Black History Month: Books To Read

It is so difficult to choose only ten books for Black History Month; my list should be immediately expanded to include any book by any of the authors I cite.

Of the many skills we learn in school, the two most important are reading and writing. Master these, and the rest comes easy. I tell students all the time that a book can be read on many different levels. It can of course be enjoyed as a story, but it also can be deconstructed as a writing lesson. This is so cool! A reader can get a lesson on writing from any of the authors on this list.

I have learned so much from each of them as well as many other authors. The lessons I've learned from Toni Morrison and Walter Dean Myers and Mark Twain are reflected in my latest book, "The Mighty Miss Malone" [Wendy Lamb Books, $15.99].

Not only are these lessons available in February, they should be taken advantage of year round.