Celebrate Black Women’s History Month with young readers by checking out these informative new books about famous Black women.
Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark by Allen R. Wells; illustrated by DeAndra Hodge
If you love Ada Twist, Scientist then you will really enjoy the true story of Yvonne Clark. She was one of the premiere Black engineers of her time. This book is written by one of her former Tennessee State University engineering students and it gives you a peak into her life as a young girl.
Themes of curiosity, perseverance and innovation are prominent throughout the book. Yvonne is portrayed as a little girl whose curiosity began with fixing a toaster. She eventually grows up to be one the most important engineers involved in getting man on the moon.
I really appreciated how the book focuses on how Yvonne’s mind “sparks” and that she thinks outside of the box. Mature readers will infer that she also had to deal with misogyny and racism as a Black woman engineer, but the story focuses on Yvonne’s problem solving skills and her successes.
And She Was Loved: Toni Morrison’s Life in Stories by Andrea David Pinkney; illustrated by Daniel Minter
Dig into both National Poetry Month and Black Women’s History Month by reading this beautiful poem about the life of iconic writer, Toni Morrison. The illustrations are magical just like Toni’s writing; transforming with the poem. I felt wrapped in the love of words as I read this ode.
“Inside its rickety kitchen, folktales and spirituals bubbled over, misting the windows, boiling up your affection for letters.” This is such a beautiful line from the book!!!! The figurative language is chef’s kiss!
This book is a peak into Morrison’s childhood and a beautiful poetic interpretation of her biography.
Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins-The First Lady of Children’s Music by Traci N. Todd; illustrated by Eleanor Davis
Ella Jenkins was one of my favorite singers as a child. Her famous call and response children’s songs were played over and over on my little tape deck. Perfect for someone who couldn’t memorize lyrics if you paid me.
Musical elements float through the words in the book. Woven together are Ella’s work with children, music and her participation in the Civil Rights Movement. Did you know that she sang at the March on Washington?
She also did a lot of global traveling and loved learning about different types of music as she visited children all over the world. She often incorporated different cultural elements into her music.
The color scheme and illustrations are beautiful. There is even a little picture book surprise at the end of the book too! A perfect book for music teachers and music class.
Maya Angelou Finds Her Voice by Connie and Peter Roop; illustrated by Noa Denmon
A great companion for those reading I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. This book provides a visual representation of her autobiography.
I loved the illustrations and Mrs. Flowers looks just as polished and regal as her description. The illustrated words float in the air like fun melodies that Maya recites. I love the explosion of brightness and joy at the end of the book when Mrs. Flowers gets Maya to finally speak to her.
The book addresses Maya’s assault in an age appropriate manner that lets young readers know that something bad happened to her and that she felt guilty for the consequences the perpetrator faced. But it doesn’t go into detail and instead focuses on her reaction of not speaking anymore.
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