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Books For Black History Month
Day of Tears
By Julius Lester
In 1859, in Savannah, Georgia, Pierce Butler stages the biggest
stave auction in American history to pay off his mounting gambling
debts. Determined to cash in his ‘assets’ this auction earns Butler
over $300,000. Julius Lester has taken this little-known bit of
American history and woven it into a novel about relationships,
dignity and humanity. This masterfully written narrative told in the
first person illustrates the life of the black slave in the
mid-1800’s and tells the story of love, escape, and the people who
despised slavery enough to risk their own safety to help free the
slaves in their midst. Perfect for older elementary and middle
school. Day of Tears is available in bookstores nationwide or online
at www.jumpatthesun.com .
Martin Luther King, Jr.
A Photographic Story of a Life
By Amy Pastan
One of our most famous civil rights leaders is the beloved Martin
Luther King. As a young boy in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. King grew up in
a safe happy environment where he was painfully aware that the world
outside would be hostile to him simply because his skin was black.
His mother told him that the world would change one day, but he
vowed to ‘turn this world upside down.’ And so he did. Follow the
story of Martin Luther King’s life with this well-written timeline
of events that chronicle the life and times of Dr. King and how he
kept his promise and made our world a better place. Available from
DK Publishing at bookstores nationwide and online at
www.dk.com .
The Underground Railroad for Kids
From Slavery to Freedom
By Mary Kay Carson
The Underground Railroad. This familiar but sometimes misunderstood
term is one we all are familiar with. The Underground Railroad for
Kids gives children and their parents a better understanding of the
range of ways slaves escaped bondage in the middle 1800’s. Every
chapter begins with a chronicle of the life of Harriet Tubman,
perhaps the Railroad’s most famous ‘conductor,’ but contains
narratives of many other men and women who helped others to travel
to freedom in this way. Complete with 21 activities to aid children
in understanding the way of life of the slave; starting from his
roots in Africa and ending with his life in America. Complete with
reprints of historical materials whose syntax has not been changed
to give the young reader a clear idea of the time represented.
Available at bookstores everywhere and through Independent
Publishers Group. Visit them online at
www.ipgbook.com or call
1-800-888-4741.
Hold the Flag High
By Catherine Clinton
The Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves in January of 1863,
and many slaves joined the Union Army to fight for the end of
slavery in the United States. The Battle of Fort Wagner in July of
1863 was one of the battles fought with black troops. Sergeant
William H. Carney, a black officer in the 54th Regiment, leads his
soldiers into battle and, mindful of the inspiration the flag flying
overhead, keeps it from touching the ground even after being shot.
Historically correct, this wonderful picture book helps open
discussion about bravery, loyalty, nobility and wartime. Available
from Harper Collins Publishers at bookstores or online at
www.harperchildrens.com
The School is Not White
A True Story About the Civil Rights Movement
By Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Curtis James
When Mae Bertha and Matthew Carter signed their children up for the
all-white school, they knew it wouldn’t be easy. And when the
plantation owner where they lived stopped by to offer to help them
get their kids out of the school, they proudly told them they needed
no help, that their children would be attending the school of their
choice. But on September 3, 1965 when their seven children boarded
the bus to go to school, Mae and Matthew knew they were sending them
to war. For five years they attended a school where they were not
welcomed, but remained secure in their own conviction and determined
to be educated. Follow the footsteps of these children as they
battled hate and discrimination to make their world better for
themselves and the children who came after them. The School is Not
White is appropriate for kids ages 7-12, and is available from
Hyperion Books for Children at
www.jumpatthesun.com or in bookstores. |
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