As a child, one of my favourite activities to do was read. My parents, especially my mother, instilled in me a love for reading. Reading was my way of escaping reality. I had a great childhood, but I loved what books were able to do for my imagination. With that being said, what is most interesting about my childhood memories of books is that not only can I not recall many Black authors, I cannot recall many Black Canadian authors. Being Black History Month and today being Family Day in Ontario, I wanted to highlight some Black Canadian Authors in our monthly blog.
In our blog this month, we are acknowledging Canadian Black authors that have contributed to children’s literacy. As an educator, I can only be an advocate for parents to encourage them to read with their children. Reading aloud not only creates memories, but it helps children learn to use language to make sense of the world. Studies even show that parents who read aloud to their children motivates them to read. Reading stories from a variety of perspectives gives children the opportunity to not only learn and develop critical thinking skills, but it will also spark curiosity and enrich their joy of reading.
I hope this Family Day allows you to spend some quality time together doing your favourite activities. I hope one of those activities is reading.
Elijah of Buxton
Written by: Christopher Paul Curtis
Ages 9-12
Master storyteller Christopher Paul Curtis lends his trademark humour and vibrant narrative style to the gripping tale of eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman. The first child born into freedom in Buxton, Ontario, a settlement of runaway slaves just over the border from Detroit, Elijah is best known in his hometown as the boy who threw up on Frederick Douglass. Not on purpose, of course, he was just a baby then! But things change when a former slave calling himself the Right Reverend Zephariah W. Connerly the Third steals money from Elijah’s friend Mr. Leroy, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Elijah joins Mr. Leroy on a dangerous journey to America in pursuit of the disreputable preacher, and he discovers firsthand the unimaginable horrors of the life his parents have fled; a life from which he’ll always be free, if he can find the courage to get back home. Exciting yet evocative, heart-wrenching yet hilarious, Elijah of Buxton is Christopher Paul Curtis at his very best and it’s an unforgettable testament to the power of hope.
Race with Me
Written by: Andre De Grasse and Robert Budd
Ages 6-10
A celebration of sport — and Andre De Grasse’s positive, winning attitude
Everyone gets nervous butterflies. I don’t let that feeling stop me.
I love the feeling of being proud of myself. I can only feel it by trying my best.
My butterflies just mean I am excited to run.
Lace up your shoes and get ready for race day with Canada’s 2019 Athlete of the Year, Andre De Grasse!
Find out what it was like for him as an underdog, and how he motivates himself to face every challenge, in this inspiring celebration of sport.
Filled with full-colour photos and illustrations, this book covers themes of reflection, mindfulness and gratitude sure to motivate all kinds of readers.
Click to download discussion guide provided by Scholastic
Willie O’Ree: The story of the first black player in the NHL
Written by: Nicole Mortillaro
Ages 12-18
Willie O’Ree quietly made NHL history at the Montreal Forum on January 18, 1958, when he became the first black player to take to the ice. In the dressing room before the game, his Boston Bruins teammates told him not to worry. If any one of the Montreal players said anything to him, they’d have his back.
There was a round of applause when O’Ree stepped onto the ice, and newspapers ran the story. The colour barrier in the NHL had been broken, yet it would be sixteen years before the next black player, Mike Marson, was drafted. Four decades later, the NHL pulled O’Ree out of retirement to honour his achievement and make him an ambassador for the NHL’s “Hockey is for Everyone” program to encourage kids from all backgrounds to play hockey.
This book traces the early life of O’Ree in Fredericton, New Brunswick, his journey to the NHL, highlights from his hockey career, and his work encouraging diversity in the NHL
The Kids Book of Black Canadian History
Written by: Rosemary Sadlier
From the first Black person who came to Canada about 400 years ago to the most recent wave of African immigrants, Black Canadians have played an important role in our country’s history. In this informative overview, kids will discover the inspiring stories and events of a people who fought oppression as they searched for a place to call their own. Featuring fact boxes, mini-profiles, a timeline and more, this book in the acclaimed Kids Book of series offers a glimpse into an often-overlooked part of Canadian history.
Trailblazers: The Black Pioneers Who Have Shaped Canada
Written by: Tiyahna Ridley-Padmore
‘Trailblazers: The Black Pioneers Who Have Shaped Canada’ is a disruptive children’s book that introduces readers to Canada’s Black history through the brave, shocking and real-life stories of our country’s Black pioneers. This Canadian must-have features the incredible and under-told stories of over 40 Black trailblazers including well-known leaders such as Viola Desmond and Harriet Tubman as well as lesser known pioneers such as Mattie Mayes and Calvin Woodrow Ruck. Each short story is written in rhyme form and accompanied by beautiful illustrations so little ones are engaged while they read and learn.
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