Black History Month 2022

It's Black History Month!

The Doctor With an Eye for Eyes: The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath written by Julia Finley Mosca, illustrated by Daniel Reiely (J 617.7092 BATH MOSCA) "As a girl coming of age during the Civil Rights Movement, Patricia Bath made it her mission to become a doctor. When obstacles like racism, poverty, and sexism threatened this goal, she persevered―brightening the world with a game-changing treatment for blindness!" 40 pages. Recommended for ages 5-10. Click here for this book at the Richland Public Library. Here are some other children's book biographies we have about Black doctors and midwives. Click on the blue text for more information about each.

• Charles Drew: Doctor Who Got the World Pumped Up to Donate Blood by Mike Venezia (J 617.092 DREW VENEZIA); 32 pages
• Daniel Hale Williams: Surgeon Who Opened Hearts and Minds by Mike Venezia (J 617.092 WILLIAMS VENEZIA); 32 pages
• Dr. Charles Drew: Blood Bank Innovator by Anne Schraff (J 617.092 DREW SCHRAFF); 112 pages
• Dr. Charles Drew: Medical Pioneer e-book by Susan Whitehurst, available from Hoopla; also available at this link
• The Life of Charles Drew by Katherine Talmadge (J 617.092 DREW TALMADGE); 84 pages
• Patricia Bath and Laser Surgery audiobook by Ellen Labreque, available from Hoopla; also available here as a read-along e-book and here as an e-book
• Rebecca Lee Crumpler by Janice P. Miller (J 610.92 CRUMPLER MILLER); also available here as an e-book from Hoopla
• Who Fixed Babies’ Hearts? Vivien Thomas by Sara Latta (J 617.412 THOMAS LATTA); also available here as a read-along e-book from Hoopla
• The Women Who Caught the Babies: A Story of African American Midwives by Eloise Greenfield (J 618.2008 GREENFIE)

What Color Is My World? The Lost History of African-American Inventors written by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld, illustrated by Ben Boos and A. G. Ford (J ABDUL-JA) "Did you know that James West invented the microphone in your cell phone? That Fred Jones invented the refrigerated truck that makes supermarkets possible? Or that Dr. Percy Julian synthesized cortisone from soy, easing untold people's pain? These are just some of the black inventors and innovators scoring big points in this dynamic look at several unsung heroes who shared a desire to improve people's lives. Offering profiles with fast facts on flaps and framed by a story featuring two feisty twins, here is a nod to the minds behind the gamma electric cell and the ice-cream scoop, improvements to traffic lights, open-heart surgery, and more -- inventors whose ingenuity and perseverance against great odds made our world safer, better, and brighter." 36 pages. Click here for this book at the Richland Public Library, or click here for the e-book from Libby/Overdrive. Here are some other children's books we have about Black scientists and inventors. Click on the blue text for more information or to check them out.

• Benjamin Banneker by Kevin Conley (J 520.924 BANNEKER CONLEY)
• Benjamin Banneker, Astronomer and Mathematician by Laura Baskes Litwin (J 520.92 BANNEKER LITWIN)
• Black Pioneers of Science and Invention by Dr. Louis Haber (J 509.22 HABER); 264 pages
• Black Scientists by Lisa Yount (J 500.8996 YOUNT)
• Dear Benjamin Banneker e-book by Angela Davis Pinkney, available from Hoopla
• I've Got an Idea: The Story of Frederick McKinley Jones by Gloria Swanson (J 609.2 JONES SWANSON)
• Madam C. J. Walker: The Woman Behind Hair Care Products for African-Americans by Sally Lee (J 909 WALKER LEE)
• Outward Dreams: Black Inventors and Their Inventions by James Haskins (J 609.22 HASKINS); 101 pages
• The Real McCoy: The Life of an African-American Inventor by Wendy Towle (J 608.72 MCCOY TOWLE), about Elijah McCoy
• What Are You Figuring Now? A Story About Benjamin Banneker by Jeri Ferris (J 520.924 BANNEKER FERRIS)
• Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton (J 609.2 JOHNSON BARTON); also available here as an e-book from Libby/Overdrive
• Young Trailblazers: The Book of Black Inventors and Scientists e-book by M. J. Fievre, available from Hoopla Digital

Before She Was Harriet written by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James Ransome (J 973.7115 TUBMAN CLINE-RA) "A lush and lyrical biography of Harriet Tubman, written in verse. An evocative poem and opulent watercolors come together to honor a woman of humble origins whose courage and compassion make her larger than life." "We know her today as Harriet Tubman, but in her lifetime she was called by many names. As General Tubman she was a Union spy. As Moses she led hundreds to freedom on the Underground Railroad. As Minty she was a slave whose spirit could not be broken. As Araminta she was a young girl whose father showed her the stars and the first steps on the path to freedom." Click here for this book at the Richland Public Library, or click here for the audiobook. Click here for this read-along e-book, click here for the read-along video, or click here for the video from Hoopla. Here are some other children's books that we have about Harriet Tubman and Soujourner Truth. Click on the blue text for more information about each.

• Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman by Dorothy Sterling (J 921 TUBMAN STERLING)
• Harriet Tubman (Little People, Big Dreams) e-book by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, available from Libby/Overdrive
• Harriet Tubman: Freedom's Trailblazer (Childhood of Famous Americans) by Kathleen Kudlinski (J 305.567 TUBMAN KUDLINSK)
• Harriet Tubman: Leading the Way to Freedom by Laurie Calkhoven (J 973.7115 TUBMAN CALKHOVE)
• I Am Harriet Tubman by Brad Meltzer (J 326.8092 TUBMAN MELTZER)
• Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: The Underground Abductor graphic novel by Nathan Hale (J GRAPHIC 306.362 HALE); also available here as an e-book from Libby/Overdrive
• Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth by Anne F. Rockwell (J 305.567 TRUTH ROCKWELL)
• A Picture Book of Sojourner Truth by David A. Adler (J 305.567 TRUTH ADLER)
• She Persisted: Harriet Tubman audiobook by Angela Davis Pinkney, available from Libby/Overdrive
• The Sojourner Truth Story audiobook by Harriet Isecke, available from Libby/Overdrive
• Sojourner Truth: Voice of Freedom (Childhood of Famous Americans) by Kathleen Kudlinski (J 306.362 TRUTH KUDLINSK)
• Who Was Harriet Tubman? by Yona Zeldis McDonough (J 973.7115 TUBMAN MCDONOUG); also available here and here as an e-book from Libby/Overdrive

George Washington Carver by Tonya Bolden and the Field Museum of Natural History (J 630.92 CARVER BOLDEN) "Illustrated with historical artifacts and photographs, a fresh look at a pioneering American innovator traces Carver's life, discoveries, and legacy as the first African-American to attend Iowa State College and as an inspirational conservationist." Click here for this book at the Richland Public Library. Here are some other children's books we have about Black scientists and mathematicians. Click on the blue text for more information about each.

• Black Scientists by Lisa Yount (J 500.8996 YOUNT)
• A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon by Suzanne Slade (J 510.92 JOHNSON SLADE)
• Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 by Helaine Becker (J 510.92 JOHNSON BECKER); also available here as an e-book from Libby/Overdrive
• Counting the Stars by Lesa Cline-Ransome (J 510.92 CLINE-RAN); also available here as an audiobook from Libby/Overdrive
• George Washington Carver by Suzanne Coil (J 630.924 CARVER COIL)
• George Washington Carver for Kids by Peggy Thomas, available as an e-book from Hoopla
• Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly (J 510.9252 LEE SHET), ages 4-8; also available here as an e-book from Hoopla and here as an e-book from Libby/Overdrive
• Hidden Figures: The Untold True Story of Four African-American Women Who Helped Launch Our Nation Into Space (Young Readers' Edition) by Margot Lee Shetterly (J 510.9252 LEE SHET), ages 8-12; also available here as an e-book and here as an audiobook from Hoopla, and here as an e-book and here as an audiobook from Libby/Overdrive
• Hidden Women: The African American Mathematicians of NASA Who Helped America Win the Space Race by Rebecca Rissman (J 510.9252 RISSMAN)
• Katherine Johnson by Ebony Joy Wilkins (J 510.92 JOHNSON WILKINS)
• Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson audiobook by Katherine Johnson, available from Libby/Overdrive

Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments from My Life by Dr. Mae Jemison (J 629.45 JEMISON) "Mae Jemison was a bright child who was always fascinated by science. The top student and gifted dancer ignored naysayers and worked hard to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor and an astronaut. She then went on to become the first African-American woman to travel to space." 238 pages. Click here or click here for this book at the Richland Public Library, or click here for the e-book from Hoopla. Here are some other children's book biographies we have about Black astronauts and aviators. Click on the blue text for more information or to check them out.

• Bessie Coleman e-book by Martha London, available on Hoopla
• Bessie Coleman: Daring Stunt Pilot graphic novel e-book by Trina Robbins, available on Hoopla
• Fly High! The Story of Bessie Coleman by Louise Borden (J 629.1309 COLEMAN BORDEN)
• Guion Bluford: A Space Biography by Laura S. Jeffrey (J 629.4009 BLUFORD JEFFREY)
• Her Epic Adventure: 25 Women Who Inspire a Life Less Ordinary by Julia DeLaurentiis Johnston (J 910.92 DE LAURE)
• Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed (E AHMED)
• Mae Jemison: A Space Biography by Della Yannuzzi (J 629.45 JEMISON YANNUZZI)
• Mae Jemison, Awesome Astronaut by Jill C. Wheeler (J 629.45 JEMISON WHEELER); also available here as an e-book from Hoopla
• Nobody Owns the Sky: The Story of "Brave Bessie" Coleman by Reeve Lindbergh (E LINDBERG)
• Space Challenger: The Story of Guion Bluford by James Haskins (J 629.454 BLUFORD HASKINS)
• Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Bessie Coleman by Nikki Grimes (J 629.1309 COLEMAN GRIMES)
• You Should Meet Mae Jemison (Ready to Read) by Laurie Calkhoven (J 629.45 JAMESON CALKHOVE)

A Child's Introduction to African American History written by Jabari Asim, illustrated by Lynn Gaines (J 973.0496 ASIM) "This illustrated introduction to African American history goes beyond what's taught in the classroom giving young readers a more comprehensive look at this timely and important topic. Author Jabari Asim chronicles the story of African Americans from the slave trader through the American Revolution and the Civil War to the Tuskegee experiments, the Civil Rights movement, the election of Barack Obama. Sections throughout highlight the contribution of African Americans to the arts, music, literature, culture, sports and more." Click here for this book from the Richland Public Library, or click here for the e-book from Libby/Overdrive. Here are some other children's books we have about Black history. Click on the blue text for more information about each one.

• The ABCs of Black History e-book by Rio Cortez, available from Libby/Overdrive; or click here for the e-book from Hoopla
• The ABCs of Black History: A Children's Guide by Craig Thompson (J 973.0496 THOMPSON)
• Collective Biographies: African American Poets by Michael R. Strickland (J 811.0098 STR)
• Crafts That Celebrate Black History by Kathy Ross (J 745.5941 ROSS); also available here as an e-book from Hoopla
• Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson (J 973.0496 NELSON); also available here as an audiobook from Libby/Overdrive
• Hidden Black History from Juneteenth to Redlining e-book by Amanda Jackson Green, available from Libby/Overdrive; also available here as an ebook and here as an e-book with audio from Hoopla
• Juneteenth: A Children's Story by Opal Lee (J 394.263 LEE)
• A Kid's Guide to African American History: More Than 70 Activities by Nancy Sanders (J 973.0496 SAN); also available here as an e-book from Hoopla
• Timelines from Black History: Leaders, Legends, Legacies by Mireille Harper (J 909.0496 TIMELINE)
• The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander (J 811.6 ALEXANDE); also available here as an e-book from Libby/Overdrive and here as an e-book from Hoopla

28 Days: Moments in Black History That Changed the World written by Charles R. Smith, Jr., illustrated by Shane Evans (J 973.0496 SMITH) "With powerful illustrations by Shane Evans, this is a completely unique look at the importance and influence of African Americans on the history of this country. Each day features a different influential figure in African-American history, from Crispus Attucks, the first man shot in the Boston Massacre, sparking the Revolutionary War, to Madame C. J. Walker, who after years of adversity became the wealthiest black woman in the country, as well as one of the wealthiest black Americans, to Barack Obama, the country's first African-American president." Click here for this book at the Richland Public Library. Here are some other children's books we have about Black history. Click on the blue text for more information about each.

• A Black Woman Did That! 42 Boundary-Breaking, Bar-Raising, World-Changing Women by Malaika Adero (J 305.4889 ADERO)
• Brave, Black, First: 50+ African American Women Who Changed the World by Cheryl Willis Hudson (J 920.7208 HUDSON)
• Dream Big, Little One board book by Vashti Harrison (EB HARRISON)
• Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America by Angela Davis Pinkney (J 973.0496 PINKNEY)
• I Have a Dream by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with paintings by Kadir Nelson; also available here as an e-book from Libby/Overdrive
• Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters by Andrea Davis Pinkney (J 323.0923 PINKNEY)
• Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison (J 920.7208 HARRISON), or click here for the audiobook; also available here as an e-book and here as an audiobook from Libby/Overdrive
• Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History by Vashti Harrison (J 305.3889 HARRISON)
• Noisemakers: 25 Women Who Raised Their Voices and Changed the World, edited by Erin Bried (J GRAPHIC 920.72 NOISEMAK), includes Maya Angelou, Bessie Coleman, Rosa Parks, and Madam C. J. Walker
• 100 African Americans Who Shaped American History by Chrisanne Beckner (J 973.0496 BECKNER)
• Remember the Ladies: 100 Great American Women by Cheryl Harness (J 305.4097 HARNESS), includes Rosa Parks, Wilma Rudolph, Shirley Chisolm, Barbara Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, and Toni Morrison
• Timelines from Black History: Leaders, Legends, Legacies by Mireille Harper (J 909.0496 TIMELINE)
• What Is the Civil Rights Movement? e-book by Sherri L. Smith, available from Libby/Overdrive
• What Was the March on Washington? e-book by Kathleen Krull, available from Libby/Overdrive
• Women in Black History e-book by Tricia Williams Jackson, available from Hoopla
• Women of Hope: African Americans Who Made a Difference by Joyce Hansen (J 920.7208 HANSEN)
• Young, Gifted, and Black: Meet 52 Black Heroes from Past and Present by Jamia Wilson (J 920.02 WILSON); also available here as an e-book from Libby/Overdrive

Who Was? Frederick Douglass, Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Underground Railroad Heroes of Black History (J 920.0092 WHO WAS?) This audiobook contains six books in the "Who Was?" series, each offering a detailed account of the life of a leader in Black history. Click here for the audiobook from the Richland Public Library, or click here for the audiobook on Libby/Overdrive. Several of these are available as printed books at the library, too. Click on the blue text for more information about the ones we have.

• Who Was Frederick Douglass? by April Jones Prince (J 973.7114 DOUGLASS PRINCE)
• Who Was Nelson Mandela? by Pam Pollack and Meg Belviso (J 968.065 MANDELA POLLACK); also available here as an e-book from Libby/Overdrive
• Who Was Rosa Parks? by Yona Zeldis McDonough (J 323.092 PARKS MCDONOUG); also available here as an e-book and here as an audiobook from Libby/Overdrive
• What Was the Underground Railroad? by Yona Zeldis McDonough (J 973.7115 MCDONOUG); also available here as an e-book and here as an audiobook from Libby/Overdrive

Here are some other children's book biographies we have about leaders in Black history. Click on the blue text for more information or to check them out.

• Bayard Rustin by J. P. Miller (J 323.1196 RUSTIN MILLER)
• Bayard Rustin: Behind the Scenes of the Civil Rights Movement by James Haskins (J 323.092 RUSTIN HASKINS)
• Civil Rights Pioneer: A Story About Mary Church Terrell by Gwenyth Swain (J 323.092 TERRELL SWAIN)
• Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose (J 323.092 COLVIN HOOSE)
• Coretta Scott King by Kathleen Krull (J 323.092 KING KRULL)
• Delivering Justice: W. W. Law and the Fight for Civil Rights by James Haskins (J 323.092 LAW HASKINS)
• Facing Frederick: The Life of Frederick Douglass e-book by Tonya Bolden, available from Libby/Overdrive
• The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall's Life, Leadership, and Legacy by Kekla Magoon (J 347.035 MARSHALL MAGOON); also available here as an e-book from Libby/Overdrive
• I Am Rosa Parks by Brad Meltzer (J 323.092 PARKS MELTZER); also available here as an e-book from Libby/Overdrive
• Ida B. Wells, Mother of the Civil Rights Movement by Dennis B. Fradin (J 323.092 WELLS FRADIN)
• Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Woman of Courage by Elizabeth Van Steenwyk (J 323.092 WELLS-BA VAN STEE)
• John Lewis: Courage in Action by Matt Doeden (J 328.7309 LEWIS DOEDEN)
• Martin Luther King, Jr. (Little People, Big Dreams) e-book by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, available from Libby/Overdrive
• Rosa: My First Rosa Parks board book by Lisbeth Kaiser (EB KAISER)
• Rosa Parks by Lisbeth Kaiser (J 323.092 PARKS KAISER)
• Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up By Sitting Down by Angela Davis Pinkney (J 323.1196 PINKNEY)
• Thank You, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.! by Eleanora E. Tate (J TATE)
• W.E.B. DuBois: Scholar and Civil Rights Activist by Melissa McDaniel (J 305.896 DUBOIS MCDANIEL)
• W.E.B. Du Bois: The Fight for Civil Rights by Ryan Randolph (J 305.896 DU BOIS RANDOLPH)
• Who Was Ida B. Wells? by Sarah Fabiny (J 323.092 WELLS FABINY)
• Who Was Martin Luther King Jr.? by Bonnie Bader (J 323.092 KING BADER); also available here as an e-book in English and here as an e-book in Spanish from Libby/Overdrive
• Yours for Justice, Ida B. Wells: The Daring Life of a Crusading Journalist by Phillip Dray (J 323.092 WELLS-BA DRAY); also available here as an e-book from Hoopla