by Dinah Johnson; illustrated by April Harrison

Simultaneously a journey through history and a contemporary stroll through one of the most famous neighborhoods in America, H is For Harlem captures reader's interest by introducing some of the many people and places that have made this community a dazzling cultural center. Author Dinah Johnson features locations beloved by readers. L is for The Liberation Bookstore, S is for The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Less known destinations are also included such as 409 Edgecombe Ave, for a long time the tallest building in Harlem and home to Thurgood Marshall, Aaron Douglas, and W.E.B. Du Bois. The details that add dimension to Johnson's text, such as reminding readers to rub the lucky stone on their way into the Apollo Theater, are reflected in the textured mixed-media collage illustrations of April Harrison. This book invites repeated reading, with much to discover on each page, and inspires readers to learn more. 

"Harlem has been home to many Americans, with ancestors from many countries....But for a long time people have called Harlem the mecca of Black America, a place where African American culture is living, and breathing, shining and indestructible."  ~ H is for Harlem

See the Jones Library Antiracism Book List for recommended titles for all ages.