Teaching Trails

It's hard to narrow down just the right books to use in your classroom, especially during important months like Canadian Black History Month. If I had to choose just five books to teach and highlight the importance of Canadian Black History, these are the five books I could not pass up: 1) Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged First on my list is Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged. This is the true story of the racism and injustice Viola faced in the late 1940s while trying to watch a movie at her local cinema. The book powerfully illustrates how Viola was unjustly treated and imprisoned because she refused to sit in the "Blacks only" section, even though she was willing to pay full price for the floor seats. I use this book to begin our discussions about racism and segregation—issues Black people faced then and continue to face today. As an extension activity, we often read about Rosa Parks and draw parallels between these two inspiring women who persevered in the face of injustice. If you use only one book this Canadian Black History Month, let it be this one. 2) Africville Africville tells the story of a thriving Black Canadian settlement and its tragic fate. The book celebrates the community’s rich culture while highlighting the injustices it endured. The notes at the end detail the discrimination the community faced: Halifax refused to provide essential services like clean water and garbage removal. Meanwhile, the city built undesirable facilities like a prison and garbage dump nearby. This story encourages us to explore our own Canadian history and the injustices Black Canadians have faced. Students can learn more about Africville with my Canadian Black History Month digital resource here. 3) The Patchwork Path The Patchwork Path is a beautifully written story about the Underground Railroad, which helped enslaved people escape to freedom in Canada. This book explains Canada's role in the Underground Railroad and the hardships Black Americans faced along their journey to freedom. It’s an excellent springboard for discussions on Black History Month and provides numerous extension opportunities—from mapping the Underground Railroad to designing symbolic quilts. Awesome story, 10/10 would recommend! 4) My Rows and Piles of Coins This book isn’t about Canadian Black history specifically, but it absolutely belongs in your classroom for Black History Month—and here’s why: Black History Month isn’t just about pioneers of activism; it’s also about supporting Black Canadians today—authors, artists, and more. My Rows and Piles of Coins tells the story of a boy in Tanzania who saves money to buy a bicycle for his mother. The author was born in Tanzania and later relocated to Edmonton, Alberta. Purchasing this book supports a Black Canadian author—and that’s what Black History Month is about too! 5) Our Skin The last book on my list might be the most important for starting discussions about race and racism. You can’t fully teach Canadian Black History Month without Our Skin in your library. This book introduces students to different skin colours, explains how nature gives us these tones, and explores the roots of racism. It even discusses how biases can begin at an early age. You absolutely cannot teach about racism, injustice, and segregation without this book. It’s a must-have for every Canadian classroom. There they are—my top five books for teaching during Canadian Black History Month. Of course, I could list even more, but these are always the first five I reach for when planning this important month.