No doubt, like us, you've all been horrified by recent events and have been supporting the #blacklivesmatter protests and educating yourselves as to the best action to take. On a basic level, we can ensure that our children are well informed about black history and the civil rights movement, so here's a reading list. We'd love to hear your recommendations. We'll be doing a round-up of children's fiction with black protagonists in the next couple of weeks, so look out for that as well.
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
by Vashti Harrison (Puffin, RRP £7.99).
Explores 40 boundary-breaking black women from Mary Seacole to Diane Abbott, who this week celebrated 33 years since becoming Britain's first black female MP.
Little People, Big Dreams: Martin Luther King Jr by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Mai Ly Degnan (Frances Lincoln, RRP £9.99)
A new addition to the LPBD library, looking at the life and untimely death of the civil rights campaigner.
Work It, Girl: Blast off into space like Mae Jemison by Caroline Moss, illustrated by Sinem Erkas (Frances Lincoln, RRP £9.99)
The tale of a little girl who grew up loving science, wondered why there were no women at the Apollo moon landings and decided she was going to go into space.
Ella: Queen of Jazz by Helen Hancocks
(Frances Lincoln, RRP £6.99).
Picture book about how Marilyn Monroe helped her friend Ella Fitzgerald when the singer was faced with racial prejudice.
My First Wilma Rudolph by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Amelia Flower (Frances Lincoln, RRP £5.99)
Board book version of the Little People, Big Dreams title about Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter Wilma Rudolph.
Young Gifted and Black by Jamia Wilson, illustrated by Andrea Pippins (Wide Eyed Editions, RRP £8.99)
Gloriously colourful and inspiring compilation of profiles of 52 black icons, from Stevie Wonder to Serena Williams.
The Extraordinary Life of Rosa Parks by Dr Sheila Kanani (Puffin, RRP £6.99)
So much more than just the woman who refused to give up her seat, civil rights campaigner Rosa Parks also fought for rights for women and the right to vote throughout her life.
Little People Big Dreams: Maya Angelou by Lisbeth Kaiser, illustrated by Leire Salaberria (Frances Lincoln, RRP £9.99)
Rediscovering her voice through writing after a childhood trauma, Maya Angelou became one of the best loved authors, speaker and activists of all time.
Little Leaders: Exceptional Men in Black History
by Vashti Harrison (Puffin, RRP £7.99).
The stories of 35 trailblazing black men from diplomat Kofi Annan to musician Prince, via Vogue editor Edward Enninful.
Work It, Girl! Run The Show Like CEO Oprah Winfrey by Caroline Moss (Wide Eyed Editions, RRP £9.99)
Discover the life story of billionaire media mogul Oprah and find out how to apply her wisdom to your own life.
Little Guides to Great Lives: Nelson Mandela by Isabel Thomas, illustrated by Hannah Warren (Laurence King, RRP £8.99)
From politcal prisoner to president – the extraordinary journey of anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician and philanthropist Nelson Mandela.
Little People, Big Dreams: Jesse Owens by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Anna Katharina Jansen (Frances Lincoln, RRP £9.99)
Biography of the outstanding US athlete who challenged racism and famously won four gold medals in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
My First Josephine Baker by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Agathe Sorlet (Frances Lincoln, RRP £6.99)
Board book exploring the life of the exceptional Josephine Baker – entertainer, activist and French Resistance agent.
The Extraordinary Life of Katherine Johnson by Devika Jina (Puffin, RRP £6.99)
Paying tribute to mathematician Katherine Johnson, one of the most important people in the history of space travel.
Dream Big, Little Leader by Vashti Harrison (Penguin, RRP £6.99)
Board book based on Little Leaders featuring inspirational black women from artist Alma Woodsey Thomas to athlete Tessa Sanderson.
Little People Big Dreams: Harriet Tubman by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Pili Aguado (Frances Lincoln, RRP £9.99)
Born into slavery, Harriet Tubman escaped, only to return to help hundreds of enslaved people to freedom.
Little Guides to Great Lives: Maya Angelou by Danielle Jawando, illustrated by Noa Snir (Laurence King, RRP £6.99)
Biography of the author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – highly recommend Life Doesn't Frighten Me with illustrations by Jean Michel Basquiat.
Grandad Mandela by Zazi, Ziwelene and Zindzhi Mandela (Frances Lincoln, RRP £7.99)
Moving and personal account of the life of freedom fighter and South African president Nelson Mandela by his daughter and great grandchildren.
Little People, Big Dreams: Muhammad Ali by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Brosmind (Frances Lincoln, RRP £9.99)
The amazing story of Cassius Clay's journey to become the greatest boxer of all time.
The Extraordinary Life of Michelle Obama by Dr Sheila Kanani (Puffin, RRP £6.99)
A look at the fascinating life of lawyer, writer, feminist icon, activist and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
The Extraordinary Life of Mary Seacole by Naida Redgrave (Puffin, RRP £6.99)
Packed with facts and timelines about the Jamaican nurse who overcame racial prejudice to help soldiers in the Crimean War.
Little People Big Dreams: Ella Fitzgerald by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Barbara Alca (Frances Lincoln, RRP £9.99)
Cataloguing the life of the singer from her beginnings singing on the streets of Harlem to touring the world as a jazz legend.
Little People, Big Dreams: Rosa Parks by Lisbeth Kaiser, illustrated by Marta Antelo (Frances Lincoln, RRP £9.99)
The Mother of the Freedom Movement gets the Little People, Big Dreams treatment, following her life fighting for equal rights.
Work It, Girl: Become a Leader like Michelle Obama by Caroline Moss, illustrated by Sinem Erkas (Frances Lincoln, RRP £9.99)
Michelle's journey from school through Princeton and Harvard to FLOTUS and the launch of the Girls Global Alliance to empower young women.
Spotted a book you know we'd love? Let us know by leaving a comment or emailing team@bambinogoodies.co.uk.
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