Over the past couple of years, it has been hard to escape the news surrounding book banning in the United States. Reminiscent of an era in world history we should never go back to, book banning is an authoritarian tactic that suppresses free speech and ideas among the masses. Across the U.S., there has been a significant attack toward Black history, and books written about by and for the Black experience. Even children’s books!
If you think this is as absurd as we do, we hope you will join us in celebrating banned books whenever we have the chance. During Black History Month this year, we are excited to share 6 exciting new children’s books that will ignite curiosity and imagination in young readers, and allow parents, teachers and caregivers to be inspired by the stories.
Children’s book publishers Holiday House and Peachtree have long been committed to sharing noteworthy books for children and teens from diverse authors and illustrators. Offering glimpses at sweet family moments, important times in history, and closer looks at often untold experiences, these books from Black creators are not to be missed.
Read on below for recommendations to add to your list this month!
1. ‘This is Tap! Savion Glover Finds His Funk‘ by Selene Castrovilla
This is a story about tap dancing, a distinctly American art form that blended English-Scottish-Irish clog dancing with African tribal dancing. And it’s about a boy, Savion Glover—who was born to feel the music—to dance and perform and invent. And to delight and awe audiences with the movements of his body.
Savion Glover revitalized modern tap dancing with his jazz and hip-hop influenced “free-form hard core” style. From his appearances on Sesame Street and choreographing Happy Feet to his Tony award-winning musical Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk, Savion has inspired a new generation of tap dancers. Read more about his impact on music and dance in the afterword.
Feel the movement with bright, electric art from Laura Freeman, winner Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor for Hidden Figures. Hear the music with Selene Castrovilla’s bouncing, bold rhymes. This is Tap! brings Savion’s exuberant story of creativity and passion to young readers.
Buy your copy of ‘This Is Tap!’ HERE.
2. ‘Hurry, Kate, Or You’ll Be Late‘ by Janice N. Harrington
A young girl stops to call out all the sights and sounds on her morning trip to pre-school, but that’s not what makes her late—it is her dad’s goodbye hug.
Kate was late for preschool, but not for the reasons you might expect. It wasn’t because her daddy brushed her hair into poofs, or because they slowed to say hello to neighbors on the way to the bus stop. It wasn’t even because she had to wave to all the trucks, cars, and street cleaners on the road. No, Kate was late because just after they arrived at school, her daddy swooped in to give her a great big goodbye hug that lasted a very long time.
Janice N. Harrington is the Ezra Jack Keats Award winning author of Going North. With Hurry Kate or You’ll be Late, she has teamed up with illustrator Tiffany Rose to create a delightful picture book about a vehicle obsessed girl and her very patient father.
Buy your copy of ‘Hurry, Kate, Or You’ll Be Late’ HERE.
3. ‘Prak Fills The House’ by Donna L. Washington
This hilarious retelling of “The Three Little Pigs” stars a spirited pig as she outsmarts her older siblings in a friendly competition.
Prak is a practical pig who is often overlooked by her two older brothers: Mo the muscly one, and Bo the beautiful one. So when Poppa Pig offers his house to whichever of his children can fill it to the brim, everyone assumes Mo or Bo will be up for the task. No one expects Prak to have the strength or charisma to fill a house. But with a lot of creativity and a bit of luck, Prak might just surprise them all!
Charming and lighthearted illustrations by debut illustrator Lauren Emmons joyously accentuate this lively read-aloud from the acclaimed author of Boo Stew, Donna L. Washington. A warm and endearing choice to share with family.
Buy your copy of ‘Prak Fills The House’ HERE.
4. ‘Going Down Home With Daddy‘ by Kelly Starling Lyons
Set at one young boy’s annual family reunion, this picture book is a rich and moving celebration of Black history, culture, and the power of family traditions.
Down home is Granny’s house. Down home is where Lil Alan and his parents and sister will gather with great-grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Down home is where Lil Alan will hear stories of the ancestors and visit the land that has meant so much to all of them. And down home is where all of the children will find their special way to pay tribute to their family history. All the kids have to decide what they’ll share, but what will Lil Alan do?
Kelly Starling Lyons’ eloquent text explores the power of history and family traditions, and stunning illustrations by Coretta Scott King Honor- and Caldecott Honor-winner Daniel Minter reveal the motion and connections in a large, multi-generational family.
Buy your copy of ‘Going Down Home With Daddy’ HERE.
5. ‘A Walk In The Woods‘ by Nikki Grimes
Confused and distraught after the death of his father, a boy opens an envelope he left behind and is surprised to find a map of the woods beyond their house, with one spot marked in bright red. But why? The woods had been something they shared together, why would his father want him to go alone?
Slowly, his mind settles as he sets off through the spaces he once explored with his dad, passing familiar beech and black oak trees, flitting Carolina wrens, and a garter snake they named Sal. When he reaches the spot marked on the map, he finds pages upon pages of drawings of woodland creatures, made by his father when he was his age. What he sees shows him a side of his dad he never knew, and something even deeper for them to share together. His dad knew what he really needed was a walk in the woods.
New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes and the Caldecott Award winning illustrator Jerry Pinkney spent the early days of the pandemic emailing back and forth and talking about collaborating on a book, with Jerry sharing all of the pictures he took of the woods around his house. From this, they conjured a story of a boy’s struggle with grief, and all the things he sees and feels on a walk through the forest.
Jerry sadly passed away in the fall of 2021, but not before he delivered tight pencil sketches of the forests he loved. When his son Brian took on the task of completing the illustrations, he found himself connecting with his father in a whole new way, his experience mirroring that of the boy in the book. The result is a simultaneously touching and deeply authentic story about the ways shared pastimes keep us close to those we’ve lost.
Buy your copy of ‘A Walk In The Woods’ HERE.
6. ‘I Would Love You Still‘ by Adrea Theodore
A trip to the zoo inspires a parent to list all the ways they love their child, no matter how wild they are, in this rhyming picture book.
What if you had cheetah spots? Or flew like an eagle? Follow a parent and child from a fun-filled trip to the zoo through a mess filled day and all the way to bedtime. No matter how wild a child is, a parent’s love never wavers.
If you sang like a screech owl in the night, I would be there to hug you tight.
If you crawled like a gecko up the wall, I would still love you best of all.
If you dangled upside down like a possum in a tree, that wouldn’t matter at all to me!
I would love you still.
Cuddle up at bedtime to share these charming animal rhymes and giggle at the adorable illustrations. This celebration of the special bond between parent and child is the perfect gift for baby showers, new parents, or any occasion!
Buy your copy of ‘I Would Love you Still’ HERE.
