Advertisement
Books

Top 5 books on Black British history, chosen by children’s author Atinuke

Award-winning children’s author Atinuke on the books that give a deeper understanding of a traditionally overlooked area of history

Award-winning children’s author Atinuke on the books that give a deeper understanding of a traditionally overlooked area of history.

The Black History Book by DK

This book is for both adults and children, and is both comprehensive and easy to read. It covers African, American and European Black history.

Black Tudors by Miranda Kaufmann

This adult book is one of my favourites on Black British history. Each chapter is about a Black Briton who lived during the Tudor period, brought to life by descriptions of the surprising world they lived in.

Black and British by David Olusoga

There are three versions of this book – for adults, teenagers, and for children. The adult one is my favourite. My only problem with it? It’s not long enough!

Black Britain by Paul Gilroy and Stuart Hall

This is a book of photographs of Black people in Britain. The photos are stunning, and the text is sharp and informative. It’s for adults but I imagine children would pore over it as well.

The Black Curriculum

This organisation publishes good children’s books on Black British history. They are well researched, and well presented, and frankly we cannot have enough of them!

Advertisement
Advertisement

And if you want more … check out Stephen Bourne’s books on Black British people during the wars, and Catherine Johnson’s children’s historical fiction books.

Brilliant Black British History by Atinuke

Brilliant Black British History by Atinuke, illustrated by Kingsley Nebechi and winner of The British Book Awards 2024 Children’s Non-Fiction Book of the Year, is out now (Bloomsbury, £8.99). These titles are available to buy or preorder from The Big Issue shop on Bookshop.org, which helps to support The Big Issue and independent bookshops.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us moreBig Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.

Advertisement

Change a vendor's life this Christmas

This Christmas, 3.8 million people across the UK will be facing extreme poverty. Thousands of those struggling will turn to selling the Big Issue as a vital source of income - they need your support to earn and lift themselves out of poverty.

Recommended for you

Read All
Horrible Histories author Terry Deary: 'The most important day in history is tomorrow'
Books

Horrible Histories author Terry Deary: 'The most important day in history is tomorrow'

Teething problems with VAR and handball rules serve as a warning about AI
Artificial Intelligence

Teething problems with VAR and handball rules serve as a warning about AI

Top 5 books in rhyme, chosen by children's author Vicky Cowie
Books

Top 5 books in rhyme, chosen by children's author Vicky Cowie

Out There Screaming edited by Jordan Peele review – horror writing of the first order
Review

Out There Screaming edited by Jordan Peele review – horror writing of the first order

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue