Sharing African American History and Culture Through Kids’ Books: Preschool Edition
It’s African American History Month and since we have made some critical African American history already this year at Barack Obama’s inauguration, there’s more to celebrate than ever. To help you share some special touchpoints of African American history and culture with your kids, I’ve rounded up a few favorite books on these themes.
Come Look With Me: Discovering African American Art for Children by James Haywood Rolling, Jr.
The Come Look with Me series offers introductions to great art for the youngest children. This one pairs twelve famous paintings by African American artists with simple questions for even the smallest children to encourage more thinking about the pictures and the way they were made. The book includes more “grown up” information to grow on or to help the adult reading with the child understand more about the art.
D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet by Nancy I. Sanders
This is another book that can be read to the youngest child, but can grow with that child, or be enjoyed by an older sibling at the same time. Every letter of the alphabet is a piece of African American history or culture. Each letter of the alphabet represents a concept or figure in African American history. There is also a short piece of rhyming text that explains a bit about what each concept or figure means, then a sidebar entry with two or three paragraphs of text explaining in detail an older child or adult can appreciate.
Visiting Langston by Willie Perdomo?
This book is a lovely introduction for a young child to Langston Hughes, one of the most important writers in American letters, let alone African American letters. The book is written in the rhyming first-person voice of a little girl spending a day with her father touring Langston Hughes’s home as a historical site. The little girl feels a special connection to Hughes because she is a poet, too! Brief, rhyming text and bright, colorful illustrations make this a captivating read-aloud for young children.
Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winter
Once you know drinking gourd begins with D, it’s time to explore the song that made history by teaching enslaved African Americans the way to freedom. This book tells who wrote the song, how it was learned and used by people traveling the underground railroad as well as sharing the complete words and music on the last page so everyone can sing along.
There are a lot of Obama books out there for adults and children alike. My favorite is this colorfully illustrated (not photographed) version that shares a day in the life of Barack Obama and some simplified versions of his philosophy that kids can understand, like “Respect your elders and be polite/Anything worth doing is worth doing right.” Preachy? Maybe a little, but awfully cute!
See Also:
Sharing African American History and Culture Through Kids’ Books: Elementary Edition
Thanks for this list. We also like:
The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. by Johnny Ray Moore
Soul Looks Back in Wonder illustrated by Tom Feelings (for older kids)
In Daddy’s Arms I Am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers by by Javaka Steptoe and Alan Schroeder
Good list! One of my daughters is AA and I am always looking for positive role models for her. Harriet Tubman’s biography is what we’re reading at this moment.
Wonderful list Shannon – it’s hard to find books for this age group that celebrate African American culture. I give the Langston Hughes pick a big thumbs up!