On February 8, 2024, the Clifton Board of Education made the following resolution in declaration of Black History Month, which reads in part:
Whereas, this year’s theme for Black History Month, African American and the Arts is infused with African, Caribbean, and the Black American lived experiences. In the fields of visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary, and other forms of cultural expression, the African American influence has been paramount.
Whereas, we encourage the celebration of Black History Month to provide a continuing opportunity for all people in the United States to learn from the past and understand the experiences that have shaped the United States; and
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, the Clifton Board of Education proclaims February 2024 Black History Month and encourages staff and students to honor it during February and throughout the year with interactive research, classroom lesson plans, guest speakers, displays, lectures, practical activities, and cultural celebrations.
To aid our community in learning more about significant Black contributions and African culture, the Clifton Public Library has graciously put together a children’s book list.
Clifton Public Library Recommendations for Black History Month
The Clifton Main Memorial Library has curated a Black History Month reading list for The Clifton Times, which features a wide range of books recommended for young readers, selected by Children’s Department Supervising Librarian Gloria Abero. These books serve as a reminder that Black history is the story of America. The list for adult readers can be found here.
We have included a link to each book’s publisher with a brief summary from the publishers’ websites. Cliftonites can stop by the Clifton Main Memorial Library or the Allwood Branch to pick up a copy of any of these books. Patrons can also place holds on any of these books through PALS Plus. For the Clifton Public Library hours of operation and more information please see HERE.
The ABCs of Black History – Rio Cortez (Ages 3-6) An ABC book like no other takes readers on a celebration of a story that spans continents and centuries, triumph and heartbreak, creativity and joy. From big ideas––P is for Power, S is for Science and Soul, across significant moments––G is for Great Migration, to iconic figures––H is for Zora Neale Hurston, X is for Malcolm X, this book is a great introduction to a story of love and hope.
Harlem at Four – Michael Datcher (Ages 3-6) This gorgeous picture book by a New York Times bestselling author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning illustrator weaves together the lives of a modern Black family and a historically Black neighborhood in New York City. In this beautiful picture book in two parts, we meet Harlem: the girl and the neighborhood. Part one follows the adventures of a little girl named Harlem and her single father. Part two takes us back to the fourth year of the twentieth century in Harlem the neighborhood.
Your Life Matters – Chris Singleton (Ages 3-7) Written by national speaker Chris Singleton, who lost his mother in the 2015 Charleston church shooting, Your Life Matters teaches kids to stand tall in the face of racial adversity and fight for the life they dream of. Each page depicts a famous hero from Black history mentoring a child of today and encouraging them to use their mind, heart, voice, and hands in that fight.
The People Remember – Ibi Zoboi (Ages 6-9) The People Remember tells the journey of African descendants in America by connecting their history to the seven principles of Kwanzaa. It begins in Africa, where people were taken from their homes and families. They spoke different languages and had different customs. Ultimately, all these people had to learn one common language and create a culture that combined their memories of home with new traditions that enabled them to thrive in this new land.
Timelines from Black History: Leaders, Legends, Legacies (Ages 8-12) This children’s book, prefaced by Mireille Harper, introduces children to prominent Black people in history such as Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks, and Dr. Martin Luther King. The timelines have stunning visual designs reflecting the essence of that particular historical person and invite children to investigate further and understand world history and the important roles Black people played in shaping it.
Black Leaders in the Civil Rights Movement: a Black History Book for Kids – Glenda Armand (Ages 8-12) The Civil Rights Movement was an organized effort by Black Americans to claim the fundamental rights that the U.S. government had denied them—even long after slavery had ended. This collection of biographies explores 15 civil rights leaders and the extraordinary things they accomplished in the face of huge challenges.
Civil Rights – Martha London (Ages 8-12) This book takes contemporary civil rights issues and grounds them in historical context while explaining why they are important today. It is part of the In the News: Need to Know series which breaks complicated information down for older students who are reading at a second-grade level. In addition to readable text, the books also feature a dyslexia-friendly font and a clear, uncluttered design, keepingaccessibility in mind, and presenting high-interest, age-appropriate content written at a lower reading level.
Sing, Aretha, Sing! : Aretha Franklin, “Respect,” And The Civil Rights Movement – Hanif Abdurraqib (Ages 8-12) When Aretha Franklin sang, she didn’t just sing…she sparked a movement. As a performer and a civil rights activist, the Queen of Soul used her voice to uplift freedom fighters and the Black community during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Her song “Respect” was an anthem of identity, survival, and joy. It gave hope to people trying to make a change. And when Aretha sang, the world sang along.
Forgotten Founders: Black Patriots, Women Soldiers, And Other Thinkers And Heroes Who Shaped Early America – Mifflin Lowe (Ages 9-12) The miraculous founding of America was not accomplished by a handful of people, it required the heart, soul, and grit of an entire nation. Today, we rightfully honor the efforts of the Founding Fathers, but what about everyone else who sacrificed for the cause? Introducing Forgotten Founders, the inspiring book of stories about the heroic women, African Americans, Native Americans, immigrants, and others who played pivotal roles in America’s birth.
Dovey Undaunted: A Black Woman Breaks Barriers In The Law, The Military, And The Ministry – Tonya Bolden (Ages 8-12) Coretta Scott King Honor–winning author Tonya Bolden chronicles the life of an intrepid lawyer and civil rights pioneer. Dovey Johnson Roundtree tackled law school in the late 1940s at a time when women lawyers were rare. She went on to devote herself to representing the underprivileged and the underserved, including working on the legal team that brought a pioneering bus desegregation case before the Interstate Commerce Commission, for a ruling that paved the way for bus and railroad desegregation. Dovey was also among the first Black women to enter the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, and was one of the first ordained female ministers in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
If you know of other wonderful books for children that celebrate Black contributions, spotlight Black Americans, or share pieces of African culture, please leave their titles and authors as a comment here for others to see.
