever African American woman stagecoach driver. For many years, Mary Fields, who had been born into slavery, delivered packages in her stagecoach across dangerous territory, and never lost a single package or horse. This picture book biography tackles the adventurous life Mary chose.
William Still and His Freedom Stories: The Father of the Underground Railroad by Don Tate
William Still and His Freedom Stories is a picture book biography about William Still, who collected countless stories of enslaved people that helped reunite families as they escaped through the Underground Railroad. It’s a vital look into the life of a prominent Black abolitionist, delivered with poetic language and gentle illustrations.
Viola Desmond Won’t Be Budged by Jody Nyasha Warner, illustrated by Richard Rudnicki
February is Black History Month in Canada as well, which makes it an excellent opportunity to learn about Viola Desmond. Viola Desmond Won’t Be Budged is the story of how, in Nova Scotia, Canada, Viola Desmond refused to move out of her seat in the white’s only section of a movie theatre, and was arrested for her trouble. It follows her fight for justice, which she only received posthumously.
Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, illustrated by Daniel Minter
Blue follows the history of the use of the colour blue in powders and dyes, which goes surprisingly far back. The colour was hard to make and often highly valued, and it plays a significant role in Black history, partially because of its value in African history and partially because of it resulting in indigo being farmed as a cash crop by enslaved people. It’s a fascinating read, with stunning pictures.
Trombone Shorty by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, illustrated by Bryan Collier
Trombone Shorty is an autobiographical picture book, in which Troy Andrews shares his experiences of growing up in New Orleans, learning to play music, earning his nickname Trombone Shorty, and even getting to play with icon Bo Diddley. With bold illustrations and a love for music, it makes for a fun and heartwarming story.
These Hands by Margaret H. Mason, illustrated by Floyd Cooper
These Hands is a fascinating and vital look into a part of Black history and labour history that isn’t often talked about. Our young protagonist learns how to do all sorts of things with his hands from his grandpa, who he learns worked for Wonder Bread in the 50s and 60s but wasn’t allowed to do any baking because white people wouldn’t want Black people to touch the food. It’s a tender, sweet, educational look into a painful history.
Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968 by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Another selection surrounding labour rights, Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop tells the story of the Sanitation Strike of 1968 through the eyes of a teacher who was a young girl while participating in the strike. It’s a great look at the history of the strike, and of the final days of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life.
Mamie on the Mound: A Woman in Baseball’s Negro Leagues by Leah Henderson, illustrated by George Doutsiopoulos
Mamie on the Mound tells the true story of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, the first woman to ever become a professional baseball pitcher. The story tells us about Mamie’s life at large and about segregation and racial and gender discrimination in baseball. Budding sports fans are sure to enjoy Mamie’s story, especially with the cute art to help tell it.
Rooting for Plants: The Unstoppable Charles S. Parker, Black Botanist and Collector by Janice N. Harrington, illustrated by Theodore Taylor III
Rooting for Plants is the picture book biography of scientist Charles S. Parker. Parker was one of the first Black botanists, mycologists, and plant collectors in history, and here we learn about his scientific career, his time in the military in WWI, and his work as an influential teacher. It’s a great look into early to mid twentieth century STEM history, about one of the most influential Black scientists of his time (or since).
The Feminist Bibliothecary 