I wanted to share another addition to our Christmas Gift Guide 2025: The ABCs of Black History (The ABCs of History) by Rio Cortez (Author), Lauren Semmer (Illustrator) a children’s book I received in exchange for this review. Inside this post is my affiliate links. If you click on the links and make a purchase, I will make a small percentage from the products, you purchased.
Charlie has always been intrigued by History and has enjoyed learning about black history when we were #Homeschooling. I can’t wait to share The ABCs of Black History (The ABCs of History) with David and Charlie because I know they’re going to love the book just as much as I did.
The Author uses the ABCs to teach us about Black History which allows us keep the learning going with small children as they pracite lettwr writing and loking up other words pertaning to black history using the letters of the alphabet.
I love how the Author started A with anthem which we all need to respect and learn more about. The Author even included my favorite word of all time believing. We learn about C for community, Church and Reverand King one of Charlie’s role models.
My family learned words we hadn’t heard of including diaspora which was a #teachingmoment for my family. We also learn about States which would have been wonderful when studying States when we were #Homeschooling.
I love how the Author included people like Mae Jemison who we hadn’t heard of and allowed our teaching to go even further thanks the to the Author. The Author even shared foods Charlie hadn’t had like Ham Hocks that we could prepare for dinner and would have made a nice addition to our Homeschool Cooking Class.
The Author even mentioned Harlem a place I would like to visit with Charlie one day. Charlie was surprised to find dj Kool mentioned in the book. We learned about the #Holiday Juneteenth. Kwanzaa is also mentioned in the story another learning moment for my family.
We are reminded L is for love always which some of us need to be reminded of. if your teaching a #music class then you should check out the musicians in the book. There is so much more to learn in The ABCs of Black History (The ABCs of History) but I believe you should pick up a copy of the book to read to your family.
In the back of the book is The ABCs of Black History: featuring Terms and Figures that will keep learning going for days on end. But remember this book isn’t all about teaching its a great book to read at bedtime.
About:
In this New York Times bestseller that takes a bold journey through the alphabet of Black history and culture, B is for Beautiful, Brave, and Bright!
Letter by letter, The ABCs of Black History celebrates a story that spans continents and centuries, triumph and heartbreak, creativity and joy.
It’s a story of big ideas—P is for Power, S is for Science and Soul. Of significant moments—G is for Great Migration. Of iconic figures—H is for Zora Neale Hurston, X is for Malcom X. It’s an ABC book like no other, and a story of hope and love.
In addition to rhyming text that is perfect to read aloud, the book includes information on the events, places, and people mentioned in the poem, from Mae Jemison to W.E.B. Du Bois, Fannie Lou Hamer to Sam Cooke, and the Little Rock Nine to DJ Kool Herc.
Don’t miss the follow-up from the same creative team: The ABCs of Women’s History!
Neet the Author:
Rio Cortez
About the author
Rio Cortez is an award-winning poet and children’s book writer. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller, The ABCs of Black History (Workman, 2020) and her debut poetry collection, Golden Ax, is forthcoming from Penguin Books in 2022. Born and raised in Salt Lake City, UT, she now lives and writes in Harlem, NY.
