Illustration of a Black educator reading to a diverse group of students.

Book cover art by Lauren Semmer

Q&A

UB researcher explores how picture books can help children learn Black history

BY DOUGLAS SITLER

Teaching Black history in early childhood and elementary classrooms can be a challenging task for educators.

Dawnavyn James.

The subject is regularly left out in lessons learned by young students. To break this long-standing practice, teachers are using picture books to provide valuable lessons on Black historical figures and events.

Dawnavyn James, a GSE PhD student and fellow with UB’s Center for K-12 Black History and Racial Literacy Education, is the author of the book “Beyond February: Teaching Black History Any Day, Every Day, and All Year Long.” One of her areas of research is studying how picture books can be integrated into the classroom to help educators teach Black history.

Question.

What do picture books offer young students when teaching Black history?

Answer.

When teaching Black history, well-written and illustrated picture books offer young students insight into the lives of Black historical figures and provide rich details about Black historical events. Through the author’s and illustrator’s notes, timelines and glossaries that many Black history picture books contain, these books give both students and teachers more information about the Black history they read about and often spark further inquiry into the moment or person in history.

Question.

How do picture books resonate with students?

Answer.

Picture books have been a tool to relay information to children for centuries. There are a few authors who have written about the history of Black women educators who intentionally created curricular materials to inform students of Black history, including the development of children’s literature to acknowledge the vastness of Black history and expose children, especially Black children, to the wonders of Blackness. Other books help young children make sense of race, social justice and themselves. Think about how many times children, or even we as adults, read the same books over and over again because we’ve enjoyed what we read, or because we learn something new each time. Picture books, specifically Black history picture books, are purposefully written with children in mind to inform them of the Black history that is often omitted from the curriculum, yet surrounds them every day.

Question.

How can picture books help educators in the classroom?

Answer.

Picture books are a staple in early childhood and elementary classrooms and in school libraries. Educators learn in their teacher preparation programs about ways to use picture books to teach concepts within literacy and social studies. What I want more educators to embrace is that whether they are knowledgeable of much Black history or not, there are picture books that can lead the way and support their Black history instruction.

Question.

How can Black history picture books help make better educators?

Answer.

When I prepared to bring Black history picture books into my classroom, I was learning so much myself. Up until fifth grade, I attended predominantly Black elementary schools that did not teach Black history. My Black history education came from home and church, and as an adult, much of my Black history education now comes from picture books. I often encourage educators to educate themselves when it comes to Black history because children ask questions. It is OK not to know, but it’s helpful to know where to guide students to get the answers. I always recommend that educators deeply read the Black history picture books they bring into their classrooms so that they, too, can learn before they introduce the book to their students.

Question.

What do picture books offer young students when teaching Black history?

Answer.

When teaching Black history, well-written and illustrated picture books offer young students insight into the lives of Black historical figures and provide rich details about Black historical events. Through the author’s and illustrator’s notes, timelines and glossaries that many Black history picture books contain, these books give both students and teachers more information about the Black history they read about and often spark further inquiry into the moment or person in history.

Question.

How do picture books resonate with students?

Answer.

Picture books have been a tool to relay information to children for centuries. There are a few authors who have written about the history of Black women educators who intentionally created curricular materials to inform students of Black history, including the development of children’s literature to acknowledge the vastness of Black history and expose children, especially Black children, to the wonders of Blackness. Other books help young children make sense of race, social justice and themselves. Think about how many times children, or even we as adults, read the same books over and over again because we’ve enjoyed what we read, or because we learn something new each time. Picture books, specifically Black history picture books, are purposefully written with children in mind to inform them of the Black history that is often omitted from the curriculum, yet surrounds them every day.

Question.

How can picture books help educators in the classroom?

Answer.

Picture books are a staple in early childhood and elementary classrooms and in school libraries. Educators learn in their teacher preparation programs about ways to use picture books to teach concepts within literacy and social studies. What I want more educators to embrace is that whether they are knowledgeable of much Black history or not, there are picture books that can lead the way and support their Black history instruction.

Question.

How can Black history picture books help make better educators?

Answer.

When I prepared to bring Black history picture books into my classroom, I was learning so much myself. Up until fifth grade, I attended predominantly Black elementary schools that did not teach Black history. My Black history education came from home and church, and as an adult, much of my Black history education now comes from picture books. I often encourage educators to educate themselves when it comes to Black history because children ask questions. It is OK not to know, but it’s helpful to know where to guide students to get the answers. I always recommend that educators deeply read the Black history picture books they bring into their classrooms so that they, too, can learn before they introduce the book to their students.