Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Brief biographies of notable black men inspire, educate.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Centered on black Americans and including several global figures, LITTLE LEGENDS: EXCEPTIONAL MEN IN BLACK HISTORY brings to life true stories of black men in history. This collection of biographies has a few well-known historical and activist figures, but the variety of professions and contributions means that lesser-known artists, athletes, musicians, activists, doctors, lawyers, and others are in the spotlight. Each one-page biography follows the exceptional man's interest from his early years, through the hard work it took to make his mark on history. On the opposite page is a warm, serene illustration of the man as a young boy. The back of the book has a "Draw Your Own Little Legend" tutorial with other topical resources.
Is It Any Good?
The gorgeous combination of inspiration, information, and illustrations makes this collection of biographies indispensable for readers young and old. Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History weaves a story of hope, determination, and accomplishment across a wide variety of professions and interests; there's something for everyone here. The detailed, inviting way author Vashti Harrison writes these biographies about little-known trailblazers reminds readers that this is just the tip of the iceberg, and entices them to learn more. And Harrison's appealing illustrations help draw readers in to the amazing stories.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what qualities made each of the men in Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History stand out. What common theme in the biographies did you find most interesting?
Historian, writer, and activist Arturo Schomburg, who's profiled in Little Legends, started collecting stories of Africans around the world when his teacher told him that there were no black people in his history books because black people had no history. Do you think a variety of races and cultures are better represented in textbooks today?
What other books about notable black people have you read? Which contemporary black men do you admire?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrator : Vashti Harrison
- Genre : Biography
- Topics : Activism , History
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : November 19, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 96
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate