Celebrate Black History Month With These 7 Great Picture Books

I am Jackie Robinson, by Brad Meltzer and Christopher Eliopoulos
The latest picture book biography from this winning writer/illustrator team is, to put it buntly, a home run. From highly impressionable illustrations to accessible text that speaks directly to children, Meltzer and Eliopoulos’s take on Robinson’s game-changing story is fresh and unforgettable. I am Jackie Robinson is an excellent way to explain to your kids how a single player changed history and trailblazed a path towards equality in all American sports.

How did Barack Obama Make History?, by Jane A. Schott
In fewer than 50 pages, Schott offers us answers to all the questions our kids have always wanted to know about our President (and a few we’re probably curious about too!). Obama’s childhood nickname, love of basketball, education, and path toward politics are all described in detail here, and we learn even more about his work with underprivileged groups in Chicago. Barack Obama became the first black president in 2008, but there’s a lot more to him than his presidential portrait alone—allow your kids to get to know this inspirational man

Coretta Scott King: Dare to Dream, by Angela Shelf Medearis and Anna Rich
Coretta Scott King wasn’t simply the wife of the most well-known leader of the Civil Rights Movement. She was a courageous woman who fought alongside her husband, and continued the struggle for equality long after he was gone. A compelling addition to the Women of Our Time series, Dare to Dream is a concise, easy-reading biography of an exceptionally pragmatic, devout woman who worked peacefully and tirelessly to ensure that people of all races, ethnicities, and philosophies might be treated with dignity and respect.

I Have a Dream, by Martin Luther King Jr. and Kadir Nelson
Rendered in deeply moving illustrations, this lightly edited version of Dr. King’s unforgettable speech is the ideal way to introduce your young ones to this seminal moment in American history. The concepts here are easy to understand, and, therefore, easy for kids to carry forward. From the deep lines of consternation and concentration in the Reverend’s face at the podium, to hands of all colors clasped in unity, Nelson’s award-winning paintings are powerful, triumphant, and perfect for any age.

Love Will See You Through: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Six Guiding Beliefs, by Angela Farris Watkins and Sally Wern Comport
Watkins, a psychology professor at Spelman College, has spent much of her career proliferating Dr. King’s philosophy of nonviolence. During an exceptionally turbulent time in American history, Dr. King paved a peaceful way toward equality, and to Watkins, he was more than just a prophetic leader—he was her uncle. Through personal anecdotes and widely-known quotations, Watkins has distilled her uncle’s radical doctrine—using love to overcome hate—into 6 bite-sized beliefs that will be understood by even the youngest readers. The mixed media illustrations are expressive, and reinforce the frenzied era during which Dr. King ministered nonviolent resistance.

All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom, by Angela Johnson and E.B. Lewis
Recognized as a special day of observance in all states, Juneteenth denotes June 19th, 1865, the day when all slaves in the Confederate South were declared free. The day is expressed here in weightless, lyrical prose and muted watercolor illustrations that masterfully evoke the tone and emotion of the first day of new life for all the formerly enslaved men and women on a Texas plantation. Told from a young girl’s perspective, we experience her surprise, exhilaration, and anticipation for the new life that awaits her. Your children will be instantly awed and engaged, and will likely want to hear her story again and again.

What a Wonderful World, based on the song by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss, as sung by Louis Armstrong, with illustrations by Tim Hopgood
“What a Wonderful World” was recorded by Louis Armstrong nearly 40 years ago, in 1967. We can probably all remember the first time we heard Armstrong’s strident baritone, and the joyful, lighthearted feeling those first strains gave us, but have you ever considered what this song might look like? Tim Hopgood offers a beautiful visual representation of Armstrong’s classic tune in this delightful picture book. Beginning with a simple dedication “For Everyone,” Hopgood invites us to follow a small child and his bluebird companion through a whimsical universe filled with bold yellow suns, puffy clouds, and shooting stars; musical notes and meandering butterflies are clustered on every page. It’s a transformative experience to see the world through their eyes, for hope, love, and wonder abound here, and they show us that such a place is still within our reach.