Celebrate Black History Month With the Children's Literature Collection

February is Black History Month, and the Children's Literature Collection has plenty of materials to help celebrate. A virtual book display created by Laura Cameron, education librarian, features relevant books, primary source materials, lesson plans and regional resources for teachers. 

"This Black History Month, I encourage the University of Arkansas community to explore our virtual display highlighting just some of the books in the Children's Literature Collection that lift up the voices and stories of African Americans and the Black community," Cameron said. "The titles in our display this month range from disquieting (A Kids Books about Systemic Racism by Jordan Thierry) to surprising (Black Heroes of the Wild West by James Otis Smith), heart wrenching (A Few Red Drops by Clair Hartfield) to uplifting (Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes). I hope that we are all able to find something to further our learning and growth, not just this month, but for all the months and years to come."

Additional titles featured in the display include R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul by Carole Boston Weatherford, winner of the 2020 Coretta Scott King Award, and Malcolm Little: The Boy who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X written by Ilyasah Shabazz, Malcolm's daughter.

The Children's Literature Collection is located on the lobby level of Mullins Library in the northwest corner of the building. The collection includes books suitable for children pre-K to 12th grade. The collection is organized into eight sections to allow for easier browsing: picture books, early readers, chapter and middle grade books, young adult novels, graphic novels, traditional tales, biographies and non-fiction. Each section is identified with a five-digit code, color-coded spine stickers and shelf signage.