It’s February! The winter weather is bone-chilling, people are contemplating heartwarming gifts to give their loved ones on Valentine’s Day, and it is Black History Month! During this month each year, Americans take time to recognize blacks for their great contributions to society. Parents introduce their children to black historical figures who have had a great influence in developing modern-day American culture. But, after years of celebrating the historical heritage month, it might become difficult to think of different people for whom to pay homage.

Well, for 2019, look no further than our list of children’s biographies highlighting African Americans who changed the world, and did it for the culture!  

To see more suggestion from NYPL librarians for Black History Month, search #NYPL4TheCulture on social media. Enjoy our list! (Summaries adapted from the publishers.)   

Black History Month Children's Book Recommendations

Alvin Ailey by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Since he was a young boy in Navasota, Texas, Alvin Ailey loved to stomp his feet and clap his hands to the music of the True Vine Baptist choir. Later, he learned how to dance. He spent some time with the best teachers of the era and eventually started his own modern dance company, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. 

This is the story of Alvin Ailey's life—a life that left its imprint as much on the history of the American people as on the history of modern dance.

Josephine Baker (Little People, Big Dreams) by Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Meet Josephine Baker, the world-famous entertainer, activist, and French Resistance agent, in this true story of her life! New in the beloved Little People, BIG DREAMS series, this inspiring and informative little biography follows the incredible life of Josephine Baker, from growing up in St. Louis, Missouri during segregation to defying expectations and performing on the stage in Paris, where audiences fell in love with her. 

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe

Jean-Michel Basquiat and his unique, collage-style paintings rocketed to fame in the 1980s as a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the art world had ever seen. But before that, Basquiat was a little boy who saw art everywhere: in poetry books and museums, in games and in the words that we speak, and in the pulsing energy of New York City.

Award-winning illustrator Javaka Steptoe's vivid text, and bold artwork that echoes Basquiat's own, introduce young readers to the powerful message that art doesn't always have to be neat or clean—and definitely not inside the lines—to be beautiful.

A Girl Named Misty: The True Story of Misty Copeland by Kelly Starling Lyons

Growing up, Misty Copeland was a shy girl who loved to dance. Ballet opened up a whole new world where Misty was able to shine. Because she was African American, Misty faced barriers to becoming a dancer.

Through a lot of hard work, determination, and incredible talent, Misty became a star at one of the top ballet companies in the world and helped change the face of dance. 

Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra by Andrea Davis Pinkney

His name was Edward Kennedy Ellington, but people just called him "Duke." Born in 1899, he was the forerunner in the evolution of jazz. By the time Duke was 19, he was playing at parties, pool halls, and cabarets; and then, in 1927, he entertained at the hottest place around, The Cotton Club in Harlem.

But the defining moment of his career came when Duke and his orchestra gave a groundbreaking performance at Carnegie Hall, when they first performed his suite "Black, Brown, and Beige," a tribute to the history of African American people. Beloved by jazz fans old and new, Duke Ellington, the "King of the Keys," is a legend who continues to live on and influence musicians everywhere.

Who was Aretha Franklin? by Nico Medina

Aretha Franklin was a musical and cultural icon whose legacy spanned six decades! Born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1942, Aretha got her start singing in front of her father's Baptist congregation and found minor success as a gospel singer. She then set her sights on becoming a pop music artist and used her powerful voice and impressive skills on the piano to get a record deal. Aretha released her first of many celebrated albums at the age of 18.

In 1987, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, making her the first female artist to grace the prestigious list. With iconic hits such as "Respect" and "Think," and countless awards to her name including 18 Grammys, Aretha Franklin is one of the bestselling artists of all time.

When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop by Laban Carrick Hill

DJ Kool Herc lived in the Bronx, where there was a lot of fighting. But he didn't want to fight. He wanted to play music. DJ Kool Herc had a new way of spinning records. He played the breaks of songs back-to-back so that the music best for dancing could go on and on. He liked to shout out to his friends while he was playing music. Sometimes he made up rhymes about dancers who had the best moves.

This is the story of how DJ Kool Herc became a DJ, how kids in his neighborhood stopped fighting in order to break dance, and how Herc invented a new kind of music that would change the world. This is the story of hip hop. 

Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song by Gary Golio

Silence. That was the response at Cafe Society the first time Billie Holiday performed a song called "Strange Fruit." In the 1930s, Billie was known as a performer of jazz and blues music, but this song wasn't either of those things. It was a song about injustice, and it would change her life forever.

Discover how two outsiders—Billie Holiday, a young black woman raised in poverty, and Abel Meerpol, the son of Jewish immigrants—combined their talents to create a song that challenged racism and paved the way for the civil rights movement. 
 

The Legendary Miss Lena Horne by Carole Boston Weatherford

Lena Horne was born into a freedom struggle, to a family of teachers and activists. Her mother dreamed of being an actress, so Lena followed along as she chased small parts in vaudeville, living out of a suitcase. Then MGM came, offering Lena somthing more—the first-ever studio ccontract for a black actress. But the roles she was considered for were maids and mamies, stereotypes that Lena refused to play. Still, she never gave up.

"Stormy Weather" became her theme song, and when she sang "This Little Light of Mine" at a civil rights rally, she found not only her voice, but also her calling, her light. Inspiring and powerful, this is a celebration of the life of Lena Horne, the pioneering American actress and civil rights activist who refused to be treated as second class.

A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis  by Matt De La Peña 

On the eve of World War II, African American boxer Joe Louis fought German Max Schmeling in a bout that had more at stake than just the world heavyweight title; for much of America, the fight came to represent America's war with Germany.

This elegant and powerful picture-book biography centers around the historic fight in which black and white America were able to put aside prejudice and come together to celebrate our nation's ideals.

Satchel Paige by Lesa Cline-Ransome

No one pitched like Leroy "Satchel" Paige. Fans packed the stands to see how many batters he could strike out in one game. He dazzled them with his unique pitching style, and he even gave nicknames to some of his trademark pitches—there was the "hesitation," his magic slow ball, and the "bee ball," named because it would always "be" where he wanted it to be. 

Follow Satch's career through these beautiful illustrations, as he begins playing in the semi-pros and goes on to become the first African American to pitch in a major League World Series, and the first Negro Leaguer to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
 

Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America by Carole Boston Weather