1919 – 1941
Between World War I and World War II, the USA experienced a period of significant change. The Roaring Twenties was a time of economic prosperity, cultural dynamism, and social change, marked by jazz music, flappers, and technological advancements. Prohibition, a nationwide ban on alcohol, led to the rise of bootlegging and speakeasies. During this era, the Great Migration saw many African Americans move from the rural South to urban centers in the North for better opportunities. This period also featured the Harlem Renaissance, a flourishing of African American art, literature, and music. The mood shifted drastically at the end of the 1920s with the start of the Great Depression.
Picture books
This Is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration
Award-winning story about three generations of a family during and after the Great Migration
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Jake Makes a World: Jacob Lawrence, A Young Artist in Harlem
Inspiring story of a young Jacob Lawrence’s world as he develops his artistic style
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Harlem Renaissance Party
Exciting story of a modern boy traveling back in time to meet Harlem Renaissance artists
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The Great Migration: Journey to the North
Collection of poems giving voice to the Great Migration
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Baby Flo
Story of a famous entertainer’s childhood
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Henner’s Lydia
Story of an Amish girl and her world
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Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre
Moving, award-winning story about the Tulsa Race Massacre
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In Her Hands
Inspiring story of a Harlem Renaissance sculptor
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Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library
Exciting story of a law clerk and book collector who started a library
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That Is My Dream!: A Picture Book of Langston Hughes’ “Dream Variation”
Picture book of one of Langston Hughes’ most famous poems
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My Hands Sing the Blues: Romare Bearden’s Childhood Journey
Story of an artist’s journey north through his work
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Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills
Inspiring story of a singer and activist
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Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song
Story of Billie Holiday and her famous protest song
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Overground Railroad
Story of a girl’s journey north as part of the Great Migration, told through poetry
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The Great Migration: An American Story
Story of the Great Migration based around Jacob Lawrence’s powerful series of paintings
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Chapter books
Moonshiner’s Son
Story of a boy grappling with Prohibition while defying it as an apprentice
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Color Me Dark: The Diary of Nellie Lee Love, the Great Migration North, Chicago, Illinois, 1919
Fictional diary of a girl moving north as part of the Great Migration
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The Harlem Renaissance: An Interactive History Adventure (You Choose: History)
Choose-your-own adventure style stories set during the Harlem Renaissance
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Mystery of the Dark Tower
Story of a North Carolina girl moving to Harlem and solving a mystery
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Gangsters at the Grand Atlantic
Story of a girl solving a mystery about gangsters in 1925
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Building the Golden Gate Bridge: An Interactive Engineering Adventure
Choose-your-own adventure style stories set during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge
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Building the Empire State Building: An Interactive Engineering Adventure
Choose-your-own adventure style stories set during the construction of the Empire State Building
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One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance
Masterful poetry collection inspired by the Harlem Renaissance
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Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes
Poetry collection from Langston Hughes
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Non-fiction books
What Were the Roaring Twenties?
Detailed, comprehensive intro to the Roaring Twenties
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What Was the Harlem Renaissance?
Detailed, comprehensive intro to the Harlem Renaissance
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Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition
Exciting overview of Prohibition
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Making Our Way Home: The Great Migration and the Black American Dream
Powerful history of the Great Migration and its long-term impact
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What Was the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921?
Story of the Tulsa Race Massacre
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Where Is the Empire State Building?
Story of the Empire State Building’s construction and impact
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What Were the Negro Leagues?
Story of the African American baseball league, including star Jackie Robinson
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Roaring 20’s Reference Library: Almanac and Primary Sources
Overview of the Roaring Twenties with corresponding primary source excerpts
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What Was the Hindenburg?
Story of the famous zeppelin disaster
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Biographies
Who Was Babe Ruth?
Introduction to the baseball legend
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Who Was Jesse Owens?
Introduction to the famous runner
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Who Was Amelia Earhart?
Introduction to the famous aviator
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Who Was Duke Ellington?
Introduction to the famous jazz musician and composer
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Who Was Charlie Chaplin?
Introduction to the actor and director
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