It’s that time of year again. Tomorrow is the first day of Black History Month. Here are four books to read to your kids. Don’t be afraid to take your time with these, and to sit with discomfort as you answer your kids’ questions.

1. Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race, by Margot Lee Shetterly, ill. by Laura Freeman

The kids loved this book, and so did I. The colorful illustrations and a deftly woven story kept everyone captivated, and no one complained when I kept reading each woman’s more detailed bio at the end of the book. The accomplishments of these four women are truly amazing: they managed to make incredible contributions to science, raise families, and succeed in a world that was built to keep them down both for being Black and for being women.

2. Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice, by Mahogany L. Browne with Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatwood, ill. by Theodore Taylor III

We read about three poems a day until we finished this book – it isn’t one you can polish off in a day. The poems are a kid level exploration of ideas around including racial justice, immigration, and self love. Maybe you’ve watched the news over the past year and a half, and wondered how to talk to your kids about what is taking place. Woke addresses current issues in a way that is accessible and timely.

3. Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles, by Michele Meadows, ill. by Ebony Glenn

The kids liked the illustrations in this book, which reminded me of modern Disney animation. My kids also noticed right away that Biles is the only Black gymnast in the illustrations throughout most of the book. Don’t be afraid to address this kind of thing, or acknowledge it if kids bring it up.

A section at the back includes a photo of Biles with her family with more detailed info about her accomplishments.

We chased this book with several videos of Simone Biles flying through her routines; she defies gravity.

4. Beautiful Shades of Brown: The Art of Laura Wheeler Waring, by Nancy Churnin, ill. by Felicia Marshall

I’m always fascinated by immensely talented people who begin creating from an early age, like it’s a compulsion that they can’t resist. Waring showed an interest in painting early, bribing her siblings to get them to sit for paintings. Waring had a dream of bringing brown skinned portraits to art museums, and she brought that dream to fruition. A selection of her paintings are in the back of the book, as well as a note from the author with more historical context and additional information about the artist.