By Monica Clark-Robinson Illustrated by Frank Morrison Reviewed by Mary Bishop This wonderful children’s story has me wondering, “where was this material when I was growing up?” Teaching the Civil Rights Movement by relaying the biographies of singular heroes has its merits, but showing how children, the brave and uncredited many, were a pivotal part […]
Tag: Action
Black Lives Matter
Written by Duchess Harris Reviewed by Sofia Puorro It can be challenging for elementary school teachers to find books that dig into heavy topics such as systemic racism and oppression without being overly simplified, White-washed, or in service of promoting color-blindness. However, Duchess Harris, the author of many racial justice centered books, has managed to […]
The Harlem Charade
Written by Natasha Tarpley Reviewed by Melody Falleur-Fettig (2021-2022) From the acclaimed author, Natasha Tarpley, comes a book about the city of Harlem, its rich cultural history, and the modern capitalistic forces that threaten to destroy it. The Harlem Charade is a chapter book best suited for middle grade but an acceptable read for grades […]
Radiant Child : The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat
Written and Illustrated by Javaka Steptoe Reviewed by Mary Bishop Winner of the Caldecott Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award, this wonderful picture book tells the story of Jean-Michel’s early life as an artist. Steptoe’s accolades are well deserved, his sparse and poetic word choice evoke the bold and alluring style of Basquiat himself. […]
Our Little Kitchen by Jillian Tamaki
Our Little Kitchen Written & Illustrated by Jillian Tamaki Reviewed by Alisun This delightful picturebook tells the story of a community kitchen. While it is not plot driven, it documents an afternoon preparing a delicious meal for a diverse and inclusive group of neighbors. With vegetables harvested from the community garden, the team of cooks […]
The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth and Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth and Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Reviewed by Isabelle Grant. “When Dad went to a bank to borrow money to open a bookstore for black people, the banker said no. He said Dad could have a loan to sell fish and chips or […]
Jacob Riis’s Camera: Bringing Light too Tenement Children
This picture book details the life of Jacob Riis and how he fought to change New York City for the better. Riis was an immigrant from Denmark who came to New York to make his fortune, but like so many others in the 1800s he found that jobs for immigrants in America were difficult to […]
Women Who Dared, Written by Linda Skeers, Illustrated by Livi Gosling
52 stories of fearless daredevils, adventurers & rebels. Amazing, daring, and dangerously brave women who are rarely mentioned in our history books. Looking for a text that shatters boundaries and supports female triumphs? Look no further! Meet a young girl raised by a single mother in Harlem who became a highly educated North and South […]
Rad Women Worldwide
Written by Kate Schatz and Illustrated by Miriam Klein Stahl Rad Women Worldwide is a sequel to Rad American Women A-Z which features 26 different rad American women, one for each letter of the alphabet. In Rad Women Worldwide, the scope has been broadened. As author Kate Schatz writes in the book’s introduction, “think about […]
Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up To Be Malcolm X
Do you remember learning about Malcolm X in school? I know that I had never heard his name until I was in college. Malcolm X is often described as the sword to Martin Luther King Jr.’s shield, but his legacy stands alone as an incredible organizer for the Nation of Islam, fierce advocate for the […]