| French Books |
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| Primary/ Junior |
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| Comme un million de papillons noirs - By Laura Nsafou |
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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!
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| Nos Boucles Au Naturel - Par Matthew A. Cherry |
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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
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| Tout Mélangé! Histoire de Couleurs - Par D’Aree Chung |
| In the beginning, there were three colours . . . Reds, Yellows, and Blues. All special in their own ways, all living in harmony―until one day, a Red says "Reds are the best!" and starts a colour kerfuffle. When the colours decide to separate, is there anything that can change their minds? A Yellow, a Blue, and a never-before-seen colour might just save the day in this inspiring book about colour, tolerance, and embracing differences. |
| Mon Frère & Moi - Par Yves Nadon |
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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 Brothers |
| Un Jour Tu Découvriras - Par Jacqueline Woodson |
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There 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 Begin |
| C’est quoi un réfugié? - Par Elise Gravel |
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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. |
| C’est quoi un réfugié? - Par Elise Gravel |
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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 le caméléon - Par Mélanie Watt |
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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 |
| L’Enfant Gazelle - Par Stépane Martelly |
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« 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. |
| Amina Submit Le Racisme - Par Sophie Martel |
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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.
Sa mère la console et lui propose d’organiser une fête marocaine et d’inviter les élèves de sa classe pour leur permettre de mieux se connaître. Peu à peu, Amina apprendra à se faire respecter et, surtout, à se faire aimer pour ce qu’elle est. |
| Tous pareils! - Par Edouard Manceau |
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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.
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| Libre, le long voyage d’Henri - Par Ellen Levine |
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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 Box |
| Voici Viola Desmond - Par Elizabeth MacLeod |
Click here for a video of the reading of the book.
Faites la rencontre de Viola Desmond, entrepreneure et véritable pionnière en matière d'égalité raciale au Canada.
Par un jour pluvieux de novembre 1946, Viola, de passage à Glasgow en Nouvelle-Écosse, décide d'aller au cinéma. Elle s'installe dans la section officieusement réservée aux Blancs, mais l'ouvreuse lui demande de changer de place. Viola refuse, car elle sait que c'est à cause de la couleur de sa peau. La police l'emmène de force. Viola est emprisonnée, jugée et déclarée coupable. Cela ne l'empêche pas, avec l'aide de ses partisans, de continuer à se battre pour la justice sociale.
Bien qu'elle ait ultimement perdu sa cause devant la Cour suprême, elle fut une pionnière pour les premiers militants des droits civils. Grâce au travail acharné de sa sœur Wanda qui s'est battue pour que son héritage soit reconnu à sa juste valeur, le portrait de Viola figurera sur les nouveaux billets de 10$ canadiens.
On a rainy November day in 1946, Viola decided that she would not give up her seat in the unofficial white section of a movie theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Viola knew she was being asked to move because she ws black. She was jailed, tried and found guilty of an unfair charge. But Viola and her supporters persisted in their campaign for social justice — all the way to Nova Scotia's Supreme Court.
English Title: Meet Viola Desmond |
| Le Rêve de Martin Luther King - Par Jean Marzollo |
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This 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
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| L’Éducation Est Le Pouvoir: Un Extrait De La Vie De W.E.B. Du Bois - By Lenny Williams |
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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.
English Title: Education Is Power: A Snippet of The Life Of W.E.B. Du Bois
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| I Have a Dream : 52 Icônes noires qui ont marqué l’histoire - Par Jamia Wilson |
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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
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| Intermediate |
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| Noir, Blanc ou Poil de Carotte |
| Ce livre est un manifeste écrit par seize élèves montréalais, porte-parole de trois cents jeunes souhaitant exprimer leurs sentiments par rapport au racisme. Les enfants ont des réalités différentes des nôtres et, pour cela, il est important d'écouter leurs histoires et d'être attentifs à leur discours. Les textes des enfants sont ponctués d’extraits de la Charte canadienne des droits et libertés et de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme qui rappellent, entre autres évidences que l’on a tendance à oublier, que tous les êtres humains naissent libres et égaux. |
| Les aventures de Tintin - Par Hergé |
| A series of children’s stories (cartoon format) that started in the early 1900s - to be read NOT for content, but for analysis and challenging the viewpoints and explicit racism, sexism, etc. that is shown in these stories |
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| Junior/ Intermediate |
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| La Haine |
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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. |
| La Détermination de Viola Desmond - Par Jody Warner |
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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.
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| Rosa Parks: Une Femme qui n’avait peur de rien - TV5 Monde |
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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 ?
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| Secondary School |
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| Une si longue lettre Par Mariama Bâ |
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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
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| L’Indien malcommode - Par Thomas King |
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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
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| Kiffe Kiffe Demain - Par Faïza Guène |
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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
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| Anne Ici, Selima Là-bas - Par Marie Féraud |
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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.
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| La Révolte d’Ayachi - Par Bernard Barokas |
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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.
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| Novel Intermediate |
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| La Nouvelle - Par Cassandra O’Donnell |
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"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 Tigre de Porcelaine - Par Danielle Marcotte |
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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 ! |
| Le Grain de Sable: Olivier le Jeune, Premier Esclave au Canada - Par Webster |
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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?
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Videos
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| “Dessine-moi Rosa Parks” - Idello.org |
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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...
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| C’est qui Nelson Mandela? - Idello.org |
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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.
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| Top sur Viola Desmond - Idello.org |
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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.
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| Célébration du Mois de l’Histoire des Noirs |
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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.
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| Lucie Blackburn |
| Lucie Blackburn: d’esclave à entrepreneure, un destin qui a marqué l’histoire canadienne Connais Ton Histoire - ICI Radio-Canada. |
| Herbert Carnegie |
Herbert Carnegie, le meilleur joueur de hockey noir à ne pas avoir joué dans la LNH
Connais Ton Histoire – ICI Radio-CanadaFirmin Monestime, premier maire noir au Canada et pilier d’une communauté Connais Ton Histoire - ICI Radio-Canada |
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| Non-Fiction Books |
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| Hip Hop Speaks to Children, Anthology Various hip-hop artists |
Hip Hop Speaks to Children is a celebration of poetry with a beat.
Poetry can have both a rhyme and a rhythm. Sometimes it is obvious; sometimes it is hidden. But either way, make no mistake, poetry is as vibrant and exciting as it gets. And when you find yourself clapping your hands or tapping your feet, you know you've found poetry with a beat! Like Poetry Speaks to Children, the New York Times Bestselling classic poetry book and CD that started it all, Hip Hop Speaks to Children is meant to be the beginning of a journey of discovery. |
| Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters - by Andrea Davis Pinkney |
| Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus and sparked a boycott that changed America. Harriet Tubman helped more than three hundred slaves escape the South on the Underground Railroad. Shirley Chisholm became the first black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. The lives these women led are part of an incredible story about courage in the face of oppression; about the challenges and triumphs of the battle for civil rights; and about speaking out for what you believe in--even when it feels like no one is listening. Includes biographies of Sojournor Truth, Biddy Mason, Harriet Tubman, Ida B.Wells-Barnett, Mary McLeod Bethune, Ella Josephine Baker, Dorothy Irene Height, Rosa Parks, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Shirley Chisholm. |
| A Kids Book About Racism - by Jelani Memory |
Yes, this really is a kids book about racism. Inside, you’ll find a clear description of what racism is, how it makes people feel when they experience it, and how to spot it when it happens.
This is one conversation that’s never too early to start, and this book was written to be an introduction for kids on the topic. |
| Little People, Big Dreams Series - by Lisbeth Kaiser and Maria Isabel Sàchez Vegara |
| In the Little People, Big Dreams series, discover the lives of outstanding people from designers and artists to scientists. All of them went on to achieve incredible things, yet all of them began life as a little child with a dream. Includes biographies on individuals like Maya Angelou, Aretha Franklin, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks. |
| Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History - by Yasanti Harrison |
Featuring forty trailblazing black women in American history, Little Leaders educates and inspires as it relates true stories of breaking boundaries and achieving beyond expectations. Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, politician Shirley Chisholm, mathematician Katherine Johnson, poet Maya Angelou, and filmmaker Julie Dash. Among these biographies, readers will find heroes, role models, and everyday women who did extraordinary things - bold women whose actions and beliefs contributed to making the world better for generations of girls and women to come.
Whether they were putting pen to paper, soaring through the air or speaking up for the rights of others, the women profiled in these pages were all taking a stand against a world that didn't always accept them. The leaders in this book may be little, but they all did something big and amazing, inspiring generations to come. |
| Mo Farah - by Roy Apps |
| Mo Farah is the UK's most successful distance runner - and double gold-medalist at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Read his story, from his childhood in Somalia up to when he crossed the finish line at London 2012. It takes blood, sweat and tears to get to the top of any sport, and these short, inspirational biographies show just how tough it can be. Focusing on top athletes and sport personalities, each dramatic story brings to life the skill, determination and luck needed to break through into top level competition. |
| We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices – Anthology |
| Fifty of the foremost diverse children's authors and illustrators--including Jason Reynolds, Jacqueline Woodson, and Kwame Alexander--share answers to the question, "In this divisive world, what shall we tell our children?" in this beautiful, full-color keepsake collection, published in partnership with Just Us Books. What do we tell our children when the world seems bleak, and prejudice and racism run rampant? With 96 lavishly designed pages of original art and prose, fifty diverse creators lend voice to young activists. |
| This Book Is Anti-racist - by Tiffany Jewell |
| This book is written for the young person who doesn't know how to speak up to the racist adults in their life. For the 14 year old who sees injustice at school and isn't able to understand the role racism plays in separating them from their friends. For the kid who spends years trying to fit into the dominant culture and loses themselves for a little while. It's for all of the Black and Brown children who have been harmed (physically and emotionally) because no one stood up for them or they couldn't stand up for themselves; because the colour of their skin, the texture of their hair, their names made white folks feel scared and threatened. |
| Michelle Obama: The Fantastically Feminist (and Totally True) Story of the Inpirational Activist and Campaigner - by Anna Dohert |
| Meet the marvellous Michelle Obama: A+ student, passionate piano player, and a girl who's not afraid to dream big. Determined to make the world a better place, the grown up Michelle gets to work in helping the community in whatever way she can. But then she meets and falls in love with Barack Obama, who is equally passionate about changing the world and he tells her he wants to become the first African American President of the United States, Michelle knows it's time to really find her voice... |
| Young, Gifted and Black by Jamia Wilson |
| Meet 52 icons of color from the past and present in this celebration of inspirational achievement—a collection of stories about changemakers to encourage, inspire and empower the next generation of changemakers. Jamia Wilson has carefully curated this range of black icons and the book is stylishly brought together by Andrea Pippins’ colorful and celebratory illustrations. Written in the spirit of Nina Simone’s song “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black,” this vibrant book is a perfect introduction to both historic and present-day icons and heroes. Meet figureheads, leaders and pioneers such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and Rosa Parks, as well as cultural trailblazers and athletes like Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey and Serena Williams. All children deserve to see themselves represented positively in the books they read. Highlighting the talent and contributions of black leaders and changemakers from around the world, readers of all backgrounds will be empowered to discover what they too can achieve. Strong, courageous, talented and diverse, these extraordinary men and women's achievements will inspire a new generation to chase their dream… whatever it may be. |
| Hard Road to Victory: The Chatham All-Stars Story - by Brock R.A. Greenhalgh |
| In the fall of 1934, a team of Black athletes earned the opportunity to compete for a major baseball championship. More than a decade before Jackie Robinson broke baseball's colour barrier, this team blazed a trail for others to follow. This beautifully illustrated children's book tells the true tale of the Chatham Coloured All-Stars, as they rose from a bunch of barnstormers to provincial champions |
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| Picture Books |
| Dear Willie Rudd - by Libba Moore Gray |
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.
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| Aunt Flossie’s Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) - by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard |
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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.
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| Dinner at Aunt Connie’s House - by Faith Ringgold |
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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.
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| More Than Anything Else - by Marie Bradby |
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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....
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| Philly & Friends: Who Do I See in the Mirror? - by Vese Aghoghovbia Aladewolu |
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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.
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| Hair Love - by Matthew A. Cherry |
| 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. |
| The Snowy Day - by Ezra Jack Keats |
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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.
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| My Hair - by Hannah Lee |
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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.
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| I love My Hair - by Natasha Tarpley |
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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.
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| Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story about Racial Injustice - by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins and Ann Hazzard |
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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 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.
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| Sulwe - by Lupita Nyong’o |
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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.
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| The Proudest Blue - by Ibtihaj Muhammad |
| A powerful, vibrantly illustrated story about the first day of school--and two sisters on one's first day of hijab--by Olympic medalist and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad. With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. |
| Keman’s First Carnival - by Yolanda T. Marshall |
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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.
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| C is for Carnival - by Yolanda T. Marshall |
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.
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| My Soca Birthday Party with Joll of Rice and Steel Pans - by Yolanda T. Marshall |
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.
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| Miles Away in the Caribbean - by Yolanda T. Marshall |
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.
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| Sweet Sorel Stand - by Yolanda T. Marshall |
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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.
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| A Piece of Black Cake for Santa - by Yolanda T. Marshall |
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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.
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| You Can Do It - by Tony Dungy and Amy June Bates |
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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!
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| Bibbity Bop Barbershop - by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley |
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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.
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| Henry' Freedom Box - by Ellen Levine and Kadir Nelson |
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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.
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| Ada Twist, Scientist - by Andrea Beaty |
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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!
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| Osa's Pride - by Ann Grifalconi |
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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.
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| Amazing Grace - by Mary Hoffman |
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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!
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| Firebird - by Misty Copeland and Christopher Myers |
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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.
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| Nya's Long Walk - by Linda Sue Park, Brian Pinkney |
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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.
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| Can I Touch your Hair?: Poems of Race, Mistakes and Friendship - by Irene Latham and Charles Waters |
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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.
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| Can I Touch Your Hair? - by Ola Akinroluyo |
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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.
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| Let Them Play - by Margot Theis Raven |
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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.
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| Let the Children March - by Monica Clark-Robinson |
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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.
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| The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander |
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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.
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| Youth Adult Books |
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| Race to the Frozen North: The Matthew Henson Story - by Catherine Johnson |
For children 8+
Matthew Henson was simply an ordinary man. That was, until Commander Robert E. Peary entered his life, and offered him a chance at true adventure. Henson would become navigator, craftsman, translator, and right-hand man on a treacherous journey to the North Pole. Defying the odds and the many prejudices that faced him to become a true pioneer. This is his incredible and often untold story. |
| The Crossover - by Kwame Alexander |
YA – 245 pages
"With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I'm delivering," announces dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood. Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family. |
| The Rock and the River - by Kekla Magoon |
YA – 304 pages
For thirteen-year-old Sam it's not easy being the son of known civil rights activist Roland Childs. Especially when his older (and best friend), Stick, begins to drift away from him for no apparent reason. And then it happens: Sam finds something that changes everything forever. Sam has always had faith in his father, but when he finds literature about the Black Panthers under Stick's bed, he's not sure who to believe: his father or his best friend. Suddenly, nothing feels certain anymore. Sam wants to believe that his father is right: You can effect change without using violence. But as time goes on, Sam grows weary of standing by and watching as his friends and family suffer at the hands of racism in their own community. Sam beings to explore the Panthers with Stick, but soon he's involved in something far more serious -- and more dangerous -- than he could have ever predicted. Sam is faced with a difficult decision. Will he follow his father or his brother? His mind or his heart? The rock or the river? |
| The Hate U Give - by Angie Thomas |
YA – 444 pages
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr. But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life. |
| New Kid - by Jerry Craft |
YA – 256 pages
Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself? |
| Dear Martin - by Nic Stone |
YA – 210 pages
Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out. Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack. |
| Dear Justyce - by Nic Stone |
YA – 288 Sequel to Dear Martin
Shortly after teenager Quan enters a not guilty plea for the shooting death of a police officer, he is placed in a holding cell to await trial. Through a series of flashbacks and letters to Justyce, the protagonist of Dear Martin, Quan's story unravels. From a troubled childhood and bad timing to a coerced confession and prejudiced police work, Nic Stone's newest novel takes an unflinching look at the flawed practices and ideologies that discriminate against African American boys and minorities in the American justice system. |
| Ghost Boys - by Jewell Parker Rhodes |
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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.
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| All American Boys - by Jason Reynolds |
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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.
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| Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You - by Ibram X. Kendi & Jason Reynolds |
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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.
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| A Good Kind of Trouble - by Lisa Moore Ramée |
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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.
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| Genesis Begins Again - by Alicia D. Williams |
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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?
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| One Crazy Summer - by Rita Williams-Garcia |
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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.
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| Freedom - by Catherine Johnson |
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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.
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