Free Reading Material for a Black Male Young Adult

"Black boys need to physically see positive images of themselves reflected back at them in children'south books." [1]

Brian 50. Wright and Shelly L. Counsell

2 years agone, I walked into a bookstore searching for a birthday gift for a young Black male child. When I approached a woman who worked at the store, I said, "Excuse me, can y'all direct me to the African-American children volume section?"

She replied, "We keep all of our books together. Nosotros don't have a section for African-American children."

I followed up by asking if she could assist me find books for African-American boys. She agreed and searched the children'south section for the aforementioned books. After a few minutes, she gathered 4 books with Black boys or men every bit protagonist characters from a section that had thousands of books. I decided to purchase one of the books, but I was extremely frustrated with the lack of books with Black boys or men equally main characters.

As a father of two African-American boys, I was deeply troubled at the lack of diverse books in the shop. I thought to myself, "If Black boys don't see themselves in books, then how volition they develop the confidence and agency to create and build their dreams? If children of other ethnicities don't see Black men and boys as the main characters in books, then how will they treat Blackness males in the nowadays and future?"

When I got home, I turned my frustration into activeness! I searched the web for the all-time books for Black boys. When I found them, I either checked the books out of the public library or purchased them. As the years progressed, I found myself having conversations or getting emails from parents and educators requesting recommendations for books that have Black boys as main characters. Afterward replying to each request, I realized the demand to create a thematic booklist rooted in dreaming.

This commodity defines dreaming as a holistic procedure where children create and build a life that makes them happy, and assists in the development of a better globe. This list thematically identifies books that will have Black boys saying, "I am confident, I am loved, I am a smart student, I am an innovator and creator, and I am a hero."

This booklist seeks to:

1. Inspire Blackness boys to be confident, smart, loving, creative, innovative, and heroic dreamers
2. Provide schools and not-profit educational institutions with books that inspire Black boys to discover or rediscover their ability to dream
3. Contribute to the cannon well-nigh culturally relevant materials for Black boys
4. Betrayal families of different ethnic backgrounds to characters with Blackness boys and men exerting their human agency in various life contexts

I am confident:

Hey Black Child past Useni Perkins is a fun and inspirational book. The author does a great task integrating affirmative words and fascinating pictures depicting Black kids striving towards excellence. Reading this book teaches Black children that their dreams are possible. This is a must read with an animated vocalisation to kids.

Sundiata by David Wisniewski is a story virtually an Africana hero. This story begins by telling his struggles as a male child who couldn't talk or walk. But through parental beloved and study, he became a military genius who would become rex. Every Africana child should know the story of Sundiata because information technology presents an amazing message: No affair what your condition or state of affairs is in life, you have the ability to overcome information technology through difficult work.

Preaching to the Chickens by Jabari Asim is a biography of the Africana Hero John Lewis. This book tells the astonishing story of Lewis as a child who used play to practice his potential vocation. The amazing pictures reinforce an of import bulletin to parents and children: play serves as a tool to aid children in developing and advancing their future dreams. This is a must-read book about a Civil Rights Icon!

Riley Knows He Tin past Davina Hamilton is a must read. The author tells the journey of a young boy who is nervous nearly acting in a school play. The main character is able to overcome this nervousness through familial encouragement. The powerful words and beautiful illustrations let children to understand the volume's meaning. Parents will enjoy reading this book because it offers a overnice motto to encourage kids in tough situations. I absolutely love reading it to my sons!

Riley Can Be Annihilation by Davina Hamilton is about dream exploration. In a playful dialogue with his cousin, Riley imagines himself in the various career paths through Black men in his life. The author'due south skillful rhyming and joyful illustrations permit kids to follow each page with ease. This is a great book because information technology allows children to brainstorm dreaming of who they want to become in the future.

Dad Who Will I Be? by G. Todd Taylor is an inspirational book for Black boys. The volume connects a boy'due south dreams to Black heroes who dared to strive towards and achieve greatness. The book displays powerful images of an active begetter who uses affirmative words to guide his son in the peachy imagining possibilities for his life. This book is a cogitating tool to aid Blackness boys in realizing that their dreams are possible.

I Am A Confident Rex past Jasmine Furr is a peachy volume to promote positive self-identity in Black boys. The volume tells the story of a Black boy whose parents have him say positive words of affidavit every morning time. Ane mean solar day, the male child decides to bring those words to life. For parents, this volume serves as a tool to teach children how to enact values in everyday life.

Crown by Derrick Barnes details the experience and excitement of a Black boy getting a haircut. The volume's words and illustrations walk the reader through the rich and powerful experience of the Black barbershop, while detailing the impact that the haircut has on a male child's personhood. This is a beautiful volume that shows Blackness males in a positive low-cal.

Trombone Shorty by Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews is a story nearly developing the courage to dream. The richness of New Orleans' musical and cultural heritage inspired the primary character to dream of becoming a musician. With familial encouragement and personal drive, he's able to take applied steps towards accomplishing his dream. The book's message: It is never too early for kids to create and enact their dreams.

I am loved:

Hewitt Anderson'south Great Big Life past Jerdine Nolen is an amazing book about giving children the space to notice their strengths. Hewitt was a small boy born into a family of giants. His worry filled parents wondered if he could survive in the globe as a small person. This book takes the reader on a journey where Hewitt displays the ability to see barriers as opportunities to maximize his homo potential. This is a smashing volume that teaches parents that we have to love our children towards their personal greatness. The beautiful illustrations by Kadir Nelson offering a great opportunity for dialogue between parents and children.

I Love You Too by Ziggy Marley is a fun and entertaining read. This is a book almost random moments in life. It is a reminder that parents should tell their children in detail what they love near their children. The book reads like a song because it is ane. The beautiful illustrations shows the children what dearest looks like. The poetic words let kids to understand what love sounds like. This is a great tool for parents when they want to reinforce their love for their children.

My Daddy Loves Me by Baba Sekou Afrika, Mama Sekou Afrika, Sekou Afrika is a book that reminds fathers to love and be loving towards their children. The illustrations and storyline illuminates an of import message—love should be the foundation of Fatherhood. The volume seeks to frame the narrative of what fatherhood should look like in contemporary times. This is a neat souvenir for men with sons.

Chisom the Champ by Dr. Irene Okoronkwo-Obika is a powerful story about self-love. This book tells the story of a boy of Nigerian-American descent, who is bullied considering of his heritage, name, and clothes. Through parental encouragement, he develops the courage to stand up to the bully. The procedure of continuing upwardly to the corking enables Chisom to declare the importance of creating an inclusive educational environment where all people can be respected and appreciated for who they are. This book serves equally a tool for parents to teach children how to approach someone who is bullying them or a friend. It also serves as a tool for parents to affirm their children and cultural identity.

I am a smart student:

Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherford is a story about an unsung intellectual hero. The pages of this book describe his journey to document the contributions of people of African descent throughout human history. Although this book is a biography, it does a keen chore at providing an overview of Africana history. Reading this book to your child will provide them with a basic understanding of Africana history from Africa to the Americas.

The Book Itch by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson is a story about an Africana Hero named Lewis Henri Michaux who owned the National Memorial African Bookstore. The book describes Lewis' entrepreneurial spirit, dear of reading, and commitment to the intellectual advancement of Africana people. He saw READING as a pathway to liberating his people from racial oppression in America. This bookstore was an intellectual oasis where great leaders, athletes, and community members of Africana descent gathered to acquire and debate problems that afflicted the African World. This is an amazing story virtually the function of bookstores and books in empowering people of Africana descent.

Superhero Similar Me! by Dr. Kimberly Brown is a peachy volume for Black Boys. The author shows Blackness boys that they can aspire to be heroes like the great leaders of Black History. This book provides historical facts and positive images of Blackness men demonstrating excellence in all societal spaces. Reading this book allows Black boys to see themselves as having the power to be super just like the heroes of the past.

Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton by Don Tate is a biography of an enslaved African. The book tells the story of a young enslaved male child who couldn't read or write, but because of his profound love of words, he taught himself how to exercise both. Once he developed the ability to write, he wrote poems for paying customers and essays critiquing the oppressive organization of American enslavement. Horton's story teaches young people the importance of resilience in pursuing their dreams regardless of the societal barriers that stand up in front of them.

Jerry Pinkney by Lisa Bolt Simons is a biography of the legendary author and illustrator. The volume details the part of parental support in aiding him in realizing the possibility of accomplishing his dream. His story shows the importance of finding what you love and developing a life's piece of work out of it. This book is a great tool to use for children who might have academic struggles because it shows the possibility of accomplishing dreams regardless of one's situation or condition.

I am a creator and innovator:

Everywhere, Wonder by Matthew Swanson is a neat book about imagination. A little boy is reading a book and information technology takes him across the world. When the boy is done traveling the globe by reading, he decides to explore the real world. This book is a visual depiction of the role that books play in inspiring children to dream.

Have a Picture of Me, James Vanderzee! by Andrea J. Loney is a triumphant portrayal of a world-course photographer. Reading this book illuminates the patience needed for creating and advancing a dream. Information technology also shows how the master grapheme was inspired to develop his dream by accident. Notwithstanding, he was able to use his dream to achieve Black people from all socioeconomic statuses. Reading this volume will help kids in imagining how they can transform their interests into a life long dream.

Olu's Dream past Shane Evans is a great book to spark artistic thinking in your young dreamer. When Olu wants to play past his bedtime, his father encourages him to employ his imagination in his sleep. Olu uses his imagination and opens a new world. This is a fun book to use to encourage children to use their imagination.

When the Shell was Born by Laban Carrick Hill is a biography of Jamaican born musical innovator and Hip-Hop fable Clive Campbell AKA Kool Herc. The author discusses Herc'due south early Jamaican musical inspirations and how he used them to help in the development of Hip Hop. The cute pictures provide readers with positive and uplifting images of Blackness life in the early 80s. This volume teaches children that they also tin can become innovators if they pursue something they love with excellence. Information technology also teaches children the Pan-African influence in shaping Hip Hop.

Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton is a biography nearly Stem Entrepreneur Lonnie Johnson. The book details his humble beginnings as an entrepreneur who prototyped and piloted his ideas from babyhood to adulthood. One of his about successful inventions was the Super Soaker. The book depicts the failures, rejections, risks, and successes of the entrepreneurial journeying. For parents interested in exposing their children to entrepreneurship, this volume shows a real-life exemplar who persevered to achieve his entrepreneurial dream.

Little Human being by the Dionne Warwick is a story of a male child who combines an entrepreneurial mindset with difficult work. When the principal character wants to purchase a bike and drumming lessons, he creates and executes a plan. Through the encouragement of his father and back up of his community, he is able to use his talents to brand his dream a reality. This is a great book that shows an African-American boy developing the power to solve a problem using his talents.

Magic Trash: The Story of Tyree Guyton and His Art by J.H. Shapiro is a biography of an African American artist who transformed urban decay into beauty. The volume begins past telling the story of a daydreamer who got poor grades and criticism from the adults in his life. One 24-hour interval Tyree's grandpa introduced him to painting and his time to come dream. Although Tyree didn't get an creative person early on in his adult life, he would eventually go back to his dream. When he returned to his community and saw urban decay he decided to practice something about it — create art. This is an astonishing story about a man who used his dream to brand a more beautiful world. This is a powerful tool to teach children about the importance of developing dreams that brand the world a better place, and that make them happy at the aforementioned time!

I am a hero:

Sit down In: How 4 Friends Stood Upwards by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney tells the story of four brave higher students who sought to disrupt the racist Jim Crow South. The book does a wonderful chore of connecting these men's story to the larger civil rights movement. In addition, the author artfully presents a simple food guild as a revolutionary act showing the power of direct democratic participation in shaping America. The illustrations permit readers to imagine what it might felt like to be protesters in the Jim Crow South. In sum, I love this book because it shows how students were and still are the spark of the movements for demanding transformative change.

With Books and Bricks by Suzanne Slade is a powerful biography about the entrepreneurial spirit of Booker T Washington. The volume illustrates the evolution of his dream from wanting to read to building an educational establishment to serve African-Americans. Reading this book will inspire your kids to encounter life barriers as opportunities to develop the resilience to live their dreams in the futurity.

These Easily past Margaret Mason is an amazing story a grandad'south activism. The author does a wonderful task at telling a man's life story by how he was allowed or not allowed to utilise his hands. The grandfather'due south successful struggle creates the limitless possibilities for his grandson to be anything. This is a great tool to teach children virtually the underline issues of the Civil Rights Movement.

The Champ by Tonya Bolden is a bio of former boxing champion Muhammad Ali. This book tells the story of a man, who rose to the top of his profession and sacrificed it to stand against injustice. The pictures and direct quotes from Ali let the reader to take an amazing journeying with one of the world's greatest leaders. This is one of my favorites to read to my sons because his life presents a powerful message: one must stand up for what is right regardless of the consequences.

Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson is a story about the South African freedom fighter turn president. The book's pictures and grand narrative serves equally an important tool to teach kids about process & price of social justice work.

Dr. Nosakhere Griffin-EL is a graduate from Lincoln University of PA where he majored in history with a focus on African and African-American history. He's besides a graduate of Academy of Pittsburgh's Schoolhouse of Education with a Ph.D. in Social and Comparative Analysis in Education.

After graduating from the Academy of Pittsburgh, Dr. Griffin-EL worked equally a youth leadership trainer for Pittsburgh Public Schools and lecturer at the University of Greatcoat Town's Graduate School of Business organisation in Cape Town, Due south Africa.

Dr. Griffin-EL has traveled to 10 African countries where he has conducted enquiry, taught classes, and led in learning journeys. He is the founder of The Young Dreamers' Volume Society , which organizes story time events, creates educational content, and supports parents, customs organizations, and educational institutions in selecting books that see children'due south holistic needs.

[i] From the book, The Brilliance of Blackness Boy: Cultivating School Success in the Early Grades

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Source: https://www.carnegielibrary.org/30-books-that-inspire-black-boys-to-create-and-build-their-dreams/

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