Children's Books for Black History MonthLike this list

21 items

• Black History Month

  O'Brien, Cynthia (Cynthia J.),

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  Learn about Black history in Canada, from 1628 and the arrival of the first Black Canadians to contemporary celebrations of Black culture and history. Recommended for ages 7 and up.

• Famous Black Canadians

  Heikel, Ramona,

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  Learn about the important contributions of Black Canadians throughout history to present day. Recommended for ages 7 and up.

• Meet Viola Desmond

  MacLeod, Elizabeth,

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  Her refusal to move from her seat in a movie theatre simply because she was black was an important event in the Civil Rights Movement right in Canada. Viola Desmond was sent to jail for her refusal to move but her fight didn't stop there. This book…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged

  Warner, Jody, 1969-

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  This book tells the story of a Black Nova Scotian businesswoman who challenged racial segregation at a film theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, in 1946. Desmond was honoured by having her portrait on the Canadian ten dollar bill in 2018.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Oscar Lives Next Door

  a Story Inspired by Oscar Peterson's Childhood

  Farmer, Bonnie, 1959-

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  A fictional account of the childhood of virtuoso jazz pianist Oscar Peterson in 1930s Montréal. Recommended for ages 6 and up.

• Moses

  When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

  Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956-

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  Children and introduced to Harriet Tubman, nick named Moses. Harriet was the champion of the underground Railroad as she led hundreds of slaves to freedom. Recommended for ages 5 and up.

• The Underground Railroad

  Seigel, Rachel,

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  Learn about the secret network of routes and safe houses that went from the United States south to Mexico and north to Canada where enslaved people could find freedom. Recommended for ages 8 and up.

• Black Women Who Dared

  Moyer, Naomi M., 1977-

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  A mostly Canadian history of grassroots organizations, ranging from the international Black Cross Nurses group in the early 20th century to the more recent creation of Blockorama, which makes "a space for the black LGBTTI2QQ community within…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly

  the Diary of Patsy, a Freed Girl : Mars Bluff, South Carolina, 1865

  Hansen, Joyce,

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  Nobody thinks much of Patsy, but after she is freed from slavery she finds strength in helping to educate the young slaves who have no other opportunity to learn. Recommended for ages 9-11.

• The Revolution and the Black Loyalists

  Kentner, Julie,

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  If you are looking for a book that specifically teaches children about Black history in Canada, this could be the book. It discusses how Black loyalists came to Canada, how they were treated and the contributions Black Canadians have made throughout…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Africville

  An African Nova Scotian Community Is Demolished - and Fights Back

  Wesley, Gloria,

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  Halifax in the late 1800s became home to Africville. It started small, then grew into a vibrant, beautiful community that faced its share of challenges. Read on for first-person experiences and documents to tell the story of what happened.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Africville

  Grant, Shauntay,

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  If you've never heard about Africville, a Black community that existed in Halifax for over 150 years, you'll learn a bit about it in this book. It explores a place that was vibrant culturally, but at the same time reveals the social injustices Black…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• 28 Days

  Moments in Black History That Changed the World

  Smith, Charles R., Jr., 1969-

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  Each day features a different influential figure in African-American history, from Crispus Attucks, the first man shot in the Boston Massacre, sparking the Revolutionary War, to Madame C. J. Walker, who after years of adversity became the wealthiest…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• What Color Is My World?

  the Lost History of African-American Inventors

  Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem, 1947-

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  Do you know who invented the super soaker, or the ice cream scoop? This book celebrates the stories of African-American inventors. Recommended for ages 8-11.

• Amazing Grace

  Hoffman, Mary, 1945-

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  Grace loves to act out stories. Sometimes she plays the leading part, sometimes she is 'a cast of thousands.' When her school decides to perform Peter Pan, Grace is longing to play Peter, but her classmates say that Peter was a boy, and besides, he…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Henry's Freedom Box

  Levine, Ellen

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  A touching story about Henry, who decides to escape slavery by shipping himself to the north in a wooden box. Recommended for ages 6 and up.

• Crown

  An Ode to the Fresh Cut

  Barnes, Derrick D.,

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  This multi-award winning book for young people is as much about cultural pride and and self-esteem as it is about getting a hair cut. It is powerful and beautifully written. It would be a great picture book to read to kids for Black History Month.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Something Happened in Our Town

  a Child's Story About Racial Injustice

  Celano, Marianne,

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  Something Happened in Our Town follows two families -- one White, one Black -- as they discuss a police shooting of a Black man in their community. The story aims to answer children's questions about such traumatic events, and to help children…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Undefeated

  Alexander, Kwame,

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  This lyrical picture book is like a poetic compellation of biographies of both every-day heroes and celebrities from American history. Though it focuses on Black History in the United States, it is so beautifully written and illustrated that it…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Book Itch

  Freedom, Truth, & Harlem's Greatest Bookstore

  Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux,

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  A book itch has to be scratched! This one leads to the beginning of the National Memorial African Bookstore, and a home for activists such as Malcolm X. Recommended for ages 6 and up.