Heritage Month Spotlight

Celebrating Black History Month

Black history month began in 1926, and was the brainchild of noted black scholar and historian, Carter G. Woodson. Originally Black History Week, the second week of February, was commemorated by African Americans all over the United States. In 1976, as part of the nation's bicentennial celebration, it was expanded and became Black History Month, and is now observed nationwide. To learn more about Black History Month, visit Teacher Vision

AFRICAN/AFRICAN AMERICAN BIOGRAPHIES @ BOOKTALK
George Crum and the Saratoga Chip
Author, Gaylia Taylor
"In the beginning I was more interested in the potato chip, but as George came alive, it was the man himself who made a connection with me."

I and I Bob Marley
Author, Tony Medina and Illustrator, Jesse Joshua Watson
"Children in every country on Earth can look to Bob and take heart that no matter how hard your life is, no matter how unimportant you may feel, you are unique and mighty and you can achieve anything you set your mind to."

John Lewis in the Lead: A Story of the Civil Rights Movement
Co-author, Kathleen Benson
"I was fascinated by Lewis's lifelong determination to fight for what was right."

The Last Black King of the Kentucky Derby
Author, Crystal Hubbard
The achievements of Jimmy Winkfield and other jockeys of color, what we can all learn from Jimmy Winkfield's life, and why sports are important.

Paul Robeson
Author, Eloise Greenfield
"I hope they will understand, as Robeson did, the importance of developing the talents they are all born with, and especially, I hope they will be inspired to care about themselves and other people."

Ray Charles
Illustrator, George Ford
"Since there were no childhood photographs of Ray Charles available, I remember reaching deep inside myself to conceive the image of Ray as a blind child in painful circumstances."

AFRICAN/AFRICAN AMERICAN THEMED TITLES @ BOOKTALK
Bird
Author, Zetta Elliott
How the book was shaped by African American literature and tradition and by the lives of children today.

Black All Around!
Author, Patricia Hubbell
"I got started writing by sitting up in a tree, looking out over the meadow and reservoir across from my home, thinking about what I saw."

Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan
Author, Mary Williams
"They could be the the most angry, bitter people that you ever saw. But they aren't. They are so motivated and eager to get jobs and go to school. I just knew I had to help them."

Chess Rumble
Author, G. Neri
"I had no idea this story was in me; but once I started, it took off on its own and I just ran to keep up."

Christmas Makes Me Think
Author, Tony Medina
The inspiration behind the book and the holiday.

Destiny's Gift
Author, Natasha Anastasia Tarpley
"People always ask me how I became a writer," says Tarpley. "I wish that I had some crazy, magical story to tell them about how I inherited Shakespeare's quill or my great-great-great-great grandmother's diary, and how these carefully preserved artifacts transported me to a mystical realm where stories hang on trees like sweet ripe fruit, and all I had to do to receive my writing powers was eat my fill. But the plain truth of the matter is, I simply fell in love with words."

Elizabeti's Doll
Author, Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen
Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen set out to join the Peace Corps, as an ambitious, young American willing to give something of herself, in order to bring about change in a developing nation.

First Come the Zebra
Author and Illustrator, Lynne Barasch
Lynne Barasch talks about the trip to Kenya that inspired her to write First Come the Zebra

Grandma's Purple Flowers
Author and Illustrator, Adjoa J. Burrowes
Adjoa J. Burrowes tells us about the people and events behind her book Grandma's Purple Flowers

In Daddy's Arms I am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers
Illustrator, Javaka Steptoe
"I've thought about illustrating children's books all my life. Being the son of John Steptoe, people always asked if I was planning to follow in my father's footsteps. Sometimes I would say yes, sometimes I would say no. But I realized though I might walk a similar path, I will always be making my own footsteps."

Janna and the Kings
Author, Patricia Smith
"Writing was the key to all magic," says Smith. "It was all the colors on the canvas, every note ever sung, every word ever spoken or written in any language. And it was all free, just waiting to be crafted, taught, to be celebrated. I never considered living my life any other way."

Mama's Window
Author, Lynn Rubright
"I mainly want readers to enjoy the book.  I love that delicious feeling deep inside that nudges me to steal a few minutes, or an hour, every day to sink into a good book.  That's what I hope for most of all — that readers will find Mama a good read."

No Mush Today Illustrator, Nicole Tadgell
Explore the process of bringing a book to life.

The Palm of My Heart: Poetry by African American Children
Editor, Davida Adedjouma
"...after writing & writing & revising then...writing, again, there comes that special moment when the sound & rhythm & texture of words become uniquely yours, your VOICE."

Sweet Music in Harlem
Author, Debbie Taylor
Taylor had only just begun to learn about jazz when she began writing Sweet Music in Harlem. "One of the things that surprised me most was learning that jazz was improvised," says the author. "That means every time a jazz artist plays a song, it can sound different!"

Sweet Potato Pie
Author, Kathleen D. Lindsey
"When I was 4 years old," says the author, "my Mom would give me old junk mail to keep me quiet, especially in church. I would scribble on every inch of those papers, pretending I was a great writer. Then I had to read it to someone that had time to listen. That was the hard part!"

Steel Drumming at the Apollo
Creators, Trish Marx and Ellen B. Senisi
"Doesn't everyone want to be a rock star?"

Up the Learning Tree
Author, Marcia Vaughan
"I was reading TIKKI TIKKI TEMBO to a second grade class, making some changes to the story, when KABAM! A voice in my head said 'Marcia, stop changing other peoples' books and write your own.' That's just what I did."

AFRICAN/AFRICAN AMERICAN COLLECTION
View an advanced search of African American interest titles.
These books are perfect for the National African American Read-In.

AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR SURVEY
LEE & LOW's authors and illustrators talk about what Black History Month means to them, how they celebrate the holiday, and their personal heroes.

LEARN MORE
Visit these sites to learn more about Black History Month:
The History Channel
Time for Kids
TeacherVision

Learn about
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month
National Native American Heritage Month