Welcome to Guides by Deb, a website consisting of over 300 standards-aligned educators guides crafted for the best books written for children and young adults in the business.

My name is Debbie Gonzales. I am an author, educator, Pinterest marketing specialist, and the creator of all the content featured in this website.

Thank you for your interest in the following collection of books and educator guides honoring the historic achievements of African American individuals during Black History month. Access the links below to find information about the book and the author, purchase links, and access to the free downloadable educator resources.

It is my hope that you consider including one or all these books as part of your Black History Month curriculum. You’ll be oh-so-glad you did!

While you’re at it, poke around the Guides by Deb website. There are plenty of treasures here, something for every kind of reader – young and old. Also, if I can be of service to you, let me know.

Guides by Deb
Honoring Black History Month

William Still is known as the Father of the Underground Railroad because he had the wherewithal to record the names and physical descriptions of the freedom seekers who traveled the treacherous journey to freedom. This book was written and illustrated by a dear friend, Don Tate. Most of his books are about historical people who have persisted during hard times. He also likes to write about people who have changed the world because of their persistence. Good stuff, for sure.

The CCSS-aligned Guides by Deb Discussion/Project Guide consists of in-depth pre-reading and post-reading discussion questions, an Active Reading activity in which readers identify the author’s intent & purpose for the text, a Vertical Vocabulary Puzzle, and a Zig-Zag Historical Timeline based on the life and times of the brave and brilliant William Still. Access this link to read more about William Still and his amazing freedom stories. Links to purchase the book and to download the teacher guide are also available.

In what began as a peaceful protest in Soweto, South Africa, and quickly turned deadly, school students marched for fair and equal education. HECTOR is an account of an ordinary boy who was caught up in the events on June 16, 1976.

The Inference & Prediction activity inspired by HECTOR is part of a four-part visual literacy presentation package entitled “Capturing the Electric Moment: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Legacies”. Included in it are several lessons exploring the historical nuances of images and illustrations. The books referenced in this packet are HER FEARLESS RUN, 16 WORDS, GIRLS WITH GUTS: THE ROAD TO BREAKING BARRIERS AND BASHING RECORDS, AND A BOY, A PROTEST, AND THE PHOTOGRAPH THAT CHANGED APARTHEID. Links to purchase the books and to download the activity packet are also available.

John Roy Lynch spent most of his childhood as a slave in Mississippi, but the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of the Civil War promised African Americans the freedom to learn and work as they wanted. While many people in the South were unhappy with the social change, John Roy thrived in the new era and was eventually elected into the United States Congress. This biography gives readers an in-depth look at the Reconstruction period through the life of one of the first African American congressmen.

The CCSS-aligned Press Release Guide consists of in-depth pre-reading and post-reading discussion questions, vocabulary acquisition lessons, questions about craft and structure, as well as integrations of knowledge and skills. Access this link to read more about THE AMAZING AGE OF JOHN ROY LYNCH. Links to purchase the book and to download the teacher guide are also available.

One night in 1861, three escaped slaves made their way from the Confederate line to a Union-held fort. The runaways were declared "contraband of war" and granted protection. As word spread, thousands of runaway slaves poured into the fort, seeking their freedom. These "contrabands" made a home for themselves, building the first African American community in the country. In 1863, they bore witness to one of the first readings of the Emancipation Proclamation in the South--beneath the sheltering branches of the tree now known as Emancipation Oak.

The standards-aligned educator’s guide consists of in-depth pre-reading and post-reading discussion questions, an image and text matching lessons, a historic timeline, and a deep analysis of the poetic text, and a story retelling exercise recounting the events that took place from various points of view. Access this link to read more about THE AMAZING AGE OF JOHN ROY LYNCH. Links to purchase the book and to download the teacher guide are also available.

George loved words. But George was enslaved. Forced to work long hours, George was unable to attend school or learn how to read. But he was determined--he listened to the white children's lessons and learned the alphabet. Then he taught himself to read. Soon, he began composing poetry in his head and reciting it as he sold fruits and vegetables on a nearby college campus. News of the slave poet traveled quickly among the students, and before long, George had customers for his poems. But George was still enslaved. Would he ever be free? In this powerful biography of George Moses Horton, the first southern African American man to be published, Don Tate tells an inspiring and moving story of talent and determination.

The CCSS-aligned Discussion/Activity Guide consists of in-depth pre-reading and post-reading discussion questions, a biography pyramid, an alphabetizing matrix activity, and a historic timeline based on the life and times of George Moses. Access this link to read more about POET: THE REMARKABLE STORY OF GEORGE MOSES HORTON. Links to purchase the book and to download the teacher guide are also available.

Growing up as an enslaved boy on an Alabama cotton farm, Bill Traylor worked all day in the hot fields. When slavery ended, Bill s family stayed on the farm as sharecroppers. There Bill grew to manhood, raised his own family, and cared for the land and his animals. By 1935 Bill was eighty-one and all alone on his farm. So, he packed his bag and moved to Montgomery, the capital of Alabama. Lonely and poor, he wandered the busy downtown streets. But deep within himself Bill had a reservoir of memories of working and living on the land, and soon those memories blossomed into pictures. Bill began to draw people, places, and animals from his earlier life, as well as scenes of the city around him. Today Bill Traylor is one of the most important self-taught American folk artists. Winner of Lee & Low s New Voices Award Honor, IT JES HAPPENED is a lively tribute to this man who has enriched the world with more than twelve hundred warm, energetic, and often humorous pictures.

The CCSS-aligned Discussion/Activity Guide consists of in-depth pre-reading and post-reading discussion questions, a poetry lesson, a historic timeline, a crossword puzzle, and an interview with the author. Access this link to read more about IT JES HAPPENED. Links to purchase the book and to download the teacher guide are also available.

It’s 1862 and the Civil War has turned out to be a long, deadly conflict. Hope’s father can’t stand the waiting a minute longer and decides to join the Union army to fight for freedom. He slips away one tearful night, leaving Hope, who knows she may never see her father again, with only a conch shell for comfort. Its sound, Papa says, echoes the promised song of freedom. It’s a long wait for freedom and on the nights when the cannons roar, Papa seems farther away than ever. But then Lincoln finally does it: on January 1, 1863, he issues the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves, and a joyful Hope finally spies the outline of a familiar man standing on the horizon.

The CCSS-aligned Discussion/Activity Guide consists of in-depth pre-reading and post-reading discussion questions, a block printing activity, and a wedding broom making craft. Access this link to read more about HOPES’S GIFT. Links to purchase the book and to download the teacher guide are also available.

The son of an enslaved blacksmith learns that his father is using the rhythm of his hammering to communicate with travelers on the Underground Railroad. When Pa falls ill, it is up to him to help others along the journey―and also lead his family's escape. Pa works hard as a blacksmith. But he's got another important job to do as well: using his anvil to pound out the traveling rhythm―a message to travelers on the Underground Railroad. His son wants to help, but Pa keeps putting him off. Then one day, Pa falls ill and the boy has to take over.

The CCSS-aligned Discussion/Activity Guide consists of in-depth pre-reading and post-reading discussion questions, a writing historical fiction activity exploring aspects of the Underground Railroad, a vocabulary crossword puzzle, and an understanding escape code activity. Access this link to read more about BLACKSMITH’S SONG. Links to purchase the book and to download the teacher guide are also available.

In ELLEN’S BROOM, a young girl learns a new meaning for freedom during the time of Reconstruction.

Ellen always knew the broom resting above the hearth was special. Before it was legal for her mother and father to officially be married, the broom was what made them a family anyway. But now all former slaves who had already been married in their hearts could register as lawful husband and wife. When Ellen and her family make the long trip to the courthouse dressed in their best, she brings the broom her parents had jumped so many years before. Even though freedom has come, Ellen knows the old traditions are important too. After Mama and Papa's names are recorded in the register, Ellen nearly bursts with pride as her parents jump the broom once again.

The CCSS-aligned Discussion/Activity Guide consists of in-depth pre-reading and post-reading discussion questions, a block printing craft activity, and a broom-making craft. Access this link to read more about ELLEN’S BROOM. Links to purchase the book and to download the teacher guide are also available.

Out of Slavery: A Novel of Harriet Tubman is a historical fiction story that follows the perilous path of the UGRR and the tragic costs of the Civil War. This compelling tale is seen through the eyes of Cece, Tilly, and Lou, as Harriet conducts them to safety along the UGRR. When they enlist in the Union Army, Harriet and her companions act together with Frederick Douglass, Colonel Shaw, and Sergeant Carney to preserve a divided nation and free a people caught in the web of slavery. It is a story of romance and realism, and the triumphs and tragedies of war.

The CCSS-aligned Discussion/Activity Guide consists of in-depth pre-reading and post-reading discussion questions. Access this link to read more about OUT OF SLAVERY: A NOVEL OF HARRIET TUBMAN. Links to purchase the book and to download the teacher guide are also available.