This Black History Month, we’ve teamed up with our book supplier, Peters, to share a collection of recommended reads for all age groups. Working with the Peters team is always a joy - their wealth of bookish expertise and enthusiasm ensures we’re always on top of the most exciting new releases. On our list, you’ll find some Literacy Tree favourites, complete with planning resources, alongside fresh recommendations from Peters.

Woven throughout the list are reflections from Literacy Tree’s very own Joanna Leru, who chairs our Race and Cultures Panel. Joanna discusses our collaboration with authors and the advisory panel - partnerships that have helped us develop guidance notes and reflection points for selected resources. These additions are designed to help teachers feel confident in facilitating safe and meaningful conversations about race and racism.

While October provides a valuable moment to spotlight Black history, we hope this reading list becomes a year-round reference point - one that supports you to make Black history a permanent fixture on your curriculum and classroom shelves. 

Look Up (EYFS) – Writing Root Available Written by Nathan Byron, Illustrated by Dapo Adeola Rocket dreams of becoming an astronaut like Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space. While her brother Jamal is always glued to his phone, Rocket can’t wait to watch a meteor shower in the park. She hands out fliers, shares fun “did you know” space facts, and even hijacks the supermarket microphone to spread the word. When the sky remains dark and Rocket begins to lose hope, Jamal finally looks away from his phone to comfort her - just before a brilliant light flashes up above… and EVERYONE looks up!
	Grandma’s Locs (KS1) Written by Karen Arthur, Illustrated by Camilla Ru Experience the tender connection between a grandmother and her inquisitive grandson in this heart-warming exploration of love and heritage. As Grandma shares the tales woven through her locs, which she loves to wear in different ways, her grandson begins to see how hair holds personality, pride and family history. Bursting with bright colours, this book celebrates the beauty of natural Black and mixed-race hair as well as the bonds that tie generations together.
Granny Came Here On The Empire Windrush (LKS2) – Writing Root Available Written by Patrice Lawrence, Illustrated by Camilla Sucre Ava searches for an inspirational figure to dress up as for school. With Granny, she dives into the dress-up box, trying on Winifred Atwell, Mary Seacole, and Rosa Parks. But nothing feels quite right! Then they uncover Granny’s old suitcase from her journey across the ocean on the Empire Windrush. As Granny recalls her struggles adapting to life in England and her longing for home in Trinidad (for her ‘family and the sunshine and the mangoes’) Ava realises her greatest inspiration is right in front of her. A woman who persevered and built a joyful life on foreign shores. A powerful reminder that history is all around us, waiting to be accessed through the storytelling of those we love.
	Man-Man and the Tree of Memories (UKS2) Written by Yaba Badoe, Illustrated by Joelle Avelino A love letter to British carnival - its music, dance, colour, and costume. When Man-Man’s mother falls ill, he vows to dance her back to health on carnival day. He dresses to impress, with an outfit honouring Haitian freedom fighters Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Toussaint Louverture, as well as Shango, the Yoruba god of thunder. Guided by the Queen of Revels, he is whisked away from his carnival float, journeying through the Caribbean and West Africa and encountering the Tree of Memories: keeper of ancestral pain. With Badoe’s lyrical prose and Avelino’s swirling illustrations, this dreamlike tale celebrates carnival as a space where past and present, love and legacy, material and mythical, move as one.
Timelines From Black History: Leaders, Legends, Legacies (UKS2) By DK A stunning collection of visual timelines that blend information, illustration, and photography in rich, collage-like spreads. Covering pre-colonial African kingdoms such as Aksum, Ghana, and Mali, this book spotlights the powerful empires that pre-dated and existed alongside colonisation. It goes on to explore slavery, the Civil War, civil rights, and post-colonial Africa, with in-depth profiles of remarkable Black figures. Essential reading for teachers and children alike, it presents Black history as a vast, living story - stretching back far beyond the Atlantic Slave Trade and still unfolding across Africa and the diaspora today. The perfect library addition to be dipped into again and again… and again!
	The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger (UKS2) Writing Root Available Written by J.T. Williams Set in Georgian London’s vibrant theatre world, Drama and Danger is a gripping mystery full of rumours, rivalries, and red herrings. Inspired by real Black British figures, it follows Lizzie Sancho and her friend Dido Belle: two sharp, spirited girls who outsmart adults as they chase clues. Along the way, they encounter The Sons and Daughters of Africa, which is based on a real abolitionist group. J.T. Williams seamlessly weaves history into her fiction, reminding readers that Black people have long been part of Britain’s story.

Working with authors: J.T Williams 

We are so fortunate here at Literacy Tree as often we get to work with the authors of the books that we are creating Writing Roots or Reading Leaves for. This was the case when writing a root for the brilliant book ‘The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger’ by J.T Williams. Donny, one of our Senior Consultants at the time, worked closely with Joanna for well over a year, going back and forth editing and making suggestions on Donny’s plans for the resource. Joanna, an ex-teacher, now a writer, knew exactly how to maximise writing opportunities for children and had cleverly included grammatical features as well as beautiful literary language within the book that would inspire Upper Key Stage Two writers. 

At Literacy Tree, we are reflective practitioners and therefore are not rigid with our plans. We know that they will evolve depending on how practitioners and children interpret them. Unfortunately, racial literacy isn’t something that all teachers or schools are equipped with. Indeed, many organisations are campaigning for Anti-Racism in the curriculum to be a compulsory part of teachers’ ongoing training, just like Safeguarding and Prevent is, as racism is a safeguarding concern.

With this in mind, we reflected on how this resource could be interpreted. We wanted to ensure that conversations were not missed and that when they do happen, teachers feel equipped to have them. Guidance notes and reflection points have been added for this purpose. J.T Williams welcomed the recent amendments to the root by commenting, “I am genuinely so utterly made up that this resource is available to support pupils and teachers and take them on such a thoughtful learning journey with Lizzie and Belle! I used to be a primary school teacher myself and this was always my hope for the work.”

Windrush Child (UKS2) Writing Root Available Written by Benjamin Zephaniah A powerful and confronting novel that follows the life of Leonard, a child of the Windrush generation. Following an emotional prologue that leaves us wondering what could have possibly happened, Zephaniah transports us to Leonard’s beautiful, full of life Jamaican hometown: Maroon Town and his loving Grandma. However, he longs to see his father again. Sadly, his excitement in finally reuniting with him, is dampened when both him and his mother arrive to a cold, grey and unwelcoming England. He quickly realises it isn’t as he thought it would be and questions why his family chose this life having left so much behind.  Over the course of his life, Leonard and his family face relentless racism in all forms and despite this, they become rooted, build a life - England becomes their home. This heart-wrenching and thought-provoking story ends by exposing the devastating effects of the Windrush scandal.

The Race & Culture Advisory Panel: Windrush Child

Our journey in adding guidance notes and reflection points within our Writing Roots started with the Race and Culture Advisory Panel. A panellist brought to these sessions their own experiences of how the Windrush Child Writing Root had been misinterpreted by a school. The teacher in this school had deviated from the Writing Root and had asked children in the class, all of whom were White British, to write from the perspective of a Black boy experiencing racism. Whilst we understand that teachers’ individual decisions during their own planning are out of our control, we acknowledge that as a literacy platform - and one that advocates to be deliberately inclusive - we have a responsibility to support teachers with important conversations that will arise. In this case, race and racism. 

When Jen, one of our consultants at the time, started to develop the guidance notes and reflection points for Windrush Child, Donny (then Chair of the Race and Culture Panel) and the panel itself were involved in commenting, raising questions and advising on how these were being developed. This provided an important backbone for how we continue to roll out guidance notes and reflection points for other Writing Roots and Reading Leaves. This is very much a work in progress, and we see this as a learning journey for us as well as for the teachers our resources meet. If you have any feedback or comments on any of our Writing Roots or Literary Leaves, please join one of our advisory panels to start an open conversation. 

This Is Not A Small Voice (Whole School) Curated by Traci N. Todd, Illustrated by Jade Orlando This new collection of 100 poems by Black writers brings together both established and emerging voices. Expect poems from Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, and Benjamin Zephaniah, alongside brand-new works by Nikki Grimes and Carole Boston Weatherford, commissioned especially for the anthology. Curated by Traci N. Todd, the collection places poems in dialogue across time and space, grouping them thematically while maintaining a broader narrative arc.  Joyful celebrations of Black lived experience(s) - in all their diversity - sit alongside heavier reflections on struggle and injustice. As Traci noted in our interview with her last month, it was vital to include “moments that are a little more difficult and quite honest,” explored within a “protective space filled with all this lovely art.” Nestled within Jade Orlando’s vivid, full-colour illustrations, the poems truly come to life. Filled with beautiful words and artwork to match, this is a collection to treasure and return to - not just in childhood, but across a lifetime.

Little People Big Dreams (Whole School)
Written by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara

These bite-sized biographies introduce young readers to the lives of artists, activists, musicians, scientists, and sports stars. Each story explores struggles and successes, brought to life through illustration.

Across the collection, more than 70 artists have contributed, giving children access to an expansive world of talented creators. This Black History Month, we’ve selected some of our favourites - but there are plenty more to discover.

Harriet Tubman
An essential story celebrating the tenacity and courage of a young girl who dreamed of freedom. Harriet was determined to take her people northward to states where slavery no longer existed. After her escape, she voyaged to Philadelphia and joined the Underground Railroad, making many trips back to the south to help others reach freedom. After the Civil War, and the abolition of slavery, Harriet continued to advocate for her rights, recognising that the fight was far from over. The book leaves us with a powerful parting message: ‘you have to use all of your strength to stand up for yourself, so that you can stand up for others too.’

Ella Fitzgerald 
Known as the ‘First Lady of Song’ Ella Fitzgerald grew up in New York, where after losing her mother at the age of 15, found life difficult to adjust to. They sent her to a strict school that she ran away from. Ella had to perform on the streets to make ends meet but one night, she decided to enter a competition that changed her life. Ella went on to become the first African-American woman to win a Grammy, earning herself 12 grammies throughout her musical career. Immerse yourself in this wonderful book filled with sweet and uplifting sounds.

Rosa Parks 
This vibrant book, tells us about the life of a determined activist and an important figure in the civil rights movement in America. While on a bus, because she refused to give her seat to a White person, Parks was arrested. This sparked a movement where the Black people of Montgomery came together to advocate for her release; this was the beginning of The Montgomery Bus Boycott. A book filled with bravery, perseverance and determination.

Maya Angelou
We had to include a writer on our list! This mini biography charts Maya’s life, starting with a childhood marked by discrimination in the American South. We then learn how young Maya lost her voice following an act of domestic violence, not regaining it until she was introduced by a family friend to the world of books. A true testament to the power of stories to heal and empower. Despite being told that she couldn’t get a good job due to the colour of her skin, Maya was determined to tread her own path in life. She experimented with many jobs before finally putting pen to paper in the 60s to tell her own story: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

Stevie Wonder 
This beautifully illustrated book transports us through the musical journey that Little Stevie Wonder goes on. Becoming blind only a few days after he was born, he goes on to become one of the most successful musicians in history. A pioneer who proves that with imagination and positivity, magical and colourful music can be created.

Simone Biles 
This book wonderfully shares Simone’s message that ‘before you can achieve, you must believe in yourself.’ After going into foster care, she was adopted by her grandparents where she was able to really immerse herself into the world of gymnastics. Biles was later diagnosed with ADHD following difficulties at school. Despite all these hurdles, Simone has become the greatest gymnast of all time and has five gymnastic moves named after her.

At Literacy Tree, we’re already adding more to our wishlist - Vanessa Nakate (Ugandan climate-justice activist), Marcus Rashford (British footballer and campaigner against child hunger), and Laverne Cox (actress and trans pioneer) have recently caught our eye. Who are you most excited to read about this Black History Month?