Common Sense Media Review
By Stephanie Snyder
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Colorful book is rich in history and positive messages.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
THE ABCS OF BLACK HISTORY honors Black history and culture by using the ABCs to highlight important people, moments, and ideas. The book uses an African American voice in the first person point-of-view to educate, encourage, and empower African American readers, though this is an important text for readers of all backgrounds. Author Rio Cortez makes reference to the well-known names and topics in Black history -- like Martin Luther King Jr., Kwanzaa, and voting rights. But it also introduces readers to lesser-known facts and figures -- like the varying viewpoints of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois, J'ouvert, and the Great Migration. The illustrations are colorful and captivating, and several resources will help readers continue their education on the triumph and trauma of Black history.
Is It Any Good?
Author Rio Cortez and illustrator Lauren Stemmer's creative alphabet book is a love letter to Black culture. A true gem, The ABCs of Black History is loaded with information yet presented in a way that kids, tweens, teens, and adults will enjoy. Though there are a lot of facts and figures, along with a reference section, it isn't overwhelming. The book's down-to-earth tone and vibrance in rhyme and illustration will motivate readers to want to learn more. Inspirational, relevant, and certainly fun, it's an important text for all readers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the people and topics in The ABCs of Black History. Focus on one letter of the alphabet each day of Black History Month (or any month!) and learn more about the people, ideas, and moments that are connected to that letter.
How does the author showcase the beauty of Black history? Does the book teach, entertain, or both? How?
What are some positive messages throughout the book? Which of those positive messages mean the most to you? Why is it important for readers of all backgrounds to read this book?
Make a list of what names and facts you already knew and which ones you're learning for the first time. Use the More to Explore section on the copyright page and the bank of terms and figures in the back of the book to guide your learning.
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Lauren Semmer
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Activism , History , Numbers and Letters
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Workman Publishing Co.
- Publication date : December 8, 2020
- Number of pages : 64
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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