February is quite the month for celebration. Not only is there Valentine’s Day, but it is the month in which two presidents are honored—and also to be honored is the history of African Americans. February is Black History Month.
From our Leveled Reading selections, readers have an opportunity to learn about two famous African Americans, Sojourner Truth and Jackie Robinson.
Did you know that Sojourner Truth’s birth name was Isabella Baumfree? She became an itinerant preacher during the mid-1800s, on a mission to abolish slavery. Our selected book, titled “Sojourner Truth: Path to Glory” by Peter Merchant, takes the reader through Sojourner’s enslaved childhood and free adult life and why she changed her name. She successfully proclaimed her message of equality for blacks and women, even though she was illiterate, through giving speeches and writing poems and a book.
This book is included in our Level J-K book set as well as available as a single book purchase. Generally appropriate for Grade Two students, but may be appropriate for some Grade One students. As you review our Leveling Criteria chart, you can best determine the Level based on various reading test scores.
For a printable resource on Sojourner Truth, you can visit the Scholastic site.
We all know Jackie Robinson is famous for baseball. Did you know he was the first black player in modern major league baseball? And, in 1962, he became the first black player to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame. Read more about how special Jackie Robinson was in our selected book, “Jackie Robinson: He Led the Way” by April Jones Prince.” In simple, engaging language, this book follows Jackie from childhood through his career as a Most Valuable Player—award winning baseball player and a hero of the civil rights movement. Perfect not only for Black History Month, but also for the start of Spring training!
This is a Level L-M book, generally appropriate for the more advanced Grade Two student, but can be appropriate for the Grade One—and even Grade Three–student. Review our Leveling Criteria chart to best determine the Level based on various reading test scores.
Choose these, and other, books to inspire your students and children.
For a printable resource on Jackie Robinson, you can visit the Scholastic site . This is a read-aloud play for Grades 4 and up.
