Black History Month: Books and Resources for All Ages
As we try and live out our baptismal promise to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being” we have another opportunity for faith formation and justice with Black History Month. Please check out these new book recommendations for Children and Youth as well as links to great resources for using local library books with Christian Formation. Also look at an older post on Talking about Race for more suggestions and resources, or this post for book suggestions for adults.
Book Recommendations for Children and Youth
For children – Martin’s Big Words, by Doreen Rappaport
“Weaving in Dr. King’s own “big words,” this inspiring picture book biography celebrates this great leader as preacher and politician. Rappaport’s sparse narrative captures the essentials of the man, the Civil Rights movement he led, and his policy of non-violence. This is a great book to read aloud many times.” Booklist
To make your hybrid Sunday School or Children’s Chapel a little easier, The Chicago Children’s Museum recorded a reading of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2LYcwHF8gs
For older kids (12 and up) – Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
This remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers.
(If you’d like to get the whole family into the discussion, there is also a version of Stamped written for younger children, and the full, 500-page edition of Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America.)
For help on using books in church formation programs, to promote faith formation in families, or perhaps to story reading books for a zoom bedtime stories, take a look at these resources:
Storypath is a resource for Union Presbyterian Seminary and connects children’s books with the revised common lectionary. Materials are searchable by the lectionary, by scripture links, and by topic. The site also contains lesson plans, blogs by educators (listed under “guest voices”), and lists on topics – such as the one on Challenging Conversations: a bibliography about Prejudice, Tolerance, and Diversity.
On Instagram: The Church Librarian. Kari Baumann (she/her) is a school librarian and a Wake Divinity School student who wants to help you use more children’s books at your church. Each short post highlights a book with suggestions of themes and teachable moments. As a book specialist, she also highlights the strengths of each book through text and illustrations and what to pay attention to when choosing children’s books. Family and life