The Best Books to Teach Kids About Black Excellence

In our home, we learn about Black role models and Black history year-round, as it should be in your home, too.  Because Black excellence (gasp!) isn't limited to MLK Day, Black History Month, Kwanzaa, and Juneteenth.  (Two of the four are rarely acknowledged in society anyway.)

Teaching your children about Black excellence doesn't have to be complicated, though I understand it can be overwhelming.  As a parent by transracial adoption, you want to do your very best to educate yourself and your kids, but where do you start?

First, please just start.  Don't over-think.  You're just stalling! You were chosen to be your child's parent, and it's time to own that role and take it seriously. 

Second, do not count on school as the primary and sole source of teaching your child his or her history.  Though I certainly applaud schools that celebrate Black History Month and entities that honor MLK as a holiday, these are not enough.

I've complied this collection of our favorite Black excellence children's books.  They've been selected for their beautiful illustrations, variety of individuals represented, and readability.  We also prefer books that can be shared with a broad age range, given that our four children range from a toddler to a tween.

How can you utilize the books?

-read a page/chapter a day to your kids

-establish a family reading night (no electronics, snacks, blankets and pillows, and of course, books), and have these books readily available

-create a system for your kids where they can earn rewards for reading books

-have older siblings read to younger siblings

Click on the book picture to read reviews, descriptions, and have the option to purchase.  Happy reading! 

5 Simple Ways to Celebrate Black History Month With Your Young-ish Kids

My kids are Black 24/7/365.  Yours are, too.

So now that we've addressed that, let's chat about Black History Month.

Yes, we celebrate it.  

Consider this:  I love my children every day, all day, but on their birthday, it's an opportunity to take it up several notches and go all-out for that child.   I look at BHM as the same:  we work year-round to affirm and educate our children, but February is an invitation to step it up, to re-energize, and to re-commit. 

If you're a busy family like we are, you may not have much time (or money), but you can certainly still celebrate.  Here are five simple ways:

1:  Create a playlist.

We have many favorite Black music artists in different genres.  To us, it's important that our kids know that they can enjoy music of whatever genre pleases them, so we point out Black artists in that genre.  Now when a song comes on, my kids ask, if they don't already know, "Is the person who sings this brown?"   For some variety of genre, we enjoy listening to Darius Rucker, Kane Brown, and Mickey Guyton (country), Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald (jazz), Mandisa and Jamie Grace (Christian).   Enjoy your playlist throughout the month AND in the months to follow.  

2:  Volunteer.

Ask your library (whether it be your town's library or school's library) if you can set up a Black History Month display in the children's and adult's department.  Work on the project as a family.  You can also volunteer to read a few books commemorating Black History Month to your child's class.  Teachers generally love parents helping in the classroom AND giving the teacher a break. 

My second daughter looking for the perfect book at EyeSeeMe. 

3:  Donate.

Donate copies of your favorite books to your child's classroom, to your local library, or to your pediatrician's office waiting room.  You might also/instead of consider donating puzzles, dolls, action figures, board games, or art.  Brands that offer diverse products include EeBoo, Peaceable Kingdom, and Melissa and Doug.  You can also consider buying these multicultural markers, crayons, pre-cut bodies, pre-cut hands, and paper to your child's classroom.  

4:  Read and watch.

Make an effort this month to make ALL your bedtime story reads focused on Black history and/or Black protagonists.  For example, here are our favorite children's picture book starring Black girls.  I also list several favorites of ours here.

In our home, Friday nights are for pjs, popcorn, and movies!  Try showing a Black history, kid-friendly film each Friday night this month.  Or show a movie that stars a Black protagonist.   Think Akeelah and the Bee, the Doc McStuffins' episodes where Doc's family adopts a baby (!!!), Cinderella starring Brandy, Whitney Houston, and Whoopi Goldberg (it's SO good), Princess and the Frog.  There are endless possibilities!   Older kids may be intrigued by Selma, The Secret Life of Bees (oh how I love that book and movie!), or Hidden Figures.  There are many sports films that showcase race, including Remember the Titans and We are Marshall.

Tip:  choose books and movies based on your children's interests.  There are so many amazing resources available now!   Check my post on how to institute a family reading night.      

5:  Take a hometown tour.

We are fortunate to live so close to St. Louis.  Last year, we took our kids on a Black-owned business tour of the city.  We had dinner at Steve's Hotdogs, had a treat at Miss M's Candy Boutique, and purchased items from EyeSeeMe bookstore (where my children's books are sold!). St. Louis is currently featuring a Civil Rights exhibit (which is fabulous!), houses the infamous Sweetie Pie's soul food restaurant (we met Miss Robbie!), and offers a vegetarian-vegan bakery (walls covered in Black art which can be purchased) called Sweet Art.  We've also enjoyed both locations of Gulf Shores Restaurant.  On our next tour, we plan to check out Natalie's Cakes in Ferguson.  

You see?  It really is THAT simple.  A little effort can go a long way in affirming your children, learning more about Black history, and showing your children that they matter. 

And keep an eye on my Facebook, Twitter, and Insta:  I'm posting books daily that highlight important figures in the past and present.   

Dear Sugar: 10 Reasons to see Hidden Figures With Your Daughter + Resources for Further Learning

Dear Sugar,

Last weekend, my eight-year-old daughter and I put on all our favorite star-gear and headed to see Hidden Figures with friends.

This movie is EVERYTHING.   We laughed, we teared up, we reflected, we smiled.

The absolute best part?   It opened doors to conversations.

Here are ten reasons why you must take your own daughter to see this movie---NOW: 

1:  Civil Rights

We own so many civil rights books, but this brought this era to life.  You could watch the emotions of the characters, hear about news stories of that time (specifically lunch counter sit-ins), and watch the characters experience racism (and sexism).  

 

2:  American history

I knew a little about space history and exploration from watching a show that was on last year called The Astronaut Wives Club.  But that was it.   This film presented space/American history in a way that made me want to learn more about a subject I’m normally not interested in.  The film integrated footage from real news stories from many years ago. 

3:  Feminism

Women were disposable, yet they did all the “dirty work.”   Clearly evident in the reports that our main character, Katherine, typed up.  She would type who authored the report:  her superior (white male) and herself; and multiple times, the superior ripped off the cover page with the names on it, not to be included when turned submitted.  

4:  Black Girl Magic

I tell my girls they are magical because they are Black girls.  It's IN them.   And this film demonstrated this truth---beautifully and historically.   

5:  Black Girl Joy

There were such incredible moments of victory for the protagnoists of this film, and there was total Black Girl Joy.   A shriek.  A dance.   There's a moment when the three women are struggling with discrimination, and they decide to cut loose, have drinks, and dance together.  The dancing-together scene is SO beautiful.   

6: Science and Math

STEM and STEAM are all the rage right now, and this movie shows that science and math are not only smart, but they can be cool.   And girls and women who are gifted in these areas should not shy away from learning more and using their knowledge.   

7:  Friendship 

The Black women in this film have each other's backs.   I believe during one part of the film, Octavia Spencer says something about a rising of one woman is a rising for all.   Women and girls are often portrayed as catty, bitchy, and competitive (in superficial ways)---but this movie negates that stereotype.   

8:  Current events.

The opening scene features the three main characters (all Black women) on the side of the road trying to fix their broken-down car.   They’re approached by a white police officer…and, yeah.   It’s interesting how the things people of color face today aren’t always that different from struggles and challenges of fifty years ago.  

9:  Dream.

The women in the movie dreamed of BIG and HARD things for themselves, some that were unheard of and seemingly impossible.  But the goal always starts with a dream.  

10:  Do. 

The women don’t stop at dreaming.  One goes to court to petition the judge to attend a segregated school to take night classes to be an engineer.   Another teaches herself about technology so she is able to climb the corporate ladder.   Another saves the day:  literally.   

I recommend the following for your kiddos if you'd like to farther their interest in HIDDEN FIGURES (and all the beauty it showcases):

First, create a space-themed rice sensory bin.  Instructions on creating a general bin can be found here.   Dye your rice black (using grape Kool-aid and black food coloring), and then add in the following accessories:

Add a star cookie cutter and a glass star bowl from your local dollar store, and voila!    This was my oldest child's birthday gift last year, and she absolutely loves playing in it.   She enjoys hiding and finding the planets, naming the planets, setting up little scenes with the astronauts, sorting the stars by size, etc.











Also, check out these fabulous books:




And these toys/accessories:




And for your little explorer:





HAPPY EXPLORING!!!

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