Bird by Zetta Elliott

Illustrated ty Shadra Strickland.
A powerful picture book about sibling relationships, addiction, and loss. Bird, a young African American boy, is nicknamed by his grandad who recently passed away. He adores his older brother who becomes a drug addict and is banned from their house after stealing from the family. Bird struggles with his brother's eventual death but finds comfort through his art work and the help of his grandfather's friend, Uncle Son. The tale is a sad one but the ending is optimisitic. Uncle Son talks about the death of Marcus, Bird's brother, and compares it to when slaves died, "...when the body broke, the spirit went free..." I would use this with grades 3 and up due to the subject matter. It would be especially helpful for children who face addiction issues in their homes.

George Washington Carver by Tonya Bolden

Published in association with The Field Museum in Chicago by Abrams. This is a picture book biography that is definitely middle grades in level. Excellent, clear discussion of the specifics of Carver's research and aims without talking down to the child audience. Lots of primary source illustrations and photographs, including reproductions of Carver's paintings made with his own vegetable dye paints. Has very neat end papers with floral designs.

Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangara Maathai by Claire A. Nivola

This ALA Notable picture book tells the story of Wangara Maathai who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her work with the Green Belt Movement in Kenya. The environmentalist changed the fate of Kenya's future by teaching Kenyans of all ages to plant trees on the country's barren land. Over 30 million trees have been planted since Maathai founded the movement. The watercolor pictures beautifully illustrate the story. The Author's Note at the end provides the history of the project and describes Wangari's role as an activitist in her country. A great read aloud for grades K-4, it really could be used with all ages to discuss the environment and the subject of activism.

Note - there is another 2008 picture book on this same subject, Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa that received positive reviews as well.

Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane by Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrated by Sean Qualls. This is a lyrical story of John Coltrane's childhood (born in Hamlet, NC and grew up in High Point). Weatherford lists the sounds that influenced the jazz musician's childhood; "Daddy strumming the ukulele, and Mama cranking the phonograph." Quall's illustrations are a wonderful accompaniment. There is a lengthy Author's Note at the end along with a Selected Listening List and a bibliography for further reading. Could be used with upper elementary students in a jazz unit with Ella Fitzgerald (Pinkney), Duke Ellington (Pinkney), Jazz Baby (Weatherford), John Coltrane's Giant Steps (Raschka), and Jazz on a Saturday Night (Dillon).

Seven Miles to Freedom by Janet Halfmann

Illustrated by Duane Smith. Grades 3-5.

This picture book biography of Robert Smalls, a slave from South Carolina who later became a U. S. Congressman, focuses on his life as a young slave working as a ship's wheelman. Using his knowledge of navigation and the trust of the ship's officers, Smalls executed a plot to commandeer a Confederate ship secretly loaded with the black crew's families and cannons to the North. This factual account reads like a suspense story as Smalls risks the lives of all on board to gain their freedom. The impressionistic art enhances the story and will keep young readers involved. An afterword gives details of Smalls' life through his distinguished career in Congress. A bibliography is also included.

Blacker the Berry by Joyce Carol Thomas

This book of poetry is beautifully illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Told through the voices of African-American children, these twelve poems depict the skin colors of each individual (e.g. cranberry red for a child with Irish ancestors). It is easy to see why this is a CSK Author Honor book and a CSK Illustrator Award winner. Cooper's illustrations realistically portray the varied skin tones ending with a two-page spread of laughing, smiling children.

The final lines in the poem, Cranberry Red reinforce the theme of identity:

When we measure who we are
We don't leave anybody out
We count who we are
And add all who came before us

The way we figure it
We're just great

This title could be used to teach poetry, Black History month, identity, and acceptance.