Black History Month Author Study or Books about African Americans

I was thinking of doing an author study on a African American Author that has written good books or maybe just read some really good books about African Americans.

Any Recommendations?

TIA!

Re: Black History Month Author Study or Books about African Americans

There is a really good book called 101 notable African-Americans. What is great about the book is that it covers all different areas (sports, entertainment, science, business)

Re: Black History Month Author Study or Books about African Americans

I have used Langston Hughes poems in my class.

Re: Black History Month Author Study or Books about African Americans

What about an illustrator study?
Kadir Nelson:

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball (this is a long book, but you can do parts of it)

Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom


and since I have Caldecott on my mind - what about tying it in as a caldecott lesson?:

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni

Martin's Big Words: the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport

Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Harlem by Walter Dean Myers

Re: Black History Month Author Study or Books about African Americans

Thanks ladies, I'm still figuring out what I want to do.

Any other ideas?

Re: Black History Month Author Study or Books about African Americans

Ezra Jack Keats is another good one for the primary grades - Caldecott winner.

I love Martin's Big words and My Brother, Martin for MLK.

For the older grades, I LOVE:
Bud, Not Buddy
The Watsons Go to Birmingham
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
(these are all historical fiction, but focus on key events in African-American history)

Overall, any book that has won the Coretta Scott King Award is particualrly good.