Books to celebrate Black History Month - and beyond!

With a new report  recording a 'catastrophic decline' in Black representation in children's books and very low Asian representation, ReadingZone is sharing some recent titles by Black and Asian authors and illustrators, highlighted by our teacher and librarian reviewers as 'must-haves' for the classroom. We hope you and your children find lots to discover in their pages.

The Excluded Voices report by from Inclusive Books for Children highlighted a recent 21% fall in representation of Black characters in children's books and significant under-representation of Asian characters, with just 2% of recent publishing including an Asian main character while Asian children make up 15% of UK nursery and school population.

During Black History Month, ReadingZone is highlighting some of our reviewers' recent favourite reads by Black and Asian writers and illustrators, with reviews and extracts, as well as author videos and Q&As where available.

Picture books to share

I'm Going to Make a Friend, Darren Chetty, illus Sandhya Prabhat:  "As the child struggles with all the questions filling their head about what they might expect from a friend, the story offers a perfect springboard for discussion and role play to develop and explore these ideas."   Find out more from author Darren Chetty

So Devin Wore a Skirt, Shireen Lalji, illus Lucy Fleming:   "This joyous book is described as "a big- hearted story about being your best, most sparkling self" and delivers just as promised."

The Tour at School Charlie Higson, illus Nadia Shireen:  "This needs to be in every school so that every new starter feels welcomed and confident." 

The Best You, Nima Patel, illus Cally Johnson-Isaacs:  "This is one of the best picture books I have seen that looks at being a good person from the inside out, and important that is." Find out more from author Nima Patel & Cally Johnson-Isaacs.

Two People Can, Blessing Musariri, illus Maisie Paradise Shearring:  "Two People Can is a heartfelt story that is perfect for exploring the kinds of emotions we might feel as we experience grief and loss."

Step Into My Shoes, Alkisti Halikia, illus Fotini Tikkou, Konstantine Matsoukas:  "The real joy of the story is that it encourages readers to pause and think . . - that misunderstandings can be seen from another perspective and that 'stepping into someone else's shoes' allows us to understand them better."

How to Tame a Mummy Monster, Rochelle Falconer:  "How to Tame a Mummy Monster is a story about getting along but it's entertaining and engaging for children."  Q&A with author Rochelle Falconer

My Rice is Best, Selina Brown, Maxwell A. Oginni:  "My Rice is Best is an absolute delight! Full of humour, it is perfect for sharing and starting discussions."

 

Young Fiction for the class library

Destiny Ink:  "There is no better accolade than a story that gets children both reading and talking about books, as the children in my class have done." Author and illustrator Adeola Sokunbi introduces Destiny Ink

Wild Magic: Legend of the Black Lion:  "Whilst the message is serious, about conservation and protecting the wildlife, the story makes it fun."  Find out more from author Abiola Bello.

Ten-Word Tiny Tales of Love:  "Perfect for inspiring creativity and sparking imagination, each picture and the combining tiny tale offers endless possibilities for developing story telling."

Marv and the Funfair Fright:  "Marv is a superhero powered by imagination and kindness - what a brilliant message for children! - and he always does his best to help put things right when his community is imperiled."  Q&A with author Alex Falase-Koya

Grimwood: Rock the Vote:  "Voting is something that young readers will be learning about in different contexts and was part of the British Values curriculum. This is a brilliant way to introduce the concept in a fun way."

 

Adventures and poetry for newly confident readers

Supa Nova, Chante Timothy:  "This is a page-turner with plenty of appeal for 7+ readers who are seeking out a new Marvel-like character with plenty of pizzazz!"  Find out more from author Chante Timothy

Cosmic Cadets and the Universal Uni-Korn, Ryan Crawford, illus Rochelle Falconer:  "Such a fun and imaginative story. An absolute joy to read."

Solving Crimes is NOT My Superpower, Nathanael Lessore:  "The book is fast-paced and the reader is swept into a world full of magic, mystery and adventure. There are many laugh-out-loud moments which will be enjoyed by any reader."

Yomi and the Curse of Grootslang, Davina Tijani:  "Fast-paced and lively action adventure story, Yomi and the Curse of Grootslang is delightfully bold and vividly described." Explore the myths behind the Yomi stories: Q&A with author Davina Tijani 

The Poetry World of John Agard:  "An absolute treasure trove of poetic joy, deserving a place on every library, classroom and home bookshelf."

 

Contemporary and fantasy novels for older readers

These are stories that will entice, engage and compel readers to get to the final pages . . . Many of the debut writers here have already been making waves with their new books and we're looking forward to seeing where they go next! 

Game Over, Serena Patel:  "Game Over is a story that grabs even reluctant readers' interest and attention from start to finish."

Dead Yard: The Seeds of Doom, PJ Killburn:  "Dead Yard: Seeds of Doom by P.J.Killburn is a great book to re-inspire Year 7 readers, with its mix of ghosts, humour and a smattering of Jamaican culture making this a highly entertaining read."  Find out more from author PJ Killburn

Under Fire, Sufiya Ahmed:   "I learnt so much about India during WW2 from this new story by Sufiya Ahmed. It would be an excellent addition to a school library."

Runaways, EL Norry:  "Beautifully written, deeply moving, Runaways is essential reading for everyone."

Running My Own Race, Abena Eyeson:  "This is unquestionably a book for classroom and library bookshelves. It is nuanced, engaging and could promote useful conversations around resilience and fairness." Indepth Q&A with Abena Eyeson

Deep Dark, Zohra Nabi:  "Deep Dark combines historical detail, fantasy and a sinister mystery to create a compelling adventure set in Victorian London."  Read more in our Q&A with Zohra Nabi.

Vanya and the Wild Hunt, Sangu Mandanna:  "The story is steeped in mythology and folklore form the UK and India and best of all contains lots of books, libraries and food!"

The Boy to Beat the Gods, Ashley Thorpe:  "I loved the action, the anticipation and how the characters grew to trust one another, and the importance in believing in yourself."

Amari and the Despicable Wonders (Amari and the Night Brothers), BB Alston:  "Sweeps the reader away into a breathtakingly fantastical world. Magic."  Find out more from author BB Alston

It's a Brave Young World, Anu Adebogun, illus Soofiya Cruz, Lila Cruz:  "The topics within chapters are manifold with activism, politics and faith under 'beliefs', but the writing flows and it is a book that will question what we learn from society, assisting readers to truly question who they want to be."  Find out more in our Q&A with Anu Adebogun.

 

Teenage and YA novels

What Happens Online, Nathanael Lessore:  "I absolutely loved What Happens Online, it is hilarious in parts, but Lessore also creates great pathos in his work." 

My Soul a Shining Tree, Jamila Gavin:  "Based on the true story of Indian WWI gunner and recipient of the Victoria Cross, Khudadad Khan . . . Such a powerful and emotive book is a must-read."

My Name is Samim, Fidan Meikle:  "My name is Samim is a story that will broaden minds and expand hearts."

Augmented, Kenechi Udogu: "The pacing of Augmented is brisk and it is full of twists, secrets, and emotional highs."  Indepth Q&A with author Kenechi Udogu

The Hero Complex, Helen Comerford:  "If you're looking for a fast-paced, action-packed read with some heart swooning moments, The Hero Complex is the book for you."  Watch Helen Comerford introduce The Love Interest (book 1)

Wild East, Ashley Hickson-Lovence:  "Wild East is such a positive, uplifting book and Ronny’s such a likeable character - you are always rooting for him . . . An empowering verse novel."

Odd Girl Out, Tasneem Abdur-Rashid:  "Odd Girl Out touches on a lot of serious/topical issues, not least race and privilege."   Find our more about the themes explored from author Tasneem Abdur-Rashid.

Oxford Blood, Rachael Davis-Featherstone:  "A gripping new YA thriller. It's fast moving, full of twists and ultimately very dark. I loved it."   Q&A with Rachael Davis-Featherstone

Mondays are Murder, Ravena Guron:  "I absolutely loved this thrilling, unpredictable page-turner. It is packed with twists, turns and dead ends."     Indepth Q&A with Ravena Guron

Needy Little Things, Channelle Desamours:  "Needy Little Things is an intriguing, mysterious and pacey thriller. Many twists, turns and red herrings make for a suspenseful and gripping novel."  Q&A with Channelle Desamours

 

Great Non-fiction for Black History Month

Brilliant Black British History, Atinuke, illus Kingsley Nebechi:  "An important book that truthfully contemplates the contribution Black history has made to British culture and society, and one that will help to change how Britain's Black history is perceived.

Black and British: An Illustrated History:   "This book should be available in every classroom, not just for history topics, but to show all children that history can be used to improve our current and future lives."

Bright Stars of Black British History, JT Williams:  "An essential and incredibly important guide to changes in history, the struggles and the persecution, and the determination and continued fight felt by many."

Stand Up and Speak Out against Racism, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Aleesha Nandhra :  "This book has the capacity to really make the reader think not only about racism in today's society, but also what we can do to build a better, safer, fairer world for everyone."

Black History for Every Day of the Year, David Olusoga, Yinka Olusoga, Kemi Olusoga:  "This fabulous new history is an introduction to notable black figures and events across centuries and from around the world . . . a powerhouse of a book in bite-size chunks."

 

Black Poetry Collections and Anthologies

This is Not a Small Voice, Traci N Todd:  "This is Not a Small Voice is a stunning anthology of poems which focuses on Black culture and experiences."

The Poetry World of John Agard, John Agard, Shirley Hottier, Darren Chetty:  "It is an absolute treasure trove of poetic joy, deserving a place on every library, classroom and home bookshelf."

Spin!: 10 Exciting New Voices in Poetry, Joseph Coelho:  "

Spooky Poems Aloud, Joseph Coelho:  "Each of these 25 poems just cries out to be performed, encouraging children to explore the use of dynamics, tone and gesture to support their presentation, having great fun in the process."

The River's A Singer: Selected Poems, Valerie Bloom:  "The River's a Singer offers a wonderful range of works, celebrating nature, family, cultural heritage and identity."

 

Have we missed a book you love? Get in touch and let us know - [email protected]