When chronicling Black men through history, Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, and Barak Obama are usually who spring to mind. But Vashti Harrison's third title in the best-selling Little Leaders series reveals the life stories of lesser-known exceptional men while more mainstream figures are purposely sidelined.
The book contains 35 fascinating well-researched mini-bios spanning over 200 years of Black history. We learn how each man overcame barriers and injustice to achieve highly, not just in relation to Black activism but in less obvious fields, such as espionage, science, cycling, publishing, law,
filmmaking, architecture, and aeronautics.
From inclusive comic book illustrator Dwayne McDuffie to eminent male zoologist Professor Charles Henry Turner, we learn about talented pioneers, leaders, and trailblazers who showed inventiveness, entrepreneurship, determination, and kindness during a persistent climate of racial discrimination and prejudice.
There are more familiar faces in the mix, too! The late American statesman and activist John Lewis has a dedicated spread as do Prince and Louis Armstrong, which should entice readers who are unfamiliar with the series.
The content is still largely African-American in focus although Ghanaian-British architect David Adjaye and activist Paul Stephenson, known for leading the successful Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963, are included. Stormzy also gets a brief mention in the condensed More Little Leaders section at the back, along with other more well-known Black icons.
As is Harrison's trademark style, each mini-biography comprises a double-page-spread with text on one side and engaging colour illustrations on the other. It has the same easy-to-read format as with previous books though the vocabulary is quite challenging at times, making it most suited to shared reading with children in upper KS2 (carefully selected accounts could be read with younger children).
A lovely activity page is included at the back where children can create their own exceptional little leader in Harrison's style, using the artist's suggestions as a starting point.
This wonderful non-fiction text is a revelation in waiting for children who are keen to learn about exceptional Black men of the past and present, many of whom have been overlooked by our history books. They are men who followed their dreams despite the challenges. It's a great reference text for all the family to dip into!
Little Leaders: Exceptional Men in Black History, published by Puffin (2019), is currently available in hardback. You can buy it from Round Table books. (The paperback is due for release in April 2021).
Guide for teachers and parents
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Genre
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Non-fiction: biographical
text
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Child-led interests (EYFS)
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N/A
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Age group (EYFS, KS1, KS2)
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KS2 (Y5/6)
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Curriculum links/topics
(EYFS/NC)
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English Reading Comprehension
(Y5/6) –
- continue
to read and discuss an increasingly wide range of…non-fiction and reference
books or textbooks
- drawing
inferences such as inferring character’s feelings, thoughts, and motives from
their actions, and justifying inference with evidence
- summarising
the main ideas drawn from more than one paragraph, identifying key details
that support the main ideas
History (KS1) − the lives of significant individuals in the
past who have contributed to national and international achievements e.g.
Mary Seacole, Rosa Parks; (KS2) −
a study of an aspect or theme in
British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066 (e.g.
Bristol Bus Boycotts of 1963) PSCHE: leadership
qualities, aspirations, rights, respect, justice and freedom, perseverance
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Suitability
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whole-class teaching, school
library, home-reader
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General features
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biographical text:
chronological order, life/ events facts, 3rd person pronouns, past
tense
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All the Black children's books that I review are checked against my Jericho Benchmark.
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