No Sidekicks Here BHM2022

BHM 2022 No Sidekicks

Let’s talk about our health! Teaching children early about having healthy habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising, meditating, talking about their feelings, and wearing masks will help them far into the future.

Here are books showing black children as main characters and addressing a range of issues focused on health. Some books discuss children’s perspectives on having an illness such as asthma or allergies. Other books talk about healthy eating habits and growing food. Take a look and see if you can dig into a good book!

Ages 0 - 3

Everything Grows

Everything Grows! Author: Raffi. Illustrator: Nina Mata - Popular children’s musician, Raffi encourages young children to observe and appreciate the world around them. Link


You are healthy


You Are Healthy. Author: Todd Snow. Illustrator: Melodee Strong. - From eating healthy food to brushing teeth, this book shows children different things they need to do to be healthy. Link


Eating the Rainbow


Eating the Rainbow. Author: Star Bright Books - Board book of children from diverse backgrounds eating healthy foods from the different colors of the rainbow. Link


Ages 3 - 7


SIMISimi Means Breathe. Author: Shimah Easter - A little boy, who loves to play sports, discusses what it means to have asthma. Link



I want to be a doctorI Want to Be a Doctor. Author: Laura Driscoll. Illustrator: Catalina Echeverri. - A little boy injures his foot. While in the hospital, his big sister learns about different types of doctors. Link



Ruby Finds a WorryRuby Finds a Worry. Author: Tom Percival. - Ruby is a smart and creative girl. When she has a worry, it grows and grows until she learns that sharing your worry with a friend or an adult can help us feel better. Link



Mias MaskMia’s Mask. Author: Monica Woodard. Illustrator: Abira Das. - A young girl discusses how she learned to wear a mask to keep herself safe during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Link


amaras farmAmara's Farm. Author: JaNay Brown Wood. Illustrator: Samara Hardy. A young girl searches for pumpkins on her farm and teaches readers the differences between other fruits and vegetables on the farm. Link


Ages 3 - 7 (cont'd)

rubys birdsRuby’s Birds. Author: Mya Thompson. Illustrator: Claudia Dávila. - A young girl discovers peacefulness and calm when a neighbor introduces her to birding. Link


No ReneeNo, Reneé, You are Allergic! Author: Reneé Matthews, M.D. Illustrator: Atiyya NaDirah. - A young girl explains what it means to have food allergies and how it impacts her life. Link


delectable vegetablesDelectable Vegetables. Author: Tracé Wilkins Franics. Illustrator: HH Pax. - A picky eater refuses to eat his vegetables until his toys teach him how healthy eating makes him strong and helps him grow. Comes with a QR Music Code for a song to sing with the book. Link


Ryan Eats a RainbowRyan Eats the Rainbow. Author: Angela Battle. Illustrator: Nhat Hao Nguyen. - Ryan loves trying new foods. She enjoys exploring the colors of the rainbow by eating colorful and nutritious foods. Link


Ages 5 - 10

Memory JarsMemory Jars Author: Vera Brosgol - A little girl learns to preserve foods with her grandmother and tries to put all of her favorite things in a jar to keep them safe. She learns that if she saves everything she also can’t enjoy anything. Link


Rice and RocksRice & Rocks Author: Sandra L. Richards Illustrator: Megan Kayleigh Sullivan - A young boy worries that his friends will not like his grandmother’s rice and rocks. She teaches him that cultures all over the world share aspects of this healthy dish. Link


My Three Best FriendsMy Three Best Friends And Me Author: Cari Best Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley-Newton - A young girl, who is blind, works with an aide and her best friends to learn how to run on a track. Link