ABSTRACT
Children’s books do more than tell stories. They provide information, ignite discussions, and answer questions. And although we still have a long way to go, more and more brilliant and beautiful picture books are being published that represent Black histories, characters, and stories. It is helpful to consider the different kinds of children’s books we read to our students and make available to them in our classrooms. This chapter focuses on three strategies for going beyond the book when preparing to teach black history. Highlighting Black inventors and inventions throughout history enables students to see the innovation, creativity, and contributions of Black people to the world around us. Black joy is an often overlooked part of Black history. History is a major component of the elementary social studies curriculum, and using accessible children’s books is an excellent way to teach these history standards.
