As a kid, Jackie Robinson loved sports. And why not? He was a natural at football, basketball, and, of course, baseball. But beyond athletic skill, it was his strength of character that secured his place in sports history. In 1947, Jackie joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the long-time color barrier in Major League Baseball. It was tough being the first, not only did “fans” send hate mail but some of his own teammates refused to accept him.
Stealing Home: Jackie Robinson Against All Odds
By Robert Burleigh, Illustrated by Mike Wimmer
Man on third. Two outs. The pitcher eyes the base runner, checks for the signs. The fans in the jammed stadium hold their breath. Flapping his outstretched arms like wings, number 42 leads off again. It is September 1955, game one of the World Series, theYankees versus the Dodgers, and Jackie Robinson is about to do the unbelievable, attempt to steal home in a World Series game. Is it possible? Yes, it is, if you are Jackie Robinson.
My Little Golden Book About Jackie Robinson
By Frank John Berrios III, Illustrated by Betsy Bauer
This Little Golden Book captures the essence of Jackie Robinson for the littlest readers. Lively text and compelling artwork detail Robinson’s remarkable journey from childhood, to playing for the Negro Leagues, to then becoming the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era. Little ones will be inspired by the many challenges Robinson gracefully rose to, while they learn important baseball and civil rights history. 2-5 years
Jackie Robinson Breaking Barriers in Baseball
By Kurtis Scaletta
When Jackie Robinson stepped up to the plate for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, everything changed. He was the first black man to play in a major-league baseball game in the twentieth century! His brave act opened the door for more black players to achieve their own big-league dreams. But how did Jackie break baseball’s color barrier? Whether excelling at every sport he tried as a youngster or standing up for his civil rights as a soldier in the US Army, Jackie always focused on his goals. Find out how this boy who loved baseball became one of history’s greatest trailblazers! 8-12 years
The United States v Jackie Robinson
By Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Jackie Robinson broke boundaries as the first African American player in Major League Baseball. But long before Jackie changed the world in a Dodger uniform, he did it in an army uniform.
As a soldier during World War II, Jackie experienced segregation every day—separate places for black soldiers to sit, to eat, and to live. When the army outlawed segregation on military posts and buses, things were supposed to change.
So when Jackie was ordered by a white bus driver to move to the back of a military bus, he refused. Instead of defending Jackie’s rights, the military police took him to trial. But Jackie would stand up for what was right, even when it was difficult to do. 4-8 years
The Hero Two Doors Down: Based on the True Story of Friendship Between a Boy and a Baseball Legend
By Sharon Robinson
Eight year old Stephen Satlow lives in Brooklyn, New York, which means he only cares about one thing, the Dodgers. Steve hears a rumor that an African-America family is moving to his neighborhood. It’s 1948, and some of his neighbors are against it.Steve knows this is wrong. His hero, Jackie Robinson, broke the color barrier in baseball the year before. And as it turns out, Steve’s new neighbor is Jackie Robinson. Written by Jackie Robinson’s daughter Sharon.
Jackie Robinson: He Led the Way
By April Jones Prince, Illustrated by Robert Casilla
Jackie Robinson became the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era when he stepped onto the field as a Brooklyn Dodger in 1947. This book follows Jackie from childhood through his career as an award winning baseball player and a hero of the civil rights movement.
When Jackie and Hank Met
by Cathy Goldberg Fishman, Illustrated by Mark Elliott
Jackie Robinson and Hank Greenberg were two very different people. But they both became Major League Baseball players and they both faced a lot of the same challenges in their lives and careers. For Jackie, it was his skin color, for Hank, his religion. On May 17, 1947, these two men met for the first time colliding at firstbase in a close play. While the crowd urged them to fight, Jackie and Hank chose a different path. This is the story of two men who went on to break the barriers of race and religion in America sports and became baseball legends in the process.
Teammates
by Peter Golenbock, Illustrated by Paul Bacon
This is the moving story of how Jackie Robinson became the first black player on a Major League baseball team when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1940s, and how on a fateful day in Cincinnati, Pee Wee Reese took a stand and declared Jackie his teammate.
I am Jackie Robinson
By Brad Meltzer, Illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos
Jackie Robinson always loved sports, especially baseball. But he lived at a time before the Civil Rights Movement. Even though Jackie was a great athlete, he wasn’t allowed on the best teams just because of the color of his skin. Jackie knew that sports were best when everyone, of every color, played together. He became thefirst black player in Major League Baseball, and his bravery changed history and led the way to equality in all American sports.
The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Andrea Davis Pinkney and Illustrator Brian Pinkney
Born into slavery, Belle had to endure the cruelty of several masters before she escaped to freedom. But she knew she wouldn’t really be free unless she was helping to end injustice. That’s when she changed her name to Sojourner and began traveling across thecountry, demanding equal rights for black people and for women. Many people weren’t ready for her message, but Sojourner was brave and her truth was powerful. And slowly, but surely as Sojourner’s step-stomp stride, America began to change.
Martin and Mahalia His Words, Her Song
Andrea Davis Pinkney and Illustrator Brian Pinkney
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and his strong voice and powerful message were joined and lifted in song by world-renowned gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. It was a moment that changed the course of history and is imprinted in minds forever.
The Red Pencil
Andrea Davis Pinkney and Illustrator Shane W. Evans
Life in Amira’s peaceful Sudanese village is shattered when Janjaweed attackers arrive, unleashing unspeakable horrors. After losing nearly everything, Amira needs to find the strength to make the long journey on foot to safety at a refugee camp. She begins to lose hope, until the gift of a simple red pencil opens her mind — and all kinds of possibilities.
Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters
Andrea Davis Pinkney and Illustrator Stephen Alcorn
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.
Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down
Andrea Davis Pinkney and Illustrator Brian Pinkney
This picture book celebrates the momentous Woolworth’s lunch counter sit-in, when four college students staged a peaceful protest that became a defining moment in the struggle for racial equality and the growing civil rights movement.
Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America
Andrea Davis Pinkney and Illustrator Brian Pinkney
Hand in Hand presents the stories of ten men from different eras in American history, organized chronologically to provide a scope from slavery to modern day. Profiles of: Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglas, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B DuBois, A. Phillip Randolph, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Barack H. Obama II.
Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through the Motown Sound
Andrea Davis Pinkney
Berry Gordy began Motown in 1959 with an $800 loan from his family. He converted the garage of a residential house into a studio and recruited teenagers from the neighborhood, including: Smokey Robinson, Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Diana Ross, to sing for his new label. The country was on the brink of a cultural revolution, and one of the most powerful agents of change in the following decade would be this group of young blackperformers from urban Detroit.
A Poem for Peter: The Story of Ezra Jack Keats and the
Creation of The Snowy Day
Andrea Davis Pinkney
and Illustrators Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
The story of The Snowy Day begins more than one hundred years ago, when Ezra Jack Keats was born in Brooklyn, New York. The family were struggling Polish immigrants. Despite Keats’ obvious talent, his father worried that Ezra’s dream of being an artist wasan unrealistic one. But Ezra was determined. For more than two decades, Ezra had kept pinned to his wall a series of photographs of an adorable African American child. In Keats’ hands, the boy morphed into Peter, a boy in a red snowsuit, out enjoying the pristine snow. The book became The Snowy Day, the first mainstream book to feature an African American child.
Andrea Davis Pinkney
The book descriptions used are primarily the publishers.
If you like this article, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
By Martin Luther King, Jr., Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
On August 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave one of the most powerful and memorable speeches in our nation’s history. His words, paired with Caldecott Honor winner Kadir Nelson’s magnificent paintings, make for a picture book certain to be treasured by children and adults. The themes of equality and freedom for all are not only relevant today, fifty years later, butalso provide young readers with an important introduction to our nation’s past. (Audio CD included)
A Place to Land
By Barry Wittenstein, Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Martin Luther King, Jr. was once asked if the hardest part of preaching was knowing where to begin. No, he said. The hardest part is knowing where to end. “It’s terrible to be circling up there without a place to land.”
Finding this place to land was what he struggled with, alongside advisers and fellow speech writers, in the Willard Hotel the night before the March on Washington, where he gave his historic “I Have a Dream” speech. But those famous words were never intended to be heard on that day, not even written down for that day, not even once. 7-10 years
My Little Golden Book About Martin Luther King, Jr.
By Bonnie Bader, Illustrated by Sue Cornelison
Learn all about Martin Luther King Jr. Day with this Little Golden Book biography all about the civil rights leader! The perfect introduction to nonfiction for preschoolers. This Little Golden Book captures the essence of Martin Luther King, Jr. for the littlest readers. They’ll learn how his childhood in segregated Atlanta—and in his father’s church—shaped the future civil rights leader. And they’ll gain a clear understanding of the way he became an eloquent, powerful voice for African Americans. 2-5 years
My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
By Martin Luther King, III, Illustrated by A.G.
What was it like growing up as a son of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? This picture book memoir provides insight into one of history’s most fascinating families and into a special bond between father and son. His son gives an intimate look at the man and the father behind the civil rights leader. Mr. King’s remembrances show both his warm, loving family and a momentous time in American history.
Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968
By Alice Faye Duncan, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
In February 1968, two African American sanitation workers were killed by unsafe equipment in Memphis, Tennessee. Outraged at the city’s refusal to recognize a labor union that would fight for higher pay and safer working conditions, sanitation workers went on strike. The strike lasted two months, during which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was called to help with the protests.
While his presence was greatly inspiring to the community, this unfortunately would be his last stand for justice. He was assassinated in his Memphis hotel the day after delivering his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” sermon in Mason Temple Church. Inspired by the memories of a teacher who participated in the strike as a child, author Alice Faye Duncan reveals the story of the Memphis sanitation strike from the perspective of a young girl with a riveting combination of poetry and prose. Picture book, 9-12 years
Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Peaceful Leader
By Sarah Albee, Illustrated by Chin Ko
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. believed it was possible to change the world with peaceful protest. His powerful words and actions helped the civil rights movement achieve many great changes. His incredible leadership is still remembered and celebrated today.
Beginning readers will learn about the milestones in Martin Luther King Jr.’s life in this Level Two I Can Read biography, which combines a traditional, illustrated narrative with historical photographs at the back of book—complete with a timeline, illustrations, and interesting facts.
Martin Luther King Jr.: A Peaceful Leader is a Level Two I Can Read, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. 4-8 years
Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King
By Jean Marzollo, Illustrated by J. Brian Pinkney
This book is a beautifully rendered study of Dr. King’s life told in simple, straightforward language for even the youngest readers. The illustrations convey both the strength and gentleness of Dr. King’s character. This book carries his central message of peace and brotherhood among all people.
Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
By Doreen Rappaport, Illustrated by Brian Collier
Doreen Rappaport weaves the immortal words of Dr. King into a captivating narrative to tell the story of his life. With stunning art by acclaimed illustrator Bryan Collier, this book is an unforgettable portrait of a man whose dream changed America.
Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?
By Bonnie Bader, Illustrated by Nancy Harrison
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was only twenty-five when he helped organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Soon he was organizing African Americans across the country in support of desegregation, and civil rights. Maintaining nonviolent and peaceful tactics even when his life was threatened, Dr. King was also an advocate for the poor and spoke out against racial and economic injustice.
Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Song
By Andrea Davis Pinkney, Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. His strong voice and powerful message were joined and lifted in song by world-renowned gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. It was a moment that changed the course of history and is imprinted in minds forever. The stories of these two powerful voices and lives are told side-by-side — as they would one day walk — following the journey from their youth to a culmination at this historical eventwhen they united as one. This book inspires kids to find their own voices and speak up for what is right.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington
By Frances E. Ruffin, Illustrated by Stephen Marchesi
On August 28, 1963, more than 250,000 people came to the nation’s Capitol. They came by plane, by bus, by car, even on roller skates, to speak out against segregation and to demand equal rights for everyone. They came to hear the words of a very special leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. This book captures the spirit of this landmark day in American history and brings Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech to life for young children.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
By Kitson Jazynka
In this Level 2 biography, readers will learn about the fascinating life and legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The book descriptions used are primarily the publishers.
On Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939, Marian Anderson sang before an audience of over 75,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The free concert was broadcast on the radio to millions.
Marian, a child prodigy, considered to be one of the best singers of her time, sang for audiences in America and throughout Europe. She sang for President Franklin Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt at the White House and at New York City’s Carnegie Hall. But in Washington, D.C., in 1939, it was a different story.
Marian Anderson
Howard University hoped to have Marian give a concert at Constitution Hall. The sponsors of the hall, The Daughters of the American Revolution, refused. They had instituted a whites only policy. When Americans heard about the refusal, many wrote letters to newspapers in protest, and the First Lady announced her resignation from the DAR.
Marian Anderson and Eleanor Roosevelt
When Howard University then asked an all-white school to hold the concert, they refused. Where would Marian be free to sing? According to the FDR Presidential Library, Eleanor Roosevelt worked behind the scenes to insure that the concert would go on. With President Roosevelt’s approval, Secretary of the Interior, Harold Ickes, announced that the concert would be held in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
Marian Anderson
On that cold Easter Sunday,Marian sang in her clear, beautiful contralto voice. You can see her initial nervousness and then hear her sing America in the video below.
Marian Anderson sang twice more at the Lincoln Memorial, once in 1952, and again in 1963 at the March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr. gave his I Have a Dream speech. Marian and Eleanor Roosevelt became good friends.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Eleven books for kids by award-winning artist, author, and illustrator Kadir Nelson:
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
By Kadir Nelson
What began as a spiritual has developed into one of America’s best-known songs, and now for the first time it appears as a picture book, masterfully created by award-winning artist Kadir Nelson.Through sublime landscapes and warm images of a boy and his family, Kadir has created a dazzling, intimate interpretation, one that rejoices in the connectedness of people and nature.
Inspired by the song’s simple message, Kadir sought to capture the joy of living in and engaging with the world. Most importantly, he wished to portray the world as a child might see it—vast and beautiful.
Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan In Pursuit of a Dream
by Delores Jordan and Roslyn M. Jordan,
Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
The mere mention of the name conjures up visions of basketball played at its absolute best. But as a child, Michael almost gave up on his hoop dreams. He feared he’d never grow tall enough to play the game that would one day make him famous. That’s when his mother and father stepped in and shared an invaluable lesson. What really goes into the making of a champion is patience, determination, and hard work.
Ellington Was Not A Street
by Ntozake Shange, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Noted poet Ntozake Shange recalls her childhood home and the close-knit group of innovators that often gathered there. These men of vision, brought to life in the majestic paintings of artist Kadir Nelson, lived at a time when the color of their skin dictated where they could live, what schools they could attend, and even where they could sit on a bus or in a movie theater. Yet in the face of this tremendous adversity, these dedicated souls and others like them not only demonstrated the importance of Black culture in America, but also helped issue in a movement that “changed the world.”
Nelson Mandela
By Kadir Nelson
It is the story of a young boy’s determination to change South Africa, and of the struggles of a man who eventually became the president of his country. Mandela believed in equality for all people, no matter the color of their skin. Readers will be inspired by Mandela’s triumph and his lifelong quest to create a more just world.
Resources in the back include an author’s note and a bibliography listing additional sources for readers who want to find out more. Perfect for sharing at home or in the classroom.
Heart and Soul: The Story of Americans and African Americans
by Kadir Nelson
The story of Americans and African Americans is a story of hope and inspiration and unwavering courage. This is the story of the men, women, and children who toiled in the hot sun picking cotton for their masters. It’s about the America ripped in two by Jim Crow laws. And about the brothers and sisters of all colors who rallied against those who would dare bar a child from an education. This is a story of discrimination and broken promises,determination, and triumphs.
The Undefeated
By Kwame Alexander, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Originally performed for ESPN’s The Undefeated, 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 includes 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. Back matter provides historical context and additional detail for those wishing to learn more.
Coretta Scott
by Ntozake Shange, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Walking many miles to school in the dusty road, young Coretta Scott knew the unfairness of life in the segregated south. A yearning for equality began to grow. Together with Martin Luther King, Jr., she gave birth to a vision of change through nonviolent protest. It was the beginning of a journey — with dreams of freedom for all.
Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad
by Ellen Levine, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
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, heknows 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.
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
This poetic book is a resounding tribute to Tubman’s strength, humility, and devotion. With proper reverence, Weatherford and Nelson do justice to the woman who, long ago, earned over and over the name Moses.
Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln (Big Words)
by Doreen Rappaport, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
From the time he was a young boy roaming the forests of the unsettled Midwest, Abraham Lincoln knew in his heart that slavery was deeply wrong. A voracious reader, Lincoln spent every spare moment of his days filling his mind with knowledge, from history to literature to mathematics, preparing himself to one day lead the country he loved toward greater equality and prosperity.
A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis
by Matt De La Pena, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
On the eve of World War II, African-American boxer Joe Louis fought German Max Schmeling in a bout that had more at stake than just the world heavyweight title. For much of America, their fight came to represent America’s war with Germany. This elegant and powerful picture book biography centers on this historic fight in which the American people came together to celebrate our nation’s founding ideals.
Brave Ruby Bridges inspired people across the nation to search their hearts for what is right. The March on Washington was almost three years away and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, almost four years from passing. When…
Ruby Bridges, six years old, was chosen to integrate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Alone. On November 14, 1960, escorted by federal marshals, Ruby passed through an angry crowd yelling insults at her and entered the school. Immediately, furious parents stormed in and removed their children. Only one teacher, Barbara Henry, agreed to teach first grader Ruby.
In the 1954 landmark Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, “separate but equal” schools were deemed unconstitutional. Yet, schools in New Orleans, Louisiana, and throughout the southern United States did not accept the decision.
In 1960, a federal judge ordered that two schools in New Orleans be integrated. Ruby and five other girls were chosen based on a test they had taken. The parents of four of the six decided that their child would attend an all-white school. But only Ruby would go to school by herself.
The Problem We All Live With
By Norman Rockwell
Her father had been reluctant to send her, but her mother believed that Ruby should go. On the morning of the first day, Ruby and her mother were driven the five blocks from their home to the school. Before leaving the marshal’s car, her mother told her: “Ruby Nell, don’t be afraid. There might be some people upset outside, but I’ll be with you.” Her mother continued to encourage her despite the many hardships endured by the family through their decision to send Ruby to the all-white school.
Every day, during the school year, Ruby entered William Frantz Elementary the same way. But once inside, she spent the day happy with Barbara Henry, her teacher. They read together, played games, enjoyed music, and Ruby learned while the other students in the first grade stayed home. Federal Marshal Charles Banks said later that Ruby never cried. “She just marched along like a little soldier.”
Barbara Henry and Ruby Bridges in 1998
If you like this article, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
On an August day in 1963, under the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial gospel singer Mahalia Jackson told Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to “Tell them about the dream Martin. Tell them about the dream.”
Mahalia Jackson Sings At The March On Washington
Mahalia Jackson was a close friend of Dr. King and an important voice for the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. King had spoken to Mahalia about his dream that all Americans would someday be judged by their character and not the color of their skin. On August 28, 1963, at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Mahalia sang the spiritual, “I Been ‘Buked and I Been Scorned,” a favorite of Dr. King. When she had finished, Dr. King spoke.
Dr. King Speaking Before A Crowd
Dr. King read from the speech he had prepared with the help of speech writer Clarence B. Jones. At about eleven minutes into his speech, Mahalia asked him to tell the people about his dream for America, the one she remembered hearing. Dr. King stopped reading, paused for awhile, and then spoke the words we know as his “I Have A Dream” speech — one of the most powerful and influential speeches in American history.
In their book, Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Song, Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkey tell the story of how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahalia Jackson’s friendship changed the course of history.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Listen to Dr. King speak at the March on Washington. At about 12:00 minutes into the video, you will hear a long pause and then Dr. King will begin the “I Have A Dream” portion of his speech.
