"Brown Like Me" Books
Books for Kids Featuring Black Characters
My daughter loved reading her "Addy" books. I used to read the series aloud to her at night. This is the second book in the series. In this book Addy and her mother make it to Philadelphia and begin their new life of freedom.
Based on the life of Lewis Henri Michaux and his bookstore, the National Memorial African Bookstore, which was located in Harlem Square just down the street from the infamous Apollo Theater, this book clearly emphasizes the importance of reading books and acquiring knowledge.
Show Ways are quilts that were once made to be secret maps for slaves trying to escape to freedom. The book shows the tradition of making Show Ways and how it is passed on from mother to daughter through the generations.
A Sweet Smell of Roses Written by Angela Johnson Illustrated by Eric Velasquez This book is about two young girls who sneak out of their house to march with Dr. King for freedom. As they run out the house they smell the sweet scent of roses. When they return to their worried mother, who has …
Mumbet was a slave for Colonel Ashley in Massachusetts. The Colonel's wife, Mrs. Ashley, constantly mistreated Mumbet. Overhearing the Colonel discuss Americans being free from British rule, Mumbet decides she wants to be free as well.
This book tells the thoughts and courage of a man, woman, girl, and boy as they decide to be part of the Great Migration of African Americans from the southern parts of the United States to the North between 1915 and 1930.
Using the uniting power of song, this book documents many of the triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement in the fight for freedom.
In this particular book of the series, Holly celebrates Juneteenth. "June 19th marks a HOLLY-day when freedom is celebrated." With rhyming text, author Kendall-Drucker explains the history of Juneteenth and how slaves in Texas learned that they were free on June 19, 1865 - years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Virgie was always begging to go to school with the boys. Finally, it was agreed that "girls need to read and write and do 'rithmetic' too" and that Virgie was finally old enough to join the boys on the 7 mile journey to the school started by the Quakers.
Juneteenth, commemorated on June 19th, is the celebration of the emancipation of slaves. This book shares the response of and the jubilation felt as a young girl's family receives news that they are free.
This collection of poetry by Ntozake Shange expresses the hardships of slavery and the determination of seeking freedom.
Hector watched from outside the fence as the white boys played soccer. Separated by the rules of apartheid, Hector did not play soccer with the boys on the other side of the fence until years later after apartheid had crumbled and Nelson Mandela became president of South Africa.
You are never too old to learn to read. Mary Walker is the ultimate example of this truth! Mary Walker learned to read at the age of 116!
This book tells the story of a woman named Isabella (Sojourner Truth) who persevered through the heartbreaking wretchedness of slavery and went on to be one of the most significant figures in American history.
Every year Haitians around the world celebrate New Years Day by eating freedom soup.
Every year millions of people climb the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. They come to see the statue of Abraham Lincoln, a man who inspired change.
For hundreds of years, the women of Gee's Bend have quilted together...stitchin' and pullin'. Baby Girl anxiously awaits the day that she is able to join in at the quilting frame.
This is an American Girl chapter book that I used as a read-aloud with my daughter when she was younger. This is the first book in the series about Addy.
Did you know that slaves helped build the original White House? This book, along with the commentary at the end of the book, chronicle what it was like for these men and children who labored to construct the president's home, brick by brick.
