The ABCs of Black History

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

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Physical Properties

Description

B is for Beautiful, Brave, and Bright! And for a Book that takes a Bold journey through the alphabet of Black history and culture.

Letter by letter, The ABCs of Black History celebrates a story that spans continents and centuries, triumph and heartbreak, creativity and joy.

Its a story of big ideasP is for Power, S is for Science and Soul. Of significant momentsG is for Great Migration. Of iconic figuresH is for Zora Neale Hurston, X is for Malcom X. Its an ABC book like no other, and a story of hope and love.

In addition to rhyming text, the book includes back matter with information on the events, places, and people mentioned in the poem, from Mae Jemison to W. E. B. Du Bois, Fannie Lou Hamer to Sam Cooke, and the Little Rock Nine to DJ Kool Herc.

Reviews

In rhyming couplets, Cortez leads readers on a journey through Black life that acknowledges pain and struggle while building confidence with examples of triumph. Its a tricky maneuver when writing for children, but Cortez pulls it off.- The New York Times

"A uniquely crafted ABC book that portrays some of the most important events in Black History with a vibrancy and joy that young children will absolutely love.- Parade

"...The layers of history are plentiful and complex....A useful mentor text for writing projects, a springboard for research, and an essential addition to classroom libraries." -Booklist

An impressive array of names, events, and concepts from Black history are introduced in this alphabet book for early-elementary readers... Therhyming verses are light on the tongue, making the reading smooth and soothing. The brightly colored, folk artstyle illustrations offer vibrant scenes of historical and contemporary Black life..." -Kirkus Starred Review

Poet Cortez pens an informative ode to Black history in her childrens book debutfor each letter of this abecedarian, she offers lightly alliterative, rhyming text that illuminates historically significant concepts and figuresA particularly resonant spread shows a crowd holding signs that reflect both historical and current events, including We March with Selma and We Cant Breathe, demonstrating to young readers how past occurrences affect the present A richly accessible resource for anyone seeking to celebrate Black visionaries. - Publishers Weekly

Author Bio

Rio Cortez is a writer and Pushcart-nominated poet who has received fellowships from Poet's House, Cave Canem, and CantoMundo foundations. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in the Los Angeles Review of Books, The New Yorker, and Prairie Schooner, among others. Rio writes and lives in Harlem where she works as a bookseller and buyer for the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Lauren Semmer is an artist, childrens bookillustrator, and designer.She studied drawing at St. Paul College of Visual Arts and art history at New York University.Laurens bright and charming work is featured on everything from kids wall art to childrens apparel.She lives in Manhattan with her family.