We were honored to have Stephanie Carter, affectionately known as “First Lady Carter,” join us for a wonderfully candid, encouraging, and engaging interview during our 2021 Fearless Mom conference. Stephanie is the Family Life Ministry Leader, and wife of Pastor Bryan L. Carter, at Concord Church in Dallas. Stephanie has a great podcast called HerStory, she leads a weekly bible study called Women of Worth, oh, and she is a mother of 3 wonderful children!

Stephanie eloquently (and with great humor) shared her perspective as a wife and mother. She provided practical ways that all moms can instill knowledge, tolerance, and acceptance in their children by being intentional about what we are already doing. One example she shared was to incorporate books written about Black History into your child’s library. This can help highlight the significance of Black History and celebrate African Americans in your everyday routine. 

She was gracious enough to share her thoughts, once more, and provide a wonderful list of books that we can check out from local libraries or add to our Amazon carts below:

As February comes to an end, I paused to reflect on what this month has brought us. Here in Texas, we experienced another historical event in the worst winter storm in decades. With this, we experienced rotating blackouts, near-zero temperatures, and a lot of SNOW.

Despite the end to a crazy month, hopefully, you didn’t forget February was Black History Month! A great way to honor this month is by learning about Black History and celebrating diversity with beautiful picture books for children. As a mom of three (ages 18, 16, and 13) and former third-grade teacher, I believe that it is one of the best ways to show the contributions of Black History. Expose your child to the histories of black inventors or the first black female pilot; these inspiring stories are certain to bring joy to your children as you honor African Americans’ accomplishments and achievements throughout history.

There are so many wonderful books that celebrate Black History and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate African Americans and their history than by sharing their stories. The list below includes books that are ideal for children ages 5 – 12. Reading these books aloud with preschool, kindergarten, and first-grade students allows you the opportunity to learn with your child. Older children can read the book themselves and tell you about the history they learned. You can even use them in conjunction with science and social studies lessons.

1. Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson Set in 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama, this book tells the story of thousands of brave children who marched to protest segregation laws.
2. Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport. With breathtaking illustrations, this biography introduces children to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
3. Mr. Crum’s Potato Predicament by Anne Renaud. Did you know the potato chip was an accidental invention? Delight students with the story of George Crum, a chef who created one of our favorite snacks.
4. Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherford. Arturo Schomburg is a collector of African art, books, and music. Read to find out what happens when his valuable collections begin to overflow his house!
5. Anna Carries Water by Olive Senior Anna can’t carry water on her head quite like her siblings can. This story shows how Anna perseveres and achieves her goal to bring water from the spring.
6. Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly. The true story of four black women who played critical roles in one of NASA’s greatest successes.
7. Molly, by Golly!: The Legend of Molly Williams, America’s First Female Firefighter by Diane Ochiltree. Spunky, brave, and little-known, Molly Williams was the first female firefighter in the U.S.
8. Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine. This award-winning book tells the story of a slave determined to gain his freedom and his dramatic struggle to reach the North.
9. The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson. Two young girls begin a friendship, but there’s one major problem: they live on opposite sides of their segregated town.
10. Ruby Bridges Goes to School: My True Story by Ruby Bridges. The remarkable true story of the first African-American child to integrate into a Louisiana school, written by Ruby Bridges herself.

There are also great fiction board-books for Toddles/Infants such as these. And lastly, this is a great website to find a diverse collection of books for all ages.

My hope is that your family will take the time to celebrate Black History Month together. For more information on me and my family, please visit our church, Concord Church in Dallas.

If you would like to see Stephanie’s entire interview from our wonderful 2021 Fearless Mom Conference (+ presentations from Julie Richard, David Thomas, Sissy Goff, and Catherine Lowe) register for your access here!