The books and activities below are
for 3-5 grade classrooms. We do not own the rights to these books, but are
providing links to publicly available videos. We think you should buy
these wonderful books for your school or home library! Each book is
categorized by its theme (BIOGRAPHY, CIVIL RIGHTS/RACISM, and TAKING ACTION). We try to add new books at the top of each section every 3-4 months.
Please feel free to use these links to copy-able letters to PARENTS or TEACHERS.
Click on the book cover or the enlarged title to link to the video reading. Where
possible, we have used Video Link to create links outside of You Tube,
so it doesn't move students on to other videos. Occasionally requests to
subscribe to the reader's website are embedded at
the end of the story. These may be ignored. But please remember, if we
have had to use YouTube links, to
stop the video before it moves on to other unrelated content.
BIOGRAPHY
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
Written by Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Read by Jasmyn Cornell
This is the story of Harriet Tubman’s heroic mission during slavery time to guide slaves north to freedom. The story focuses mostly on her decision to take on this effort and on her first journey north, alone. It is depicted as a spiritual journey, full of fear and doubt. The striking illustrations are dark, as her trip took place primarily at night. A significant feature of this story is her faith in and guidance from God. Nature also speaks to her and comforts her. At the end of this account she is directed by God, and inspired to return, to bring her family north, and then also many others as time goes on.
Possible Activity: Have students draw whatever part of this story interested them.
Have the students break into small groups to talk about the book.
Have students look up the Underground Railroad and talk about who used it.
Discussion Ideas: What role did faith in God play in the journey for freedom and overcoming slavery?
What was Harriet afraid of? How did she gain strength to continue?
Who helped Harriet as she made her way north?
DISCUSSION/ACTIVITY
The teacher could show where New Orleans is on a map, and maybe some photos of it online. The music teacher could be invited to lend the class a trombone, and perhaps demonstrate its sound.
Good discussion could include asking each child to name something they really love to do, and asking if they have anything they practice and practice, or that you have seen others practice and practice until they are good? Is there anything adults recognize you for being good at the way Bo Diddley recognized Trombone Shorty or the way Trombone Shorty proudly recognizes his brother?
As an activity, ask students what the different steps were in Trombone Shorty’s journey. Could they individually or jointly sketch the different steps in Trombone Shorty’s journey (a town with music floating through the air, playing pretend instruments, finding the broken trombone, forming the 5 o’clock band, joining his brother’s band, traveling with his own band, returning home)? Drawing gives thinking time to the students and makes it sink in a bit more about how much perseverance it takes to accomplish a dream. Drawing Trombone Shorty and the context of New Orleans gives validation to the character and the city. The adult could provide copied pages from the book as a basis for the student’s sketches, or other resource materials on New Orleans, Mardi Gras parades, Mardi Gras beads, etc..
You Should Meet Katherine Johnson
Wrtitten by Thea Feldman
Illustrated by Alysa Peterson
Read by Rockin’ Read Alouds
16 minutes
One of a series of books about “people you should meet”, this is an inspiring biography of the childhood, education and eventual success of a brilliant mathematician. Katherine Johnson worked on early NASA missions and her love of learning and working with a team is highlighted in this well illustrated story. Students might be interested in knowing there was a film made about Katherine and her team called “Hidden Figures”
DISCUSSION/ACTIVITY
This is a chapter book, perhaps best chunked into smaller parts because it is so full of information. Here are three alternatives:
1. As a class, listen to the first and last chapters of the book, and make the intermediate chapters optional. Follow with a discussion about what it takes to excel in something (family support, teacher support, confidence, etc.) and have students make a poster of Katherine Johnson and events in her life. Show actual photos of Katherine Johnson to supplement the illustrations in the book.
2. Listen to one chapter per day, concentrating on the chapter titles and finding several examples of why the chapter title fits the contents (illustrated, written, etc.).
3. Obtain an actual copy of the book and assign each chapter to a small group and have that group share the salient points in the chapter with the rest of the class using whatever medium they would like.
4. A supplementary activity for a student could be interviewing an adult who watched the movie “Hidden Figures” and finding out what surprised the adult who was watching the movie.
CIVIL RIGHTS / RACISM
Written by Jacquline Woodson
Illustrated by E.B. Lewis
Read by the Library Lady
About 5 minutesPossible Activities:
Have students draw their idea of barriers to overcome in friendship.
Have students pair off to talk about friendship and what makes a good friend.Possible Discussion ideas:
Are there ways in our time that make it hard for kids of different races to make friends?
How can parents help kids make new friends?
Written by Robert Coles
Illustrated by George Ford
Read by Ann Marie
About 12 minutes
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read
Written by Rita Lorraine Hubbard
Illustrated by Oge MoraRead by Ms. Linda, Brightly Storytime
15 minutes
This true story depicts the long life of Mary Walker and her motivation to become a reader despite many obstacles. Her optimism and drive are described with her southern upbringing during slavery, sharecropping, motherhood, and loss of loved ones as background.
DISCUSSION/ACTIVITY
Timeline Activity: Have students subtract 1848, Mary Walker’s birth, from 1969, the year she died. 127 years is a long life, and there were many changes for black people during Mary Walker’s life. This book draws attention to some of them. Have a stack of large cards, each labeled with a different time period in the book (Childhood Slavery 1848-1863, Emancipation Act & Freedom Road 1865, One-room Cabin & Working in Other People’s Houses 1865-1868, Share-Cropping & Odd Jobs & Children 1868-1908, Many Odd Jobs & People Reading to Her 1908-1962, Living Alone in City: T.V., Airplane Ride, Learning to Read 1962-1969) Hand out one card to each student or each pair or small group of students to illustrate in the style of the book illustrations, very simple block-like images. Students could try using cutting and pasting with colored papers as in the book, or simply making simple drawings. Post all the drawings as a timeline. As students work on their illustrations, discuss during which part of her life she had the most freedom.
Some questions for students could include:
Why were slaves not allowed to learn to read?
What was the Freedom Road?
What book was Mary determined to read?
What was sharecropping?
Race Cars: A Children's Book About White Privilege
Written by Jenny Devenny
Read by The Alphabet Book Corner
13 minutes/9 seconds
CAVEAT: The subtitle says it all. Please be aware that this book tackles White privilege head on, framed in an engaging children’s story. Teachers need to be clear about this, especially in our present contentious political climate. They could certainly suggest the book to parents who want to talk about racism with their children and might find this book quite helpful.
The subtitle says it all. This is a story showing how White privilege works, told by two race cars, one white and one black. Growing up they are best friends, and they love to race. Doesn’t matter who wins, they just love it. When they’re grown up, they enter an important race, and the Black car wins. There is another evermore important race coming up, and the overseers of that race can’t allow a Black car to win, so they change the rules to make it (they think) impossible for the Black car to win. The story about race cars should engage the kids, all the while showing them how White privilege works.
Discussion should involve talking about fairness, and bringing forth other examples of different rules or procedures for Black people. (e.g., learning that until Jackie Robinson was hired by the Brooklyn Dodgers, Black players weren’t allowed on Major League Baseball teams. Ask first if any of the students know about Jackie Robinson and what they know.)
TAKING ACTION
Written by Ellen Levine
Possible Activities:
Have students break into pairs to talk about how Henry made the decision. Questions for them to consider could be what motivated him? Who helped him?
Have students reflect on the message the reader, Ray, talks about after he reads the story.
Have students look up the meaning of the word "Abolitionist". Were there abolitionists helping Henry?
Just Ask: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You
Written by Sonya Sotomayor
Illustrated by Rafael Lopez
Read by Lindsay Prossnitz
9 minutes/39 seconds
All the children in this beautifully written and illustrated book talk about their unique challenges, and how they cope. This book could easily take up a whole period—or more. There are excellent discussion questions at the end of each segment. It also helps kids know how to be there for kids with challenges. The fact that it’s written by a current Supreme Court justice is impressive. Sotomayor suffered with childhood diabetes and talks about how she tried to hide her need to measure her blood sugar level. How she felt different from other kids and suffered embarrassment because of it.
The teacher should definitely talk to any student who might be uncomfortable with this book because of his or her own challenges. And if the child is OK with it, they should also tell that child that they do NOT have to talk about themselves unless they want to.
DISCUSSION/ACTIVITY
This book is not specifically about race, but about differences. Taking action here means being kind, understanding and knowing how to talk with others about our differences.
As stated above, the questions at the end of each segment provide plenty of fodder for good discussion.
As individuals or in pairs, students can make posters of their own illustrating different challenges some students might have and saying WE WELCOME EVERYONE OF US at the bottom of the poster.
WHOOSH! Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions
Written by Chris Barton
I- Illustrated by Don Tate
Read by EDU Kid Space
9 1/2 minutes
This can be considered a biography, yet the focus on Ronnie Jonson’s energy and perseverance is a wonderful example of taking action. This is a story of a boy with a dream, beautifully illustrated, an inventor filled with the excitement of discovery who overcomes barriers to realize his dream.
DISCUSSION/ACTIVITY
The reader should bring in a supersoaker water gun, one of Lonnie’s inventions! But don’t demonstrate it indoors! What are some of his other inventions?
We all admire someone who is a successful in achieving a dream. What makes Lonnie successful? What would make you successful at a dream you have? Here is your chance to prove to the world you know how someone gets to be successful. Write the word S U C C E S S in the middle of a large piece of drawing paper. Around it draw or illustrate or write what Lonnie had to do to be successful. (being confident, persistent, hard-working, enjoying what he was doing, working at a day job as well as a night job, not giving up even when he was discouraged, etc.) Include some examples of these character traits from the book.
Questions for students could include:
-Do you know anyone who was able to realize their dream?
-Have you ever had an idea for an invention? If so, what steps would you take to begin to put your idea into action?
- What are some of the difficulties Lonnie faced throughout his life?
-How could you encourage someone you know who has a dream?
