Essential Children's Books on Slavery & Juneteenth
Discover essential children's books on slavery and Juneteenth, exploring themes of freedom, courage, and justice through diverse voices and stories.
Welcome to our list of Essential Children's Books on Slavery and Juneteenth! These books explore important themes.
They teach young readers about freedom, courage, and the fight for justice.
You will find both classic stories and modern tales that share diverse voices and experiences.
From timeless works like Henry's Freedom Box to newer gems like All Different Now, each book offers unique perspectives.
These stories highlight diverse voices and experiences, helping readers understand history in a meaningful way.
These books not only educate but also inspire readers to think about equality and respect. They remind us of the importance of history and its impact on our lives today.
Pick a book that interests you and dive into its pages! You might discover something new and exciting. Enjoy your reading journey!
Discover engaging children's books on slavery, perfect for elementary students. Explore vivid slavery picture books and educational reads for kids.
1. Freedom in Congo Square
Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford
"They work endlessly, counting the days and looking forward to Sunday, because on Sunday at least half a day can be a short meeting in Congo Square, free to set up an open-air market, sing, dance, and play music."
If you stand from a critical point of view See, this is similar to compensatory benefits after deprivation of rights, and it cannot touch the root of the inequality of black slavery.
But at that time, this only designated square with half-day freedom must also undertake the possibility of sharing, exchanging, nurturing, and inheriting true freedom.
In the 2017 Caldecott Silver Award picture book, picture books reflecting racial issues are rarely introduced. This is the only picture book on racial issues that has been introduced among Caldecott Award-winning works in recent years.
The description of the hard work and life of black people in this picture book seems to be only to express their desire for freedom and happiness after a short period of freedom. The painting style of the picture book even reminds me of the cave paintings of primitive society, which have a primitive vitality. The first half of the picture book shows the hard work.
The picture uses a lot of natural colors of green, brown, and yellow. It seems that all the colors are depicting reality. The external environment of the painting does not express the emotions of the characters. Although the text is about hard work and oppression, the picture feels a silent vitality.
The second half uses red, orange, and orange to express this vitality. The environment is faded, and the colors are all used to express the emotions of the characters. It seems that only this kind of vitality that erupts in short-term freedom can nourish the music style that is popular in the world.
2. Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky
Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky by Faith Ringgold
The main character of Coretta Scott King Award and Caldecott Honor winner Tar Beach takes flight once again, encountering Harriet Tubman and learning about the Underground Railroad.
Cassie, who flew above New York in Tar Beach, soars into the sky once more. This time, she and her brother Be Be meet a train full of people, and Be Be joins them. But the train departs before Cassie can climb aboard. With Harriet Tubman as her guide, Cassie retraces the steps escaping slaves took on the real Underground Railroad and is finally reunited with her brother at the story's end.
3. Many Thousand Gone
Many Thousand Gone: African Americans from Slavery to Freedom by Virginia Hamilton
Unavailable for several years, Virginia Hamilton’s award-winning companion to The People Could Fly traces the history of slavery in America in the voices and stories of those who lived it. Leo and Diane Dillon’s brilliant black-and-white illustrations echo the stories’ subtlety and power, making this book about slavery as stunning to look at as it is to read.
“There is probably no better way to convey the meaning of the institution of slavery as it existed in the United States to young readers than by using, as a text to share and discuss, Many Thousand Gone.” —The New York Times Book Review.
4. Before She Was Harriet
Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome
We know her today as Harriet Tubman, but in her lifetime she was called by many names. As General Tubman, she was a Union spy. Like Moses, she led hundreds to freedom on the Underground Railroad.
As Minty, she was a slave whose spirit could not be broken. As Araminta, she was a young girl whose father showed her the stars and the first steps on the path to freedom.
This lush, lyrical biography in verse begins with a glimpse of Harriet Tubman as an old woman and travels back in time through the many roles she played throughout her life: spy, liberator, suffragist, and more.
Illustrated by James Ransome, whose paintings for The Creation won a Coretta Scott King medal, this is a riveting introduction to an American hero.
5. Show Way
Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson
The artistic expression of this book about slavery is also very beautiful, and it is very enjoyable to watch. Tells the history of black America's quest for freedom through the fate of black girls across generations.
I really liked one of the pages. Under the dark starry sky, the phantom black mother took care of the little girl and told her, "There is a way here, child, there is a way here."
Sooner great-grandma was just seven years old when she was sold to a big plantation without her ma and pa, and with only some fabric and needles to call her own.
She pieced together bright patches with names like North Star and Crossroads, patches with secret meanings made into quilts called Show Waysmaps for slaves to follow to freedom.
When she grew up and had a little girl, she passed on this knowledge. Generations later, Sooniewho was born free and taught her own daughter how to sew beautiful quilts to be sold at the market and how to read.
From slavery to freedom, through segregation, freedom marches, and the fight for literacy, the tradition called Show Way has been passed down by the women in Jacqueline Woodson's family as a way to remember the past and celebrate the possibilities of the future.
Beautifully rendered in Hudson Talbott's luminous art, this moving, lyrical account pays tribute to women whose strength and knowledge illuminate their daughters' lives.
6. Overground Railroad
Overground Railroad by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Climbing aboard the New York-bound Silver Meteor train, Ruth Ellen embarks upon a journey toward a new life up North-- one she can't begin to imagine. Stop by stop, the perceptive young narrator tells her journey in poems, leaving behind the cotton fields and distant Blue Ridge mountains.
Each leg of the trip brings new revelations as scenes out the window of folks working in fields to give way to the Delaware River, the curtain that separates the colored car is removed, and glimpses of the freedom and opportunity the family hopes to find come into view.
As they travel, Ruth Ellen reads from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, reflecting on how her journey mirrors her own-- until finally, the train arrives at its last stop, New York's Penn Station and the family heads out into a night filled with bright lights, glimmering stars, and new possibility.
James Ransome's mixed-media illustrations are full of bold color and texture, bringing Ruth Ellen's journey to life, from sprawling cotton fields to cramped train cars, the wary glances of other passengers, and the dark forest through which Frederick Douglass traveled towards freedom.
Overground Railroad is, as Lesa notes, a story "of people who were running from and running to at the same time," and it's a story that will stay with readers long after the final pages.
7. The Patchwork Path
The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom by Bettye Stroud
The images stitched into Hannah's patchwork quilt lead to secret signposts on the Underground Railroad as she and her father take flight from slavery on a perilous path to freedom.
The wagon wheel. The bear's paw. The flying geese. These are some of the squares in the quilt Hannah's mama helped her to sew -- before Hannah's sister was sold to another plantation and before Mama died of a broken heart.
Now that Hannah's papa has decided to make the run for freedom, this patchwork quilt is not just a precious memento of Mama -- it's a series of hidden clues that will guide them along the Underground Railroad to Canada, where they'll finally be free.
A fictionalized account of fascinating oral history, THE PATCHWORK PATH tells the story of a brave father and his young daughter, two of thousands who escaped a life of slavery and made the dangerous journey to freedom -- a story of courage, determination, and hope.
8. From Slave Ship to Freedom Road
From Slave Ship to Freedom Road by Julius Lester
Rod Brown and Julius Lester bring history to life in this profoundly moving exploration of the slave experience.
From the Middle Passage to the auction block, from the whipping post to the fight for freedom, this book about slavery presents not just historical facts, but the raw emotions of the people who lived them.
Inspired by Rod Brown's vivid paintings, Julius Lester has written a text that places each of us squarely inside the skin of both slave and slaveowner. It will capture the heart of every reader, black or white, young or old.
9. Trailblazers: Harriet Tubman
Trailblazers: Harriet Tubman: A Journey to Freedom by Sandra A. Agard
Fans of the movie Harriet can find out more in this biography! In 1849, Harriet Tubman crossed a very important line--the Mason-Dixon Line. She had escaped slavery!
Despite grave risks, she went on to become the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad, helping hundreds of enslaved people reach freedom. From an early age, Harriet always had a deep faith and a strong sense of justice. Find out how she became one of history's greatest trailblazers!
Trailblazers is a biography series that celebrates the lives of amazing pioneers, past and present, from all over the world. Get inspired by more Trailblazers: Neil Armstrong, Jackie Robinson, Jane Goodall, Harriet Tubman, Albert Einstein, Beyoncé, and Simone Biles. What kind of trail will you blaze?
10. Harriet Tubman (Little People, Big Dreams)
Harriet Tubman by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vergara
Little Harriet was born into slavery on a plantation in Maryland. Though life was hard, Harriet persisted. She used all of her strength and bravery to escape slavery and journey north on the Underground Railroad.
Harriet made the dangerous mission back to the South many times, fighting her whole life to bring others with her to freedom. This moving book about slavery features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the abolitionist's life.
Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling series of books and educational games that explore 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.
This empowering series offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover versions present expanded stories for beginning readers.
Boxed gift sets allow you to collect a selection of books by theme. Paper dolls, learning cards, matching games, and other fun learning tools provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.
11. Henry's Freedom Box
Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine
A stirring, dramatic story of a slave who mails himself to freedom by a Jane Addams Peace Award-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist.
Henry Brown doesn't know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves' birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse.
Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold on the slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do: He will mail himself to the North.
After an arduous journey in the crate, Henry finally has a birthday -- his first day of freedom.
12. Freedom Over Me
Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan
Imagine being looked up and down and being valued as less than a chair. Less than an ox. Less than a dress. Maybe about the same as…a lantern.
This gentle yet deeply powerful way goes to the heart of how a slave is given a monetary value by the slave owner, tempering this with the one thing that can’t be bought or sold: dreams.
Inspired by the actual will of a plantation owner that lists the worth of each and every one of his “workers,” the author has created collages around that document, and others like it.
Through fierce paintings and expansive poetry, he imagines and interprets each person’s life on the plantation, as well as the life their owner knew nothing about—their dreams and pride in knowing that they were worth far more than an overseer or Madam ever would guess.
Visually epic, and never before done, this stunning picture book is unlike anything you’ve seen.
13. Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson
An inspiring tale of creativity and determination on the Underground Railroad from Coretta Scott King Award winner James Ransome and acclaimed author Deborah Hopkinson.
Clara, a slave, and seamstress on Home Plantation, dreams of freedom—not just for herself, but for her family and friends. When she overhears a conversation about the Underground Railroad, she has a flash of inspiration.
Using scraps of cloth from her work in the Big House and scraps of information gathered from other slaves, she fashions a map that the master would never even recognize. . . .
From the award-winning author-illustrator team of Deborah Hopkinson and James Ransome, this fictional tale of the Underground Railroad continues to inspire young readers 25 years after its original publication.
14. A Fine Dessert
A Fine Dessert by Emily Jenkins
The story tells the story of four centuries, four families, making the same dessert. This dessert connects human emotions, humans,s, and food.
Although the environment has changed, the characters have changed, and the tools used to make desserts have changed over the four centuries, the most constant being the warmth of family and affection.
I have to say that this book about slavery is a classic in terms of content and paint production. This unforgettable traditional food contains a profound cultural foundation and religious value.
Therefore, when we enjoy traditional food, we not only taste the rich taste but also taste the long-standing cultural praise.
Although the traditional cuisines of the East and the West are different, based on the cuisine, the emotions between people can be passed down from generation to generation.
15. Last Stop on Market Street
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
When I read this book about slavery, I remembered a game I played in a training session before: "It's great", that is, in any case, you should say It's great in the first sentence, and give a reasonable explanation for it - play, It turns out that, most of the time, things are "forgivable".
"The Last Station on Market Street" probably also conveyed this truth. Grandma went from waiting for the bus to getting on the bus, to the last station, and they all gave the exploration of discovering beauty again and again.
for example:
CJ complains about why he has to wait for the bus when it is raining.Grandma said that the tree is also thirsty, didn't you see it drinking from a straw...complained why we don't have a private car.Grandma says we already have a big bus that breathes fire...When a blind man got into the car, asked: Grandma, why can't that man see?Grandma said, "Baby, do you know what seeing is? Some people see the world with their ears."After listening to the performance, the last stop on Market Street has also arrived. CJ asked his grandmother, "Why is this place always so dirty".Grandma said, "CJ when you are in the dust, you can better understand what beauty is."
With such a grandmother around, the children brought out must be positive and optimistic toward the sun! when such children grow up, how can they be depressed or afraid of frustration? Because he must be able to find a way out of his positive thinking logic!
This book is a Caldecott Silver Award and Newbery Gold Award in 2016. It is excellent!
No matter where you live, the world is a desolate place, full of sadness. But you still have choices about how you look at the world—you can choose to look at the ugly side, or you can try to find the good side.
Such kind picture books will definitely give the child a good side, and these will become the light in his future life, illuminating the once gloomy time.
Books About Juneteenth
Discover the best Juneteenth children's books, including picture books and engaging educational reads for kids, celebrating freedom and history.
1. All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom (aged 5-9)
All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson
Experience the joy of Juneteenth in this celebration of freedom from the award-winning team of Angela Johnson and E.B. Lewis.
Through the eyes of one little girl, All Different Now tells the story of the first Juneteenth, the day freedom finally came to the last of the slaves in the South. Since then, the observance of June 19 as African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond.
This stunning picture book includes notes from the author and illustrator, a timeline of important dates, and a glossary of relevant terms.
Told in Angela Johnson’s signature melodic style and brought to life by E.B. Lewis’s striking paintings, All Different Now is a joyous portrait of the dawn breaking on the darkest time in our nation’s history.
Angela Johnson has won three Coretta Scott King Awards, one each for her novels The First Part Last, Heaven, and Toning the Sweep. The First Part Last was also the recipient of the Michael L. Printz Award. She is also the author of the novels Looking for Red and A Certain October.
Her books for younger readers include the Coretta Scott King Honor Book When I Am Old with You, illustrated by David Soman; Wind Flyers and I Dream of Trains, both illustrated by Loren Long; and Lottie Paris Lives Here and its sequel Lottie Paris and the Best Place, both illustrated by Scott M. Fischer.
Additional picture books include A Sweet Smell of Roses, Just Like Josh Gibson, The Day Ray Got Away, and All Different Now. In recognition of her outstanding talent, Angela was named a 2003 MacArthur Fellow. She lives in Kent, Ohio. Visit her at AJohnsonAuthor.com.
This book tells the story of the first Juneteenth through the eyes of a young enslaved girl. Young readers can easily understand the hardships and cruelties of slavery, as well as the joy and optimism that the end of slavery will bring.
2. Juneteenth for Mazie
Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper
Floyd Cooper's book portrays Mazie, a little girl tired of hearing "no." From her parents, she doesn't feel like she has any freedom.
However, when her father taught her about Juneteenth, she gained a new understanding of what freedom really means.
As she celebrated Juneteenth with her family for the first time, she thought deeply about the struggles and triumphs of her ancestors, and the work needed to achieve a truly free future for everyone.
3. Juneteenth (On My Own Holidays)
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Juneteenth by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and Drew Nelson
June 19th, 1865, began as another hot day in Texas. Enslaved African Americans worked in fields, in barns, and in the homes of the white people who owned them.
Then a message arrived. Freedom! Slavery had ended! The Civil War had actually ended in April. It took two months for word to reach Texas. Still, the joy of that amazing day has never been forgotten.
Every year, people all over the United States come together on June 19th to celebrate the end of slavery. Join in the celebration of Juneteenth, a day to remember and honor freedom for all people.
4. Freedom’s Gifts: A Juneteenth Story
Freedom's Gifts: A Juneteenth Story by Valerie Wesley
With the help of their elderly Aunt Marshall, June and her cousin Lillie celebrate Juneteenth, the day Texas slaves found out they had been freed, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
5. Juneteenth Jamboree
Juneteenth Jamboree by Carole Boston Weatherford
Joining her parents in a community celebration of Juneteenth, Cassie learns about the day when slaves in Texas were freed some two years after the Emancipation Proclamation and wonders why the news took so long to reach them.
This book tells the wonderful story of Cassie, a young Texas girl who celebrates her first Juneteenth with her family. Not only did she learn about the festival, but the intense excitement and joy of the celebration helped her truly understand the precious gift of true freedom.
6. Opal Lee and What it Means to Be Free
Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan
Every year, Opal looked forward to the Juneteenth picnic—a drumming, dancing, delicious party. She knew from Granddaddy Zak's stories that Juneteenth celebrated the day the freedom news of President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation finally sailed into Texas in 1865—over two years after the president had declared it! But Opal didn't always see freedom in her Texas town.
Then one Juneteenth day when Opal was twelve years old, an angry crowd burned down her brand-new home. This wasn't freedom at all. She had to do something!
But could one person’s voice make a difference? Could Opal bring about national recognition of Juneteenth? Follow Opal Lee as she fights to improve the future by honoring the past.
Through the story of Opal Lee's determination and persistence, children ages 4 to 8 will learn:
- All people are created equal
- the power of bravery and using your voice for change
- the history of Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, and What it means today
- No one is free unless everyone is free
- Fighting for a dream is worth the difficulty experienced along the way
Featuring the illustrations of New York Times bestselling illustrator Keturah A. Bobo (I am Enough), Opal Lee, and What It Means to Be Free by Alice Faye Duncan celebrates the life and legacy of a modern-day Black leader while sharing a message of hope, unity, joy, and strength.
7. What is Juneteenth?
What Is Juneteenth? (What Was?) by Kirsti Jewel and Who HQ
On June 19, 1865, a group of enslaved men, women, and children in Texas gathered around a Union soldier and listened as he read the most remarkable words they would ever hear.
They were no longer enslaved: they were free. The inhumane practice of forced labor with no pay was now illegal in all of the United States.
This news was cause for celebration, so the group of people jumped in excitement, danced, and wept tears of joy. They did not know it at the time, but their joyous celebration of freedom would become a holiday--Juneteenth--that is observed each year by more and more Americans.
Author Kirsti Jewel shares stories from Juneteenth celebrations, both past, and present, and chronicles the history that led to the creation of this joyous day.
With 80 black-and-white illustrations and an engaging 16-page photo insert, readers will be excited to read this latest addition to Who HQ!
8. Free at Last: A Juneteenth Poem
Free at Last: A Juneteenth Poem by Sojourner Kincaid Rolle
Deeply emotional, evocative free verse by poet and activist Sojourner Kincaid Rolle traces the solemnity and celebration of Juneteenth from its 1865 origins in Galveston, Texas to contemporary observances all over the United States.
This is an ode to the strength of Black Americans and a call to remember and honor a holiday whose importance reverberates far beyond the borders of Texas.
9. The Juneteenth Story
The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States by Alliah L. Agostini
With colorful illustrations and a timeline, this introductory history of Juneteenth for kids details the evolution of the holiday commemorating the date the enslaved people of Texas first learned of their freedom.
On June 19, 1865—more than two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation—the enslaved people of Texas first learned of their freedom.
As Black Texans moved to other parts of the country, they brought their traditions along with them, and Juneteenth continued to grow and develop.
Today, Juneteenth’s powerful spirit has endured through the centuries to become an official holiday in the United States in 2021. The Juneteenth Story provides an accessible introduction for kids to learn about this important American holiday.
10. Juneteenth (Celebrating Holidays)
Juneteenth (Celebrating Holidays) by Rachel Grack
On June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation Galveston, Texas became the last place in the country to learn the slaves were free. Today, Juneteenth is a joyful occasion with parades, speeches, music, and more!
This engaging book teaches the fascinating origins and traditions of Juneteenth, honoring the freedom of African Americans.
11. Let's Celebrate Emancipation Day & Juneteenth
Let's Celebrate Emancipation Day & Juneteenth by Barbara Decubitis
In the 1800s, abolitionists like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Sojourner Truth fought for freedom from slavery for all African Americans.
They fought with speeches, songs, newspapers, and even with daring rescue missions! Every year on both Emancipation Day and Juneteenth we honor and continue their fight for freedom and equality.
Holidays & Heroes brings to life the people whose holidays we celebrate throughout the year. Enriched with colorful historical images, books in this series will engage children in the stories behind our holidays and the people they honor.
12. Juneteenth
Juneteenth by Julie Murray
Easy-to-read text paired with colorful photos and informative captions introduces readers to a meaningful holiday, Juneteenth. Readers will learn the history of Juneteenth, including slavery in the United States, the American Civil War, and the birth of Juneteenth as a Texas state holiday.
Associated symbols such as the color red and the Juneteenth flag are described, as well as traditions including parades and picnics, music and games, and special foods and drinks.
Buddy BOOKS is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
13. The Story of Juneteenth
The Story of Juneteenth: An Interactive History Adventure by Steven Otfinoski
The Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War brought an official end to slavery, yet some Southern slave owners refused to comply.
The road to freedom is still long and hard for many African Americans, but you’re not giving up. Will you: Overcome obstacles as you make your way north from Texas, looking to begin a new life of freedom?
Seek out your family, from whom you were separated as a child, after emancipation. Fight back when you take work as an apprentice but find that you’re still treated as a slave?
14. Traditional African American Arts and Activities
Traditional African American Arts and Activities by Sonya Kimble-Ellis
African Americans throughout our country's history have developed a rich heritage of arts and activities.
Now you can discover and enjoy many of these traditions, from celebrating Juneteenth to making African masks to creating unique quilts, right in your own home.
TRADITIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTS AND ACTIVITIES show you how to do traditional tie-dyeing, how to make and play your own talking drum, and how to join with friends to create your own folktale.
You'll learn all about the history and development of jazz, blues, and rap music, and you'll find out how to play fun games like Mancala, murabba, chiro danda, and more.
With fun projects and easy-to-follow directions, this captivating learn-and-do guide explores the treasured stories and customs of the earliest African Americans and of their descendants today.
15. The Compton Cowboys: Young Readers’ Edition (ages 8-12)
The Compton Cowboys: Young Readers’ Edition: And the Fight to Save Their Horse Ranch by Walter Thompson-Hernandez
In Compton, California, ten black riders on horseback cut an unusual profile, their cowboy hats tilted against the hot Los Angeles sun. They are the Compton Cowboys, their small ranch one of the very last in a formerly semirural area of the city that has been home to African-American horse riders for decades.
To most people, Compton is known only as the home of rap greats NWA and Kendrick Lamar, hyped in the media for its seemingly intractable gang violence.
But in 1988 Mayisha Akbar founded The Compton Jr. Posse to provide local youth with a safe alternative to the streets, one that connected them with the rich legacy of black cowboys in American culture.
From Manisha's youth organization came the Cowboys of today: black men and women from Compton for whom the ranch and the horses provide camaraderie, a respite from violence, healing from trauma, and recovery from incarceration.
The Cowboys include Randy, Mayisha’s nephew, faced with the daunting task of remaking the Cowboys for a new generation; Anthony, former drug dealer and inmate, now a family man and mentor, Keiara, a single mother pursuing her dream of winning a national rodeo championship, and a tight clan of twentysomethings—Kenneth, Keenan, Charles, and Tre—for whom horses bring the freedom, protection, and status that often elude the young black men of Compton.
The Compton Cowboys is a story about trauma and transformation, race and identity, compassion, and ultimately, belonging. Walter Thompson-Hernández paints a unique and unexpected portrait of this city, pushing back against stereotypes to reveal an urban community in all its complexity, tragedy, and triumph.
In addition to reading about the Compton Cowboys, kids will get to see them and the horses that saved their lives. This book includes an 8-page insert of color photos by the author, Whiting Grant winner, and New York Times reporter Walter Thompson-Hernández.
16. A Good Kind of Trouble (ages 8-12)
A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée
From debut author Lisa Moore Ramée comes this funny and big-hearted debut middle-grade novel about friendship, family, and standing up for what's right, perfect for fans of Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give and the novels of Renée Watson and Jason Reynolds.
Twelve-year-old Shayla is allergic to trouble. All she wants to do is to follow the rules. (Oh, and she'd also like to make it through seventh grade with her best friendships intact, learn to run track, and have a cute boy see past her giant forehead.)
But in junior high, it's like all the rules have changed. Now she's suddenly questioning who her best friends are and some people at school are saying she's not black enough. Wait, what?
Shay's sister, Hana, is involved in Black Lives Matter, but Shay doesn't think that's for her. After experiencing a powerful protest, though, Shay decides some rules are worth breaking. She started wearing an armband to school in support of the Black Lives movement. Soon everyone is taking sides. And she is given an ultimatum.
Shay is scared to do the wrong thing (and even more scared to do the right thing), but if she doesn't face her fear, she'll be forever tripping over the next hurdle.
17. Heart and Soul (ages 6-10)
Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson
Heart and Soul is about the men, women, and children who toiled in the hot sun picking cotton; it's about America ripped in two by Jim Crow laws; it's about the brothers and sisters of all colors who rallied against those who would dare bar a child from education. It's a story of discrimination and broken promises, determination, and triumphs.
Kadir Nelson's Heart and Soul—the winner of numerous awards, including the Coretta Scott King Author Award and Illustrator Honor, and the recipient of five-starred reviews—is told through the unique point of view and intimate voice of a one-hundred-year-old African-American female narrator.
18. Shaking Things Up (ages 4-8)
Shaking Things Up 14 Young Women Who Changed the World by Susan Hood
Fresh, accessible, and inspiring, Shaking Things Up introduces fourteen revolutionary young women—each paired with a noteworthy female artist—to the next generation of activists, trailblazers, and rabble-rousers.
From the award-winning author of Ada’s Violin and Lifeboat 12, Susan Hood, this is a poetic and visual celebration of persistent women throughout history.
In this book of poems, you will find Mary Anning, who was just thirteen when she unearthed a prehistoric fossil. You’ll meet Ruby Bridges, the brave six-year-old who helped end segregation in the South. And Maya Lin, who at twenty-one won a competition to create a war memorial, and then had to appear before Congress to defend her right to create.
And those are just a few of the young women included in this book. Readers will also hear about Molly Williams, Annette Kellerman, Nellie Bly, Pura Belpré, Frida Kahlo, Jacqueline, and Eileen Nearne, Frances Moore Lappé, Mae Jemison, Angela Zhang, and Malala Yousafzai—all of whose stories will enthrall and inspire.
This poetry collection was written, illustrated, edited, and designed by women and includes an author’s note, a timeline, and additional resources.
With artwork by award-winning and bestselling artists including Selina Alko, Sophie Blackall, Lisa Brown, Hadley Hooper, Emily Winfield Martin, Oge Mora, Julie Morstad, Sara Palacios, LeUyen Pham, Erin Robinson, Isabel Roxas, Shadra Strickland, and Melissa Sweet.
19. Juneteenth
Juneteenth: Children’s Guide to Celebrating African American Independence by Shanita Arrindell
Juneteenth How to Explain the History of Vacations to Preschool to 5 Years Old.
This straightforward story by Shanita Arrindell is perfect for helping our youngest children understand the concepts of slavery and freedom, and also teaching them the power of hope to help us overcome hardship.
20. Juneteenth (Beautiful Me Series)
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Juneteenth (Beautiful Me Series) by Anece Rochell
This is a fun and interactive storybook by Anice Rochell about the voice of Daylen, a young African-American boy who is excited and ready to share what he knows about Juneteenth. He explained the origin, customs, and importance of the day. The book ends with "Things to Know". page to help children build Juneteenth vocabulary.
Daylen (one of the characters from the Beautiful Me Series) is excited and ready to share everything he knows about Juneteenth. Juneteenth is an entertaining picture storybook that explains the origin, customs, and importance of the Juneteenth Holiday, in a fun and interactive way.
This book is the fourth installment in the Beautiful Me Series, and just like the other books in this series, Juneteenth ends with the Words to Know page, to help children build a stronger vocabulary.
21. Freedom Day: A Juneteenth Activity Book for Kids
Freedom Day: A Juneteenth Activity Book for Kids by Ama Karikari Yawson
Through prose and poetry, Ama Karikari Yawson's book explores African heritage, slavery, the abolition movement, and Juneteenth. It provides readers with lots of fun activities to do, including planning Juneteenth celebrations, designing your own flag to represent Juneteenth, and writing Juneteenth reflections.
This activity book contains the history of Juneteenth as well as vocabulary words, essay questions, coloring pages, and other fun exercises that will allow users to deeply reflect on this important American holiday.
22. How the Word Is Passed
How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith
This stunning nonfiction by Atlantic contributing writer Clint Smith explores the legacy of slavery and its imprint on America's centuries-old history. This is a great book for parents to read with older children.
The author takes readers on a tour of American monuments and landmarks that are central to the story of American slavery, and in doing so demonstrates the extent to which slavery has affected American memory and history.
23. The Color of Law
The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein
Residential segregation in metropolitan areas of the United States in the 20th century. Using a range of tools, including taxing biased agencies, subsidizing real estate developers who created white suburbs, cutting off public housing in mixed neighborhoods, and supporting violent resistance against African Americans in white neighborhoods.
The government created race The divisions that remain so evident in the country’s residential landscape today perpetuate the deep structural inequalities and injustices of slavery itself.
Teaching About Slavery Using Children's Books
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