DK publishers are fantastic at producing informative non-fiction reads for young readers. I am continuing to share books that could be shared during Black History Month and beyond and three books that I will be discussing in this piece, will be a great addition to many a bookshelf.
Recommended for readers 7 year olds and up, each book has been carefully created with its target audience in mind. The three books pictured are only a sample of the titles available in this series and others include Martin Luther King Junior, Anne Frank, Ada Lovelace and Jane Goodall.
DK Life Stories Harriet Tubman written by Kitson Jazynka and illustrated by Charlotte Ager.
Harriet Tubman was a political activist. She began her life as a slave confronted with many awful situations but eventually escaped. After escaping she then helped other slaves escape too. Later during wartime Harriet Tubman was a nurse and a spy.
Life Stories goes into so much detail of what Harriet Tubman achieved in her life. Her life began so sadly and she continued to experience inequality throughout her adult hood but she never gave up and fought for what she believed was right.
As well as the book detailing things that happened during her life time, there is a chapter dedicated to how Harriet Tubman is remembered. This includes a pilgrimage that is hosted by a church Harriet Tubman attended in New York.
DK Life Stories Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson was an extremely talented mathematician. She was a determined individual who eventually went on to do amazing things including working for NASA and putting astronauts on the moon.
The book explains Katherine Johnson achievements so well but in addition to that it gives readers an in depth understanding in to other things happening around that time. This includes a chapter on Women Work explaining that inequalities in the workplace were to stop. The book also shares brilliant facts about the Apollo mission Katherine Johnson worked on.
DK Life Stories Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was a political leader and the first black head of state in South Africa, leading the country as president from 1994 to 1999.
Growing up in South Africa was hard and there was much segregation between different races due to a system that was in places called the apartheid. Nelson Mandela was not in agreement with any of this and protested against such systems, believing that regardless of your race, each person should be treated equally. After a particular protest, which turned violent, Nelson Mandela was arrested and subsequently jailed for 27 years of his life.
It was four year after his release that he achieved presidency.
Life Stories shares Nelson Mandela’s story so well. Just as the other books in the series, the book is complete with photos, fact boxes, timelines and a quiz for young readers to complete once they have read the book.
The series is absolutely brilliant and I’m sure you will agree that they would make valuable resources in a learning setting.
Disclaimer: I received these books from the publishers for the purpose of review. All words and opinions are my own. This contains affiliate links.