October is Black History Month in the UK. Although the US began celebrating Black History Month in February 1969, UK Black History Month was founded 18 years later in 1987 by Ghanaian-born Akyaaba Addai-Sebo.
One of the reasons Akyaaba chose October was because it is the start of a new academic year. He believed it would give black children a sense of pride and identity. So what better time to recognise incredible children’s books by iconic Black British Authors?
In this blog post, we’ll celebrate UK Black History Month by taking a look at 10 children’s books that are essential reading for primary school children.
1. Nature Trail by Benjamin Zephaniah (3-5 Years)
Benjamin Zephaniah is one of The Times’ top 50 British post-war writers. Nature Trail takes us on a joyous adventure through nature and reminds us of the importance of taking a closer look at the world around us.
From pavements to flowerpots and gardens to parks, Nature Trail is heaving with animals and minibeasts. As always, Zephaniah fills the book with imaginative rhyming, which makes it great for reading aloud and will help your child accelerate their reading skill.
2. Granny Came Here on the Empire Windrush by Patrice Lawrence (3-5 years)
Patrice Lawrence pays homage to the struggles and achievements of the Windrush generation in her debut picture book. One day at school, the main character Ava is asked to dress up as an inspirational figure, but all the obvious choices, such as Rosa Parks, Mary Seacole, and Winifred Atwell have already been taken.
This spurs Ava and her grandmother to look through the items in Granny’s suitcase and the items inside; Granny tells her story of how she came to Britain. Patrice Lawrence makes this book a truly heartwarming account of the Windrush experience, brought to life with beautiful illustrations by Camille Sucre.
3. Look Up! by Nathan Bryon (5-7 years)
Nathan Bryon’s “Look Up!” is not only a budding young astronaut’s perfect book, but it’s also a reminder for children to move away from their phone screens and start paying more attention to the wonderment of the outside world.
The book features Rocket, a space-obsessed girl who dreams of being the greatest space traveller the world has ever seen. But, before she can accomplish her dreams, she needs to convince her big brother to stop staring down at his phone screen and start looking up at the stars.
Look Up! is a life-affirming and passionate book about space and the natural world.
4. Riley Can be Anything by Davina Hamilton (5-7 years)
Riley can be anything is Davina Hamilton’s reminder to our children that they can be anything they want to be. It’s an inspirational rhyming story that will keep dreams and aspirations alive.
In the book, Riley discovers some of the amazing things he can be when he grows up. The book is packed full of positive messages and the rhyme scheme feels natural and will help to enhance a child’s vocabulary.
5. Hey You! by Dapo Adeola (5-7 years)
Dapo Adeola is better known as an illustrator, but in this award-winning book, Adeola writes an inspirational and lyrical reflection on growing up black. The book is brought to life by eighteen different and incredible Black illustrators.
Hey You! offers a rich reading experience and a timeless message to the next generation of dreamers.
6. Bad Panda by Swapna Haddow (7-9 years)
Swapna Haddow could well be one of the funniest black children’s authors out there. In Bad Panda, Lin gets fed up with being regarded as the cutest panda in the world.
When Lin is separated from her brother and moved to the local zoo, she begins to plot absolute mayhem to prove that she’s the meanest animal in captivity.
Swapna Haddow also brought us “Dave Pigeon”, which was shortlisted for the Sainsbury’s book award. Just like Dave Pigeon, Bad Panda is a laugh-out-loud book for primary school children.
7. Blueblood by Malorie Blackman (7-9 years)
Blueblood is a feminist retelling of the French folktale “Bluebeard”. Former Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman tells the story of Nia.
Nia meets Marcus, the man she wants to marry, but she asks that he keeps one promise. Marcus must never enter her study in the basement. As Marcus becomes more and more curious about Nia’s private space, Nia begins to feel more uneasy.
She worries that he will betray her. The story has quite a sinister theme, but it is an important cautionary tale for young women. Blueblood is one of four books in a series entitled “A Fairy Tale Revolution” in which writers revive classic fairy tales.
8. Race to the Frozen North by Catherine Johnson (9-12 Years)
Race to the Frozen North should be on every child’s reading list for UK Black History Month. It tells the story of Matthew Henson, who was an African American explorer who accompanied Robert Peary on his expeditions to the Arctic.
Despite Henson being one of the first humans to reach the North Pole, his story has been shamefully disregarded simply because he was Black. In Race to the Frozen North, Catherine Johnson brings this remarkable story of one of history’s greatest pioneers to life.
The book is rich with interesting information about Matthew Henson, and it is easily accessible and engaging for young readers.
9. The Secret of the Purple Lake by Yaba Badoe (9-12 Years)
The Secret of the Purple Lake is a collection of five interlinked folk stories that take readers all over the world. It has a rich epic feel and contains a fascinating cast of heroes and monsters.
Each story follows a protagonist who is trying to find their place in the world. Like all great stories, it is tied closely to the human experience and will leave a valuable impression upon young readers. The Ghanaian-British author, Yaba Badoe, is also known for her work as a documentary filmmaker and journalist.
10. You Are a Champion by Markus Rashford & Carl Anka (9-12 Years)
Manchester United forward, Markus Rashford has become an exceptional role model for our nation’s children. In ‘You Are a Champion’ Rashford draws from his own experiences to create an award-winning self-help book for children.
The book focuses on the idea that success is all about mindset. This is a hugely inspirational book and could well be life-changing for many of its readers. If you want your child to adopt a positive winning mindset then ‘You Are a Champion’ is a must.
Celebrating Black British Authors
These 10 children’s books by Black British authors are a great way to kick start UK Black History Month. The stories showcase the vast talents of Black children’s authors from the UK.
All of these books by iconic Black children’s authors are a great way to help your children develop their vocabulary and learn about themselves and the world around them.
Here at Ant Learning, we believe that children should become avid readers and take ownership of their learning and academic progress. If you have any questions about how we can support you or your child, then be sure to contact us.
