8 Black History Month Books for Grades K-2

February is almost upon us! At Lee & Low, we believe that Black history is American history and should be celebrated and taught all year long. But February can be a great time to shine a spotlight on favorite books or freshen up a dated collection with new titles. Here are eight of our favorite Black History Month Books for kindergarten through second grade:

Knockin’ On Wood, by Lynne Barasch: This is the delightful true story of Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates, one of the most legendary tap dancers of the twentieth century. See the Teacher’s Guide.
Juneteenth Jamboree, by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Yvonne Buchanan: When Cassie moves back to Texas, she experiences her first Juneteenth celebration and learns what makes June 19th so important. See the Teacher’s Guide.
Love Twelve Miles Long, by Glenda Armand and illustrated by Colin Bootman: In this gentle story, Frederick Douglass’s mother travels twelve miles by night to visit her son and recounts her journey, mile by mile. See the Teacher’s Guide.
The Bus Ride, by William Miller and illustrated by John Ward: When Sarah decides to move up to the front of the bus one day, she sets off a commotion that reverberates throughout the city. See the Teacher’s Guide.
The Secret to Freedom, by Marcia Vaughan and illustrated by Larry Johnson: Set during the years before the Civil War, this story follows young Lucy who longs for freedom and to see her family again. See the Teacher’s Guide.
The Piano, by William Miller and illustrated by Susan Keeter: Tia loves music. When she accepts a maid’s job from an older White woman, she hopes it will bring her closer to the piano. See the Teacher’s Guide.
Up the Learning Tree, by Marcia Vaughan and illustrated by Derek Blanks: Enslaved children are not allowed to learn to read and write, but Henry is curious and determined to discover what’s so special about books. See the Teacher’s Guide.
Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree, by William Miller and illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu: From the top of her chinaberry tree, young Zora dreams of living in the cities beyond the horizon. See the Teacher’s Guide.