18 Gospel and Soul Songs by Black Women to Add to Your Black History Month Playlist

A couple of years back I published 17 Blues and Jazz Songs by Black Women to Add to Your Black History Month Playlist because I think music is a beautiful way to explore history and blues and jazz are genres firmly rooted in Black history. I’m once again sharing a list of some of the incredible Black women throughout history who have impacted the genres of gospel and soul, genres that cannot be separated from Black history. These genres and the artists that pioneered them are fluid enough that there are many artists featured known for multiple genres, but I have chosen to focus here on gospel and soul and I’ve chosen to avoid repeating artists who appeared in the previous list. The focus is once again music of the twentieth century, but I have tried to include a variety of examples, all ones that I recommend with sincerity and love.

Although I’m sharing this quite late into Black History Month, I also think it’s important to celebrate Black women as part of Women’s History Month, which is March.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe – “Strange Things Happening Every Day”

Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915-1973) was a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Arkansas known for her work in gospel and her significant influence on many other genres, like rhythm & blues and rock & roll, earning her titles such as “the original soul sister” and “the Godmother of rock and roll.” “Strange Things Happening Every Day” is a traditional African American spiritual that Sister Rosetta Tharpe made famous in 1944 with her iconic vocal style and guitar playing.

Jackie Shane – “Any Other Way”

Jackie Shane (1940-2019) was a Tennessee-born singer of soul and rhythm & blues who gained popularity in Toronto, Canada in the 1960s. She was a pioneering trans performer who turned down early an opportunity to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show when it came with the insulting condition that she present as male for the performance. Shane’s version of William Bell’s “Any Other Way” (1962) was a hit in Canada and the US.

Arizona Dranes – “I Shall Wear A Crown”

Arizona Dranes (1889 or 1891-1963) was a gospel singer and pianist from Texas. She was born blind and learned to play piano in her early teens. She was one of the earliest women to become a professional gospel singer, and incorporated boogie and ragtime stylings into her piano work, which would go on to influence later gospel artists. Dranes recorded the traditional African American gospel song “I Shall Wear A Crown” in the late 1920s.

Minnie Riperton – Lovin’ You

Minnie Riperton (1947-1979) was a soul singer from Chicago, Illinois known for her incredible five octave vocal range. She was one of the earliest celebrities to go public with a diagnosis of breast cancer, which ultimately took her life when she was only 31 years old. Riperton, mother of comedian Maya Rudolph, was best known for her iconic 1975 hit “Lovin’ You” which she co-wrote with her husband.

Clara Ward – “How I Got Over”

Clara Ward (1924-1973) was a Philadelphia-born gospel singer and songwriter who earned success performing as the leader of the Famous Ward Singers, although her mother first formed the group when Ward was only a young child. She also had a highly successful solo career. She was only 48 years old when she died of several strokes, and Aretha Franklin performed at her funeral. “How I Got Over” is a 1951 gospel song composed by Ward herself, and it is one of the best selling gospel songs of all time.

Aretha Franklin – “Call Me”

Aretha Franklin (1942-2018) was a singer, songwriter, and pianist from Tennessee, famous for singing in a variety of styles but ultimately known as the Queen of Soul. Franklin got her start singing gospel music in her father’s church, but grew up to be one of the most successful soul singers of all time. Recorded in 1969, “Call Me” is a song that Franklin wrote, sang, and played piano for.

Roberta Martin – “Try Jesus”

Roberta Martin (1907-1969) was a gospel singer, pianist, composer, arranger, and choral organiser from Arkansas. Through her group  the Roberta Martin Singers, she launched many other careers in gospel. Martin composed dozens of songs during her lifetime, and she arranged and published hundreds more. The first song she composed (in 1943) was “Try Jesus.”

Ruby Johnson – “Callin’ All Boys”

Ruby Johnson (1936-1999) was a soul singer born in North Carolina. One of nine children, she was raised Jewish and grew up singing in her temple choir. She started singing soul and rhythm & blues after finishing high school, and had a modest recording career throughout the 1960s. Despite her talent, her career didn’t carry beyond the 60s, and she went on to work for the government. “Callin’ All Boys” was her debut single, released in 1960.

Shirley Caesar – “Hold My Mule”

Shirley Caesar (1938-) is a North Carolina-born gospel singer. From a musical family, she sang throughout her childhood, and when she was 19 years old, she successfully approached Albertina Walker about joining the gospel group the Caravans. She has had a wildly successful solo career since the 70s. Throughout Caesar’s decades long career, she has been known as the Queen of Gospel and the First Lady of Gospel. Her 1988 song “Hold My Mule” has become more famous as the much memed “You Name It!” (from DJ Suede the Remix God), the original song is a lively, story-based tune.

Jackie Moore – “Precious Precious”

Jackie Moore (1946-2019) was a soul and rhythm & blues singer from Florida known for her work in Southern soul, although she did also have a moderate disco hit (“This Time Baby,” 1979) that also appeared in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. She debuted in 1969, and her career lasted well into the 80s. Moore’s song “Precious Precious” was released in 1971, and appeared on her 1973 album Sweet Charlie Babe. It was one of her most successful releases.

Mahalia Jackson

Mahalia Jackson (1911-1972) was a New Orleans-born Chicagoan gospel singer. She was one of the most important vocalists of the 20th century and helped to popularise the use of blues style in gospel music. The granddaughter of enslaved people and raised in poverty, Jackson was heavily involved in the Civil Rights movement, friends with Martin Luther King Jr, and performed at the March on Washington in 1963. Jackson recorded the most famous version of “Move On Up A Little Higher” in 1947, which became the bestselling gospel song of all time.

Betty Harris – “I’m Evil Tonight”

Betty Harris (1939-) is a soul singer from Florida, although she would gain the bulk of her success in the New Orleans scene. Although she only had a few commercial hits during her career in the 1960s, she is widely acclaimed among fans of soul music as one of the greats. In 1965 Harris released her “I’m Evil Tonight” as a B-side track to “Nearer to You,” which was her first single with the New Orleans label Sansu.

Faye Adams – “Shake A Hand”

Faye Adams (1923-Unknown) was a gospel and rhythm & blues singer from New Jersey, although she is also considered a very early example of soul. She also performed under the names Faye Scruggs and Fannie Jones. Music writer and historian Marv Goldberg located a source that indicates she died in 2016, but was unable to verify her death with certainty. Adams’ 1953 song “Shake a Hand” was a gospel and rhythm & blues crossover song that is considered by the Acoustic Music organisation to be among the “first clear evidence of soul music.”

Gladys Knight – “Midnight Train to Georgia”

Gladys Knight (1944-) is a soul singer from Atlanta, Georgia known as the Empress of Soul. Her career has spanned decades, both as a solo artist and performing with her family group Gladys Knight & the Pips. She is also an award-nominated actor for film and television. Knight famously sang the Grammy-winning song “Midnight Train to Georgia” in 1973 with the Pips, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and it’s her signature song.

Albertina Walker – “I Can Go To God In Prayer”

Albertina Walker (1929-2010) was a gospel singer from Chicago known as the Queen of Gospel Music. She grew up singing in her church and participated in several gospel groups during her early years as a professional, and after encouragement from Mahalia Jackson went on to lead the Caravans (and later helped Shirley Caesar kick off her career with them). Walker also went on to have a successful solo career, and would perform for multiple US presidents as well as Nelson Mandela. Walker recorded “I Can Go To God In Prayer” in 1981.

Patti LaBelle – “Love, Need and Want You”

Pattie LaBelle (1944-) is a Philadelphia-born soul and rhythm & blues singer known as the Godmother of Soul. She started out singing in her church, although she grew up listening to secular music as well. She would eventually front the Blue Belles, which later became known as just Labelle. She has had an extensive singing career as a solo artist as well. LaBelle recorded her 1983 hit “Love, Need and Want You” for her album I’m In Love Again.

Marion Williams – “Standing Here Wondering Which Way to Go”

Marion Williams (1927-1994) was a Florida-born gospel singer. Williams learned a number of styles growing up, such as jazz, blues, and calypso, but she would stay with gospel throughout her career. When she was about 19 years old, she performed in Philadelphia, where she was discovered by Clara Ward and joined the Ward Singers. She also helped found Stars of Faith before embarking on a solo career in the 1960s. Williams recorded “Standing Here Wondering Which Way to Go” in 1969.

Irma Thomas – “Don’t Mess With My Man”

Irma Thomas (1941-) is a soul singer from New Orleans. She has come to be known as the Soul Queen of New Orleans. She started out singing in her church choir, and although she married very young (by the time she was 19 she had been married twice and had four children), she would occasionally perform, which eventually led to her getting a record deal. Her first single was “Don’t Mess With My Man” in 1959.

Twenty-Nine Picture Books to Read for Black History Month

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’s Favourite Picture Books of 2023

I may be an adult, but I love picture books. The stories, the style, the illustrations, they all fill me with joy. It always brings me great joy to share my favourite recently released picture books at the end of the year, and this year is no exception. So without further ado, here are my favourite picture books released in 2023. Let me know in the comments if I missed your favourite!

Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine by Hannah Moushabeck, illustrated by Reem Madooh

With warm, vibrant, tender illustrations, Homeland is the picture book memoir of author Hannah Moushabek as she describes her father’s Palestinian homelands that she has never had the chance to see. It takes a serious issue and looks at it with realism, heart, and even a bit of humour. It’s a more timely book than ever, offering up a touching story that humanizes a people who have often been dehumanized in recent news coverage.

Benny the Bananasaurus Rex by Sarabeth Holden, illustrated by Emma Pedersen

Benny the Bananasaurus Rex is an adorable little book about a young boy who is obsessed with both bananas and tyrannosaurus rexes and daydreams of becoming both. It’s playful and imaginative, with vibrant, cartoony illustrations, and was a big hit with my six year old niece, who found the humour worth requesting repeat reading sessions.

Fire Shapes The World by Joanna Cooke, illustrated by Cornelia Li and Diana Renzina

A poetically told nonfiction book, Fire Shapes the World shares the history and science of fire and how fire shapes the world around us. It’s a great educational resource that touches on the seriousness of climate change as well (particularly considering the increase in wildfires). It is also a genuine pleasure to read, and the illustrations are gorgeous, with a fiery colour palette.

Just Like Grandma by Kim Rogers, illustrated by Julie Flett

I absolutely love Julie Flett’s illustrations, which is why I read Just Like Grandma, but Kim Rogers absolutely delivers on the text here as well. Firmly rooted in the author’s Wichita culture, the story is about a granddaughter who dreams of being like her grandmother, and her grandmother who dreams of being like her granddaughter.

Rooting for Plants: The Unstoppable Charles S. Parker, Black Botanist and Collector by Janice N. Harrington, illustrated by Theodore Taylor III

An excellent picture book biography, Rooting for Plants tells the story of Charles S. Parker, a Black botanist and mycologist. It covers his scientific career, his time fighting in WWI, and his time as a teacher. The illustrations are vibrant and accessible. Science and history minded children (and adults!) will find something to learn and enjoy here.

The Secret Pocket by Peggy Janicki, illustrated by Carrielynn Victor

The Secret Pocket tells the story of author Peggy Janicki’s mother Mary and her time in a residential school. The subject matter is heavy but necessary, and the story focuses on the resilience of Mary and her friends as they sewed pockets into their clothes to conceal extra food to stay fed, which makes it a great read for kids first learning about the horrors of the residential school system in Canada.

To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights by Angela Dalton, illustrated by Lauren Semmer

To Boldly Go is a picture book biography of Nichelle Nichols that focuses on her career as an actor on Star Trek and her incredible influence on pop culture, science, and Civil Rights. Kids interested in science, science fiction, art, and history will find it interesting, and all kids will find the Civil Rights history aspects to be handled in a way that will hold their attention.

Finding Papa by Angela Pham Krans, illustrated by Thi Bui

Based on author Angela Pham Krans’s life, Finding Papa tells the story of a young girl in Vietnam whose father leaves ahead of the family to find work, and then she and her mother join him later, leaving the country as refugees. Thi Bui offers stunning illustrations, and the story is engaging, emotional, and educational, and offers some comforting humour alongside it all.

My Baba’s Garden by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith

My Baba’s Garden is based on the relationship between author Jordan Scott and his grandmother. Like the author, I grew up often being looked after my (great-)grandmother, an eastern European immigrant, whose love languages included a great deal of gardening and cooking, but whose literal languages did not include much English. Anyone who is or has been close to an immigrant grandparent will find this book to be a comfort.

Ramen for Everyone by Patricia Tanumihardja, illustrated by Shiho Pate

Ramen for Everyone follows Hiro, a young boy who wants to learn to make a bowl of ramen as good as his dad does. While he learns that you can’t gain that level of skill overnight, he also learns that creativity can liven up any dish. The illustrations are adorable and delicious, and a very yummy looking recipe is included at the end.

My Powerful Hair by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Steph Littlebird

My Powerful Hair is a gorgeously told and beautifully illustrated picture book about the emotional and cultural significance of hair to some Indigenous communities, and the ways many Indigenous people are reclaiming their identities through growing long hair that has been denied to them historically, such as by being forcibly cut in residential schools.

Another of my favourites this year was written by Carole Lindstrom, and while I decided to only feature one of them, I also want to add a nod to Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior, illustrated by Bridget George, about Grandmother Josephine Mandamin and her great-niece Autumn Peltier and their work as environmental and Indigenous rights activists.

Shizue’s Path by Mark Sakamoto, illustrated by Rachel Wada

While many more books, including picture books, have been released in recent years regarding Japanese-American incarceration during WWII, far fewer content has been released regarding Japanese-Canadian incarceration during WWII. Shizue’s Path tells the story of author Mark Sakamoto’s great-aunt, who spent years in an incarceration camp in Alberta. The story is lengthier in the text than most picture books, but it’s a fantastic educational resource for home and classrooms, and the illustrations are breathtaking.

There Was A Party For Langston: King O’ Letters by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey

There Was a Party for Langston celebrates Langston Hughes, the impact he has had on Black writers since, the party that was had to celebrate Langston Hughes when an auditorium was opened in his name at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and of the picture that was taken at that event in which Amiri Baraka and Maya Angelou danced joyfully together. Not only is it an educational book, it’s also an absolute delight and joyful reading experience.

Big by Vashti Harrison

Big tells the story of a young Black girl who faces fatphobia and adultification bias as a result of her size. It’s a heartbreaking story, but one that shows a young girl finding courage and love in herself despite the world being the way it is. It’s a moving book, and one that too many children will find relatable. Harrison’s illustrations are a comforting and warm balm in this difficult story.

Heart Berry Bling by Jenny Kay Dupuis, illustrated by Eva Campbell

Heart Berry Bling tells the story of Maggie who goes to visit her granny to learn to bead. During this warm and comforting moment between grandmother and granddaughter, Granny also tells Maggie about how she lost her Indian status as a result of marrying someone who was not Indigenous. It highlights gender discrimination in the Indian Act (men never lost status as a result of marriage), while also teaching the importance of beading to the Anishinaabe community, of strawberries (the titular heart berries), and of being patient when learning a new skill. 

Garden of Lost Socks by Esi Edugyan, illustrated by Amelie Dubois

Garden of Lost Socks follows Akosua, an exquirologist (a made up word meaning a person who is an expert at finding things), who makes friends with a boy named Max, a journalist (a real word meaning someone who writes about things that have been found), as they go on an adventure together to find Max’s missing sock, one of a pair gifted to him by his nana basia all the way in Ghana. It’s a super cute little adventure story about friendship and finding things, with vibrant art that brings the adventure to life.

The Skull by Jon Klassen

The Skull is a less conventional inclusion, but I’m including it anyway. At over a hundred pages long and broken into chapters, it could definitely be considered a chapter book, but it has illustrations on every page and about as much text per page as a picture book, so here we are. This retelling of a Tyrolean folktale is about a young girl who runs away from home and takes solace in a secluded castle where the only resident is a talking skull. It’s a fun folktale with gorgeous illustrations, and great for kids who like their stories a bit on the spooky side.

Lolo’s Sari-Sari Store by Sophie N. Lee, illustrated by Christine Almeda

Lolo’s Sari-Sari Store is about a young girl who helps her lolo (grandpa) with his sari-sari store (variety store) where they live in the Philippines. He teaches her many lessons about friendship, community, and listening to what people really need. When she moves to the USA to live with her mom, she feels lonely and misses her lolo and her community, but eventually she puts his lessons to good use to make new friends and build new community where she is. It’s a heartwarming story with great messages and vibrant illustrations.

Stand as Tall as the Trees: How an Amazonian Community Protected the Rain Forest by Patricia Gualinga and Laura Resau, illustrated by Vanessa Jaramillo 

Co-author Patricia Gualinga shares her personal story in Stand as Tall as The Trees, describing her life in her Quechua community in the Amazon in Ecuador, how the government authorised the destruction of the part of rainforest they lived in, and how she and her community fought back to stop this from happening. The story focuses on protecting the environment and respecting Indigenous sovereignty, and kids will enjoy the story she has to tell and the art that pops off the page with colour while learning about real world activism.

31 Short Stories With Perfect Spooky Vibes to Read for Halloween (And Where to Read Them for Free)

I love reading short stories. I literally did over a hundred unique entries to our short story club Lite Reads (currently on hiatus, hopefully back before long!), so perhaps this is stating the obvious. Any kind of short story can be a blast, but there’s something about the format that makes for brilliant fall reading. Mysteries, gothic literature, ghost stories, dark fantasy, and horror all offer up brilliant spooky pieces for some quality October reading. I’ve included a mixture of all these story types here. Lite Reads devotees will find a number of short stories we read together (with links to the articles for anyone interested in revisiting them), but many of them are stories we didn’t share together (although perhaps some of them may be featured in Lite Reads when we return from our hiatus). While I encourage you to support creators whenever possible, all of these are short stories that are available to read legally for free online, links included for your convenience.

This is ultimately a list of short stories for adults, however some of them are YA or have YA-crossover appeal. Some of them will be suitable for folks looking for something spooky without being outright horror, where others are explicit horror stories. I’ve tried to make note of these things where possible for reader convenience.

“Black, Their Regalia” by Darcie Little Badger

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

“Black, Their Regalia” is the (YA friendly) story of a group of Apache and Navajo musicians who are relying on one another and their traditions in the wake of a plague that has them held quarantine by the CDC.

“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

A thought-provoking classic for Banned Books Week and a favourite for English class, “The Lottery” is set in a world very much like our own, excepting that each community hosts a disturbing and deadly lottery that determines the fates of its inhabitants.

“The Fruit of My Woman” by Han Kang, translated from Korean by Deborah Smith

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

Anyone who read The Vegetarian and wished that the character was literally turning into a tree instead of thinking she is will be enamoured of the author’s earlier short story “The Fruit of My Woman” in which a man witnesses his wife slowly transform into a tree.

“In The Cave of the Delicate Singers” by Lucy Taylor

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

“In the Cave of the Delicate Singers” is a gruesome horror short story about a woman who has a form of synesthesia that allows her to feel sound and uses that to undertake a rescue mission with earplugs in a cave that has sounds that drive people to their violent ends.

“Murders Fell From Our Wombs” by Tlotlo Tsamaase

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

Set in rural Botswana, “Murders Fell From Our Wombs” follows a woman whose menstrual cycle brings with it vivid prophetic dreams of the brutal murders of the women in her community, leading her to attempt to flip the script on femicide.

“The Hanging Stranger” by Philip K. Dick

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

A short science-fiction classic, “The Hanging Stranger” starts in an idyllic town with regular people but quickly leads to a disturbing change when a hanging corpse appears and no one but one man seems to notice that something is terribly wrong.

“Fire In His Eyes, Blood On His Teeth” by R.S.A. Garcia

“Fire In His Eyes, Blood On His Teeth” is a dark fantasy story set in the 18th century Caribbean about a woman who is used by a supernaturally powerful man to commit terrible crimes and how she fights back against this oppression and abuse.

“Out of Skin” by Emily Carroll

A creepy fairy tale horror story, “Out of Skin” is a webcomic about a woman in a remote area who finds previously concealed corpses that she tries to bury respectfully but that grow into a horrible tree made of flesh and blood.

“There Are No Monsters On Rancho Buenavista” by Isabel Cañas

Inspired by Mexican folktales, “There Are No Monsters On Rancho Buenavista” is a quick but subversive tale of a man who tries to ruin a supernatural woman out of jealousy but brings about his own ruin instead.

“Sweetmeats” by Linda Cheng

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

A YA fairytale horror story, “Sweetmeats” is a shapeshifter story and a modern retelling of Hansel and Gretel about two girls who are taken by a witch in the woods, with a fresh look at who is saved and who does the saving.

“In The Penal Colony” by Franz Kafka, translated by Ian Johnston

“In The Penal Colony” is a brutal classic about a penal colony that has taken to using an elaborate execution machine to torture the condemned to death by inscribing their (often petty) crimes on their flesh over and over.

“Vain Knife” by Dare Segun Falowo

“Vain Knife” is a dark and twisted story of abuse, murder, and demonic manipulation. An example of Nigerian Weird, it’s a quick but disturbing tale about a boy whose mother believes he brought the devil home with him from the forest.

“The Husband Stitch” by Carmen Maria Machado

Featured in Machado’s brilliant and strange collection Her Body and Other Parties, “The Husband Stitch” is an unconventional feminist retelling of “The Girl With The Green Ribbon,” a creepy story with a surprisingly long history.

“Mrs. Sorensen and the Sasquatch” by Kelly Barnhill

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

If you need your Halloween readings to include some gentle monster love, look no further than “Mrs. Sorensen and the Sasquatch,” a fantasy romance story about a grieving widow who finds a surprising new love and the disapproving community around her.

“Rib” by Yukimi Ogawa

“Rib” is a unique historical horror story about a Hone-onna, a bone woman from Japanese folklore and a succubus-type figure, as she feels the unexpected need to help an orphaned child she comes across.

“Bloodchild” by Octavia E. Butler

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

An 80s sci-fi horror classic, “Bloodchild” tells the story of a colony of humans living on a far away planet that works in tandem with the local insect-like alien species–a species that lays their eggs inside of humans in exchange for doing good for the humans.

“Whom My Soul Loves” by Rivqa Rafael

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

A queer Jewish fantasy story, “Whom My Soul Loves” is set within a religious Jewish community and starring a woman who can communicate with spirits as she tries to exorcise a dybbuk, a malevolent ghost, from a local widow.

“These Deathless Bones” by Cassandra Khaw

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

One of my personal favourite examples of fairy tale horror, “These Deathless Bones” tells the story of the Witch Bride and her fraught relationship with her stepson. It’s a delicious subversion of the wicked stepmother in fairy tales, and plenty creepy.

“The Door In The Kitchen” by Abby Howard

“The Door in the Kitchen” is a horror webcomic about a woman who moves into a new home, only to find that her new place has a mysterious door behind the fridge that seems to house something terrifying behind it.

“Chapter Six” by Stephen Graham Jones

A horror set in the zombie apocalypse, “Chapter Six” is a story about an anthropology student and his professor who emerge from hiding in the university to follow the herd of zombies in order to eat what they’ve left behind and argue theories about them.

“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

A late 19th century classic and favourite of English classes, “The Yellow Wallpaper” is about a depressed woman whose husband isolates her for her own good and her subsequent descent into madness as a result of this “care.”

“The Glass Bottle Trick” by Nalo Hopkinson

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

“The Glass Bottle Trick” is a dark fantasy story inspired by Caribbean folklore about a young woman married to a twice widowed husband as she prepares to announce a pregnancy that she is excited for and he doesn’t want.

“The Cure” by Malindo Lo

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

Inspired by a real quote from history about hysteria, “The Cure” is a historical story about a woman institutionalised for hysteria, the “treatments” they put her through, and a mysterious vampire woman who visits her there.

“Ten Excerpts from an Annotated Bibliography on the Cannibal Women of Ratnabar Island” by Nibedita Sen

“Ten Excerpts from an Annotated Bibliography on the Cannibal Women of Ratnabar Island” is written exactly as though it is excerpts from an annotated bibliography. The story is about an uncontacted tribe of cannibalistic women who live without the presence of men, and the horrifying events that come as a result of colonialism.

“Toward Happy Civilization” by Samanta Schweblin

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

A literary horror story, “Toward Happy Civilization” was published in the author’s collection Mouthful of Birds. The story follows a group at a rural train station who are attempting to board a train that never stops with the belief that it will take them somewhere better.

“There Are Ghosts Here” by Dominique Dickey

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

A dark and haunting story, “There Are Ghosts Here” is about young cousins Lucas and Maisie each has suffered a family tragedy. Maisie has supernatural abilities that tie into the horrible losses they’ve each faced.

“Locked Doors” by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

A WWI-era classic gothic mystery, “Locked Doors” is about a nurse (a profession the author shares), Hilda Adams (a character the author would revisit), as she investigates and unravels the mystery of of a strange house filled with locked doors.

“Bonesoup” by Eugenia Triantafyllou

A dark supernatural story set in Greece, “Bonesoup” is about a woman whose grandmother cooks sweets for the local children but only meat for her granddaughter, a surprisingly dark decision that comes from a nurturing place.

“The Spider’s Widow” by Houyem Ferchichi, translated from Arabic by Ali Znaidi

Lite Reads Selection | Lite Reads Review

“The Spider’s Widow” is a Tunisian folk horror story about a community that is protected by a strange spider that kills any bandits and ne’er-do-wells that bother them, and the story of how that spider came to be.

“Endless Parade” by Hailey Piper

A quick but chilling piece of flash fiction, “Endless Parade” follows a boy who is part of a roving community that is constantly on parade and destroys everything in its path, with the promise of more parading in the afterlife, and what happens when he discovers the truth.

“Lullaby for the Unseen” by Nelly Geraldine García-Rosas

“Lullaby for the Unseen” is a short piece of Weird fiction about a child who sees a corpse and then goes on to make friends with a strange and possibly dangerous boy in his death trap of a house.

The Feminist Bibliothecary Recommends Fifteen Movies For the Halloween Season

I’m definitely a Halloween person, probably because of my love of all things horror, spooky, mysterious, etc. that has steadily built throughout my life. I love a good spooky movie, and I’ve watched my share, and I have a list of some recommendations to share! I’ve refrained from putting anything too obvious in here (no matter how much I love Scream [1996] or The Cabin in the Woods [2011]), so hopefully you can find something new to check out here no matter how many spooky vibes movies you’ve seen.

Raw (2016, dir. Julia Ducournau, French)

This French coming of age body horror film follows a staunch vegetarian’s entrance to veterinary college as she develops cannibalistic urges. Raw is tense and disturbing in the best way, while also being a story of sisterhood and coming of age.

Häxan (1922, dir. Benjamin Christensen, silent)

A silent Swedish horror film, Häxan is set up like a documentary about the history of witches. It has a sinister vibe, an interesting subject matter, and can be clearly seen as an influence on later horror films. You can watch the full film on youtube here.

Son of Ingagi (1940, dir. Richard C. Kahn, English)

Son of Ingagi is the earliest known science-fiction horror film with an all-Black cast. A Black woman scientist comes home from an expedition to Africa with a missing link monster. It’s a solid monster movie with a sense of humour. You can watch the full film on youtube here.

Train to Busan (2016, dir. Yeon Sang-ho, Korean)

This South Korean zombie flick has lots of action, emotion, social commentary, and intensely creepy, fast-moving zombies. Train to Busan has gained enough of a cult following that it has a couple of sequels, but the original is everything a zombie movie needs to be all on its own.

Ginger Snaps (2000, dir. John Fawcett, English)

Ginger Snaps is a Canadian cult classic and one of the best werewolf movies out there. It’s a great movie for those like myself who enjoy the trope of monstrous girls as part of a coming of age story.

Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017, dir. Issa López, Spanish)

Set in a modern day Mexican city, Tigers Are Not Afraid is a fantasy horror that blends crime and magical realism. The story centres on a group of young children, orphaned by the ongoing Drug War, as they live their lives on the streets and hope for the return of their parents.

The Invisible Man (2020, dir. Leigh Whannell, English)

Inspired by the H.G. Wells novel of the same name, The Invisible Man is a new take on the classic story in which a woman believes she is being stalked by her supposedly dead abuser. With stellar acting and deftly handled themes of abuse, it’s worth the watch.

Blood Quantum (2019, dir. Jeff Barnaby, English/Mi’kmaq)

Set on a Mi’kmaq reservation in what is known as Quebec, Blood Quantum is a zombie horror in which being Indigenous makes you immune to zombie bites. It’s a bloody and intense movie filled with excellent social and political commentary, and one of my personal favourites.

The Lure (2015, Agnieszka Smoczyńska, Polish)

If a carnivorous mermaid horror musical sounds like your jam, this is a must watch. The Lure offers up yet another instance of monstrous girls in a coming of age tale, but inspired by The Little Mermaid, and with surprisingly enjoyable songs along the way.

Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019, dir. Xavier Burgin, English)

Fancy a documentary as part of your Halloween watch list? Horror Noire, based on the book by Robin R. Means Coleman, shares the history of Black people starring in/making horror movies in the US. It’s incredibly interesting to watch, and will give you a whole new list of movies to watch.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014, dir. Ana Lily Amirpour, Farsi)

Noir western meets vampire film, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night is about a vampiric anti-hero and a man who is drawn to her, offering a fresh feminist take on vampire mythos. It’s moody and engrossing with a surprising realism and a great soundtrack.

The Wind (2018, dir. Emma Tammi, English)

The Wind is a horror western set in late 19th century New Mexico centered on two couples in a remote area as they’re looking to build a new community, but supernatural horrors await. The atmosphere is superb and the non-linear narrative will keep you guessing until the end.

Onibaba (1964, dir. Kaneto Shindō, Japanese)

Set in medieval Japan, this historical horror drama is set in the midst of war as two women kill stray soldiers for their possessions, but a man comes between them, leading to a horrifying climax. Onibaba is tense, atmospheric, and fascinating to watch as a piece of post-WWII Japanese horror.

La Llarona (2019, dir. Jayro Bustamante, Spanish/Mayan-Caqchickel/Mayan-Ixil)

La Llarona is a chilling piece of Guatemalan history and present presented as an atmospheric folk horror story. It follows the family of an aging general who committed atrocities against the Maya people just as justice is being attempted, a new maid is hired, and a sinister haunting begins.

Homebodies (1974, dir. Larry Yust, English)

In 1970s Cincinnati, this horror comedy centres on the elderly residents of a condemned building as they are being unceremoniously evicted from their building to make way for progress. Homebodies is unexpectedly fun and has powerful commentary on gentrification.