For nearly 50 years, the National Council for the Social Studies has presented the Carter G. Woodson Book Award to texts that accurately and sensitively depict the experience of one or more historically marginalized racial/ethnic groups in the United States. The award originated in 1974, named to honor distinguished scholar Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, the Harvard-trained historian whose scholarship and dedication to making Black History known and visible led to the eventual creation of Black History Month. Texts must be non-fiction, published and set in the United States, written for…

Apply to join the Award Selection Subcommittee The list of Woodson winning books and authors from 1974 to the present. How to submit a Carter G. Woodson Book Award Nomination.   Submissions for this award will open July 16, 2024. The Carter G. Woodson Book Award is presented to exemplary books written for children and young people each year at the NCSS Annual Conference. Authors are recognized at the NCSS Annual Conference, which is attended by over 4,000 K-12 and university level educators and other social studies professionals who enjoy interacting with the Woodson…

Apply to the Award Selection Subcommittee How to submit a Septima Clark Book Award Nomination. Submissions for this award will open July 16, 2024. The Septima Clark Book Award is presented to exemplary books written for children and young people each year at the NCSS Annual Conference. Authors are recognized at the NCSS Annual Conference, which is attended by over 4,000 K-12 and university level educators and other social studies professionals who enjoy interacting with the Septima Clark Award-winning authors and will be interested in obtaining copies of books for use with…

The Septima Clark Book Award is presented to exemplary books written for children and young people each year at the NCSS Annual Conference. Authors are recognized at the NCSS Annual Conference, which is attended by over 4,000 K-12 and university level educators and other social studies professionals who enjoy interacting with the Septima Clark Award-winning authors and will be interested in obtaining copies of books for use with their students. Award-winning authors will be presented with a commemorative gift at the NCSS Meet-the-Author Panel Session. A book signing will follow. Copies of the…

Dawnavyn James, doctoral student, graduate assistant, and graduate fellow at the Center for K–12 Black History and Racial Literacy Education at the University of Buffalo, spent seven years in the elementary classroom as a teacher, three of those in kindergarten.Her research focuses on early childhood/elementary Black history instruction and curriculum development, using picture books to learn about and teach Black histories, and what we can learn from Black women educators of the past. 

The NCSS Book Review Committee and the Children’s Book Council present the 2021 selection of outstanding books for use in the social studies classroom.

Return Policies-NCSS Books The return of books will be accepted up to thirty (30) days from the date of the invoice. Book wholesalers and retailers will be allowed to return books for up to six (6) months. All returns must be received in resalable condition. A copy of the original invoice or packing slip must accompany each return. Return authorization is not necessary. Return the books to NCSS prepaid via a traceable method of shipment. Send returns to: NCSS Returns 7100 Old Landover Road Suite 500 Hyattsville MD 20785…

Two noteworthy books can help young learners grapple with significant societal issues such as poverty and homelessness and can help teachers introduce students to the vocabulary of civic action.

Former President Barack Obama has touched hearts by sharing his inspiring book, Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters, with the children of the world. Together, with the breathtaking illustrations of Loren Long, Obama presents 13 historical figures that have each had a profound impact on America. In a very different book, Calling the Doves/ El Canto de las Palomas, award-winning Mexican American poet Juan Felipe Herrera beautifully illustrates his childhood as the son of Mexican migrant farmworkers. Herrera vividly describes his family’s journey through the mountains and valleys of…

In the first article in this issue, “Why are People Marching? Discussing Justice- Oriented Citizenship using Picture Books,” Jessica Ferreras-Stone and Sara B. Demoiny outline how teachers, in accordance with NCSS guidelines, can use picture books to spur discussions about justice-oriented citizenship, including protest marches, as a means to understand the past and present. William Toledo and Jody Hollins present key concepts related to civic perspective- taking in their piece, “Localizing Civics: A Collaboratively Designed, Second Grade Unit of Study.” The authors’ hope is that their work…