Celebrating Black History Month and African American History Month
Monday, February 7th, 2011February has arrived and with it Black History Month in Canada and African American History Month in the USA. To see some of the 
celebrations planned in the USA click here and in Canada click here. In honor of the month, many websites and bloggers are highlighting the richness of children’s literature that focuses on Africa, African Americans, African Canadians and the African diaspora. Here’s a small sample of what’s being offered:
The Brown Bookshelf has launched 28 Days Later, a month-long showcase of the best in picture books, middle grade and young adult novels written and illustrated by African Americans.
Margo Tenenbaum’s blog The Fourth Musketeer specializes in historical fiction for children and teens, and throughout the month of February will focus on reviewing African American titles.
Reading Rockets.Org has just updated it’s Black History Month section where you’ll discover great online resources for the classroom and for family discussions. I’ve just spent the morning watching the video interviews with award-winning writers and illustrators.
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre has compiled a list of Canadian books that are recommended reads for Black History Month.
Check out School Library Journal‘s Places in the Heart: Celebrating Black History Month article in which top children’s authors were asked to choose their favorite children’s book about the black experience. Rick Margolis says “The title could be for kids of any age—from a picture book or graphic novel to a chapter book or collection of poems. We told them it could be new or old, fiction or nonfiction. The only requirement? It had to be a book that they truly loved—and, of course, it couldn’t be one of their own.” Grace Lin, Mitali Perkins, Cynthia Kadohata, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Pat Mora and others share their answers here,
If there is a website or blog that you’ve come across we would love to know about it. Please share it with us and our readers by leaving a comment.
