L. A. Amber - Bedtime Inspirational Stories: 50 Amazing African-Americans Who Changed the World: Black History Book for Kids

Table of Contents

Copyright 2017 Mentches Inc.

All rights reserved. This book or any part thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a creative nonfiction book. It is not a complete biography of the characters lives. Their life stories are a vehicle to deliver an inspiring and positive message to our children. While every caution has been taken to provide accurate and current information, it is the readers responsibility to check all information. Neither the author nor publisher can be held accountable for any errors or ommissions.

Written by L. A. Amber

Illustrated by T. Z. Nissen

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FIRST EDITION: September 2017

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

B ooks are filled with stories of brave and powerful men and women, but have you ever wondered where the black heroes are?

Bedtime Inspirational Stories celebrates the achievements of the amazing black women and men who have paved the way for future generations.

Unfortunately, in todays world, it can be a challenge to raise positive kids, as they are constantly bombarded with negative messages. More than ever, parents and teachers need to create a positive atmosphere for our children in order to help them believe in themselves.

Thats why weve proudly created this richly illustrated and inspiring book, Bedtime Inspirational Stories: 50 Amazing Black People Who Changed the World, which highlights the achievements and stories of fifty notable women and men from the 18 th century to today. Some were born slaves, some grew up in poverty, and some had physical or emotional challenges. Some were born many years ago, and some are still with us. The stories in the book include those of political activists, scientists, artists, musicians, inventors, businesspeople, Nobel prize winners, and more.

Every single one of these individuals overcame adversities and changed the world, building a way for others to live better lives. Each one worked hard and maintained self-confidence, even when others expressed doubt or said their dreams couldnt be achieved.

Children looking for inspiration will surely find it here. This fun and inspiring collection of influential stories provides fifty illustrated examples of strong, independent role models, all of whom had a profound impact on the world. Personal aspirations from todays youth are also interspersed throughout the book, so that each story has its own life lesson alongside a positive message. Its never too soon to start making a difference, and these stories are exhilarating examples of power in action to make for ideal motivation. Help your child develop a strong sense of self by reading stories that equip children with a powerful mantra: We are masters of our own destiny.

The book also contains fifty positive affirmations, and we encourage you to say them aloud with your child every day. Why affirmations? These positive self-statements, when repeated over time, are capable of convincing a child that the statements are true. This is a powerful way to boost their self-esteem .

Why is it important for young kids to know they matter? Children can feel small and insignificant in a busy and complicated world, and begin to question their place in life. The affirmations found in this book can counteract this effect while allowing them to grow.

As parents and educators, there are three important things that we can give to our children: good memories, a good education, and a sense of self-worth.

Our team has created this book to help you to achieve these goals. There are no better memories than the times when we share books with our children. We hope that the positive messages and affirmations throughout this book will improve your childs self-esteem. Lastly, we should here acknowledge that every story in this book would merit a book by itself; hopefully, these snippets will inspire you and your child to learn more about each person.

With vivid, compelling art and quotes, this book shows its readers that no matter what obstacles may lie ahead, they should never give up on their dreams. Simply, this beautiful book is about the potential within each of us to pursue our dreams and shape our own paths. It is a treasure to cherish with your family forever.

We hope that you find inspiration in these pages, whether youre a girl or a boy, a parent or a teacher! These women and men are black heroes, and theyre part of our history and culture. And no matter who you are, you have a special mission on this planet. You can make a difference, too!

TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE

H ave you ever heard of a place called Haiti? Haiti is an island in the Caribbean. In the late 1600s, France took control of Haiti and brought black people from Africa to Haiti to keep as slaves. One of the men they brought to Haiti was an African prince, and he had a son named Toussaint LOuverture.

Toussaint was lucky because his master liked and trusted him. He liked him so much that, when Toussaint was thirty-three years old, his master gave him his freedom and some land.

Toussaint used his freedom to help others by becoming the leader of an army. He knew slavery was wrong, so Toussaint and his army fought to free slaves. What they accomplished is now called the Haitian Revolution.

It only took Toussaint and his army a few years to free the slaves. Toussaints ability to get the job done so quickly made him very famous. His accomplishment was amazing because the black people in Haiti had been slaves for hundreds of years. He was loved and respected by nearly everyone because of his dedication to his people.

Years later, Napoleon Bonaparte, who was the most powerful man in France at the time, captured Toussaint and made black people in Haiti slaves once again. But, even then, Toussaint did not let anyone bully him or anyone else. He cared about people who were treated badly and did everything he could to help them.

Toussaint dedicated his life to an important cause, never letting fear get in the way. He became a leader of his people so that everyone would be treated fairly.

Would you like to be a leader? A leader always strives to do the right thing for themselves, their family, and their friends. The challenge of leadership is to be strong yet polite, and to always make use of the words please and thank you. I believe you have exactly what it takes to be a leader.

Did you know that, when Christopher Columbus first saw Haiti (and the entire Hispaniola Island), he thought he had found India or Asia?

THOMAS L. JENNINGS

O ver two hundred years ago, an intelligent and talented man named Thomas L. Jennings lived in New York City. Thomas was a famous inventor. He was the first African American ever granted a United States patent, and he got it for inventing a new way to keep clothes clean.

When Thomas was a kid like you, people tried to make him think he could never do anything special. People treated Thomas like they didnt want him around, but Thomas believed in himself and proved everyone wrong.