Glenda Armand

Kim Freeman

Keith Mallett

How Augustus Jackson Made a Sweet Treat Better

Ice Cream Man

Tami Charles

Ann Malaspina

Kelly Starling Lyons

Carole Boston Weatherford

Madison Moore

Rose Viña

These stories of Black trailblazers, communities, and experiences will inspire kids of all backgrounds. This uplifting collection of eight stories introduces readers to barrier-breaking artists and athletes, as well as Black culture and traditions. This collection includes e-book editions of Fearless Mary, Gordon Parks, Ice Breaker, More than Just a Game, Song in a Rainstorm, Sugar Hill, Tiara's Hat Parade, and Touch the Sky.

Black History and Culture Collection

"Schooltrain! Schooltrain! Don't be late! The school bell rings at half past eight!" This tender family story, inspired by the author's own, illuminates a dynamic chapter in American history known as the Great Migration - and the many trains people rode toward freedom. ***3 STARRED REVIEWS*** * "A vivid evocation of place and era rolling solidly on a bed of timeless values." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review * "A child-friendly picture book introducing the Great Migration." - Booklist, starred review * "Lends the meandering feel of family stories to this portrait of a historical moment." - Publishers Weekly, starred review Thelma loves to watch the Sunset Limited chug through her little town of Vacherie, Louisiana. And she dreams of one day riding a real train! For now, she has her beloved schooltrain. Every morning, she and her friends walk to school, single file, chanting all the way: "Schooltrain! Schooltrain! Don't be late! The school bell rings at half past eight!" Then it's on to great adventures with her teacher's books - and her own imagination! But lately, someone named Jim Crow has been making trouble for folks in Vacherie. Aunt Bea and Uncle Ed have already moved away. When Thelma's best friend also has to leave, Thelma wonders, who is Jim Crow and why does he have to be so mean? Will he make trouble for Pop, too?

A Little Story from the Great Migration

All Aboard the Schooltrain

Discover the inspiring story of Augustus Jackson, an African American entrepreneur who is known as "the father of ice cream," in this beautifully illustrated picture-book biography. Augustus Jackson was born in 1808 in Philadelphia. While most African Americans were enslaved at that time, in Pennsylvania, slavery was against the law. But while Augustus and his family were free, they were poor, and they depended on their garden and their chickens for food. Augustus enjoyed helping his mom prepare meals for their family. He dreamed of becoming a professional cook, and when his mom suggested he may be able to make meals for the president one day, Augustus didn’t waste any time in making that dream a reality. In 1820, when he was only twelve years old, he set off for Washington, DC. He applied to work in the White House, where the head cook offered him a job as a kitchen helper. After five years of working hard, Augustus, or Gus, was promoted to cook. He went on to serve presidents James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Jackson. During his time at the White House, Augustus became an expert at making a popular egg-based dessert. He soon made an eggless version—known to us today as ice cream—and left the White House determined to make and sell the frozen treat to everyone, not just the wealthy. Gus headed back home to Philadelphia, and in 1830, he opened his very own ice cream parlor. He devised a way to keep the ice cream frozen so that it could be shipped and sold to other businesses. Gus also began adding rock salt to the ice that he used to make his ice cream, which made the mixture freeze more quickly. This allowed him to speed up his production process. He created more ice cream with new flavors, and soon he was shipping product via train to places like New York City, which was 100 miles away. Gus’s dream had come true, and better yet, he had brought smiles to many faces. Shining a light on a little-known visionary, this inspiring picture-book biography includes an afterword, a list of sources, and an easy-to-follow recipe so readers can make their own delicious ice cream!

Glenda Armand imagines Frederick Douglas as a young boy in 1820s Maryland, trying to understand why he can't live with his mother, who is a slave on another plantation. During a brief night-time visit, Mama answers Frederick's questions by describing what each mile of her journey is for - remembering, listening, praying, singling, and finally, love. Her strength to travel the distance between them is a poetic testament to the human spirit, showing Frederick that although the road through life is full of hardships, hope, joy, and dreams can grow along the way.

Love Twelve Miles Long

"A biography chronicling the life of Ira Aldridge, an African American actor who is considered to be one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of the nineteenth century. Includes afterword and author's sources"--

Glenda Armand

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