Here is a list of books that I found helpful to this lesson, along with links to order them. You can also find videos of many of these books being read online!
When You Meet a Djembe Drum by Aderemi T. Adeyemi -- The Djembe is a popular and important drum in West African music and history. This introduction to the Djembe gives an overview of the drum with pictures to help children understand this drum's significance.
The Drum by Ken Wilson-Max -- This action-oriented book introduces key vocabulary and gets children moving with straightforward illustrations of drums and dancing
Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle and Rafael Lopez -- A story about a girl's determination to drum despite her city's belief that girls shouldn't drum, and how her dedication changes their minds. Based on the life of Chinese-African-Cuban musician Millo Castro Zaldarriaga.
To Be a Drum by Evelyn Coleman -- Framed in the story of a father to his children, this book uses drums to trace Black history from the present to the beginning of humanity in Africa, showing how music connects us to each other, our ancestors, and the earth itself.
We Belong to the Drum by Sandra Lemouche -- This story introduces indigenous drums and shows how every culture is tied together through drumming
Max Found Two Sticks by Brian Pinkney -- Following Max, a boy who loves to drum on anything and everything with his two sticks, we see how, with creativity, anything can be a drum.
Get Up, Stand Up by Bob Marley and Cedella Marley -- Adding positive visuals to Bob Marley's song, this book shows different ways to stand up to injustice and do what is right. Since it is also a song, it allows for children to listen to and drum along with the song.
Legends of Hip Hop: Biggie Smalls by Ken Moore -- This book tells the story of Biggie Smalls in a fun rhyming story that also allows for a discussion of opposites.
Legends of Hip Hop: Queen Latifah by Ken Moore -- This book tells the story of Queen Latifah while practicing the ABCs.
Legends of Hip Hop: 2pac by Ken Moore -- This book tells the story of Tupac in a way that practices counting. The quantities are bit abstract, however, and not the best for the youngest learners.
Below are additional books that aid in fostering positive racial identity development:
The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler -- A rhyming story that gives names to many different skin colors and reinforces the message that they are all beautiful.
Shades of People by Sheila M. Kelly and Shelley Rotner -- Similar to The Skin You Live In, this book names and affirms different skin colors and hues, but with pictures of real children, rather than illustrations.
One by Kathryn Otashi -- This book uses feelings and numbers to talk about feelings, standing up to unkind treatment, and also inclusion.
The Hair Book by Graham Tether -- A story with lots of illustrations of different hair on humans and other animals to provide lots of vocabulary to discuss our hair.
We're Different, We're the Same by Bobbi Kates: A discussion of what is different and what is the same between humans--and how we're all wonderful.
All the Colors We Are by Katie Kissinger -- A simple summary of the three places our skin color comes from, and how all colors are beautiful
Don't Touch my Hair! by Sharee Miller -- This is a wonderful story about the importance of boundaries in the racially sensitive area of Black hair.
Our World is a Family by -- A broad look at peoples, cultures, and languages around the world that shows what makes us unique and what ties us together with an emphasis on immigration and inclusion.
Let's Talk about Race by Julius Lester -- Introducing the concept of race as one part of our multifaceted identities, this book provides an opportunity to proactively speak against racism and preach respect and understanding
I am Enough by Grace Byers -- A rhyming book of affirmations and inclusivity
Happy Hair by Mechal Renee Roe -- This book shows a variety of different hairstyles for Black girls with curly hair along with fun rhymes and self-loving affirmations.
Cool Cuts by Mechal Renee Roe -- This is the same as above but for Black boys!
Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry -- A story about the style, magic, and love in one Black girl's hair, and how her family helps her care for it.