Black History Month
Celebrate Black History Month!
February is Black History Month, an annual commemoration of the achievements, contributions, and experiences of Black Americans. It is a time to reflect on the continued struggle for racial justice, as well as honor Black historical figures and celebrate Black joy!
Join us in amplifying Black voices and characters! Check out author and educator Dr. Artika R. Tyner’s ideas for teaching Black History Month, celebrate Black joy with some of our favorite titles, take a wild ride through history in our new graphic novel series Qianna and the Quantum Train, and discover recommended books for the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.
Capstone believes it is important to remember that Black History is American History, and the celebration is not confined to this one month, but for the entirety of the year.
5 Ideas for Black History Month
For Dr. Artika R. Tyner, a passionate educator, author, and advocate for justice, Black History Month serves as an invitation to build an inclusive classroom by engaging all learners. In her post, she poses 5 questions for educators to think about when teaching Black History Month.
“Through my writings, I seek to inspire Black children to find the role models that motivate them to learn, grow, and lead. It follows the notion that you cannot be what you cannot see. For Black children, these leaders are not always featured in mainstream texts. Even if they are, they are celebrated only during Black History Month. My goal is to celebrate the accomplishments of Black leaders year-round and to incorporate their accomplishments into the lessons taught about American history.”
Celebrating Black Joy
With stories highlighting everyday experiences, like going on a class field trip or helping out in your community, to extraordinary experiences, like being an official member of superhero Max Axiom’s Society of Super Scientists (we all want to be on that team!), here are some of our favorite books that celebrate Black joy. Featuring Black primary characters, these positive stories center on Black children being their beautiful, smart, curious, creative, and fun-loving selves.
Qianna and the Quantum Train
Buckle up and board the Quantum Train with genius inventor Quianna and her pals as they jump through space and time, introducing readers to diverse thinkers of the past. Author-illustrator Jared Sams shares his vibrant vision behind these truly original graphic novels that burst with modern, hip-hop flair.
Freedom Summer 1964
Freedom Summer, the movement to register Black voters, led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Discover the people and events of this movement and learn why voting rights remain an important issue today.
Recommended Civil Rights Books
Nina Under Arrest
The Little Rock Nine
Challenge Segregation
Fighting For the Civil
Rights Act of 1964
Freedom Summer 1964:
Turning Point for Voting Rights
The Untold Story of
Charlotta Spears Bass
The Untold Story of
Sarah Keys Evans
Storytime Read Aloud
Capstone presents the late award-winning author-illustrator Floyd Cooper’s Juneteenth for Mazie as a free read-aloud video. We hope students enjoy the story of Mazie as she learns about the struggles and triumphs of her enslaved ancestors' full emancipation.
Diversity is a Gift
From music to art to poetry, creativity filled the air in the historical Fillmore District. The creativity and inclusion brought communities together—with no exceptions. Everyone was welcome, and everyone was accepted.
In our conversation with author Rachel Werner, we talk about her picture book, Moving and Grooving to Fillmore's Beat, a lyrical story about the rich multi-ethnic history of The Fillmore District, what inspires her, and why learning about the past is important.
Educator Resources & Downloadables
Moving and Grooving to Fillmore's Beat
Educator's Guide
The Ashe Brothers
Educator's Guide
Azaleah Lane
Coloring Sheet
Azaleah Lane
Coloring Sheet
Azaleah Lane
Diorama Project
Mr. Grizley's Class
Bookmarks
Mr. Grizley's Class
Zoom Background
Jalen's Big City Life
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Moving and Grooving to Fillmore's Beat
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Max Axiom
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Q&A With Author
Gwendolyn Hooks
Q&A With Author
Nikki Shannon Smith
When the Past Meets the Present
When author Nikki Shannon Smith began writing Lena and the Burning of Greenwood, she had an eerie sense of déjà vu as current events seemed to mirror those of 100 years earlier. In her essay, Nikki shares the raw and emotional journey of writing about one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history and how she poured all her love into telling the truth about the past.
Meet Judy Allen Dodson
The Ashe Brothers: How Arthur and Johnnie Changed Tennis Forever is a story that transcends sports. We sat down with archivist, librarian, and author Judy Allen Dodson to talk about her picture book debut, a layered story about sibling love and sacrifice.
Meet Dorothy H. Price
We Need Diverse Books Mentee Dorothy H. Price brings authentic voice and experience to her debut early chapter book series, Jalen’s Big City Life. Perfect for early reader fans of Yasmin, Katie Woo, and Pedro, the stories in Jalen’s Big City Life center on realistic adventures in a city setting and teach important lessons including kindness, responsibility, sharing, and respect. Hear from Dorothy about her exciting new series.
Books for Black History Month
For Black History Month, we’ve curated a collection of titles featuring biographies of notable civil rights leaders, scientists, athletes, and more, as well as compelling historical fiction and nonfiction stories.
