Discover children's books by Black authors that highlight the bravery and resilience of Black women throughout history. From stories of resistance to tales of hope, inspire young readers with these powerful books.
These five children's books honor the legacies of brave Black women like Myrlie Evers-Williams, Mavis Staples, and Claudette Colvin, who have each played pivotal roles in shaping history through courage and activism. From the athletic triumphs of Wilma Rudolph to the leadership of Coretta Scott King and the medical breakthroughs of Rebecca Crumpler, these stories celebrate acts of resilience and hope. Young readers will be inspired by the impact these extraordinary women have made on our world. For your convenience, we've included publisher's descriptions along with each book.
.
Wilma Rudolph was a champion on the track and for civil rights. Go, Wilma, go!
At the 1960 Summer Olympics, Wilma Rudolph became a gold-medal-winning track star. Discover the powerful story of what happened after she soared across the finish line . . .
Leaders in Wilma's hometown of Clarksville, Tennessee, plan a "Wilma Rudolph Day" to honor their champion. But when Wilma hears about their plans, she stops.
A segregated celebration? She won't go! She won't go unless they welcome Black people to participate. Thanks to Wilma, Clarksville hosts its first fully integrated event.
And Wilma doesn't stop there! The race to freedom is not a sprint, but a marathon. She spends the rest of her life protesting inequality and advocating for Black girls and women to have opportunities in sports and beyond.Go, Wilma, go!
With a powerful text from Amira Rose Davis and Michael G. Long, and art full of movement from Charnelle Pinkney Barlow, this powerful picture book is sure to inspire the next generation of athletes and changemakers.
Legendary singer and Civil Rights activist Mavis Staples has teamed with an award-winning children's poet to share her rousing life story in this spectacular picture book.
At 85, Mavis Staples is still singing in front of large audiences and sharing her message of love, faith, and justice. She's been performing since age eight as part of her family's gospel group The Staple Singers, and has become one of America's most admired musicians, with multiple Grammys, a Kennedy Center Honor, and a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. But Mavis has been more than a thrilling singer; she has also stood alongside Martin Luther King, Jr., at numerous Civil Rights protests where her voice was a rallying cry to the country. Now she and acclaimed author Carole Boston Weatherford bring her story and her inspiring message to young people in this poetic, illuminating book, beautifully illustrated by Steffi Walthall.
Finding Rebecca examines the casual disappearance of America's first Black female doctor from records and memory. But the search for her story and her final resting place, more than one hundred years after her death, turned up a few murky details that author Shani King uses to piece together a picture of the life she led, her hardships, and her many accomplishments. Young readers will discover more about this trailblazing first--and help ensure that she is lost no longer.
Civil rights icon Claudette Colvin teams up with Phillip Hoose--author of the Newbery Honor and National Book Award-winning blockbuster biography Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice--to tell her groundbreaking story in this unforgettable picture book illustrated by New York Times-bestselling artist Bea Jackson.
Montgomery, Alabama 1955.Fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin istired. Tired of white people thinking they're better than her. Tired of going to separate schools and separate bathrooms. Most of all, she's tired of having to give up her seat on the bus whenever a white person tells her to. She wants freedomNOW! But what can one teenager do?
On a bus ride home from school one day, young Claudette takes a stand for justice and refuses to get up from her seat--nine months before Rosa Parks will become famous for doing the same. What follows will not only transform Claudette's life but the course of history itself.
In the words of Claudette Colvin herself, as told to acclaimed nonfiction writer Phillip Hoose, this empowering, heroic story illustrates how one simple act of courage can create real and lasting change.
The remarkable life of Myrlie Evers-Williams is honored and celebrated in this stunningly illustrated picture book biography of a civil rights hero--the very first of its kind.
Myrlie Evers-Williams' voice is gentle yet strong, soft yet powerful. It is a soaring song of hope.
Myrlie's voice didn't start out that way. She was born into the segregated South and the beautiful brown color of her skin made her a target for hate. It meant she didn't have the same opportunities as white children, and that meant her dream of playing music onstage one day would be harder to achieve. But this didn't stop Myrlie. As she grew, she marched for equal rights alongside her husband and activist, Medgar Evers. She fought against Jim Crow laws and for voting rights. She became the chair of the NAACP, and finally she realized her dream of performing at Carnegie Hall. After that, as a voice for hope and change, Myrlie spoke at President Obama's second inauguration, inspiring a nation.
Nadia Salomon's lyrical text and London Ladd's exquisite artwork honor and celebrate the legendary life of Myrlie Evers-Williams and share her message of hope with the world.
Celebrate the life of the extraordinary civil and human rights activist Coretta Scott King with this picture book adaptation of her critically acclaimed adult memoir.
This is the autobiography of Coretta Scott King--wife of Martin Luther King, Jr.; founder of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (the King Center); architect of the MLK, Jr. legacy; and global leader in movements for civil and human rights as well as peace. Learn about how a girl born in the segregated deep south became a global leader at the forefront of the peace movement and an unforgettable champion of social change.
Resilience, bravery, and joy lie at the center of this timeless story about fighting for justice against all odds.
These stories of brave Black women remind us all of the power of hope and resilience. Share these empowering books with the young readers in your life, and explore even more inspiring book recommendations in our bookshop.
Looking for more great read aloud ideas? Visit these fabulous book lists:
Join our community of BOOK LOVERS to get book news delivered to your inbox.
