Fostering a sense of self-worth and tenacity in children is a critical aspect of their development. The following list is for those who wish to reinforce the importance of self worth in Black children, encourage them to see themselves as individuals, and to view their features, hair and complexion as elements of beauty and pride … Continue reading #BlackIsBeautiful: Brown Is Too!
#BlackIsBeautiful: Brown Sugar Babies
Brown Sugar Babies Text and photography by Charles R. Smith, Jr. Little, Brown Books For Young Readers ISBN-10 : 0786806222ISBN-13 : 978-0786806225 Previously released in hardcover form and now available as a board book, Smith’s book of poems and photographs spotlight giggly, playful Black babies in all shades of brown. The text likens each child to a … Continue reading #BlackIsBeautiful: Brown Sugar Babies
#BlackIsBeautiful: The Black Crayon
The Black Crayon Written by Andrew Vassall Illustrated by Unc Jon Published by First Edition Design Publishing ISBN-10 : 1506906958ISBN-13 : 978-1506906959 This unusual picture book is told from the perspective of a black crayon, who feels unloved as each of the other crayons are used except him. As he watches children make drawings with his … Continue reading #BlackIsBeautiful: The Black Crayon
#BlackIsBeautiful: Sulwe
Title: Sulwe Author: Lupita Nyong’o Illustrator: Vashti Harrison ISBN-10: 1534425365 ISBN-13: 978-1534425361 Bestseller, Sulwe written by Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o is a recipient of numerous awards and is featured in Netflix’s show, Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices. This powerful story addresses colorism and how it can be hurtful. All children should know they are beautiful in … Continue reading #BlackIsBeautiful: Sulwe
#BlackIsBeautiful: Magnificent Homespun Brown
Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration The book presents a series of vignettes following young Black girls as they enjoy all the pleasures that come with the color brown. Whether spending time with family and friends, by themselves, inside the house or enjoying nature, each girl takes notice of the beautiful, changing brown hues around them. … Continue reading #BlackIsBeautiful: Magnificent Homespun Brown
#BlackIsBeautiful: A Story About Afiya
A Story About Afiya “A Story About Afiya,” by Jamaican poet James Berry, is a story about a beautiful, little Black girl named Afiya (which means ‘health' in Swahili). Her dress collects memorabilia from the day. As she dances and moves around the island her dress has the day’s adventure printed on it but by the … Continue reading #BlackIsBeautiful: A Story About Afiya
#BlackIsBeautiful: Where creative and self expression leads to activism!
Punching The Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam, of the Exonerated Five is a book that illustrates how creative expression can be a powerful tool for activism and social change especially for our youth today. Dr. Yusef Salaam is one of five African American and Latino men that were coerced into falsely confessing and … Continue reading #BlackIsBeautiful: Where creative and self expression leads to activism!
#BlackIsBeautiful: Simone Visits the Museum
Simone Visits The Museum Simone Visits the Museum by Dr. Kelsi Bracmort and illustrated by Takeia Marie, both from the United States, is a beautiful children’s book about a Saturday in the life of a family of Washington D.C. residents. The book is focused on Simone’s first trip to the National Museum of African American History … Continue reading #BlackIsBeautiful: Simone Visits the Museum
#BlackIsBeautiful: And the “E”-ward Goes to…..
Each year, the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) along with Biblioboard, honor the best self-published EBooks in fiction and poetry by an African American author in the U.S. BCALA has hosted this award for the last five years. Here are some titles to diversify your EBook collections. Past Fiction Winners (2016) Song … Continue reading #BlackIsBeautiful: And the “E”-ward Goes to…..
#BlackIsBeautiful: Genesis Begins Again
Our Blackness is beautiful and diverse, our skin representing a variety of shades and hues, from light to dark and dark to light, a blending of ethnicities and cultures. And yet there are conflicting ideals of beauty, as society pressures communities of color to conform to their expectations. It’s taken us awhile to get to … Continue reading #BlackIsBeautiful: Genesis Begins Again
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 