The Field Guide to Parenting Children's Bookstore
Great Books to Read with the Children in Your Life
Black History Month
February is Black History Month--Take Time to Talk and Read
by Herb Shoveller
Kids Can Press, 2006
Ages 9 to 12
Ryan lives in a small town in Canada; Jimmy lives in a small village in
Uganda. This remarkable story shows how the actions of just one, and a child
at that, can make a huge difference. When 1st-grader Ryan hears at school
that there is not enough clean water and that for a small amount of money, a
well in Africa could be built, he sets to work to make this happen. In the
process, the two boys on opposite sides of the world become friends. Word of
mouth spread quickly about Ryan's projects; soon many people and
organizations were involved and the project grew to build 194 wells and
counting.
Though the well that was built in Jimmy's village helped people from illlness and allowed more children to go to school since they were not needed to carry water so far, the rebel forces in Uganda were advancing on Jimmy's village. Taken out of his home in the night, Jimmy manages to escape the rebels. His life in danger, Ryan's family manages to get him to Canada where he is granted refugee status and becomes part of Ryan's family.
An amazing true story, lots of pictures, engaging writing, and an important message that no one is too young nor too powerless to make a difference, combine to tell one fascinating and important story.
 by Lynn Rubright Lee & Low, 2005 Before Sugar's Mama passed on and he went to live with Uncle Free in the Mississippi Delta, she raised money to buy a stained glass window for the new church. Life in a Delta shack in the early 1900's for a boy living with his uncle provides many challenges, but also many opportunities to grow and follow dreams. Engaging writing with characters you grow to love make this a must-read book. |
 by Crystal Hubbard, illustrated by Randy DuBurke Lee & Low, 2005, Ages 6 to 10 Marcenia plays ball with all heart and wins the admiration of the neighborhood boys, the manager of a pro team who is scouting for a summer camp, and even her father. Exuberant ink and acrylic pictures in picture book format show Marcenia with a special glow about her, which may have come from her great energy for doing the best she could and working hard not matter what the odds. The engaging story makes you root for her all the way through! |
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Baby on the Way by Karen English, illustrated by Sean Qualls, FSG, 2005 A question every young child asks, "Were you a baby?" is lovingly answered by Grandma as they work in the garden and kitchen together. The story of Grandma's coming in to the world is full of wonder and ritual left from slavery times. Cool hues in painterly illustrations are beautiful. |
 The
Bus Ride that Changed History: The Story of Rosa Parksby Pamela Duncan Edwards, illustrated by Danny Shanahan Houghton Mifflin, 2005, Ages 4 to 8 "...because one woman was brave" is the repeated phrase in a story that builds while explaining in terms kids can understand the way things used to be and how the actions of one brave woman had such a big impact on our whole country. An accessible book that will help keep history that should never be forgotten, alive. |
 Grandma's
General Store the Arkby Dorothy Carter, illustrated by Thomas B. Allen Prince and Pearl live next door to their Grandma and her magical store which is known as the Ark because Grandma says an ark is a shelter from the storm that keeps you from being tossed away. Even through it's the Depression, life is good in Florida until Daddy loses his job. When he and Mama head north to find better jobs, the children are left behind with Grandma. Though it takes some time before Daddy returns to fetch them, Grandma helps Prince and Pearl understand life including a visit from the Ku Klux Klan. Very well-written with engaging characters--takes you to a time and place of long ago yet seems as real as anyplace today. |
Brothers
in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan
by Mary Williams, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, Lee &
Low, 2005Garang was only eight when his village was attacked when he was out tending animals. Like tens of thousands of boys, he became an orphan and homeless. This amazing story is based on the true story of the Lost Boys and their amazing journey to find safety, food, and shelter by traveling first to Ethiopia and then to Kenya by foot. By the time Garang is 21, relief efforts are finally underway to find homes for the boys in the United States. Acrylic paintings beautifully illustrate an unforgettable story/picture book that has much to teach about resilience and hope. |
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Let's
Talk About Race by Julius Lester, illustrated by Karen Barbour, HarperCollins, 2005 Explaining, understanding, and accepting diversity isn't difficult and is fun when you do it with Julius Lester's great new book, which begins "I am a story. So are you. So is everyone." He then proceeds to explain how to tell your story, leading into race, as just one part of who we are. Broaching the topic of racism in an accessible way, he manages to both explain what it is and steer kids away from it. A simple experiment shows that inside we are all the same. Rich, colorful, detailed, gorgeous paintings adorn the masterful text, and together create a must-see/hear/read picture book experience. |
An
African Princess by Lyra Edmonds, illustrated by Anne Wilson, Candlewick, 2004 "Remember to be proud of who you are," says Taunte May, one in a long line of African princesses in Lyra's family. As she journeys to Africa to meet this princess, she learns she is part of a fine history, a story that spread across the ocean and through the ages. Wonderful ink, painting and collage illustrations accompany a story about a young girl every young child will want to be like.
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A
Sweet Smell of Roses by Angela Johnson, illustrated by Eric Velasquez, Simon & Schuster, 2005 Minnie and her sister sneak out of the house to march with Dr. King. The sweet smell of roses holds the promise of freedom and good things in life. Still young girls at heart, the girls skip home to a worried Mama. Exceptional, large, B&W drawings bring the reader into the time and place very well. An important book for all children to read and have read to them, time and again.
From the first to last, this is an engrossing, emotional story of pre-Civil Rights Act African-American history that must be told and not forgotten. Jessie doesn't want to leave Alabama to go north, but comes to see the promise of a new life away from segregation and fear. The poetic text is perfectly matched by deep hues and lush, evocative paintings that inspire sadness, fear, and hope all in one single picture book. |
Just Like Josh Gibson The day Grandmama was born, Josh Gibson (one of the greatest hitters in the history of baseball) hit a ball from Pittsburg to Philadelphia. That same day her papa gave her a Louisville Slugger and predicted she would "make baseballs fly, just like Josh Gibson." She learn the game and the love of it from Papa, but learned everywhere else that girls don't get to play baseball in the 1940's, at least not very much. Grandmama has one moment of glory that seems to sustain her and her love of baseball, yet for the readers, we know this is a story of what might have been if only girls had been allowed to play, just like if only Josh Gibson had been allowed to play in the major leagues, dying just three months before the color barrier in baseball was finally broken with Jackie Robinson. A few elegant words tell a big story while large, lush pastels are visually stunning.
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I Dream
of Trains by Angela Johnson, illustrated by Loren LongSimon & Schuster, 2003 One glance at the lush painting on the cover and you know you will be transported to another, special place inside this book. Indeed, this amazing story of a boy who picks cotton by day in the hot Mississippi sun but who dreams of trains and Casey Jones. Looking to understand and find his place in the world, he knows that trains will someday take him to the oceans, cities, and mountains that his father describes. Dramatic, engaging pictures complement powerful, poignant text. 
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 Li'L
Dan, The Drummer Boy: A Civil Way Story by Romare Bearden,
forward by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.Simon & Schuster, accompanied by CD--story read by Maya Angelou, 2003 Paintings created by renowned artist, Romare Beardon, over twenty years ago are brought together at last in this treasure of a book. Telling the story of a young slave who found a way to take part in the civil war and saved a company of soldiers from riding to their doom. An important work that offers children of today a glimpse into childhood of another time, and inspires courage and confidence to be and do, no matter how small you are nor how big your circumstances. Destined to be a classic. |
 Up
the Learning Treeby Marcia Vaughan illustrated by Derek Blanks Lee & Low, 2003 An important story of young Henry inspired to learn to read from listening to a book being read aloud for the first time, despite the threat from master to cut off the fingers of any slave who touches a book. Henry is charged with taking master's son to and from school; there he devises a way to secretly listen in on some of the lessons. When the teacher, Miss Hattie, unexpectedly finds out that Henry is learning on his own, she finds a way to help him. Sadly, they are discovered and Miss Hattie is confronted with her crime and threatened if she does not leave town. The power of learning and information is
never more clearly defined as in this story. Henry, like many slaves, comes
to believe that education can lead to freedom. An unforgettable story made
more alive in the beautiful oil paintings that illustrate it. A reminder for
us all in these times when education is taken for granted that learning is a
great gift to be treasured. Please read aloud to older preschoolers and
elementary-age kids, and then discuss it together.
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