Book review: Timelines from black history by Mireille Harper

Timelines from black history

“My hope is that the legends, leaders, and legacies in this book speak to you just like the stories from my youth spoke to me.” Mireille Harper

Timelines from Black History: Leaders, Legends, Legacies was published on the first of October. This book is absolutely brilliant and would be a valuable addition to many a library, particularly within learnings settings.

Aimed at Key Stage 2 children and up (7 years +), but a wonderful one to dip in and out of with younger readers, this read is filled with aspiring individuals. People such as Mansa Musa who led the Mali Empire, Fredrick Douglas, a leading campaigner against slavery, Sarah Breedlove, businesswoman and creator of hair products, Nina Simone, musician and activist, and recent inspirational individuals including Serena Williams, super talented tennis player whose achievements include four Olympic medals and musician and entrepreneur Stormzy.

Amongst, real life photos, artwork, newspaper extracts and diagrams you have a read that goes into so much detail on individuals and significant moments in history, including Black Lives Matters.

In first receiving this book, I’ll openly admit I was intrigued for two reasons. With history books and curriculums often not giving attention to people of colour, and sometimes only mentioning Black people when discussing slavery I was delighted to see that this book had been created. A book which celebrates However, then thought, but who will have written it? Would readers be getting an authentic voice? So brilliant to see that it is talented writer and editor Mireille Harper. Her foreword alone exudes passion and excitement and then you read the book.

Absolutely super. What a wonderful book to gift a school library, which is exactly what I’ll be doing, should Covid rules of course allow it.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All words and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

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