African American Baby Books
Reading books to babies can help them develop language and
learning skills that will last a lifetime. African American
baby books are a beautiful way to celebrate African
American heritage and share the magic of reading with your
baby.
Very young babies enjoy books with few words, and there are many
African American baby books that even the youngest babies will
enjoy. John Steptoe's Baby Says is a charming book for small
babies. Steptoe's lifelike illustration of Baby Says will enchant
babies who are just beginning to learn about the wonders of
reading, and the simple words and phrases in the book are just
right for babies just starting to develop their language
skills.
Board books are great for the littlest readers, and there are so
many wonderful African American baby books available in board
format. Cheryl Willis Hudson's What-a-Baby series of African
American baby books are available as board books, and help little
ones learn about the routines of daily life.
The Caldecott Medal winning book Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang
is also available as a board book for little readers. One of the
most beautiful African American baby books of published in the
1990s, Ten, Nine, Eight tells the story of a father lovingly
helping his young daughter settle down for bedtime with a countdown
ritual.
If you're interested in classic African American baby books,
seek out the work of Ezra Jack Keats. Keats is famous for
introducing multicultural themes into the world of children's
books, and his landmark 1963 book The Snowy Day is one of the best
known books of all of the African American baby books published in
the 20th century. Keats' books have been enjoyed by generations of
children, and have received multicultural recognition.
Many African American baby books incorporate elements of
continental African culture and traditions. My First Kwanzaa by
Karen Katz, tells the story of a little girl's first Kwanzaa
celebration, complete with phonetic spelling of Swahili words.
For a more modern take on African American baby books, check out
the adorable books by Spike Lee and his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee. The
Lee's Please, Puppy, Please and Please, Baby, Please are filled
with gorgeous illustrations by Coretta Scott King Award winner
Kadir Nelson, and playful, lyrical prose.
Those interested in the future of African American baby books
should keep an eye on Javaka Steptoe. Following in his father
John's footsteps, Javaka Steptoe has brought his illustrating
talents to African American baby books. His striking illustrations
breathe new life into Charlotte Zoltow's 1958 tale of sisterly
love, Do You Know What I'll Do?. Steptoe has also illustrated a
cloth book for infants called Sweet, Sweet Baby,
There are African American baby books available
for every baby, from the board book loving little one to the page
turning preschooler. African American baby books can help your
children develop a love and appreciation for reading that will
enrich every day of their lives.
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