Sample of Joyce Burges Booklist

Recommended Literature Reading I’m extremely happy that there are books around now like the ones listed here. These feature black families in a very positive way. They highlight the strength, culture, and faith of our people, as well as specific historic models who have played a huge role in building the black experience; ultimately our legacy.

It is exciting to think that books can expose you and your children to spirited characters, as well as plant seeds of confidence that will blossom through their lives.

In addition to what’s listed here, one of my favorite books is “Vision of Beauty, a story about Sarah Breedlove Walker,” by Kathryn Lasky (Sarah became the first “free-born child” in her hometown after slavery ended). Better known as Madame “CJ” Walker, the first female self-made millionaire in the United States, this book gives children a look into the life of a hard-working woman with determination and the tenacity to create a product useful to African American women. It’s an amazing, uplifting book, telling a true “rags to riches” story.

Another favorite book is “Miss Tizzy” written by Libba Moore Gray. This book teaches children to be compassionate and unselfish. Another is “Suitcase” by Mildred Pitts Walter. In this story, a young boy has a big decision to make, however, he wants to really please his father. Does his heart win out in the end?

I wished I had wonderful books with strong black images, drawn by outstanding artists who capture the imagination of a child. My grandmother read the Bible to me daily; however, I would have loved any book at the time about people like me—it would have been a pleasure. In my home many stories were told, but books about people like me were scarce.

Your local library has hundreds of biographies, historical fiction, and nonfiction by and about African Americans. I recommend these treasures to everyone, no matter your race or color, because they teach children about other people. They help promote character, manners, faith, and family. These books support moral values and honor the lives of all people who contributed to success. When children read great books about themselves it builds them up and makes their identity stronger. Joyce Burges Level 1: Beginning Readers Recommended Age : Toddler–Kindergarten

Frannie’s Flower by Ida DeLage

When Frannie’s grandmother surprises her with a flower for her birthday, Frannie learns the importance of caring flowers.

My Doll Keshia by Eloise Greenfield

A short story about a little girl and her doll, as they play games and spend the day together.

Joyce Burges’ Disclaimer: You can locate most of these resources, books, etc. via your local library, bookstores, or online outlets—we would like to thank our parent photographers, National Black Home Educators Photography Files, and Unsplash.com for the use of the images used in creating our resources.

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Level 2: Early Readers Recommended Age: 5–7

A Bus of Our Own Flossie and the Fox by Freddi Williams Evans by Patricia McKissack

It was hard for Mable Jean and her friends to go to school. They had no bus to ride. Some even walked Ma Dear’s Aprons two miles to get to school. It was about time they had by Patricia McKissack a bus of their own. Brown Angels Abigail is a Big Girl! Are You a Big Girl Too? Poems by Walter Dean Myers by Don Hoffman

Psalm Twenty-Three Peter Rabbit by Tim Ladwig by Beatrix Potter The text of the familiar psalm comparing God to a What Mary Jo Shared loving shepherd accompanies illustrations which show by Janice May Udry the world love and fear faced by an urban African- American family.

What Mary Jo Wanted by Janice May Udry The Drinking Gourd: A Story of the Underground Railroad by F.N. Monjo Mary Jo’s Grandmother by Janice May Udry Wagon Wheels by Barbara Brenner The Angel Academy: Runaway Angel by Misty Taggart

Sister, Stay Out! by Misty Taggart

The Razzleberry Rescue by Misty Taggart

Level 3: Middle Readers Recommended Age: 7–9

Addy, an American Girl (short story series) by Connie Porter

Follow Addy Walker as she faces different stages of growing up with her family in Philadelphia after the Civil War.

Addy Studies Freedom Addy’s Little Brother Addy’s Wedding Quilt High Hopes for Addy

Crispus Attucks—Boy of Valor by Dharathula H. Millender

Mahalia Jackson: Young Gospel Singer by Montrew Dunham

Level 4: Intermediate Readers Recommended Age: 9–11

Mississippi Bridge Sister Anne’s Hands by Mildred Taylor by Marybeth Lorbiecki

The Friendship Defeat of the Ghost Riders by Mildred Taylor by Dave and Neta Jackson

Cassie Logan and her brothers have been warned When the Key family moved to Florida, everything never to go to the Wallace store, so they know to seemed to be looking up. A new house, and youngest expect trouble there. What they don’t expect is to daughter, Celeste was going to school and learning hear a black elderly man, daring to call the white things, what could go wrong? They were happy. But, storekeeper by his first name. The year is 1933, the was it to last. place is Mississippi, and any child knows that some things just aren’t done… The Runaway’s Revenge by Dave and Neta Jackson The Gold Cadillac by Mildred Taylor

Lois and Wilma’s father has a brand-new gold Journey to the End of the Earth Cadillac, and Lois is looking forward to riding in by Dave and Neta Jackson it all the way from Ohio to Mississippi. But in the rural South there are no admiring glances for the shiny new car—only suspicion and anger for the black man behind the wheel. For the first time in their lives, Lois and her sister know what its like to feel scared because of the color of their skin.

Famous Figures of the Civil War Era by Norma Jean Lutz

Sojourner Truth (Abolitionist, Suffragist, and Preacher) Frederick Douglass (Abolitionist and Author) Harriet Tubman (Leader of the Underground Railroad)

Level 5: Difficult Readers Recommended Age: 11–13

The Enid Book Series Adventure in the Caribbean by Cynthia G. Williams by Stacy Towle Morgan

Join Enid and her friends as they grow up finding On a trip with their family, Hope and Annie meet a young girl named Zoe. And when the girls find a map, adventure lurking behind every corner. they can only hope the treasure is not too far. Enid and the Dangerous Discovery Enid and the Church Fire Papa’s Mark Enid and the Great Idea by Gwendolyn Battle-LaVert Enid and the Homecoming The day for blacks to vote is coming up soon and Simms knows how much his papa wants to vote, so he Words by Heart is determined to teach him to write before that day. by Ouida Sebestyen

Mystery of the Dark Tower (American Girl Miles’ Song by Alice McGill History Mysteries) by Evelyn Coleman

Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen Circle of Fire (American Girl History Mysteries) by Evelyn Coleman Walking the Road to Freedom: A Story About Sojourner Truth by Jeri Ferris

Traces the life of the black woman orator who spoke out against slavery throughout New England and the Midwest.

Level 6: Advanced Readers Recommended Age: 13–15

A Picture of Freedom (Dear America At Her Majesty’s Request: An African Series) American Princess in Victorian England by Patricia McKissack by Walter Dean Myers

After watching her parents murdered before her eyes, Color Me Dark (Dear America Series) Sara was sure to be next until a kind man rescued her, by Patricia McKissack and brought her to England were Sara could not have even imaged living, at her Majesty’s request. The Journal of Joshua Loper: A Black Cowboy (Dear America Series) by Walter Dean Myers Vision of Beauty: The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker Sounder by Kathryn Lasky by William H. Armstrong This impressive picture book will delight young readers as it gives them a sense of this remarkable woman and Harriet Tubman: Freedombound (He- the times in which she lived. roes of History Series) by Janet and Geoff Benge A Voice of Her Own: Phillis Wheatley by Kathryn Lasky George Washington Carver: From Slave to Scientist (Heroes of History Series) The biography on Phillis Wheatley. On her journey to by Janet and Geoff Benge write poetry.

Courage to Run: A Story Based on the Life of Harriet Tubman by Wendy Lawton

The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox

Level 7: Mature Readers Recommended Age: 15–18

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen All books by Jane Austen recommended.

Madame Bovary* by Gustave Flaubert *Parental review recommended

The Bouquet by Charles W. Chesnutt

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

The Man Who Saw the Flood by Richard Wright

The Scarlet Letter* by Nathaniel Hawthorne *Parental review recommended

Biographies

Story of Pride, Power, and Uplift: Annie T. Sojourner Truth: Ain’t I A Woman? Malone by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack by J.L. Wilkerson From her days as a slave, to her glorious speech on Fannie Lou Hamer womanhood, Sojourner Truth someone every woman by Susan Kling should read about.

Frederick Douglass Sojourner Truth by Rachael Phillips by Peter and Connie Roop

Narrative of the Life of Frederick The Slave Who Freed Haiti: Toussaint Douglass Louverture by Frederick Douglass by Katharine Scherman

Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the The Story of Phillis Wheatley Underground Railroad by Shirley Graham by Ann Petry Then Darkness Fled—The Liberating J.C. Watts Wisdom of Booker T. Washington by Norma Jean Lutz by Stephen Mansfield

M.C. Higgins, the Great A biography of Booker T. Washington from his slavery by Virginia Hamilton days, till the building of Tuskegee Institute. Mary McLeod Bethune by Catherine Owens Peare Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington Matthew Henson: Arctic Hero by Sheldon N. Ripley

Paul Laurence Dunbar: Black Poet Laureate by Pearle Henriksen Schultz

Samuel Morris by Lindley Baldwin

Historical Figures to Highlight

Alice Dunbar Nelson

Booker T. Washington

Eloise Greenfield

Ida B. Wells-Barnett

James Weldon Johnson (Lift Every Voice)

W.E.B. Du Bois

Read Aloud Questions

1. Describe the setting of this story or of this chapter. 2. Would you like to live in that setting? 3. What time period does the story take place in? 4. What are some differences you can notice between that time period and the time we live in? 5. Who are the main characters in this story? 6. What good character qualities do the characters exhibit? 7. What bad character qualities do the characters exhibit? 8. How do the characters relate to each other—do they have good or bad relationships? 9. Which character is your favorite? 10. Why is that character your favorite? 11. Is the story told in first person or in third person? 12. Do the characters speak with an accent? 13. What just happened in the story? 14. Why did that happen? 15. What do you think will happen next?

16. What is your favorite part of the story so far?