Celebrate Black excellence, history, and culture by reading from the book suggestions listed below.
Adé has amazing hair, like “a million black butterflies” asleep on her head. But one day, her classmates tease her because her hair is different from theirs, and Adé feels ashamed of her curls. With the help of her mother and aunts, Adé learns to love her hair in all its natural beauty!
Zuri's hair has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Zuri knows it's beautiful.
When Daddy steps in to style it for an extra special occasion, he has a lot to learn. But he LOVES his Zuri, and he'll do anything to make her -- and her hair -- happy.
Tender and empowering, Hair Love is an ode to loving your natural hair -- and a celebration of daddies and daughters everywhere.
English title: Hair Love
Every summer, two brothers swim to the rock, and one jumps off. But this summer, it's time for both of them to take the leap. In this moving coming-of-age story, a younger brother discovers newfound strength, courage, and joy, thanks to the support of his older brother—and the persuasiveness of his own imagination. Warm pastel illustrations lend a timeless quality to youthful trepidation and triumphant achievement in this celebration of summertime.
English Title: We are BrothersThere are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it's how you look or talk, or where you're from; maybe it's what you eat, or something just as random. It's not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it.
Jacqueline Woodson's lyrical text and Rafael López's dazzling art reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes - and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. And that sometimes, when we reach out and begin to share our stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway.
English title: The Day You BeginQui sont les réfugiés? Pourquoi doivent-ils quitter leur pays? Que viennent-ils faire chez nous ? Dans cet album tout à fait d’actualité, Elise Gravel explique de manière simple et claire, ce que ça signifie d’être réfugié. Elle rappelle que toutes ces personnes déracinées sont avant tout des êtres humains comme chacun d’entre nous.
Un documentaire accessible qui permet aux enfants de mieux comprendre le monde dans lequel ils vivent.Qui sont les réfugiés? Pourquoi doivent-ils quitter leur pays? Que viennent-ils faire chez nous ? Dans cet album tout à fait d’actualité, Elise Gravel explique de manière simple et claire, ce que ça signifie d’être réfugié. Elle rappelle que toutes ces personnes déracinées sont avant tout des êtres humains comme chacun d’entre nous.
Un documentaire accessible qui permet aux enfants de mieux comprendre le monde dans lequel ils vivent.Léon n'est pas un caméléon comme les autres : il ne peut pas se camoufler. Dès qu'il se tient sur quelque chose, il devient de la couleur opposée. Le pauvre Léon voudrait element être comme ses semblables. Mais une mésaventure lui apprendra à être fier d'être unique et si spécial.
Leon the chameleon has a problem. When the other little chameleons turn green, yellow or blue -- he turns red, purple or orange! Leon doesn't turn the opposite color on purpose. He just can't help it. Being different makes Leon feel lonely. One day, the little chameleons go exploring and lose their way. As the parents anxiously search for their little ones, they suddenly spot a speck of color far off in the distance. It's Leon! And thanks to his brilliant hue, the little chameleons are rescued. This time, being different makes Leon feel proud! Leon the Chameleon is a charming story that also explores the basic elements of color. At the end of the book, a color wheel displays primary colors and their complementary hues.
English: Leon the chameleon« tu es mon enfant gazelle dans le monde des lions » Et la petite court d'une page à l'autre, dans cette fable pour demander, aux enfants et aux parents, ce qui est juste.
Stéphane Martelly n’a plus besoin de présentation au Québec. Avec plus d’une dizaine d’ouvrages, l’essayiste, critique et poétesse d’origine haïtienne transcende les frontières des disciplines pour réfléchir, critiquer et créer. Avec L’enfant gazelle, elle nous offre un livre illustré qui s’adresse à un jeune public curieux et assoiffé de réponses.
L’enfant gazelle est une histoire imagée qui doit se lire comme une subtile fable sur les injustices.
Décrit de cette façon, le sujet peut sembler lourd pour de jeunes enfants. Mais c’est sans compter la finesse et la justesse de Martelly. Le texte y est métaphorique et plutôt que de la montrer de plein fouet, il suggère plutôt la discrimination à laquelle l’enfant gazelle devra se frotter. Elle sera avertie dès le départ par son papa : le monde est dur, va vite et sa place n’est pas garantie… tant et si bien que la petite fille devra courir avant même d’apprendre à marcher.Quand Amina arrive un matin à l’école avec les mains tatouées au henné, les élèves de sa classe lui lancent des remarques sur les Arabes, qu’ils ont entendues autour d’eux. Amina a de la peine : elle se sent différente et incomprise.
Dans ce drôle d'inventaire, les caribous se parent de tous les petits travers humains et interrogent l'air de rien le regard que chacun porte sur le monde et les autres. De quoi apprendre à regarder les choses avec un peu plus de distance et à abandonner certains préjugés.
Henri ne connaît pas son âge, car les esclaves ne célèbrent pas leur anniversaire. Lorsque sa famille est vendue, il décide de tout risquer pour ce qu'il croit être juste : le droit d'être libre. Henri s'enfuit. Recroquevillé dans une caisse, il entreprend un long voyage vers la liberté. Il arrive à destination un peu comme une lettre à la poste. Lorsque le couvercle de la caisse s'ouvre, la vie d'Henri Brown commence vraiment. Il est libre.
The struggles of a little boy born a slave and realizing his dream of being free.
English Title: Henry’s Freedom BoxThis book is beautifully-rendered study of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life, told in simple, straightforward language for even the youngest of readers to understand. Pinkney's scratchboard and oil pastel illustrations convey both the strength and gentleness of King's character. Both text and art carry his central message of peace and brotherhood among all people.
English Title: Happy Birthday Martin Luther King
This story is about African-American civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois and it teaches children about the need for education. Young W.E.B. Du Bois will be talking about how education gave him the POWER to become a great learner and a great teacher. This power, found through education, led him to become a leader, an author, a humanitarian, an activist, and an overall great person that made an impact in the world. Du Bois encourages children that they can do whatever they put their mind too through the power of education.
Partez à la rencontre de 52 ICÔNES NOIRES d'hier et d'aujourd'hui qui ont marqué le cours de l'histoire! Découvrez le parcours exceptionnel et parfois insoupçonné de grands MENEURS et de MILITANTS comme Nelson Mandela et Michelle Obama, d'ARTISTES réputés comme Beyoncé et Alexandre Dumas, de SPORTIFS épatants comme Muhammad Ali et Usain Bolt et de SCIENTIFIQUES brillants comme Katherine Johnson. Leurs rêves et leur lutte pour l'avancement des droits des Noirs vous feront traverser les frontières, le temps et même l'espace! Ce livre encourage la prochaine génération à poursuivre ses propres rêves... quels qu'ils soient !
Martin Luther King, Joséphine Baker, Nelson Mandela, Nina Simone, Pelé, Yannick Noah, Beyoncé... Ils ont en commun d'être Noirs et d'avoir marqué le cours de l'Histoire. D'avoir cru en leurs rêves d'enfant. D'avoir fait avancer la lutte pour les droits des Noirs vers plus d'égalité.
Retrouve dans ce livre 52 icônes noires d'hier et d'aujourd'hui : des femmes, des hommes, des ARTISTES, des SPORTIFS, des SCIENTIFIQUES, des MILITANTS, des GENIES, des LEGENDES...
qui sont autant de modèles, de sources d'inspiration pour les jeunes générations. Pour que chacun puisse croire en ses propres rêves... quels qu'ils soient !
English Title: Young Gifted and Black
When a young Arab is arrested and beaten unconscious by police, a riot erupts in the notoriously violent suburbs outside of Paris. Three of the victim's peers, Vinz (Vincent Cassel), Said (Said Taghmaoui) and Hubert (Hubert Koundé), wander aimlessly about their home turf in the aftermath of the violence as they try to come to grips with their outrage over the brutal incident.
After one of the men finds a police officer's discarded weapon, their night seems poised to take a bleak turn.
Themes revolve around police targeting, violence and brutality, as well as racism, classism, power, poverty, etc.Nouvelle-Écosse, 1946. Le placier prie Viola Desmond de quitter son siège au parterre pour aller s'asseoir au balcon. Viola refuse de bouger : elle sait très bien qu'on lui fait cette requête uniquement parce qu'elle est noire. La police s'en mêle et Viola se retrouve en prison. Le lendemain, elle est accusée et mise à l'amende. Dès lors, Viola s'engage dans une lutte contre l'injustice envers les noirs. Sa détermination inspirera la communauté entière et encore aujourd'hui, Viola demeure un symbole prédominant de la lutte contre la discrimination raciale en Amérique du Nord.
Click here to view video on Rosa Parks.
A l'heure où les États-Unis donnaient tous les droits aux Blancs, Rosa Parks a refusé de céder sa place dans un bus. Cette histoire est devenue le symbole de la lutte des Noirs pour leurs droits. Qui était-elle vraiment ?
28 lettres que la narratrice, Ramatoulaye Fall, adresse à sa meilleure amie, Aïssatou Bâ. Décrit la condition des femmes en Afrique en abordant des sujets sensibles : la polygamie, le difficile effacement de certaines traditions, l'absence de droits pour les femmes, leur place en politique, et surtout l'éducation sexuelle due aux filles et l'affirmation de la valeur de leur corps. Écrit en 1979.
Themes/concepts:
Sexism, gender roles, women’s rights, racism, class hierarchy
Racism, history of indigenous peoples in Canada
Racism, living in the projects, gender roles/sexism, POC experiences
Integration, the ghettos, racism, gender roles
L’Indien malcommode est à la fois un ouvrage d’histoire et une subversion de l’histoire officielle. En somme, c’est le résultat de la réflexion personnelle et critique que Thomas King a menée depuis un demi-siècle sur ce que cela signifie d’être Indien aujourd’hui en Amérique du Nord.
Ce livre n’est pas tant une condamnation du comportement des uns ou des autres qu’une analyse suprêmement intelligente des liens complexes qu’entretiennent les Blancs et les Indiens.
English Title: Inconvenient Indian
Doria a quinze ans, un sens aigu de la vanne, une connaissance encyclopédique de la télé, et des rêves pleins la tête. Elle vit seule avec sa mère dans une cité de Livry-Gargan entourée d'Hamoudi, un grand de la cité qui l'a connue
«haute comme une barrette de shit», Mme Burlaud, la psychologue au porte-jarretelles, Nabil le nul ou encore Aziz, l'épicier du Sidi Mohamed Market avec qui Dora essaie en vain de caser sa mère ... Entre humour ravageur et formidables élans de fraîcheur, Dora navigue dans la vie avec l'innocence de sa jeunesse et l'assurance d'une fille trop intelligente pour ne pas infléchir son destin
The Paradise projects are only a few metro stops from Paris, but here it's a whole different kind of France. Doria's father, the Beard, has headed back to their hometown in Morocco, leaving her and her mom to cope with their mektoub - their destiny - alone. They have a little help - from a social worker sent by the city, a psychiatrist sent by the school, and a thug friend who recites Rimbaud. It seems like fate's dealt them an impossible hand, but Doria might still make a new life. She'll prove the projects aren't only about rap, soccer, and religious tension. She'll take the Arabic word kif-kif (same old, same old) and mix it up with the French verb kiffer (to really like something). And she'll have a whole new motto: Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow.
English Title: Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow
The day she begins her classes at the institute, Sélima decides to call herself Anne. She does not want her colleagues to marginalize her because of her Algerian immigrant status. Marie Féraud immerses us in the current issue of immigration.
Mon père vint me réveiller à neuf heures. Un beau matin d'été, frais et clair, comme j'en avais tant connu, mais à l'amer parfum d'exil, déjà. Nous écourtâmes les adieux. Ma mère, en s'inclinant devant le chef de famille, ne savait pas, ce matin- là, qu'elle ne le reverrait jamais.
"Je vous présente une nouvelle élève, annonça le prof, elle s'appelle Haya. Elle vient de Syrie..." C'est drôle, songea Gabriel, il y a des gens qui attirent l'attention sans qu'on sache pourquoi...
Cette fille, il ne la connaissait pas, mais elle l'intriguait à cause de ses yeux graves et la manière dont elle relevait fièrement le menton comme un défi... "Le concert qui permettrait à Clara d'entrer au Conservatoire va commencer quand ses parents, assis au premier rang, sont soudain chassés de leurs places par le couple Smith. Choquée, Clara est incapable de jouer. Dans son esprit, tout s'emmêle. Les bombes du FLQ ; la Ville, qui projette de raser son quartier, menaçant l'imprimerie familiale ; le courage de Rosa Parks qui a su dire non au Blanc revendiquant sa place dans l'autobus ; les efforts des derniers mois, surtout, à s'exercer sous le regard du tigre de porcelaine. Clara n'a pas fait tous ces sacrifices pour rien. Ce concert est le sien. Les Smith n'ont pas le droit de lui gâcher ce moment. Elle doit se faire respecter. Maintenant !
Olivier Le Jeune est le premier esclave à vivre en Nouvelle-France ; originaire de l’île de Madagascar, il arrive dans la ville de Québec en 1629. Il avait 10 ans.Au-delà de son statut d’esclave, il est la première personne d’origine africaine à habiter de manière permanente au Canada. Ce livre, inspiré d’un fait vécu, suit le parcours d’Olivier Le Jeune, de sa capture à Madagascar jusqu’à son arrivée dans la ville de Québec. Comment a-t-il pu s’adapter à sa nouvelle réalité dans les débuts de la Nouvelle-France?
Vidéo: “Dessine-moi Rosa Parks” - Idello.org
Rosa Parks becomes famous when, on December 1, 1955, in the city of Montgomery, she refuses to obey the bus driver James Blake, who asks him to leave his place to a white man and to sit at the back of the bus. Here is an express biography of this emblematic...
Vidéo: C’est qui Nelson Mandela? (1 Jour 1 Question) - Idello.org
This video summarizes the life of Nelson Mandela. It explains how he succeeded in abolishing Apartheid and what it cost him personally.
Vidéo: Top sur Viola Desmond - Idello.org
VRAIMENT TOP! offers short, informative videos on countless exciting topics by presenting the most important or interesting information in the form of a ranking. Science, history, geography, etc. everything is worth it! A great way to awaken your general knowledge in a simple and effective way. Students will easily be able to make connections with their own experience and will be led to continue their learning by conducting inquiries.
Célébration du Mois de l’Histoire des Noirs
Curio.ca 41 titles
Le mois de février est le Mois de l’histoire des Noirs au Canada, qui nous offre l’occasion de souligner les réalisations des communautés noires au Canada et de poser un regard sur les histoires, les expériences et les succès des communautés noires au Canada. Pour marquer cette occasion, Curio.ca a préparé cette collection dans le but de souligner l’histoire des Noirs au Canada. Ces ressources sont destinées à compléter les activités et les initiatives des enseignants autour du Mois de l’histoire des Noirs.
Fifty years have passed since Miss Elizabeth was a girl, but she still remembers Willie Rudd, the black housekeeper who helped raise her. She remembers the feel of sitting in Willie Rudd's lap while the housekeeper sang to her. And she remembers how Willie Rudd scrubbed the floor on her hands and knees. What would Miss Elizabeth say to Willie Rudd if she were alive today? She decides to write her a letter telling her how things would be different. Now Willie Rudd would come in the front door -- not the back. She would ride in the front of the bus with Miss Elizabeth, and they could sit together at the movies. The two of them would have a wonderful time. And in her heartfelt letter, Miss Elizabeth has the chance to tell Willie Rudd something she never told her while she was alive -- that she loved her.
Based on the author’s feisty great-aunt, the story of two girls who visit their great-great-aunt on Sunday afternoons and hear her stories of long ago.
During a dinner at the home of her Aunt Connie, an artist, and Uncle Bates, Melody discovers twelve portraits of inspirational and influential African-American women, whose stories inspire Melody with pride in her own heritage.
A fictionalized story about the life of young Booker T. Washington. Living in a West Virginia settlement after emancipation, nine-year-old Booker travels by lantern light to the salt works, where he labors from dawn till dusk. Although his stomach rumbles, his real hunger is his intense desire to learn to read....
Who Do I See in the Mirror? is simple yet powerful book is about a sweet little girl who goes through a journey of discovering what makes her truly special. It reminds children that they are much more than their physical appearance.
No book has captured the magic and sense of possibility of the first snowfall better than The Snowy Day. Universal in its appeal, the story has become a favorite of millions, as it reveals a child's wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever.
Join one little girl's search for the BEST party hair - as demonstrated by her family and friends. Will it be dreads or a twist out? Braids or a high-top fade? Joyous and vibrant, this captures perfectly the excitement of getting ready for a celebration, as well as showcasing a dazzling array of intricate hairstyles.
This whimsical, evocative story about a girl named Keyana encourages African-American children to feel good about their special hair and be proud of their heritage. A BlackBoard Children's Book of the Year. Full-color illustrations.
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 identify and counter racial injustice in their own lives.
Includes an extensive Note to Parents and Caregivers with guidelines for discussing race and racism with children, child-friendly definitions, and sample dialogues. Free, downloadable educator materials (including discussion questions) are available at www.apa.org.
From Academy Award–winning actress Lupita Nyong’o comes a powerful, moving picture book about colorism, self-esteem, and learning that true beauty comes from within.
Sulwe has skin the color of midnight. She is darker than everyone in her family. She is darker than anyone in her school. Sulwe just wants to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything.
In this stunning debut picture book, actress Lupita Nyong’o creates a whimsical and heartwarming story to inspire children to see their own unique beauty.
This was Keman's first experience of Toronto's annual Caribbean Carnival. The excited 8 year old and his Mother enjoyed the rituals at the Caribbean celebration, such as picking a flag to wave, the Caribbean influenced foods, dancing, costumes and music. Kemanisa young, Black Canadian child with Caribbean roots.
D is for dance! E is for emancipation! From A to Z, this is a rhyming alphabet book that celebrates Canada's Caribbean Carnival. This engaging and educational book features adverse cast of children in vibrant costumes as they 'play mas' while dancing to Soca and Calypso music. A glossary at the end makes it easy for readers, including parents and teachers, to review what they have learned.
As Anne’s birthday drew close, her friends prepared a soca party. Anne loves the sound of Caribbean soca music played on steel pans and West Africa’s spicy joll of rice. Hence, her friends planned to celebrate her special day with a fusion of sound and traditional dishes from Caribbean and African countries - a representation of their diverse yet comparable cultures. Anne was in for a real surprise.
Miles Away InThe Caribbean is a poetically written story about a Canadian boy named Miles. Inhis magical spaceship, he visits Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica,Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincentand the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. Miles highlights magnificent landmarks and enjoyed his cultural adventures.
Rose and Nicolas loved their favourite Caribbean sorrel drink so much, the siblings decided to create a sorrel stand with the assistance of their parents. Their Sweet Sorrel Stand was a success in the neighbourhood. The main ingredient of the drink is the Roselle plant (Sorrel), a species of hibiscus which is native to West Africa. The red flower buds are boiled, strained, sweetened with sugar, with a touch of ginger, cinnamon, orange peel and cloves. Once cooled for a couple of hours or overnight, it is served with ice. It is known to be very rich in antioxidants. Traditionally, this drink is served during Christmas holidays. On a hot summer day, it is a refreshing alternative to lemonade.
Femi and her friends planned to leave some traditional Caribbean treats out for Santa, including Black Cake. The children shared warm wishes for their favourite dishes while enjoying winter activities at the Christmas fair.
Tony Dungy's little brother, Linden, is a third grader who is having a bad day at school. Linden is the youngest of the Dungy family and the least motivated because he hasn't found "it." In a family where everyone seems to have found their special talent, all Linden knows is that he wants to make people happy. With encouragement from his parents, a helping hand from his older brother Tony, and inspiration from God, Linden learns that if he dreams big and has faith, he can do anything!
Like most little boys, he is afraid of the sharp scissors, the buzzing razor, and the prospect of picking a new hairstyle. But with the support of his dad, the barber, and the other men in the barbershop, Miles bravely sits through his first haircut. Written in a reassuring tone with a jazzy beat and illustrated with graceful, realistic watercolors, this book captures an important rite of passage for boys and celebrates African-American identity.
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 at 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.
Scientist Ada has a boundless imagination and has always been hopelessly curious. Why are there pointy things stuck to a rose? Why are there hairs growing inside your nose? When her house fills with a horrific, toe-curling smell, Ada knows it’s up to her to find the source. What would you do with a problem like this? Not afraid of failure, Ada embarks on a fact-finding mission and conducts scientific experiments, all in the name of discovery. But, this time, her experiments lead to even more stink and get her into trouble!
Set in the jungle, this book tells the story of a young girl's growing up. Osa is proud. Just a little too proud for her good. But Granma sees the way to show Osa just how foolishly she's behaving - and does so in a wise and gentle way.
Grace loves stories, whether they're from books, movies, or the kind her grandmother tells. When her school decides to perform Peter Pan, Grace longs to play the lead, but her classmates point out that Peter was a boy. Besides, he wasn't black. With the support of her family, Grace learns that she can be anything she wants to be, and the results are amazing!
Tells the story of a young girl - an every girl - whose confidence is fragile and who is questioning her own ability to reach the heights that Misty has reached. Misty encourages this young girl's faith in herself and shows her exactly how, through hard work and dedication, she too can become Firebird.
In South Sudan, where Nya lives, many girls have a hard job: fetching water for their families from a remote water hole.
The distance on foot is long, and the full water container is heavy. When Nya has to carry her little sister as well as the water, home seems impossibly distant. But reaching a thorn bush a few steps away--that she can do. And the tree after that, and then the next thing in her path...moving toward help and safety a step at a time.
In the setting of Linda Sue Park's bestseller A Long Walk to Water, and featuring a character who appears in those pages, Nya's Long Walk tells a story of determination, perseverance, and love.
An afterword discusses the process of providing clean water in South Sudan, reducing waterborne illness.
age 8+
Two poets, one white and one black, explore race and childhood in this must-have collection tailored to provoke thought and conversation.
How can Irene and Charles work together on their fifth-grade poetry project? They don't know each other . . . and they're not sure they want to. Irene Latham, who is white, and Charles Waters, who is black, use this fictional setup to delve into different experiences of race in a relatable way, exploring such topics as hair, hobbies, and family dinners.
Can I Touch Your Hair? is the story of a little Makeda’s first day at Cress Welsing Junior Academy. Throughout the day, she is confronted with racist encounters with several of her classmates and overcomes those challenges with the support of her loving parents.
Let Them Play is an important civil rights story in American history with an even more important message about equality and tolerance. It's a tale of humanity against the backdrop of America's favorite pastime that's sure to please fans of the sport and mankind. The summer of 2005 marked the 50th year since the fans' shouts of Let Them Play fell on deaf ears and 14 boys learned a cruel lesson in backwards politics and prejudice. This book can help teach us a new lesson and assure something like this never happens again.
In 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, thousands of African American children volunteered to march for their civil rights after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak. They protested the laws that kept black people separate from white people. Facing fear, hate, and danger, these children used their voices to change the world.
This poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present.
YA – 214 pages
Twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat. As a ghost, he observes the devastation that’s been unleashed on his family and community in the wake of what they see as an unjust and brutal killing. Soon Jerome meets another ghost: Emmett Till, a boy from a very different time but similar circumstances. Emmett helps Jerome process what has happened, on a journey towards recognizing how historical racism may have led to the events that ended his life. Jerome also meets Sarah, the daughter of the police officer, who grapples with her father’s actions.
YA – 316 pages
Rashad and Quinn—one black, one white, both American—face the unspeakable truth that racism and prejudice didn’t die after the civil rights movement. There’s a future at stake, a future where no one else will have to be absent because of police brutality. They just have to risk everything to change the world.
YA Non-fiction – 294 pages
The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. This remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited.
YA – 384 pages
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 starts 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. Now that’s trouble, for real.
YA - 400 pages
This is the story of a thirteen-year-old girl who is filled with self-loathing and must overcome internalized racism and a verbally abusive family to finally learn to love herself.
There are ninety-six things Genesis hates about herself. She knows the exact number because she keeps a list. Like #95: Because her skin is so dark, people call her charcoal and eggplant— even her own family. And #61: Because her family is always being put out of their house, belongings laid out on the sidewalk for the world to see. When Genesis reaches #100 on the list of things she hates about herself, will she continue on, or can she find the strength to begin again?
YA – 224 pages
In the summer of 1968, after travelling from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to spend a month with the mother they barely know, eleven-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters arrive to a cold welcome as they discover that their mother, a dedicated poet and printer, is resentful of the intrusion of their visit and wants them to attend a nearby Black Panther summer camp.
YA – 160 pages
An action-packed and pacey story about a boy's experience of slavery in Britain. Nathaniel doesn't want to move to England with his master's family, leaving behind his mother and sister on the Jamaican plantation. But then he remembers what his mother told him: once a slave sets foot on English soil, they're free. Perhaps he can earn his fortune and buy his family's freedom, too.