29 Days of Reading For Black History Month
By Drag Story Hour- Arizona
By Drag Story Hour- Arizona
Read with Lux as they go through 29 books featuring creators, characters and narratives from the Black community!
Books not available on Bookshop (but still MUST reads):
- Sightseeing with Sandy series by Shambrekiá Wise
All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom
Angela Johnson and E. B. Lewis
$17.99 $16.73Through the eyes of one little girl, All Different Now tells the story of the first Juneteenth, the day freedom finally came to the last of the slaves in the South. Since then, the observance of June 19 as African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. This stunning picture book includes notes from the author and illustrator, a timeline of important dates, and a glossary of relevant terms.
Carmela Full of Wishes
Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson
$18.99 $17.66When Carmela wakes up on her birthday, her wish has already come true--she's finally old enough to join her big brother as he does the family errands. Together, they travel through their neighborhood, past the crowded bus stop, the fenced-off repair shop, and the panadería, until they arrive at the Laundromat, where Carmela finds a lone dandelion growing in the pavement. But before she can blow its white fluff away, her brother tells her she has to make a wish. If only she can think of just the right wish to make . . .
Change Sings: A Children's Anthem
Amanda Gorman and Loren Long
$18.99 $17.66In this stirring, much-anticipated picture book by presidential inaugural poet and activist Amanda Gorman, anything is possible when our voices join together. As a young girl leads a cast of characters on a musical journey, they learn that they have the power to make changes--big or small--in the world, in their communities, and in most importantly, in themselves.
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James
$18.95 $17.62This rhythmic, read-aloud title is an unbridled celebration of the self-esteem, confidence, and swagger boys feel when they leave the barber's chair--a tradition that places on their heads a figurative crown, beaming with jewels, that confirms their brilliance and worth and helps them not only love and accept themselves but also take a giant step toward caring how they present themselves to the world. The fresh cuts. That's where it all begins. Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut is a high-spirited, engaging salute to the beautiful, raw, assured humanity of black boys and how they see themselves when they approve of their reflections in the mirror.
The Day You Begin
Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López
$18.99 $17.66There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it's how you look or talk, or where you're from; maybe it's what you eat, or something just as random. It's not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it. Jacqueline Woodson's lyrical text and Rafael López's dazzling art reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes-and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. And that sometimes, when we reach out and begin to share our stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway.
Dream Big, Little One
Vashti Harrison
$8.99 $8.36This beautifully illustrated board book edition of instant bestseller Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History showcases women who changed the world and is the perfect goodnight book to inspire big dreams.
Firebird
Misty Copeland and Christopher Myers
$17.99 $16.73In her debut picture book, Misty Copeland tells the story of a young girl--an every girl--whose confidence is fragile and who is questioning her own ability to reach the heights that Misty has reached. Misty encourages this young girl's faith in herself and shows her exactly how, through hard work and dedication, she too can become Firebird.
Hair Love
Matthew A. Cherry and Vashti Harrison
$17.99 $16.73It's up to Daddy to give his daughter an extra-special hair style in this ode to self-confidence and the love between fathers and daughters, from Academy-Award winning director and former NFL wide receiver Matthew A. Cherry and New York Times bestselling illustrator Vashti Harrison.
Happy to Be Nappy
Bell Hooks
$8.99 $8.36Happy with hair all short and strong. Happy with locks that twist and curl. Just all girl happy! Happy to be nappy hair! Nominated for an NAACP Image Award, here is a buoyantly fun read aloud brimming with playful -- and powerful -- affirmations.
Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad
Ellen Levine and Kadir Nelson
$17.99 $16.73A stirring, dramatic story of a slave who mails himself to freedom by a Jane Addams Peace Award-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist.
I Am Enough
Grace Byers and Keturah A. Bobo
$18.99 $17.66This gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind to one another comes from Empire actor and activist Grace Byers and talented artist Keturah A. Bobo.
The King of Kindergarten
Derrick Barnes and Vanessa Brantley-Newton
$17.99 $16.73A confident little boy takes pride in his first day of kindergarten, by the Newbery Honor-winning author of Crown.
Last Stop on Market Street
Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson
$18.99 $17.66Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn't he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty--and fun--in their routine and the world around them.
Let the Children March
Monica Clark-Robinson and Frank Morrison
$17.99 $16.73In 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, thousands of African American children volunteered to march for their rights after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak. They protested the laws that kept black people separate from white people. Facing fear, hate, and danger, these children used their voices to change the world. Frank Morrison's emotive oil-on-canvas paintings bring this historical event to life, while Monica Clark-Robinson's moving and poetic words document this remarkable time.
Life Doesn't Frighten Me (Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Edition)
Sara Jane Boyers, Jean-Michel Basquiat, et al.
$19.95 $18.55This brilliant introduction to poetry and contemporary art features brief biographies of Angelou and Basquiat and an afterword from the editor. A selected bibliography of Angelou's books and a selected museum listing of Basquiat's works open the door to further inspiration through the fine arts.
Lullaby (for a Black Mother) Board Book
Langston Hughes and Sean Qualls
$8.99 $8.36This beloved poem by Langston Hughes, illustrated by the award-winning Sean Qualls, is an irresistible celebration of the love between mother and baby, now available in board book format.
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read
Rita Lorraine Hubbard and Oge Mora
$18.99 $17.66In 1848, Mary Walker was born into slavery. At age 15, she was freed, and by age 20, she was married and had her first child. By age 68, she had worked numerous jobs, including cooking, cleaning, babysitting, and selling sandwiches to raise money for her church. At 114, she was the last remaining member of her family. And at 116, she learned to read.
Ron's Big Mission
Rose Blue, Corinne Naden, et al.
$18.99 $17.66Nine-year-old Ron loves going to the Lake City Public Library to look through all the books on airplanes and flight. Today, Ron is ready to take out books by himself. But in the segregated world of South Carolina in the 1950s, Ron's obtaining his own library card is not just a small rite of passage--it is a young man's first courageous mission.
Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library
Carole Boston Weatherford and Eric Velasquez
$9.99 $9.29"Where is our historian to give us our side?" Arturo asked. Amid the scholars, poets, authors, and artists of the Harlem Renaissance stood an Afro-Puerto Rican named Arturo Schomburg. This law clerk's life's passion was to collect books, letters, music, and art from Africa and the African diaspora and bring to light the achievements of people of African descent through the ages. When Schomburg's collection became so big it began to overflow his house (and his wife threatened to mutiny), he turned to the New York Public Library, where he created and curated a collection that was the cornerstone of a new Negro Division. A century later, his groundbreaking collection, known as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, has become a beacon to scholars all over the world.
The Snowy Day
Ezra Jack Keats
$8.99 $8.36In 1962, a little boy named Peter put on his snowsuit and stepped out of his house and into the hearts of millions of readers. Universal in its appeal, this story beautifully depicts a child's wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever. The quiet fun and sweetness of Peter's small adventures in the deep, deep snow is perfect for reading together on a cozy winter day.
A Song for the Unsung: Bayard Rustin, the Man Behind the 1963 March on Washington
Rob Sanders, Carole Boston Weatherford, et al.
$19.99 $18.59A singular, richly illustrated picture book biography of Bayard Rustin, the gay Black man behind the March on Washington of 1963, by the acclaimed authors of Unspeakable: the Tulsa Race Massacre and Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag.
Stevie
John Steptoe
$7.99Robert is an only child who never had to share his toys with anyone. He's never had to worry about someone messing with his stuff or following him around. But when his mother starts watching a kid named Stevie, all of that changes. Now Robert has to share his space, his time, and his parents with Stevie. Then one day Stevie moves away. Robert thinks that life will finally return to normal, but something else happens. Something Robert never expected: Robert misses Stevie.
Sulwe
Lupita Nyong'o and Vashti Harrison
$17.99 $16.73Sulwe has skin the color of midnight. She is darker than everyone in her family. She is darker than anyone in her school. Sulwe just wants to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything.
Tar Beach
Faith Ringgold
$8.99 $8.36Cassie Louise Lightfoot has a dream: to be free to go wherever she wants for the rest of her life. One night, up on "tar beach," the rooftop of her family's Harlem apartment building, her dreams come true. The stars lift her up, and she flies over the city, claiming the buildings and the city as her own.
Thank You, Omu! (Caldecott Honor Book)
Oge Mora
$18.99 $17.66Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu's delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses toward the scrumptious scent. And one by one, Omu offers a portion of her meal. Soon the pot is empty. Has she been so generous that she has nothing left for herself?
Drag Story Hour-Arizona's mission is to bring inclusive story times to the children of Arizona and their grown-ups. Drag storytellers inspire children to be themselves through books, songs, and artistic expression. Visit DragStoryHourAz.org for more information!
Purchasing these titles from our bookshop helps DSH-Az continue our mission. However, if you cannot purchase these titles, visit your local public library and support the authors by recommending their titles and checking out their books!