Here are some picture books and related material about Black history in Canada. Use them for Black History Month and throughout the year! Any books that were written by Black authors have been tagged with the #OwnVoices hashtag.
One thing before we begin…
When talking about the ‘first’ person from a group to do something, please challenge students to ask why it took so long for that first to happen. For example, Jackie Robinson wasn’t the first Black baseball player, and he wasn’t the first Black person to be capable of playing in the big leagues. Make sure students understand that it was systemic racism, NOT a lack of ability or interest, that prevented people from participating in these kinds of things earlier.
- Africville by Shantay Grant (#ownvoices)
- This book is about a little girl who is looking forward to a summertime gathering in Africville. Africville was a Black community in Nova Scotia from the mid-1800s to 1960s. It was bulldozed by the city of Halifax in the name of ‘urban renewal’. Today, families who lived in Africville gather in the park that is now there every summer for a reunion.
- Author Shauntay Grant talks about the community and her book in this video.
- Check out this Historica Canada video about the destruction of Africville.
- You can visit the Africville Museum’s website here.
- This book is about a little girl who is looking forward to a summertime gathering in Africville. Africville was a Black community in Nova Scotia from the mid-1800s to 1960s. It was bulldozed by the city of Halifax in the name of ‘urban renewal’. Today, families who lived in Africville gather in the park that is now there every summer for a reunion.
- All Aboard! Elijah McCoy’s Steam Engine by Monica Kulling
- Elijah McCoy was born in Canada and returned to the United States as a child. He grew up to be an inventor who held almost sixty patents.
- A Change of Heart by Alice Walsh
- This picture book tells the story of a Black American sailor who was shipwrecked off the coast of Newfoundland during the Second World War. He was surprised to find that, in contrast to the racism he faced at home, Newfoundlanders were kind and willing to help him. If you read this book to your students, please make sure that they understand that life for Black Canadians at the time was not all sunshine and roses. Racism was, and is, still a major issue.
- I am Harriet Tubman by Brad Meltzer
- This story tells the story of one of the Underground Railroad’s most famous ‘conductors’. The connection to Canada in this book is only briefly mentioned, but my students love this series.
- NOTE: If you are a member of Scholastic’s Reading Club, they have very affordable paperback editions of this series.
- I am Jackie Robinson by Brad Meltzer
- When Robinson joined the Montréal Royals, he became the first Black player in Major League Baseball.
- Historica Canada has this video about Robinson.
- Oscar Lives Next Door: A Story Inspired by Oscar Peterson’s Childhood by Bonnie Farmer (#ownvoices)
- Peterson was a famous jazz pianist who won eight Grammys. I love reading this book and then letting my students imagine we are in a jazz club as they listen to his music. Try it out! Serve snacks and refreshments, and teach them to clap after jazz solos just like they would in a live performance.
- There are tons of videos and recordings of his performances available on youtube!
- Viola Desmond Won’t Be Budged! By Jody Nyasha Warner (#ownvoices) and Meet Viola Desmond by Elizabeth MacLeod
- I prefer Warner’s book as a read-aloud because I find the story flows a bit better without the speech bubbles that are in MacLeod’s text. I also like that it is written by a Black author.
- You can also show this Heritage Minute about Desmond.
- Viola Desmond is on a $10 bill… and it’s vertical! You can explore it on the Bank of Canada’s website here or, better yet, get some to pass around!
- Meet Willie O’Ree by Elizabeth MacLeod
- When O’Ree joined the NHL in 1958, he was the first Black player in the league. An interesting fact about him is that he was blind in one eye and managed to keep it a secret so he could play the sport he loved.
Do you have any other suggestions? If so, I’d love to hear them!
P.S. I’m working on a larger post about Black history in Canada generally, not just stories that are available in picture books. I’d love to hear any pieces that you’d recommend including!
Looking for more Black History stories to share? Check out my free article on the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes!
