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Tags: african american

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Drumbeat in our feet

Keeler, Patricia//Leitao, Julio T.

Informative passages and lyrical verse explore the history and rhythmic qualities of traditional African dance as performed long ago and today.

Tags

africa, african, african american, america, animals, celebration, ceremony, colors, congo, dancing, elephant, ethnic, exercise, generations, geography, history, instruments, learning, maps, monkey, multicultural, music, nonfiction, nonverbal communication, performance, rhythm, storytelling, traditions, village

Grandpa always say that it take two things to make dreams come true: faith and a hammer. After Grandma passes away, Grandpa sets aside his hammer and nearly loses his faith. His granddaughter tries everything she can think of to bring back his faith but nothing seems to work. One day, Grandpa visits a Habitat for Humanity worksite with a neighbor and realizes that he can made dreams come true for others.

Wilma unlimited

Krull, Kathleen

As a young girl, Wilma Rudolph contracted polio. Through hard work, she is able to walk without her leg brace. She plays basketball in high school, goes to college on a track scholarship, and wins three gold medals in the 100, 200, and 4x100 meter dashes.

Tags

african american, determination, disability, exercise, hard work, multicultural, olympics, persistence, running, sports

Black cowboy, wild horses: A true story

Lester, Julius

Using his amazing tracking ability, black cowboy Bob Lemmons is accepted by a herd of wild horses allowing him to corral them. Based on a true story, the reader gets a glimpse of the struggles that faced the cowboys in the plains of the United States.

Tags

acceptance, african american, american, animals, birds, careers, challenges, cowboys, food, freedom, heroism, history, horse, multicultural, nature, snake, storm, survival, vulture, weather, wilderness

Sam and the tigers: A new telling of little black sambo

Lester, Julius

A boy named Sam picks out bright clothes for his first day of school. On his way to school he runs into some tigers who want to eat him but he trades his bright clothes for his life. His bright clothes cause such a ruckus among the tigers that they fight each other and Sam gets his clothes back.

Tags

adventures, african american, anger, animals, art, author's note, clothing, colors, conflict resolution, elephant, fable, family, feelings, fight, food, fox, giraffe, hunger, lion, monkey, multicultural, numbers, nutrition, school, tiger, umbrella, wolf

What a truly cool world

Lester, Julius//Cepeda, Joe

God created the world with water, trees, land, animals, and people, and thought he had done a great job. God's angel Shaniqua told God that the world looked too boring. God then set out to make the world more interesting. First he made grass but that did not help much so God started singing and making beautiful music. When the flowers complained about being lonely, God called on Shaniqua to sing. Her voice was so pretty that the planets and starts started crying. The people on earth were very happy with their world and so was God.

Tags

accomplishment, african american, angel, animals, author's note, birds, butterfly, colors, critical thinking, dancing, decision making, dog, goal setting, god, insects, library, multicultural, music, planet, shapes, song, tree, water, whale

The youngest marcher: The story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a young civil rights activist

Levinson, Cynthia

Audrey is a very confident and brave nine-year-old girl who knows all about segregation. She sees how others treat black people, and she wants to speak up and go to places like anybody else. After a church service, Audrey volunteers to go to jail to make a statement about freedom. Jail was quite hard, and the food was awful. After five days, Audrey is released to go home. Two months later, the City of Birmingham Alabama wipes segregation laws off the books. From then on, Audrey Faye Hendricks is known as the "Civil Rights Queen" and the youngest known marcher in the Children's March in May 1963. Audrey can now enjoy her ice cream at the parlor counter like everybody else.

Tags

african american, author's note, children, church, civil rights, comparison, discrimination, equality, faith, family, food, freedom, grandparents, history, marching, multicultural, parents, prison, recipe, signs, timeline

Chugga-chugga choo-choo

Lewis, Kevin

A freight train's day proves to be very busy. After a long day of traveling into tunnels and up steep mountains, even the train needs a rest.

Tags

african american, bodies of water, colors, mountains, multicultural, night, rhyme, river, sleep, sounds, sun, toys, train, transportation, travel

Benjie

Lexau, Joan M.

Benjie's granny loses her earring on the way home from church, so bashful Benjie sets out to look for it while his granny is takng a nap. He finds the earring, but in the process he loses his bashfulness.

Tags

accomplishment, adventures, african american, assertiveness, bravery, change, disappearance, exploration, family, goal setting, grandparents, lost, multicultural, shyness, sleep, success, unselfish, verbal communication

Tree of hope

Littlesugar, Amy

Florrie is named after a famous African American actress of the 1920's. Florrie learns the importance of working hard. Having big dreams will help Florrie and her family achieve anything. They learn that the Tree of Hope reflects the glory days of Harlem's Lafayette Theatre- a time when a black man shines through the Great Depression.

Tags

actor, african american, art, body parts, buildings, caribbean, creativity, dancing, daydreaming, haitian, happiness, hunger, performance, play, relationship, rhythm, singing, song, theatre, tree, wish

Freedom school, yes!

Littlesugar, Amy

Jolie shows courage in her community by protecting the school that will educate her and others. Jolie is afraid others will burn down the school. Jolie never gives up hope, and learns about famous African Americans who were brave and made a difference in their community, just like Jolie.

Tags

african american, anger, art, body parts, books, bravery, buildings, careers, change, church, community, courage, education, family, fire, freedom, god, hard work, history, music, neighbors, poetry, quilt, relationship, religion, running, school, slavery, song, spiritual, stars, teaching

At the mall

Loomis, Christine

Three children and their mother find new and fun things at the mall. As they walk and shop, they notice the candy store, white mice, teens gathering and more. They eventually find the perfect gift to complete their trip.

Tags

african american, baby, car, clothing, decision making, family, food, fun, mouse, multicultural, nonverbal communication, presents, shopping, siblings, toys, transportation, walking

Sister Anne's hands

Lorbiecki, Mary Beth

Anna begins her second year of school in the early '60's. Her new teacher, Sister Anne, is different from other teachers because she has a different skin color. She inspires students all around her and overcomes challenges. Students learn what respect and tolerance are, and everyone learns from one another.

Tags

acceptance, african american, appearance, art, beach, bedtime, body parts, challenges, change, colors, community, counting, differences, discrimination, diversity, garden, god, history, learning, library, map, memories, moving, multicultural, numbers, prejudice, racism, religion, rhythm, school, singing, stereotypes, storytelling, teaching

You and me and home sweet home

Lyon, George Ella

A young girl helps her family build a new home. The family celebrates the new milestone by sharing a meal together. The family then adjusts to the new house together.

One million men and me

Lyons, Kelly Starling

A young high school girl goes with her father to a march on the United States capitol during a civil rights gathering. She is surrounded by "one million men" and she experiences pride as she and her father witness history in Washington, D.C.

Tags

african american, american, author's note, bus, careers, civil rights, community, faith, family, feelings, future, history, hope, marching, money, multicultural, music, parents, peace, pride, responsibilities, subway, train, transportation, verbal communication

Roy makes a car: Based on a story collected by Zora Neale Hurston

Lyons, Mary

Roy Tyle is known around town as the best mechanic in Florida. Roy makes it his mission to create a car that will be accident proof. No one in the town believes him, but Roy proves them wrong time and time again. Roy's creativity and perseverance leads to the making of the best cars in the area.

Soccer game!

Maccarone, Grace

Two teams of young children play a game of soccer which consists of dribbling, passing, falling, slipping on the grass, and, finally, one of the teams scoring.

Tags

african american, diversity, exercise, games, multicultural, running, soccer, sports, teamwork

Say hey: A song of Willie Mays

Mandel, Peter

Willie Mays grows up in a time when black athletes were separate from white athletes in America. But due to Willie's baseball skills, the New York Giants recruit him. Willie breaks many baseball records because of his fast running and powerful hitting power.

Tags

african american, america, author's note, baseball, body parts, careers, crowd, fame, feelings, friendship, future, happiness, history, jumping, moving, multicultural, photograph, relationship, rhythm, running, seasons, song, sports, teamwork

How sitali learned a lesson

Mashiri, Pascal

As the oldest in his family Sitali is supposed to hunt and provide for his younger sisters. He learns a lesson about self-control and hard work after being made chief and then losing it all.

Tags

african, african american, apathy, conflict resolution, critical thinking, family, folktale, laziness, multicultural, obedience, parents, peer resistance, refusal skills, responsibilities, river, siblings, storytelling, village

The hundred penny box

Mathis, Sharon B.

Michael greatly admires his great-great Aunt Dew. He likes to sit with her while she sleeps or sings her long song. She dances with him and helps him count her hundred pennies in a special box. When Michael's mother attempts to take the special box and other belongings of Aunt Drew, Michael takes a stand and defends his aging Aunt.

Molasses man

May, Kathy L.

A young boy and his family make molasses every summer. This summer the sourghum turns into a recipe that the boy's Grandfather has perfected. The boy spends his summer days helping his family make molasses and playing outside during the cooking process. While some molasses is cooling, Mama and her sisters pour it into glass jars and set up a stand near the road for passers-by.

Tags

african american, animals, author's note, books, community, cooking, family, farm, five senses, food, games, generations, glasses, grandparents, happiness, hard work, horse, moving, mule, neighbors, noise, observation, parents, plants, playing, pretend, recreation, sequence, smell, teamwork, traditions

Action! How movies began

McCarthy, Meghan

Movies are an important part of our society today, but they have not always been what we see in theaters. From the Kinetoscope to black and white film, and from soundless productions to special effects, the movie industry has evolved over time to make what we see and enjoy today!

Tags

african american, author's note, careers, colors, emotions, five senses, generations, history, inventions, movies, multicultural, nonfiction, photograph, photography, sequence, shadows, sounds, technology, time, vision

A million fish...more or less

McKissack, Patricia C.

Hugh Thomas lives in a place where weird things happen and people spin tales. Elder Abbajon and Papa-Daddy tell Hugh Thomas a tale about Bayou Clapateaux. On the way home from fishing, Hugh Thomas makes up his own spin tale.

Tags

african american, animals, assertiveness, birds, careers, cat, creole, crow, family, fish, fishing, friendship, grandparents, imagination, multicultural, numbers, raccoon, recreation, storytelling, turkey, verbal communication

Mirandy and brother wind

McKissack, Patricia C.

To win first prize in the dance contest, Mirandy tries to capture the wind for her partner.

Tags

african american, assertiveness, competition, creativity, dancing, decision making, exercise, friendship, multicultural, peer resistance, persistence, verbal communication, weather, wind

The honest-to-goodness truth

McKissack, Patricia C.

Libby lies to Mama about feeding the cow. When she is caught and punished, Libby vows to tell the truth from then on. She ends up hurting her friends when she tells it like it is. Can Libby tell the truth and get her friends back?

Ma dear's aprons

McKissack, Patricia C.

David Earl knows what day of the week it is by the color of Ma Dear's aprons. She wears a different apron each day to reflect the day's chores. Ma Dear is a single, hard-working mother from the South that creates a loving home for her son.

Tags

african american, bath, bedtime, child care, church, cleanliness, clothing, colors, Days of The Week, death, goal setting, multicultural, stress management, verbal communication, working mother

Lola loves stories

McQuinn, Anna

Lola and her dad go to the library on Saturdays to pick out books to read during the week. Every time Lola reads a book, she acts it out the next day. If she reads about building, she becomes a builder. If Lola reads a book about fairies, she becomes a fairy. What will Lola be next?

Tags

acting, african american, animals, baby, bedtime, books, buildings, clothing, companion, cow, creativity, Days of The Week, family, imagination, library, love, multicultural, parents, reading, relationship, routine, royalty, shoes, storytelling, tiger, tools, travel, wilderness

Dancing with the indians

Medearis, Angela Shelf

An African American family watches a Seminole Indian celebration. After watching and learning of this culture and its customs, the family joins in the dancing.

Tags

acceptance, african american, assertiveness, awareness, celebration, critical thinking, dancing, differences, family, history, multicultural, native american, nonverbal communication, recreation, traditions, verbal communication

Annie's gift

Medearis, Angela Shelf

All of Annie's family members have musical talents; however, Annie cannot find hers. She feels despair until her father points out that everyone has unique talents, and hers is writing poetry.

Tags

african american, critical thinking, family, goal setting, multicultural, music, parents, pride, self confidence, self esteem, siblings, stress management, verbal communication

The black snowman

Mendez, Phil

Jacob, a young African American boy, lives with his poverty striken family in the city. He dislikes his culture, life and heritage and is filled with hate. It takes some special magic to change his ideas.

Tags

african american, anger, body image, change, conflict resolution, courage, critical thinking, decision making, family, feelings, growing up, magic, multicultural, nonverbal communication, poverty, seasons, self esteem, traditions, verbal communication

One round moon and a star for me

Mennen, Ingrid

A young boy looks at the stars and the sun as it warms his father's land. His mother has a new baby and his father explains that he is his papa too. Then he shows the boy his own moon and star.

Tags

african american, baby, family, moon, multicultural, parents, self esteem, stars, sun, verbal communication

Happy feet: The savory ballroom lindy hoppers and me

Michelson, Richard

A father loves to dance. He also loves to retell the story about the opening of the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. He works hard and saves money so he can put up a shoe shine sign for his own business. When his son is born that day, the new club opens to a sharp-dressing, happy-dancing people from all backgrounds with black people and white people dancing together. The son is named Happy Feet, and he too dreams of dancing at the legendary ballroom someday.

Tags

african american, author's note, body parts, business, car, cleanliness, clothing, community, dance, dancing, feelings, friendship, happiness, hard work, history, language, multicultural, music, new baby, party, performance, shoes, signs

Calvin's christmas wish

Miles, Calvin

Calvin is worried that his parents are Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus after his two friends tell him that this is true. Calvin is relieved and excited when he receives a bike for Christmas, which confirms his belief in Santa Claus.

Tags

african american, autobiography, christmas, feelings, friendship, holidays, multicultural, presents, santa, worry

Richard wright and the library card

Miller, William

Due to segregation in the 1920s, African Americans are not allowed to check out books from the library. Richard Wright discovers his passion which becomes a road to his freedom - books.

Tags

african american, books, challenges, critical thinking, discrimination, freedom, goal setting, multicultural, nonverbal communication, reading, self esteem, storytelling, stress management, verbal communication, work

The bus ride

Miller, William

Sara stands up for justice on her city bus. Sara gets tired of sitting in the African American section of the bus. Sara does not undertsand why she does not have the same rights as the white Americans, so she takes a stand to change that law.

Tags

african american, america, anger, author's note, body parts, bus, car, change, community, courage, crowd, discrimination, equality, feelings, freedom, heroism, hunger, justice, law, money, newspaper, parents, pride, school, segregation, support, transportation

The talking cloth

Mitchell, Rhonda

Aunt Phoebe has a collection of many wonderful things, each having an interesting story. The little girl's favorite thing is an adinkra cloth from Ghana. It has many colors and symbols to represent feelings, faith, power, and love.

Hue boy

Mitchell, Rita Phillips

Hue Boy is very concerned about his height. Everyone thinks that he is too short. He and his mother try every possible remedy, but nothing works. Finally, Hue Boy's father returns, and Hue Boy loses his feelings of smallness through his pride of being with his father.

Tags

african american, appearance, depression, differences, family, insecurity, multicultural, parents, pride, self confidence, self esteem, sizes, stress management, verbal communication

The drinking gourd

Monjo, F.N.

Tom misbehaves in church and is sent home early. He goes to play in the barn and discovers runaway slaves. He and his father help them escape and Tom learns all about freedom through the Underground Railroad.

Tags

african american, assertiveness, bravery, church, critical thinking, decision making, escape, family, freedom, goal setting, helping, history, misbehavior, multicultural, nonverbal communication, play, slavery, underground railroad, verbal communication

Mel's diner

Moss, Marissa

Mabel's parents own a diner where she helps every morning before school. Mabel introduces all the patrons of the diner, then explains what she and her friend do after school.

David's father

Munsch, Robert

Julie has new neighbors. David seems like a regular boy, but Julie wonders what the rest of his family is like, because she saw a spoon the size of a shovel, a knife as big as a flagpole, and a fork the size of a pitchfork all being moved into David's house.

Big jabe

Nolan, Jerdine

Momma Mary goes back in time and tells stories of a unique young man named Jabe, who is responsible for creating magic among the slaves of the Plenty Plantation. He is described as a hero with the strength of fifty men, a big heart, and a wondrous gift at leading slaves away to freedom.

Tags

african, african american, animals, bee, chicken, cow, fable, fantasy, feelings, fish, fishing, flood, food, freedom, generations, happiness, heroism, horse, hunger, magic, multicultural, mystery, nonverbal communication, plants, recreation, river, slavery, storytelling, tornado, tree, uniqueness, unselfish, weather, wind

In my momma's kitchen

Nolen, Jerdine

This little girl loves to be in her momma's kitchen. There's always something going on. From college announcements, to family dinners, to late nights of singing, everything happens in the kitchen. It is the most special place in the house.

Tags

accidents, african american, animals, birthday, caring, cat, celebration, clothing, cooking, family, food, friendship, love, multicultural, night, nutrition, parents, playing, pretend, school, siblings, verbal communication, wedding

In my momma's kitchen

Nolen, Jerdine

A young girl's fondest memories happen in her momma's kitchen. Achievements, family, stories, cooking and love are all celebrated in the kitchen. Great-Aunt Caroline, corn-pudding time and nighttime serenades are a few of the special moments in this loving family.

Tags

accomplishment, african american, animals, bedtime, cat, celebration, cooking, dancing, easter, family, food, friendship, garden, grandparents, holidays, instruments, love, multicultural, music, parents, relationship, school, self esteem, sleep, song, walking, wedding

It's school time

Oechsli, Kelly

A boy runs to school, participates in the day, and then walks home (A Wordless book).

Tags

african american, community, decision making, exercise, friendship, multicultural, nonverbal communication, responsibilities, running, school, walking

Who's whose?

Ormerod, Jan

Three families come together every day of the week to do activities help each other out. Some observe activities, do chores with others, or run errands with their friends. With so many people doing things together it is hard to keep track of who's whose!

Tags

acceptance, activities, african american, animals, behavior, cat, challenges, child care, community, cooperation, correspondence, Days of The Week, dog, exercise, family, food, grandparents, helping, multicultural, nutrition, parents, play, responsibilities, school, sharing, siblings, television

Red dancing shoes

Patrick, Denise Lewis

A little girl's Grandmama brings her a new pair of red dancing shoes. She is so excited she dances all around town showing them to everyone she knows.

Tags

african american, community, dancing, exercise, family, grandparents, helping, multicultural, parents, siblings

My mama sings

Peterson, Jeanne Whitehouse

A mother sings songs to her little boy just like her mama used to sing to her. One day when the mother comes home from a bad day at work, the little boy makes up a song about his mother. This makes his mother very happy.

Tags

african american, dedication, family, feelings, happiness, love, multicultural, seasons, song, spiritual, spring, summer, winter, working mother

A different pond

Phi, Bao

A young boy accompanies his dad to catch fish for food before the sunrises and before other family members awake. The dad tells the bait man at the all-night store that he is starting a second job. The boy meets a Hmong man and a black man who are also fishing -- but this time, it is just the boy and his dad under the starlit sky. The boy learns to make a fire and to bait his hook and to honor the stories of his Dad as he explains how life was in Vietnam when he was a boy. When they return home, the dad and mom head to work while the boy looks after his brothers and sisters.

Tags

african american, author's note, bicycle, bodies of water, counting, feelings, fire, fishing, food, hard work, hmong, illustrator's note, language, learning, loss, morning, multicultural, photograph, pond, poverty, refugee, responsibilities, sadness, siblings, sleep, storytelling, teeth, tree, vietnamese, war, work

The great encounter: A special meeting before columbus

Piercy, Patricia A

An African American tells the story of the discovery of America from a different point of view. He brings new knowledge to an excited and interested elementary classroom while telling the historical story.

Tags

acceptance, african american, critical thinking, discovery, diversity, fear, feelings, history, multicultural, native american, nonverbal communication, school, self esteem, storytelling

Shades of black: A celebration of our children

Pinkey, Sandra L.

Common traits of African Americans are correlated with illuminating photographs. Traits such as skin color, hair texture, and eye color are described. Discover the diversity among the African American culture and how this culture is unique to others.

Tags

african american, celebration, colors, culture, differences, diversity, food, multicultural, nonverbal communication, nutrition, photograph, pride, self esteem, uniqueness

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