Ms. Perna’s Top Starr Books: African American History Month

For Younger Readers: Picture Books Before She Was Harriet: The Story of Harriet Tubman* – written by L esa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by James E. Ransome An evocative poem and opulent watercolors come together to honor a woman of humble origins whose courage and compassion make her larger than life. (Ages 4-8)

The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth and Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore* – written by V aunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie Relates the story of the National Memorial African Bookstore, founded in Harlem by Louis Michaux in 1939, as seen from the perspective of Louis Michaux Jr., who met famous men like Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X while helping there. (Ages 7-10)

Firebird* – written by M isty Copeland and illustrated by Christopher Myers American Ballet Theater soloist Misty Copeland encourages a young ballet student, and that someday, with practice and dedication, the little girl will become a firebird, too. (Ages 5-8)

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race* – written by Margot Lee Shetterly and illustrated by Laura Freeman Explore the story of four female African American mathematicians at NASA, and how they overcame gender and racial barriers to succeed in a highly challenging STEM-based career. (Ages 4-8)

Moon Over Star* – written by Dianna Hutts Aston and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney On her family's farm in the town of Star, eight-year-old Mae eagerly follows the progress of the 1969 Apollo 11 flight and moon landing and dreams that she might one day be an astronaut, too. (Ages 6-8)

Of Thee I Sing – written by Barack Obama and illustrated by Loren Long In this tender, beautiful letter to his daughters, President Barack Obama has written a moving tribute to 13 groundbreaking Americans and the ideals that have shaped our nation. From the artistry of Georgia O'Keeffe, to the courage of Jackie Robinson, to the patriotism of George Washington, President Obama sees the traits of these heroes within his own children, and within all of America's children.

Overground Railroad – written by Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by James E. Ransome A girl named Ruth Anne tells the story of her family's train journey from North Carolina to New York City as part of the Great Migration. (Ages 4-8)

Parker Looks Up – written by P arker Curry and Jessica Curry; illustrated by Brittany Jackson A visit to Washington, DC's National Portrait Gallery forever alters Parker Curry's young life when she views First Lady Michelle Obama's portrait. (Ages 4-8)

A Place to Land – written by B arry Wittenstein and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney The true story behind the writing of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. (Ages 7-10)

St. Hilda’s & St. Hugh’s African American History Month Book List

Radiant Child: The Story of the Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat* – written and illustrated by Javaka Steptoe A heartfelt and vibrant picture book about the childhood and life of Puerto Rican-Haitian American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Written for young children, it celebrates Basquiat's art and traces the early steps of his artistic formation, as he makes his way toward the pinnacle of fame. (Ages 7-10)

Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson* – written by S haron Robinson and illustrated by Kadir Nelson As a testament to his courage, Jackie Robinson's daughter shares memories of him, from his baseball career to the day he tests the ice for her, her brothers, and their friends. (Ages 7-10)

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement* – written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Ekua Holmes Presents a collage-illustrated treasury of poems and spirituals inspired by the life and work of civil rights advocate Fannie Lou Hamer. (Ages 8 and up)

For Older Readers: African American History Brown Girl Dreaming* – written by Jacqueline Woodson In vivid poems that reflect the joy of finding her voice through writing, an award-winning author shares what it was like to grow up in the 1960s and 1970s in both the North and the South. (Ages 10 and up)

Chasing Space – written by Leland Melvin When the former Detroit Lions’ football career was cut short by an injury, Leland Marvin didn't waste time mourning his broken dream. Instead, he found a new one—something completely out of this world. He joined NASA, braved an injury that nearly left him permanently deaf, and traveled to space on the shuttle Atlantis to help build the International Space Station. (Ages 8-12)

Changing the Equation: 50+ US Black Women in STEM – written by Tonya Bolden This book celebrates African American women who have shattered the glass ceiling, defied racial discrimination, and pioneered in the fields of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). (Ages 10 and up)

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice* – written by Philip M. Hoose Presents the life of the Alabama teenager who played an integral role in the Montgomery bus strike, once by refusing to give up a bus seat, and again, by becoming a plaintiff in the landmark civil rights case against the bus company. (Ages 12 and up)

Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America* – written by Andrea Davis Pinkney Presents the stories of 10 African American men from different eras in American history, organized chronologically to provide a scope from past to present day. (Ages 10 and up)

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans* – written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson Presents an introduction to African American history, from Revolutionary-era slavery up to the election of President Obama. (Ages 6 and up)

St. Hilda’s & St. Hugh’s African American History Month Book List

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings* – written by Maya Angelou A 1969 autobiography describing the early years of American writer and poet Maya Angelou. The first in a seven-volume series, it is a coming-of-age story that illustrates how strength of character and a love of literature can help overcome racism and trauma. ( Young Adult. Ages 13 and up)

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks ( Young Reader's Edition) – written by Rebecca Skloot Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer, yet her cells—taken without her knowledge—became one of the most important tools in medicine. (Young Adult. Ages 13 and up)

March: Book One* – written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin; illustrated by Nate Powell March is a vivid first-hand account of John Lewis' lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation. Rooted in Lewis' personal story, it also reflects on the highs and lows of the broader civil rights movement. (Young Adult. Ages 13 and up)

The Promise of Change: One Girl’s Story in the Fight for School Equality – written by Jo Ann Allen Boyce In 1956 in the small town of Clinton, Tenn., 12 African American students integrated the all-white high school. Jo Ann Allen Boyce, one of the “Clinton 12,” narrates this first-person account. ( Ages 10 and up)

Undefeated* – written by K wame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson A love letter to black life in the United States, this collection of poems highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. (Ages 8 and up)

X: A Novel* – written by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon X follows the boy who would become Malcolm X from his childhood to his imprisonment for theft at age 20, when he found the faith that would lead him to forge a new path and command a voice that still resonates today. (Young Adult. Ages 13 and up)

For Older Readers: Modern Stories by African American Authors The Crossover* – written by Kwame Alexander Fourteen-year-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court as their father ignores his declining health. (Ages 10 and up)

Elijah of Buxton* – written by Christopher Paul Curtis In 1859, eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman, the first free-born child in Buxton, Canada, which is a haven for slaves fleeing the American South, uses his wits and skills to try to bring to justice the lying preacher who has stolen money that was to be used to buy a family's freedom. (Ages 9-12)

Garvey’s Choice – written by Nikki Giovanni Garvey’s father has always wanted him to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, and reading. This novel-in-verse celebrates choosing to be true to yourself. Note on the Tanka poetry form. (Ages 8 and up)

St. Hilda’s & St. Hugh’s African American History Month Book List

Hurricane Child – written by Kheryn Callendar Born on Water Island in the Virgin Islands during a hurricane, which is considered bad luck, twelve-year-old Caroline falls in love with another girl—and together they set out in a hurricane to find Caroline's missing mother. (Ages 10 and up)

The Jumbies – written by Tracey Baptiste Corinne La Mer isn't afraid of anything. Not scorpions, not the boys who tease her, and certainly not jumbies. They're just tricksters parents make up to frighten their children. Then one night Corinne chases an agouti all the way into the forbidden forest. Those shining yellow eyes that followed her to the edge of the trees, they couldn't belong to a jumbie. Or could they? (Ages 9 and up)

Look Both Ways* – written by Jason Reynolds Jason Reynolds conjures ten tales (one per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings, and brilliantly weaves them into one wickedly funny, piercingly poignant look at the detours we face on the walk home, and in life. (Ages 10 and up)

My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich – written by Ibi Zoboi In the summer of 1984, 12 year old Ebony-Grace of Huntsville, Alabama, visits her father in Harlem, where her fascination with outer space and science fiction interfere with her finding acceptance. (Ages 10 and up)

New Kid* – written by Jerry Craft Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. (Ages 10 and up)

One Crazy Summer* – written by Rita Williams-Garcia In the summer of 1968, after travelling from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to spend a month with the mother they barely know, 11-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters arrive to a cold welcome as they discover that their mother, a dedicated poet and printer, is resentful of the intrusion of their visit and wants them to attend a nearby Black Panther summer camp. (Ages 8-12)

The Parker Inheritance* – written by Varian Johnson Spending the summer in Lambert, South Carolina, Candice discovers the letter that sent her grandmother on a treasure hunt, and with her new friend Brandon, sets off to expose the injustice once committed against a local African American family. (Ages 8 and up)

Season of Styx Malone* – written by Kekla Magoon Brothers Caleb and Bobby Gene Franklin dream of venturing beyond their small town. T heir neighbor, Styx Malone, promises the brothers that they can pull off the Great Escalator Trade—exchanging one small thing for something better until they achieve their wildest dream. The brothers soon find themselves in over their heads. Styx has secrets so big they could ruin everything. (Ages 10 and up)

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky* – written by Kwame Mbalia Seventh-grader Tristan Strong tumbles into the MidPass and, with allies John Henry and Brer Rabbit, must entice the god Anansi to seal the hole Tristan ripped in the sky. ( Ages 8 and up)

Additional titles can be searched using the C. V. Starr Library catalog at s thildas.goalexandria.com. Annotations are courtesy of the Library of Congress cataloging-in-publication notes. Asterisk denotes a recipient of the ALA’s C oretta Scott King Book Awards.

St. Hilda’s & St. Hugh’s African American History Month Book List