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Amanda Gorman: Inspiring Hope with Poetry
By Dr. Artika R. Tyner
Poet Amanda Gorman delivered her poem “The Hill We Climb” at the 2021 presidential inauguration, winning wide acclaim. Read about Gorman’s early life, her children’s and poetry books, and what she plans to do next. 9-14 years
Amanda Gorman (My Itty-Bitty Bio)
By Eyrn Briscoe, Illustrated by Jeff Bane
The My Itty-Bitty Bio series are biographies for the earliest readers. This book examines the life of National Youth Poet Laureate and activist Amanda Gorman in a simple, age-appropriate way that will help young readers develop word recognition and reading skills. Includes a table of contents, author biography, timeline, glossary, index, and other informative backmatter. 5-6 years
Amanda Gorman (Little People Big Dreams)
By Sanchez Vegara Isabe, Illustrated by Queenbe Monyei
From an early age, Little Amanda read everything she could get her hands on, from books to cereal boxes. Growing up with an auditory processing disorder and a speech impediment, Amanda had to work hard, but ultimately she took great strength from her experiences. After hearing her teacher read aloud to the class, she knew that she wanted to become a poet, and nothing would stand in her way. At the age of 19, she became America’s first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate. After performing her inspiring poem “The Hill We Climb” at the Presidential Inauguration in January 2021, she became an icon across the world. 4-7 years
Amanda Gorman
By Jehan Jones-Radgowski
How much do you know about Amanda Gorman? Find out the facts you need to know about this impressive young poet. You’ll learn about the childhood, challenges, and accomplishments of this rising star. 5-8 years
Amanda Gorman
By Megan Borgert-Spaniol
This biography highlights the life and accomplishments of Amanda Gorman. Readers learn about Gorman’s early life in which she became Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles, her work at Harvard University where she became National Youth Poet Laureate, and her reading at the 2021 presidential inauguration. Features include a timeline, glossary, fun facts, online resources, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. 8-11 years
Books by Amanda Gorman
Something, Someday
By Amanda Gorman, Illustrated by Christian Robinson
Sometimes the world feels broken. And problems seem too big to fix. But somehow, we all have the power to make a difference. With a little faith, and maybe the help of a friend, together we can find beauty and create change. With inspiring text and stunning illustrations, Something, Someday reveals how even the smallest gesture can have a lasting impact. 3-8 years
Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem
By Amanda Gorman, Illustrated by Loren Long
As a young girl leads a cast of characters on a musical journey, they learn that they have the power to make changes—big or small—in the world, in their communities, and in most importantly, in themselves. With lyrical text and rhythmic illustrations, Change Sings is a triumphant call to action for everyone to use their abilities to make a difference. 3-8 years
The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem
By Amanda Gorman
On January 20, 2021, Amanda Gorman became the sixth and youngest poet to deliver a poetry reading at a presidential inauguration. Taking the stage after the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden, Gorman captivated the nation and brought hope to viewers around the globe with her call for unity and healing. Her poem “The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country” includes a foreword by Oprah Winfrey. This keepsake celebrates the promise of America and affirms the power of poetry.
The book descriptions are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre
By Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Floyd Cooper
Celebrated author Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrator Floyd Cooper provide a powerful look at the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in our nation’s history. The book traces the history of African Americans in Tulsa’s Greenwood district and chronicles the devastation that occurred in 1921 when a white mob attacked the Black community.
News of what happened was largely suppressed, and no official investigation occurred for seventy-five years. This picture book sensitively introduces young readers to this tragedy and concludes with a call for a better future. 6 years+
What Was the Tulsa Race Massacre?
By Caleb Gayle, Illustrated by Tim Foley
Before May 31, 1921, the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was a thriving neighborhood of 10,000 Black residents. There, Black families found success and community. They ran their own businesses, including barbershops, clothing stores, jewelers, restaurants, movie theatres, and more. There were also Black doctors, dentists, and lawyers to serve the neighborhood. Then, in one weekend, all of this was lost. A racist mob tore through the streets, burning everything to the ground and killing scores of innocent residents. Learn about what led to one of the worst moments of racial violence in America’s history in this nonfiction book for young readers. 8-12 years
Tulsa Burning
By Anna Myers
Dreamland Burning
By Jennifer Latham
When seventeen-year-old Rowan Chase finds a skeleton on her family’s property, she has no idea that investigating the brutal century-old murder will lead to a summer of painful discoveries about the present and the past.
Nearly one hundred years earlier, a misguided violent encounter propels seventeen-year-old Will Tillman into a racial firestorm. In a country rife with violence against blacks and a hometown segregated by Jim Crow, Will must make hard choices on a painful journey towards self discovery and face his inner demons in order to do what’s right the night Tulsa burns.
Through interwoven alternating perspectives, Jennifer Latham’s lightning-paced page-turner brings the Tulsa race riot of 1921 to life and raises important questions about the complex state of US race relations–both yesterday and today. Young Adult
The Burning (Young Readers Edition)
Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre
By Tim Madigan, adapted for young readers by Hilary Beard
One of the worst acts of racist violence in American history took place in 1921, when a White mob numbering in the thousands decimated the thriving Black community of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The Burning recreates Greenwood at the height of its prosperity, explores the currents of hatred, racism, and mistrust between its Black residents and Tulsa’s White population, narrates events leading up to and including Greenwood’s devastation, and documents the subsequent silence that surrounded this tragedy. Delving into history that’s long been pushed aside, this is the true story of Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre, with updates that connect the historical significance of the massacre to the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America. 12-18 years
The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Jack’s Path to Courage: The Life of John F. Kennedy
By Doreen Rappaport, Illustrated by Matt Tavares
John F. Kennedy was a popular and charismatic president beloved by many. But he didn’t always believe he had the strength or courage for that office. As a child he was sickly and overshadowed by his strong, capable, athletic older brother Joe, Jr. After Joe’s death, John had to work hard to live up to his own expectations and to those of his father. He overcame physical pain and self-doubt to see the country through one of the most difficult crises in its history. 6-9 years
Who Was John F. Kennedy
By Yona Zeldis McDonough, Illustrated by Jill Weber
John F. Kennedy fought and won his first battle at the age of two-and-a-half when sick with scarlet fever. He went on to save the lives of his PT-109 crewmen during WWII and become the 35th President of the United States. Although his presidency was cut short, our nation’s youngest elected leader left an indelible mark on the American consciousness. 8-12 years
JFK
By Jonah Winter, Illustrated by A. G. Ford
JFK tells how a little boy grew up to be president in a story about hope and courage and the power of words. It details John F. Kennedy’s childhood as well as his presidency and includes the Cuban missile crisis, the civil rights movement, the Camelot years, and a firsthand account of his assassination. 4-8 years
Pocket Bios: John F. Kennedy
By Al Berenger
John F. Kennedy was an incredibly popular American politician who served as 35th President of the United States from 1961 to 1963, during the Cold War. As president, he most notably supported the African American Civil Rights Movement, authorized the Bay of Pigs invasion on the southern coast of Cuba, and dealt with the Cuban Missile Crisis. His family was greatly admired around the world, and his tragic assassination in Dallas, Texas, had a lasting effect on the American psyche. 4-7 years
A Time to Act: John F. Kennedy’s Big Speech
By Shana Corey, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
From prominent leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Jackie Robinson to children and teenagers, it was the people speaking out and working for civil rights through sits-ins, freedom rides, and marches who led John F. Kennedy to take a stand. And with his June 11, 1963, civil rights address, he did.
This is the story of JFK—from his childhood to the events that led to his game-changing speech and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Corey and Christie offer a deeply human look at our country’s thirty-fifth president, underscoring how each one of us, no matter who we are, have the power to make a difference. 8 years+
Action Presidents: John F. Kennedy
By Fred Van Lente, Illustrated by Ryan Dunlavey
U.S. history comes to life like never before in this full-color graphic novel! We all know that John F. Kennedy was a World War II hero and a pro at giving speeches. But did you also know he survived shark-infested waters, suffered a case of mistaken identity, and once used a coconut to send a secret message? 8-12 years
John F. Kennedy: A Photographic Sbtory of a Life
By Howard S. Kaplan
This DK biography tells the story of an incredible leader and legend, John F. Kennedy. It includes photographs, definitions of key words, and sidebars on related subjects. 10 and up
Tragedy in Dallas: The Story of the Assassination of John F. Kennedy
By Steven Otfinoski
In an immersive, exciting narrative nonfiction format, this powerful book follows a selection of people who experienced the events surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 9-12 years
The book descriptions are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis
By Jabari Asim, Illustrated by E.B. Lewis
John wants to be a preacher when he grows up—a leader whose words stir hearts to change, minds to think, and bodies to take action. But why wait? When John is put in charge of the family farm’s flock of chickens, he discovers that they make a wonderful congregation! So he preaches to his flock, and they listen, content under his watchful care, riveted by the rhythm of his voice. Includes an author’s note about John Lewis, who grew up to be a member of the Freedom Riders, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a demonstrator on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, and a U.S. congressman. 5-8 years
John Lewis in the Lead: A Story of the Civil Rights Movement
By Kathleen Benson, Illustrated by Benny Andrews
The son of an Alabama sharecropper, John Lewis experienced the injustice of segregation early in life. Inspired to action by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Lewis joined with civil rights leaders who believed in fighting segregation peacefully. From Nashville, Tennessee, to Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, Lewis was in the forefront of the major civil rights protests of the 1960s. In the face of physical attacks, he persevered with dignity and a devotion to nonviolence, helping southern black people gain the right to vote.
Lewis continued his commitment to human rights from his home base in the South straight to the nation’s capital. In 1986, Lewis was elected to represent Georgia in the United States Congress. This is a celebration of the life of a legend of American history. Lewis’s passionate belief in justice is a beacon for all who wish to make our country a better place. 8-11 years
The Story of John Lewis
By Tonya Leslie, Illustrated by Jerrard K. Polk
John Lewis was a civil rights leader and United States congressman who never stopped speaking for justice, equality, and peace. Before he marched with Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement, John was a thoughtful kid who loved learning but wasn’t able to go to a good school because of segregation. He wanted to make a difference in his community, so he organized peaceful protests to end segregation and fight for equal rights for Black Americans. Explore how John went from being a young farm boy to a famous activist, politician, and leader. 7-10 years
Because of You, John Lewis
By Andrea Davis Pinkney, Illustrated by Keith Henry Brown
When young Tybre Faw discovers John Lewis and his heroic march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the fight for voting rights, Tybre is determined to meet him. Tybre’s two grandmothers take him on the seven-hour drive to Selma, Alabama, where Lewis invites Tybre to join him in the annual memorial walk across the Bridge. And so begins a most amazing friendship! 7-10 years
I am John Lewis
By Brad Meltzer, Illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos
This book spotlights John Lewis, known for his role in the Civil Rights Movement, his help organizing the March on Washington and the Selma Voting Rights March, and for his lifelong dedication to public service as a member of the House of Representatives. And John Lewis was never afraid to get in “good trouble.” This biography includes: A timeline of key events, photos, comic-book-style illustrations, and childhood moments. 5-9 years
John Lewis
By Denise Lewis Patrick, Illustrated by Steffi Walthall
When John Lewis was a teenager, he asked Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to help integrate a segregated school in his hometown. From then on, John Lewis never stopped organizing, from Freedom Rides, to the marches in Selma and Washington, and more. He believed in getting into “good trouble” for good causes. He became a Civil Rights activist and a United States Representative. 6-8 years.
John Lewis
By Meeg Pincus, Illustrated by Jeff Bane
The My Itty-Bitty Bio series are biographies for the earliest readers. This book examines the life of civil rights activist John Lewis, in a simple, age-appropriate way. It will help young readers develop word recognition and reading skills. Includes a table of contents, author biography, timeline, glossary, index, and other informative backmatter. 4-7 years
March (Book One of Four) Graphic Novels
By John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, Illustrated by Nate Powell
Congressman John Lewis was an American icon, one of the key figures of the civil rights movement. His commitment to justice and nonviolence took him from an Alabama sharecropper’s farm to the halls of Congress. From a segregated schoolroom to the 1963 March on Washington. And from receiving beatings from state troopers to receiving the Medal of Freedom from the first African-American president. 13 and up
John Lewis: Civil Rights Champion and Congressman
By Alisa Morretta
The history of the United States is filled with African American leaders who heroically fought for equality through words and deeds. These men and women sacrificed their safety and, in some cases, their lives for the cause.
One of the most courageous among them is John Lewis. He was on the front lines of this struggle for decades. From the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s to his work as a United States Congressman, Lewis fought for equality for all Americans.
This book uses photographs, sidebars, and primary sources to examine his greatest achievements, both historical and contemporary. It explores how his bravery and dedication to nonviolent direct action affected real change in the United States. 14 and up
The book descriptions are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Escape from Saigon: How a Vietnam Orphan Became an American Boy
By Andrea Warren
Over a million South Vietnamese children were orphaned by the Vietnam War. This true account tells the story of Long, who, like more than 40,000 other orphans, is Amerasian — a mixed-race child — with little future in Vietnam. Escape from Saigon allows readers to experience Long’s struggle to survive in war-torn Vietnam, his dramatic escape to America as part of “Operation Babylift” during the last chaotic days before the fall of Saigon, and his life in the United States as “Matt,” part of a loving Ohio family. Finally, as a young doctor, he journeys back to Vietnam, ready to reconcile his Vietnamese past with his American present. 10-14 years
Vietnam War: Discover the People, Places, Battles, and Weapons of America’s Indochina Struggle
By DK Eyewitness Books
Explore the people, places, battles, and weapons of America’s Indochina struggle with DK Eyewitness Books: Vietnam War. See campaigns in the air and battles in jungles, cities, and rice paddies, from Saigon to the Mekong Delta. Learn about the most powerful combat weapons of the age, including napalm bombs and M-60 machine guns. From the assassination of President John F. Kennedy to the Ho Chi Minh Trail to the Viet Cong to the war’s aftermath, discover the Vietnam War, why America went to war in Indochina, and who fought there. 8-12 years
What Was the Vietnam War?
By Jim O’Connor, Illustrated by Tim Foley
The Vietnam War was as much a part of the tumultuous Sixties as Flower Power and the Civil Rights Movement. Five US presidents were convinced that American troops could end a war in the small, divided country of Vietnam and stop Communism from spreading in Southeast Asia. But they were wrong, and the result was the death of 58,000 American troops. Presenting all sides of a complicated and tragic chapter in recent history, Jim O’Connor explains why the US got involved, what the human cost was, and how defeat in Vietnam left a lasting scar on America. 8-12 years
Boots on the Ground: America’s War in Vietnam
By Elizabeth Partridge
America’s war in Vietnam. In over a decade of bitter fighting, it claimed the lives of more than 58,000 American soldiers and beleaguered four US presidents. More than forty years after America left Vietnam in defeat in 1975, the war remains controversial and divisive both in the United States and abroad.
The history of this era is complex; the cultural impact extraordinary. But it’s the personal stories of eight people—six American soldiers, one American military nurse, and one Vietnamese refugee—that create the heartbeat of Boots on the Ground. From dense jungles and terrifying firefights to chaotic helicopter rescues and harrowing escapes, each individual experience reveals a different facet of the war and moves us forward in time. Alternating with these chapters are profiles of key American leaders and events, reminding us of all that was happening at home during the war, including peace protests, presidential scandals, and veterans’ struggles to acclimate to life after Vietnam.
With more than one hundred photographs, award-winning author Elizabeth Partridge captures the intensity, frustration, and lasting impacts of one of the most tumultuous periods of American history. 12-17 years
Patrol: An American Soldier in Vietnam
By Walter Dean Myers, Illustrated by Ann Grifalconi
In a gripping and powerful story-poem, award-winning author Walter Dean Myers takes readers into the heart and mind of a young soldier in an alien land who comes face-to-face with the enemy. This portrait captures one American G.L’s haunting experience.
A young American soldier waits for his enemy, rifle in hand, finger on the trigger. He is afraid to move and yet afraid not to move. Gunshots crackle in the still air. The soldier fires blindly into the distant trees at an unseen enemy. He crouches and waits — heart pounding, tense and trembling, biting back tears. When will it all be over? 6-10 years
Vietnam: A History of the War
By Russell Freedman
Russell Freedman presents a detailed overview of the Vietnam war. Beginning with the rise of communism in Vietnam and detailing the increase of American involvement, Freedman then explains why an exit was so difficult.
In addition to explaining the complex beginnings of the conflict through the catastrophic damage the war caused, Freedman concludes with a hopeful epilogue on modern Vietnam. This is a definitive resource for young history readers as well as anyone who wants a concise and authoritative understanding of the Vietnam War, exploring both the American and Vietnamese perspectives.
Freedman chronicles the history leading up to the war and the unfolding events in Vietnam and in the U.S. as increasing numbers of young men were sent into the jungles to fight. Coverage includes the French war in Vietnam, the rise of Ho Chi Minh, the fall of President Diem, the Tonkin Gulf, the Tet Offensive, the My Lai massacre, the bombing of Cambodia, and the fall of Saigon, as well as the US anti-war movement.
The book includes nearly 100 historic photographs and illustrations, as well as candid photographs showcasing the state of Vietnam today. A glossary, source notes, bibliography and index are included. 10-17 years
The Vietnam War: An Interactive Modern History Adventure
By Michael Burgan
It’s the 1960s, and the Vietnam War is raging. You find yourself in the midst of the turmoil. Will you: Enlist in the Marines and volunteer to go to war? Join your fellow young Americans eager to protest the war? Be a young Vietnamese man forced to choose between the communist North and the capitalist South? Everything in this book happened to real people. And YOU CHOOSE what you do next. The choices you make could lead you to jail, to the jungles of Vietnam, or even to death. 8-11 years
Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam
By Cynthia Kadohata
Cracker is a German shepherd trained to sniff out bombs, traps, and the enemy. The fate of entire platoons rests on her keen sense of smell. She’s a Big Deal, and she likes it that way. Sometimes Cracker remembers when she was younger, and her previous owner would feed her hot dogs and let her sleep in his bed. That was nice, too.
Rick Hanski is headed to Vietnam. When Cracker is paired with Rick, she isn’t so sure about this new owner. He’s going to have to prove himself to her before she’s going to prove herself to him. They need to be friends before they can be a team, and they have to be a team if they want to get home alive.
Told in part through the point of view of a German shepherd, Cracker! is a glimpse into the Vietnam War as seen through the eyes of a dog and her handler. 8-12 years
Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War
By Steve Sheikin
In 1964, Daniel Ellsberg was a U.S. government analyst, helping to plan a war in Vietnam. It was the height of the Cold War, and the government would do anything to stop the spread of communism―with or without the consent of the American people.
As the fighting in Vietnam escalated, Ellsberg turned against the war. He had access a top-secret government report known as the Pentagon Papers, and he knew it could blow the lid off of years of government lies. But did he have the right to expose decades of presidential secrets? And what would happen to him if he did it? 10-14 years
The Wall
By Eve Bunting, Illustrated by Ronald Himler
A young boy and his father visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. 4-10 years
The book descriptions are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
What Was Pearl Harbor?
By Patricia Brennan Demuth, Illustrated by John Mantha
By Dona Herweck Rice
You Are There! Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, examines the events leading up to the attack, highlights the critical components, and details the aftermath and its effects. This high-interest book includes an index, captions, glossary, and table of contents, sidebars, detailed images, and in-depth Reader’s Guide. Aligned with state standards, the text features complex and rigorous content appropriate for students preparing for college and career readiness. 10-14 years
Ranger in Time: Attack on Pearl Harbor
By Kate Messner, Illustrated by Kelley McMorris
I Survived meets The Puppy Place in this adventure novel as Ranger — a time-traveling golden retriever — races to the rescue on the day of the attack. Ranger travels back to 1941 Hawaii, where World War II is on everyone’s minds. That includes Ben Hansen, a young sailor stationed at Pearl Harbor, and twins Paul and Grace Yamada who are making their weekly market trip when Japanese bombs begin to fall from the sky. As the surprise attack puts all of Ranger’s new friends in danger, his search-and-rescue training kicks in to high gear. Can he help them survive against all odds? 7-10 years
I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor
By Lauren Tarshis, Illustrated by Scott Dawson
The bombing of Pearl Harbor comes to life for a new generation of readers! Eleven-year-old Danny Crane is alone on his favorite beach in Hawaii when the world is torn apart and World War II officially hits the United States. Does he have what it takes to find his way home in the midst of the bombs, the smoke, and the destruction of the day that will live in infamy? 7-10 years
The Attack on Pearl Harbor: A Day That Changed America
By Christy Serrano
Mae C. Jemison
By Meeg Pincus, Illustrated by Elena Bia
Blast off into a reading adventure as you learn about the inspiring life of Mae Jemison―the first female African American astronaut. Follow along from her time as a child with big dreams to her exploration in space. This leveled book engages 1st―3rd graders through new vocabulary and high-interest topics like space exploration. 6-10 years
Mae Among the Stars
By Roda Ahmed, Illustrated by Stasia Burrington
When Little Mae was a child, she dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering.
She wanted to be an astronaut.
Her mom told her, “If you believe it, and work hard for it, anything is possible.”
Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents’ encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space. 3-8 years
Mae Jemison (You Should Meet)
By Laurie Calkhoven, Illustrated by Monique Dong
Meet Mae Jemison, the first African-American female astronaut! Did you know before Mae was an astronaut, she went to medical school and joined the Peace Corps? But she never forgot her childhood dream to travel to outer space. So, in 1985, she applied to NASA’s astronaut training program. On September 12, 1992, Mae flew into space with six other astronauts aboard the space shuttle Endeavour and made history—just like you can if you follow your dreams! 6-8 years
Mae Jemison
By Jodie Shepherd
Meet Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman to travel to space. Mae was a bright child who was always fascinated by science. The top student and gifted dancer ignored naysayers and worked hard to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor and an astronaut. 6-8 years
Mae Jemison: A Kid’s Book About Reaching Your Dream
By Mary Nhin, Illustrated by Yuliia Zolotava
In the new Mini Movers and Shakers children’s book series comes a cast of characters who have failed, yet succeeded despite overwhelming obstacles. In the third volume, we meet Mae Jemison.
Find out what happens in this kid’s book about flying to space.
Sometimes, we are faced with challenges that seem insurmountable. But with grit and hard work, one can achieve great things! Baby-12 years
Blast Off Into Space Like Mae Jemison
By Caroline Moss, Illustrated by Sinem Erkas
When Mae Jemison was a little girl, she loved science, dancing, and dinosaurs. She watched the Apollo moon landings and wondered why none of the astronauts were women – and she just didn’t buy the answers she was given…
Discover how Mae Jemison became the first African American woman in space, in this true story of her life. Then, learn ten key lessons from her work you can apply to your own life.
Featuring inspiring quotes and mantras, this is a book for all kids wanting to forge their own career path in the field of STEM. 8-12 years
Mae Jemison: Trailblazing Astronaut, Doctor, and Teacher
By Linda Barghoorn
“The first African American woman to travel in space, Mae Jemison has broken barriers in science and medicine to become one of the most admired women worldwide. This book describes how Jemison refused to let anyone stand in the way of her dreams. She became a doctor and worked in the Peace Corps until NASA invited her to join the astronaut program. Today, she is an important advocate for science in education–especially for girls and women. Jemison also continues to push scientific research to improve life in developing countries.” 7-10 years
VIP: Dr. Mae Jemison, Brave Rocketeer
By Heather Alexander, Illustrated by Jennifer Bricking
Soar to the stars with Dr. Mae Jemison in this middle grade nonfiction biography. The books in the VIP series tell the true—and amazing—stories of some of history’s greatest trailblazers. Meet the VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE who changed the world!
Mae Jemison is the first African American woman to travel to space. She’s also a medical doctor who once joined the Peace Corps. And a trained dancer, too! Experience all the exciting moments in Dr. Jemison’s thrilling life in this exciting biography, packed with two-color illustrations and fun facts, including the secrets of NASA. 8-12 years
The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Who Was Jesse Owens
By James Buckley, Jr., Illustrated by Gregory Copeland
At the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics, track and field star Jesse Owens ran himself straight into international glory by winning four gold medals. But the life of Jesse Owens is much more than a sports story.
Born in rural Alabama under the oppressive Jim Crow laws, Owens’s family suffered many hardships. As a boy he worked several jobs: delivering groceries and working in a shoe repair shop to make ends meet. Owens defied the odds to become a sensational student athlete, eventually running track for Ohio State. He was chosen to compete in the Summer Olympics in Nazi Germany where Adolf Hitler was promoting the idea of “Aryan superiority.” Owens’s winning streak at the games humiliated Hitler and crushed the myth of racial supremacy once and for all. 8-12 years
Jesse Owens: Fastest Man Alive
By Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Eric Velasquez
Jesse Owens grew up during the time of Jim Crow laws, but adversity didn’t stop him. After setting world records for track in high school and college, he won a slot on the 1936 U.S. Olympic team. That year, the Olympics were held in Nazi Germany, where Adolf Hitler believes the Games would prove to the world that people like him were superior to all others. But Jesse, a sharecropper’s son, would ultimately topple Hitler’s hopes, winning four gold medals and the hearts of millions to become known as the fastest man alive. 7-11 years
A Star Like Jesse Owens
By Nikki Shannon Smith, Illustrated by Lisa Manuzak Wiley
Matthew is a young African-American boy who dreams of becoming an Olympic runner like his hero, Jesse Owens. There’s one big problem, though Matthew has asthma, which makes it hard for him to run. When his journalist father is assigned to cover the 1936 Olympics in Germany, Matthew jumps at the chance tag along. He has never been out of Ohio before, let alone to Europe. Will Owens’s amazing Olympic victories inspire Matthew in his own chosen career? 8-11 years
A Picture Book of Jesse Owens
By David A. Adler, Illustrated by Robert Casilla
Before Usain Bolt or Tyson Gay, Bob Beamon or Carl Lewis, Jesse Owens was perhaps the greatest and most famous athlete in track and field history.
Jesse Owens was born on a farm to a large family with many siblings. His grandparents had been slaves, and his sharecropper parents were poor. But against all odds, Jesse went on to become one of the greatest athletes in history. He learned to run with such grace that people said he was a “floating wonder.”
After setting multiple world records as a college athlete, including three in less than an hour—”the greatest 45 minutes in sport”—Owens competed in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Adolf Hitler intended for the games to display Aryan superiority, but Jesse disrupted that plan. He became the first American track-and-field athlete to receive four Olympic gold medals and established his legacy as a hero in the face of prejudice. 4-8 years
Just Like Jesse Owens
By Andrew Young and Paul Young Shelton Illustrated by Gordon C. James
As a boy, Andrew Young learned a vital lesson from his parents when a local chapter of the Nazi party instigated racial unrest in their hometown of New Orleans in the 1930s. While Hitler’s teachings promoted White supremacy, Andrew’s father, told him that when dealing with the sickness of racism, “Don’t get mad, get smart.” To drive home this idea, Andrew Young Senior took his family to the local movie house to see a newsreel of track star Jesse Owens racing toward Olympic gold, showing the world that the best way to promote equality is to focus on the finish line. The teaching of his parents, and Jesse Owens’ example, would be the guiding principles that shaped Andrew’s beliefs in nonviolence and built his foundation as a civil rights leader and advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The story is recalled by Paula Young Shelton, Andrew’s daughter. 6-8 years
Jesse Owens (Little People, Big Dreams)
By Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Illustrated by Anna Katharina Jansen
The youngest of ten children, Jesse grew up working in the cotton fields of Alabama. Discovered by his high school track and field coach, Jesse quickly rose to fame as an athlete. He went on to challenge racism on the world stage at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and made new world records. This book features extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the athlete and activist’s life. 4-7 years
Jesse Owens (You Should Meet)
By Laurie Calkhoven, Illustrated by Elizabeth Vukovic
Meet Jesse Owens, an African American runner who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin! What made his achievement even more memorable was that Adolph Hitler expected the Olympic Games to be a German showcase. In fact, he criticized the United States for even including black athletes on its Olympic roster. According to many reports, after Owens won his fourth gold medal, Hitler stormed out of the stadium. In 1936 Jesse Owens took a stand against racism and made history.
A special section at the back of the book includes extras on subjects like history and math, plus an article filled with interesting facts about the Olympics. 6-8 years
Defying Hitler: Jesse Owens Olympic Trials
By Nel Yomtov, Illustrated by Eduardo Garcia
At the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, the last thing Adolf Hitler expected was to see a black man compete and win. But Jesse Owens didn’t just win. He was dominant in the track and field events, winning four gold medals and helping to set a world record. Now readers can witness one of the most iconic moments in sports history. 8 and up
Olympic Gold 1936:
How the Image of Jesse Owens Crushed Hitler’s Evil Myth
By Michael Burgan
Jesse Owens’ gold-medal winning feats at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin struck a mighty propaganda blow against Adolf Hitler. The Nazi leader had planned to use the German games as a showcase for supposed Aryan superiority. Instead, there was American black athlete Owens on the podium being photographed by Hitler’s personal photographer, Heinrich Hoffmann. In addition, Owens would figure prominently in the groundbreaking film Olympia by Hitler’s favorite director Leni Riefenstahl. Photos and film captured Owens’ stunning success and revealed how wrong Hitler was in his beliefs. 10-12 years
Jesse Owens: Athletes Who Made a Difference
By Blake Hoena, Illustrated by David Shephard
In 1936, Adolf Hitler attempted to make the Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany, a showcase of Nazi superiority with a new stadium and the first television broadcast of the Games. He didn’t account for African-American sprinter and long jumper James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens, who smashed records throughout his track and field career.
Owens turned Hitler’s Olympic vision on its head by winning four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and long jump. Along the way, he broke or equaled nine Olympic records and set three world records. In graphic nonfiction style, this biography takes readers from Owens’s early life to his historic athletic triumphs. 8-12 years
Jesse Owens: Amazing People Who Shaped the World
By James Buckley, Jr.
Jesse Owens is one of the most famous athletes of all time, winning an incredible four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games. But he faced discrimination throughout his athletic career.
This biography charts the major events of Jesse’s life; from his childhood growing up on a farm in Alabama, to his family’s move to Ohio in search of better opportunities, to the beginning of his running career and his years as a world record-breaking student athlete, all the way to the Olympics and beyond. 8-11 years
The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
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Juneteenth All Different Now, the First Day of Freedom
By Angela Johnson, Illustrated by E.B. Lewis
Through the eyes of one little girl, All Different Now tells the story of the first Juneteenth, the day freedom finally came to the last of the slaves in the South. Since then, the observance of June 19 as African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. This picture book includes notes from the author and illustrator, a timeline of important dates, and a glossary of relevant terms. All Different Now is a joyous portrait of the dawn breaking on the darkest time in our nation’s history. 5-9 years
Juneteenth A Children’s Story
By Opal Lee, Illustrated by Peter Viska
An engaging way to introduce the history of slavery and freedom to children in words they can understand. Ms. Opal highlights the celebration of Juneteenth and the importance of commemorating this milestone all across America. 5-11 years
Juneteenth
By Drew Nelson and Vaundra Micheaux Nelson, Illustrated by Mark Schroder
June 19,1865, began as another hot day in Texas. Enslaved African Americans worked in fields, in barns, and in the homes of the white people who owned them. Then a message arrived. Freedom! Slavery had ended! The Civil War had actually ended in April. It took two months for word to reach Texas. Still the joy of that amazing day has never been forgotten. Every year, people all over the United States come together on June 19th to celebrate the end of slavery. Join in the celebration of Juneteenth, a day to remember and honor freedom for all people. 7-10 years
Juneteenth for Mazie
By Floyd Cooper
Mazie is ready to celebrate liberty. She is ready to celebrate freedom. She is ready to celebrate a great day in American history. The day her ancestors were no longer slaves. Mazie remembers the struggles and the triumph, as she gets ready to celebrate Juneteenth. 6-9 years
Juneteenth Jamboree
By Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Yvonne Buchanan
Joining her parents in a community celebration of Juneteenth, Cassie learns about the day when slaves in Texas were freed some two years after the Emancipation Proclamation and wonders why the news took so long to reach them. 8-12 years
Opal Lee and What it Means to be Free:
The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth
By Alice Faye Duncan, Illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo
(Forthcoming book January 2022)
The true story Opal Lee and her vision of Juneteenth as a holiday for everyone, celebrates Black joy and inspires children to see their dreams blossom. Growing up in Texas, Opal knew the history of Juneteenth, but she soon discovered that many Americans had never heard of the holiday that represents the nation’s creed of “freedom for all.”
Every year, Opal looked forward to the Juneteenth picnic–a drumming, dancing, delicious party. She knew from Granddaddy Zak’s stories that Juneteenth celebrated the day the freedom news of President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation finally sailed into Texas in 1865–over two years after the president had declared it! But Opal didn’t always see freedom in her Texas town.
Then one Juneteenth day when Opal was twelve years old, an angry crowd burned down her brand-new home. This wasn’t freedom at all. She had to do something! Opal Lee spent the rest of her life speaking up for equality and unity. She became a teacher, a charity worker, and a community leader. At the age of 89, she walked from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., in an effort to gain national recognition for Juneteenth. 4-8 years
Juneteenth
By Anece Rochell, Illustrated by Audeva Joseph
Daylen is excited and ready to share everything he knows about Juneteenth. This is a picture book that explains the origin, customs, and importance of the Juneteenth Holiday, in a fun and interactive way. Juneteenth ends with a words to know page, to help children build a stronger vocabulary. 4-10 years
The Story of Juneteenth: An Interactive History Adventure
By Steven Otfinoski
The Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War had brought an official end to slavery, yet some Southern slave owners refused to comply. The road to freedom was still long and hard for many African Americans, but they didn’t give up. Will you: overcome obstacles as you make your way north from Texas, looking to begin a new life of freedom? Will you: seek out your family, from whom you were separated as a child? Will you: fight back when you take work as an apprentice but find that you’re still treated as a slave? This book offers multiple perspectives on history and gives readers a front-row seat to the past. 8-11 years
Juneteenth: First Step Nonfiction, American Holidays
By Robin Nelson
This book is a basic overview of Juneteenth for emergent readers. Color photographs reflect the short, easy-to-understand sentences that improve vocabulary and comprehension. 5-8 years
The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Ona Judge Outwits the Washingtons: An Enslaved Woman Fights for Freedom
By Gwendolyn Hooks, Illustrated by Simone Agoussoye
Soon after American colonists had won independence from Great Britain, Ona Judge was fighting for her own freedom from one of America’s most famous founding fathers, George Washington.
George and Martha Washington valued Ona as one of their most skilled and trustworthy slaves, but she would risk everything to achieve complete freedom. Born into slavery at Mount Vernon, Ona seized the opportunity to escape when she was brought to live in the President’s Mansion in Philadelphia. Ona fled to New Hampshire and started a new life. But the Washingtons wouldn’t give up easily. After her escape, Ona became the focus of a years-long manhunt, led by America’s first president.
Gwendolyn Hooks’ vivid and detailed prose captures the danger, uncertainty, and persistence Ona Judge experienced during and after her heroic escape. 9-12 years
Never Caught, The Story of Ona Judge:
George and Martha Washington’s Courageous Slave Who Dared to Run Away
By Erika Armstrong Dunbar, Illustrated by Kathleen Van Cleve
Born into a life of slavery, Ona Judge eventually grew up to be George and Martha Washington’s “favored” dower slave. When she was told that she was going to be given as a wedding gift to Martha Washington’s granddaughter, Ona made the bold and brave decision to flee to the north, where she would be a fugitive.
From her childhood, to her time with the Washingtons living in the slave quarters, to her escape to New Hampshire, Erica Armstrong Dunbar, along with Kathleen Van Cleve, share an intimate glimpse into the life of a little-known, but powerful figure in history, and her brave journey as she fled the most powerful couple in the country. 9-13 years
Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge
By Ray Anthony Shepard, Illustrated by Keith Mallett
Ona Judge was enslaved by George and Martha Washington. She served as Martha’s maid. Ona was widely known for her excellent skills as a seamstress, and was raised alongside Washington’s grandchildren. She was frequently mistaken for George Washington’s granddaughter. This poetic biography follows her childhood and adolescence until she decides to run away. With extensive backmatter, this poem may serve as a new introduction to American slavery and Ona Judge’s legacy. 3-6 years
The Escape of Oney Judge: Martha Washington’s Slave Finds Freedom
By Emily Arnold McCully
When General George Washington is elected the first President of the United States, his wife chooses young Oney Judge, a house slave who works as a seamstress at Mount Vernon, to travel with her to the nation’s capital in New York City as her personal maid. When the capital is moved to Philadelphia, the Washingtons and Oney move, too, and there Oney meets free blacks for the first time.
At first, Oney can’t imagine being free – she depends on the Washingtons for food, warmth, and clothing. But then Mrs. Washington tells Oney that after her death she will be sent to live with Mrs. Washington’s granddaughter. Oney is horrified because she knows it is likely that she will then be sold to a stranger – the worst fate she can imagine. Oney realizes she must run. One day she sees an opportunity and takes it, ending up in New Hampshire, where she lives the rest of her life, poor but free. 6-9 years
Taking Liberty: The Story of Oney Judge, George Washington’s Runaway Slave
By Ann Rinaldi
Oney Judge is a slave. But on the plantation of Mount Vernon, the beautiful home of George and Martha Washington, she is not called a slave. She is referred to as a servant, and a house servant at that—a position of influence and respect. When she rises to the position of personal servant to Martha Washington, her status among the household staff—black or white—is second to none. She is Lady Washington’s closest confidante and for all intents and purposes, a member of the family…or so she thinks.
Slowly, Oney’s perception of her life with the Washingtons begins to crack as she realizes the truth: No matter what it’s called, it’s still slavery and she’s still enslaved.
Oney must make a choice. Does she stay where she is, comfortable, with this family that has loved her and nourished her and owned her since the day she was born? Or does she take her liberty—her life—into her own hands, and like her father, become one of the Gone? 12 years+
Oney Judge: Escape From Slavery and the President’s House
By Duchess Harris and Lindsay Wyskowski
President George Washington and his wife enslaved more than 150 people in the mid-1700s. In 1796, one of their slaves escaped. Her name was Oney “Ona” Judge. Oney Judge: This biography explores her story and her legacy. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Core Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. 8-11 years
Answering the Cry for Freedom:
Stories of African Americans and the American Revolution
By Gretchen Woelfle, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Even as American Patriots fought for independence from British rule during the Revolutionary War, oppressive conditions remained in place for the thousands of enslaved and free African Americans living in this country. But African Americans took up their own fight for freedom by joining the British and American armies; preaching, speaking out, and writing about the evils of slavery; and establishing settlements in Nova Scotia and Africa.
The thirteen stories featured in this collection spotlight charismatic individuals who answered the cry for freedom, focusing on the choices they made and how they changed America both then and now. These individuals include: Boston King, Agrippa Hull, James Armistead Lafayette, Phillis Wheatley, Elizabeth “Mumbet” Freeman, Prince Hall, Mary Perth, Ona Judge, Sally Hemings, Paul Cuffe, John Kizell, Richard Allen, and Jarena Lee. Includes individual bibliographies and timelines, author note, and source notes. 9-12 years
The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
