DK Canada Life Stories: Black History (Review & Giveaway)

On May 25, 2020 George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. Since then the last month and a half there has been a demand for justice world-wide in regards to police brutatlity and systemic racism that not only happens in the United States, but all over the world. These last few weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotions as I am a Black American who resides in Canada, but I have family in the states and it's been hard to not be able to be there with my family physically during this time with borders still closed because we are still living in a worldwide pandemic with COVID-19.

One of the things I've noticed on social media is people having uncomfortable conversations with people of colour so that we all can talk about and agree that racism is everywhere and in order for us to move forward, these conversations need to happen so that we can understand one another a bit better and agree that everyone should be treated with equality no matter the race, gender or sexual preference of a person because at the end of the day, we are all human-beings. I've been having conversations with friends and family members of different race as well, sharing my stories, my encounters with racism and trying to figure out a way I can use my voice on this platform to help share and spread information the best way I can, in a safe way.

I reached out to our amazing friends over at DK Canada and they sent me some of their DK Life Story books on a few black leaders in our history to add to my library for my kids to read and learn more about. We already had the DK Life Stories of Martin Luther King Jr. and were sent DK Life Stories on Harriet Tubman, Katherine Johnson and Nelson Mandela.

Martin Luther King Jr., will always be remembered for his famous "I have a dream" speech, which he gave during the March on Washington in 1963. But his life before and after that big event, and his other enormous contributions to the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, largely go unspoken. In this biography for kids ages 8-11, learn all about MLK - from his early family life and experiences in education, to his untimely death and the worldwide mourning and riots that followed.

Nelson Mandela became the first black president of South Africa after spending 27 years in prison.
In 1964, Nelson Mandela was sentenced to a lifetime in jail. His crime? Attempting to overthrow a government that openly discriminated against its black citizens. After spending 27 years behind bars, Mandela was released, allowing him to continue his struggle for equality in South Africa-and to become the country's first black president. In this biography book for kids ages 8-11, learn all about Mandela's incredible life, his fight against apartheid, and how he helped bring peace to his nation.

Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in c.1820 and would later run away and help scores of other African American slaves escape to freedom in the North using the "Underground Railroad." A nurse, scout, and advisor during the American Civil War, Harriet co-led the Combahee River Raid, in which 700 slaves were liberated. After the war, Harriet became involved in women's suffrage, or the right to vote, and opened a retirement home for sick and elderly African Americans. In this biography book for 8-11 year olds, learn all about Harriet Tubman's fascinating life, the hardships she endured, her visions, the people she helped and rescued, the battles she fought, and how this American icon of justice and strength continues to inspire so many people today.

Katherine Johnson, famed NASA mathematician and one of the subjects of the award-winning 2016 film Hidden Figures. It was an incredible accomplishment when the United States first put a person on the Moon - but without the incredible behind-the-scenes work of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, such a feat could not have been possible. Follow her remarkable journey from growing up in West Virginia, to becoming a teacher, to breaking barriers at NASA and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.

All four books are filled with great photographs of each of these black leaders who made history. Not only are they filled with pictures, but they also give a timeline of each person's life, as well as a quiz at the end of the book so that your child can test their knowledge of what they read. I also love that each book has a "Who's Who," section that shares information on who and what these leaders came in contact with during their lifetime. I absoutely love having all four books in my home library so that my kids can read about these amazing black leaders who made a difference in the world. Also be sure to click the link for a free Teacher's Guide to the DK Life Stories of some of history's extrodinary people. The guide includes lesson plans, discussion questions and more!

GIVEAWAY!

I'm very excited to share that our friends from DK Canada are teaming up with us to host a giveaway that includes all four books! All you need to do is comment below on which book you think your child and/or you would like to read first. That's it. The giveaway is open to our Canadian readers only. DK Canada Life Stories books are retailed $7.99 CAD ($5.99 US) For more information on the DK Life Stories be sure to head to DK Canada.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the above mentioned books at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received

a Rafflecopter giveaway

33 comments Tags: black history, black lives matter, book giveaway, Book Review, Giveaway, Product Review

Share: