Mid-Continent Public Library's FREE Resources

Mid-Continent Public Library provides parents, caregivers, and teachers access to free resources that bring interesting and important stories to life for children during Black History Month and throughout the year, building appreciation and understanding of their own culture and that of fellow students and friends.

Below are a few suggestions available to intrigue young minds with information about prominent figures in Black history, including leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and authors and artists of color.

BookFlix is an online literacy tool that pairs animated stories with real-world concepts for early readers up to 3rd grade. Young readers will build their vocabulary as they engage in animated stories and interactive games related to Dr. Martin LutherKing, Jr., Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges, Harriet Tubman, and Jackie Robinson.

FreedomFlix features all of Scholastic’sCornerstones of Freedom books, which can be read online, as well as short videos and suggestions to explore topics further. Titles related to BlackHistory Month, including The Underground Railroad, Emancipation Proclamation, Brown vs. Board of education, and The Civil Rights Movement, will help older students (5th grade and higher) better understand the struggle for freedom and equal rights for Black Americans.

Just for Kids Access Video on Demand gives older elementary and middle school students a fun and educational place to stream a wide variety of videos without advertisements. The education-related videos vary in length and include math, ABCs, science, and history. Also among the videos are the stories of Frederick Douglass, NASA’s Katherine Johnson, Thurgood Marshall, and others.

Teachables, a Scholastic product, offers thousands of learning resources for teachers and caregivers, including teacher-created lesson plans, activity sheets, and mini books for grades K-8 that share the stories of Langston Hughes, George Washington Carver, AlvinAiley, Jr., Wilma Rudolph, and others.

African American History is a great resource for teens, who may be working on a research assignment or parents who are looking to refresh their own knowledge. This comprehensive reference resource covers more than 500 years of African American history, from the slave trade to the Civil Rights movement to the present day. It includes biographies, images, timelines, maps, and charts, as well information about such subjects as the Harlem Renaissance, the abolitionist movement, and more.

Librarians also have created lists of books and DVDs for adults and kids of all ages that are available to place on hold in the Library’s online catalog to pick up at any of the 30-plus MCPL branches in the Kansas City area.

All Mid-Continent Public Library resources are free to access with a Library card. Visit mymcpl.org/BlackHistory for more suggested resources. Anyone in the greater Kansas City area can apply for a Library card online at mymcpl.org/NewCard.