February is Black History Month, and a great way to help your growing reader learn more about African American history is with picture books. The picture books on this list break history into bite-sized, age-appropriate pieces for young children, with vivid illustrations and easy-to-digest text.
Try Henry's Freedom Box — a gripping tale about how Henry goes on an arduous journey to the North to gain freedom and a birthday. Or pick up I Am Ruby Bridges, a landmark story with stunning visuals about a pivotal event that shaped the civil rights movement. By exposing your child to a variety of diverse and inclusive books, both fiction and nonfiction, you'll help widen your child's perspective.
From picture books on well-known figures like Rosa Parks to the story of the black female mathematicians behind one of NASA's greatest operations, our Black History Month picture book list covers a multitude of subjects. For longer works on Black History geared towards elementary schoolers, preteens and teens, check out our comprehensive Black History Month book list for all ages.
Shop picture books for Black History Month below! You can find more books and activities at The Scholastic Store.