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Shared by Leslie from The Interacial Jawn Podcast via AtlantaBlackStar.com

10 Affirming Black Books That Will Elevate Your Children’s Minds

  1. Africa Dream by Eloise Greenfield, is about a little African-American girl falls asleep and dreams of ancient Africa. She visits a village, its marketplaces and even meets her grandfather.
  2. The Colors of Us by Karen Katz, is about a little Black girl named Lena wants to paint a portrait of herself. After walking through her neighbourhood with her mother, she discovers that Black people’s skin comes in numerous shades of brown.
  3. Beautiful Blackbird by Ashley Bryan teaches Black children about their beauty early on even in the midst of envy and jealousy expressed by those who do not look like them.
  4. Brothers of the Knight written by Debbie Allen is about Rev. Knight and his 12 energetic sons who love to dance all night without him knowing.
  5. Ellington Was Not A Street by Ntozake Shange explains how important Black people were and still are in America.
  6. My Man Blue by Nikki Grimes is a compilation of poems that tell the story of Damon’s need for a positive Black male role model in his life.
  7. The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Rachel Isadora is the African and fun adaptation of the Grimm Brothers’ fairytale of the same name.
  8. I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont is about a spirited little Black girl who does more than just like herself. It is very clear that she is carefree and she loves herself.
  9. Please, Baby, Please by Spike Lee and his wife Tonya Lewis Lee discuss the joys and sleepless nights of parenting in this cute children’s book.
  10. Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children by Sandra L. Pinkney is a book that wonderfully affirms Black children. This book reinforces that we must show them just how much we love them.

“We treat racism in this country like it’s a style that America went through. Like flared legs and lava lamps. Oh, that crazy thing we did. We were hanging black people. We treat it like a fad instead of a disease that eradicates millions of people.” — Chris Rock