Giving Compass' Take:

• In honor of Black History Month, here are seven new children's books that highlight Black heroes and sheroes to discuss during Black History Month and beyond. 

• How can more educators be intentional about the books they discuss and put in their classroom, not only during Black History Month but year-round? How does more diversity discussion and representation in the classroom impact students of color?

• Learn how philanthropy is bolstering Black male achievement.

Black History Month is almost over but there's never a bad time to introduce your child to books about black heroes and their contributions to American history.

It's no secret that kids' history classes tend to gloss over black history and usually introduce well-known figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks without delving deeper into the rich history of the African-American experience. We reached out to popular publishers such as Simon & Schuster for their recommendations and came up with this collection of seven books (both fiction and non-fiction), to help fill this gap.

"From the story of Ethel Payne, the groundbreaking journalist known as the First Lady of the Black Press, to an inspiring story in the tradition of American Black folktales," says a representative from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, "these picture books are important conversation starters for young readers, and should be celebrated and discussed during Black History Month and all year long."

  1. Cool Cuts, Written and illustrated by Mechal Renee Roe, Ages 3 -7
  2. The Power of Her Pen, by Lesa Cline-Ransome, Illustrated by John Parra, Ages 4 - 8
  3. Freedom Bird, by Jerdine Nolen, Illustrated by James E. Ransome, Ages 5 - 9
  4. Clean Getaway, by Nic Stone, Ages 8 - 12
  5. Brave. Black. First: 50+ African American Women Who Changed the World,  By Cheryl Willis Hudson, Illustrated by Erin K. Robinson, Ages 8 - 12
  6. Making Our Way Home: The Great Migration and the Black American Dream, By Blair Imani, Illustrated by Rachelle Baker, Ages 12 and up
  7. All the Days Past, All the Days to Come, By Mildred D. Taylor, Ages 15 and up

Read the full article about books for Black History Month by Siobhan Neela-Stock at Mashable.