My Uncle Martin’s Big Heart by Angela Farris Watkins, illustrated by Eric Velasquez

From chapters.ca:
In this inspiring story about Martin Luther King Jr. told from the perspective of his young niece.  Readers will gain personal insight into one of the most influential figures of the twentieth century. As Angela Farris Watkins introduces children to her uncle, she presents them with a rare glimpse into his life at home, including special family moments. What unfolds is a story of character and service to God, family, and mankind, and of how one man's extraordinary love changed the history of the United States. Told with visually stunning art by Eric Velasquez, this is a perfect book for Black History Month and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and throughout the year.

My People by Langston Hughes, photos by Charles R. Smith Jr.

From chapters.ca:
Langston Hughes's spare yet eloquent tribute to his people has been cherished for generations. Now, acclaimed photographer Charles R. Smith Jr. interprets this beloved poem in vivid sepia photographs that capture the glory, the beauty, and the soul of being a black American today.

We’ve Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March by Cynthia Levinson

From chapters.ca:
The inspiring story of one of the greatest moments in civil rights history as seen through the eyes of four young people who were at the center of the action. The 1963 Birmingham Children's March was a turning point in American history. In the streets of Birmingham, Alabama, the fight for civil rights lay in the hands of children like Audrey Hendricks, Wash Booker, James Stewart, and Arnetta Streeter. Through the eyes of these four protesters and others who participated, We've Got a Job tells the little-known story of the 4,000 black elementary, middle, and high school students who voluntarily went to jail between May 2 and May 11, 1963. The children succeeded - where adults had failed - in desegregating one of the most racially violent cities in America.

Playing to Win: The Story of Althea Gibson by Karen Deans, illustrated by Elbrite Brown

From chapters.ca:
Growing up in Harlem in the 1930s, Althea Gibson became tough and rebellious. Some said she was having trouble finding her way, until she was a teenager when she discovered she had a talent for sports. In fact, Althea was a natural at tennis, but tennis was played mostly by wealthy white people in country clubs that excluded African Americans. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Althea was not deterred. Instead, she set about becoming a barrier- breaking and world- famous athlete.

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill, illustrated by Bryan Collier

From chapters.ca:
To us it is just dirt, the ground we walk on... But to Dave it was clay, the plain and basic stuff upon which he formed a life as a slave nearly 200 years ago. Dave was an extraordinary artist, poet, and potter living in South Carolina in the 1800s. He combined his superb artistry with deeply observant poetry, carved onto his pots, transcending the limitations he faced as a slave. In this inspiring and lyrical portrayal, National Book Award nominee Laban Carrick Hill's elegantly simple text and award- winning artist Bryan Collier's resplendent, earth- toned illustrations tell Dave's story, a story rich in history, hope, and long- lasting beauty.

They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

From chapters.ca:
Boys, let us get up a club. With those words, six restless young men raided the linens at a friend's mansion, pulled pillowcases over their heads, hopped on horses and cavorted through the streets of Pulaski, Tennessee. Soon, the six friends had named their club the Ku Klux Klan and all too quickly, their club would grow into the self- proclaimed Invisible Empire with secret dens spread across the South. This is the story of how a secret, terrorist group took root in America's democracy. Filled with chilling and vivid personal accounts unearthed from oral histories, congressional documents, and diaries, it is a book to read and remember.

Josephine’s Dream by Joan Betty Stuchner

From chapters.ca:
The fictional story of Josephine Baker's childhood, this picture book showcases the dreams and the performances of this figure of the American civil rights movement. Born poor in money but rich in talent, Josephine Baker sang, danced, crossed her eyes, knocked her knees, and made crazy, funny faces - eventually stealing the show. She discovered it was hard for a black performer to see her name in lights in America in the 1920s, so she packed her bags and went to France, where she later joined the French underground during World War II. After her return to America, she joined Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., speaking at the March on Washington - the only woman to do so. With lively illustrations, this book blends history and fiction, capturing this important figure's ambitions and dreams.

Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen

From chapters.ca:
Sarny, a female slave at the Waller plantation, first sees Nightjohn when he is brought there with a rope around his neck, his body covered in scars. He had escaped north to freedom, but he came back - came back to teach reading. Knowing that the penalty for reading is dismemberment Nightjohn still retumed to slavery to teach others how to read. And twelve- year- old Sarny is willing to take the risk to learn.

The Sandwich Swap by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah with Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Tricia Tusa

Lily and Salma are best friends, but they come from very different cultures. When an argument about food erupts there's only one solution to an argument about tastes!

A great story about diversity and sharing one's culture through food.

Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Bryan Collier

From chapters.ca:
This picture book biography is an excellent and accessible introduction for young readers to learn about one of the world's most influential leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Doreen Rappaport weaves the immortal words of Dr. King into a captivating narrative to tell the story of his life. With stunning art by acclaimed illustrator Bryan Collier, Martin's Big Words is an unforgettable portrait of a man whose dream changed America - and the world - forever.

To be a Drum by Evelyn Coleman, illustrated by Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson

From chapters.ca:
Daddy Wes tells his children Mat and Martha that the drum has long been a powerful symbol to their African roots, and shares with them how the drum was the underlying heartbeat of their people through slavery, war, and the civil rights movement.

Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Sit-ins were a vital part of the Civil Rights Movement in America. They epitomized the non-violent mandate of the movement and this book tells the story of how they got started.

Child of the Civil Rights Movement by Paula Young Shelton, illustrated by Raul Colon

Paula and her sisters grew up in the tumultuous time of the civil rights movement in America. Many of the big names that we associate with that time such as Martin Luther King made some of their plans over dinner at her house. This is a unique look at that time through the eyes of a child.

Shades of People by Sheila M Kelly and Shelley Rotner

From chapters.ca:
Cocoa, tan, rose, and almond- people come in lots of shades, even in the same family. This exploration of one of our most noticeable physical traits uses vibrant photographs of childen and a short text to inspire young children both to take notice and to look beyond the obvious.

Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman by Alan Schroeder, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

From chapters.ca:
This is the story of young Harriet Tubman, then called "Minty". A slave in the Brodas household, she is often punished for her feisty, rebellious spirit, and always, above all, dreams of escape.

The Kid's Book of Black Canadian History by Rosemary Sadlier, illustrated by Wang Qijun

From chapters.ca:
From the first Black person who came to Canada about 400 years ago to the most recent wave of African immigrants, Black Canadians have played an important role in our country's history. In this informative overview, kids will discover the inspiring stories and events of a people who fought oppression as they searched for a place to call their own.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

From chapters.ca:
Jin Wang starts at a new school where he's the only Chinese- American student. When a boy from Taiwan joins his class, Jin doesn't want to be associated with an FOB like him. Jin just wants to be an all- American boy, because he's in love with an all- American girl. Danny is an all- American boy: great at basketball, popular with the girls. But his obnoxious Chinese cousin Chin-Kee's annual visit is such a disaster that it ruins Danny's reputation at school, leaving him with no choice but to transfer somewhere he can start all over again. The Monkey King has lived for thousands of years and mastered the arts of kung fu and the heavenly disciplines. He's ready to join the ranks of the immortal gods in heaven. But there's no place in heaven for a monkey. Each of these characters cannot help himself alone, but how can they possibly help each other? They're going to have to find a way - if they want fix the disasters their lives have become.

Tree Shaker: The Story of Nelson Mandela by Bill Keller

From chapters.ca:
This fascinating biography looks at the life of Nelson Mandela, placing his awe- inspiring accomplishments in historical context for a new generation to admire. On A February day in 1994, Mandela visited Robben Island, a desolate rock where he had been held during his twenty- seven years as a prisoner. Days later, he triumphed in an election that rescued South Africa from the climate of oppression that had held sway for so long. By "New York Times" executive editor, Bill Keller, this inspiring biography looks at the events that led Mandela from his tribal homeland to the center of the struggle for racial equality in South Africa. From early acts of protest to the leadership of an apartheid- free nation, this is an honest portrayal of a modern political and social icon.

The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes, illustrated by E. B.Lewis

From chapters.ca:
Langston Hughes has long been acknowledged as the voice, and his poem, The Negro Speaks of Rivers, the song, of the Harlem Renaissance. Although he was only seventeen when he composed it, Hughes already had the insight to capture in words the strength and courage of black people in America. Artist E.B. Lewis acts as interpreter and visionary, using watercolor to pay tribute to Hughes's timeless poem, a poem that every child deserves to know.

We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson

From chapters.ca:
The story of Negro League baseball is the story of gifted athletes and determined owners; of racial discrimination and international sportsmanship; of fortunes won and lost; of triumphs and defeats on and off the field. It is a perfect mirror for the social and political history of black America in the first half of the twentieth century. But most of all, the story of the Negro Leagues is about hundreds of unsung heroes who overcame segregation, hatred, terrible conditions, and low pay to do the one thing they loved more than anything else in the world: play ball.