Black New Yorkers for Educational Excellence (BNYEE)- 212.252.2997
Black History Resources for Youth, Their Families and Teachers
Sisters and Brothers,
Please note that this is NOT a comprehensive source of Black History material for young people. It is our organization's starting place for resources. If you have a more comprehensive body of resources and/or can organize this in a more accessible way, feel free to do so and post as a comment and we will review and include your suggestions and edits as part of our ongoing upgrading work on this blog--
Thank You-
BNYEE Black History Now! Committee
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General Nonfiction for Children
African American Heritage Sites For Kids WebSite http://www.chipublib.org/003cpl/afroamj.html
African American History For Kids WebSite—a Bibliograpy http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/bhm/historyforkids.html
Afro American Kids Zone http://www.afro.com/children/index.html Black History quiz and learn about African animals. Favorite Books for Black History Month ...
The African American Mosaic WebSite http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/intro.html July 7, 2005
A Library of Congress Resource Guide for the Study of Black History & Culture, i.e. Colonization: Liberia; Personal Stories and ACS New Directions
Abolition: Influence of Prominent Abolitionists, Conflict of Abolition and Slavery
Migration: Western Migration and Homesteading, Nicodemus, Kansas, Chicago: Destination for the Great Migration
WPA (Works Progress Administration [F.D. Roosevelt]: Cavalcade of the American Negro, Authors and the Federal Writers' Project. Ex-slave Narratives
The African American Web Connection WebSite http://www.aawc.com/aawc.html Sept., 2001
A super-Webography site aimed at the entire family. There is a little something here for everyone--from black history links, to religious issues, to entertainment and safe sites for kids (i.e. not cited elsewhere in this list) i.e.: Internet African American History Challenge© http://www.brightmoments.com/blackhistory/ (2006-07?)… an interactive quiz that helps you sharpen your knowledge of African American History. It's an "open book" test. So if you're not sure of an answer, you can check our reference material for help. Level I is the easiest and has 7 questions while levels II & III have 10 questions each and are a bit more challenging.
Profiles of - Alexander Crummell, Frederick Douglass, Henry Highland Garnet, Harriet Tubman, Henry McNeal Turner, John Mercer Langston, Mary Elizabeth Bowser. Mary Church Terrell, Mary Ann Shadd, Nat Turner, Richard Allen, Sojourner Truth
African American Art - An excerpt on African American art taken from Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience, Second Edition edited by Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Kwame Anthony Appiah. ( [ cross referenced in both African American Art & History]
Alcan Highway Black History - "During World War II in the Canadian Wilderness, 10,607 U.S. soldiers built a road 1,522 miles long in eight months (1942-1943). Around 3,695 of these soldiers were Black men." Besides giving valuable details on the Black History of the Alaska-Canadian (Alcan) Highway, this wonderful site has many photos showing African Americans building the Alcan Highway.
Black American Heritage Month - Has the Canadian perspective on Black History. Contains many excellent related links including historic Atlantic Monthly articles by Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, and other famous Blacks.
Black Filmmaker: Oscar Micheaux - about America's first successful black filmmaker. This son of freed slaves went from working as a shoe-shine boy to producing, directing, and writing over 40 movies in his lifetime.
Black History Page - This page was born out of the inspiration of the "Million Man March". Each month it highlights a person of color, organization, or event which has contributed to the global community.
Black History Project - a valuable resource that contains a collection of quotes from black thinkers, a list of books by noted authors, an audio interview feature, an online game to test your black history knowledge, and much more.
The Britannica Guide to Black History - examines nearly 400 years of African American history through five distinct time periods. (“Many Audio/Video Biographies”)
Christine's Genealogy Website - An excellent collection of African American Genealogical Resources.
Daughters of Eve - highlights the achievements of African American Women past and present.
FEN's Martin Luther King, Jr. Page - The Family Education Network's feature on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in celebration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry - History and reenactment unit information of the Afro-American union soldiers of the Civil War period (1863-1865) who fought in South Carolina.
Harry T. Moore Homesite - site is being developed to commemorate the lives of two pioneering Afro-American civil rights workers, Harry T. Moore and Harriette V. Moore. They were murdered in their home in 1951. It was the first killing of a prominent civil rights leader, and one of the sparks that ignited the American civil rights movement."
Johnkankus: Roots of an Afro-American Christmas - The Johnkankus is an one of the first African American traditions. A tradition that has lasted in various locations for two hundred and seventy-six years. An explanation of the Johnkankus, reference materials, & a classroom lesson plan are all available from this web site.
Juneteenth.com Website - Information on the nation-wide annual event called Juneteenth. Related information is also available on the following web site: Juneteenth Festival, Inc. - Buffalo, NY
Kwanzaa Information Center - Website The web reference on Kwanzaa (e.g., history, symbols, etc.).
Lest We Forget - Published quarterly by LWF Publications. Focuses on the history and culture of African-Americans and our contributions to the development and growth of this society.
Memphis: We Remember Website - Produced by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Information Center, this web site contains articles and photos of the 1968 sanitation workers' strike in Memphis, Tennessee by AFSCME Local 1733. The site also contains Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s last public speech in support of the sanitation workers and links to other African American labor history web sites.
Moore's Ford Lynchings - On July 25, 1946, two young black couples were killed by a lynch mob at the Moore's Ford Bridge in Walton County Georgia.
National Civil Rights Museum Website - Virtual Tour - This tour is made up of exhibits arranged in chronological order. Each exhibit allows you to view a glimpse of a key historical event.
Negro Baseball Leagues Home Page - A comprehensive on-line resource for information pertaining to the Negro Baseball Leagues.
The North Star: Tracing the Underground Railroad - In the years before the Civil War, a secret network of people and places, known as the Underground Railroad, helped many slaves escape to freedom. This site serves as a historical resource on the Underground Railroad.
The Springfield Race Riot of 1908 - Tells the history of the 1908 Springfield, Illinois Race Riot and also shows its connection to the subsequent creation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
366th Infantry Regiment Home Page - The 366th Infantry Regiment was an all-Black army unit in WWII that saw action in North African and Italy.
William Still Underground Railroad Foundation - The William Still Underground Railroad Foundation is a non-profit corporation which focuses on telling the historical events pertaining to the Still Family, the Underground Railroad and Black History in general.
African-Americans Who Changed Our Nation WebSite http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonrepro/reproducibles/instructor/crossword/0101/cyberhunt.htm
Build on-line research skills with the CyberHunt Crossword, an extension activity to Instructor magazine's January/February 2001 Theme Unit. As kids complete the puzzle by following the clues to Web sites, they'll discover a wealth of fascinating facts about the people and places that shaped Black history. Click on the link below, then print out the puzzle so students can write down their answers.
Afrokids.com WebSite http://www.afrokids.com
Black History Hand Book A ready-reference guide filled with activities for incorporating Black history within classroom related studies. Guideposts are included along with...
Black History Links for Kids WebSite http://www.kidsdomain.com/kids/links/Black_History.html
Black History Month: Activities and Resources for Children Website (v-e-r-y limited) http://fun.familyeducation.com/black-history-month/holidays/32871.html
BlackRefer.com WebSite http://www.blackrefer.com/children.html
BrainPOP WebSite http://www.brainpop.com/blackhistorymonth/
“check out our movies on African-American heritage! Join Tim and Moby as you explore some of the famous faces, great moments, and difficult times in African-American history”:
-- 2 minute Animated Videos - Fairy descent introductory – for young children (Non Afroocanamerican
“narrator’ ) :
‘Slavery’ http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/slavery
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/undergroundrailroad
Black History Quest http://blackquest.com/link.htm (per aawc.com)
African-American History, Culture, and Black Studies Resources Described as the ultimate source and gateway to African/African American history, culture and the Black experience.
Cox, Clinton Undying Glory : The Story Of The Massachusetts 54th Regiment (Describes the formation of the all-black 54th Massachusetts Regiment and its valiant battle history from 1863 to 1865. J 973.74)
Follow the Drinking Gourd--An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan - Submitted by: Chelsey S. Brandt, Endorsed by: Dr. Don Descy--Mankato State University May 19, 1998 Grade Level(s): 1
Hamilton, Virginia. Many Thousand Gone; African Americans from Slavery to Freedom Illus. by Leo and Diane Dillon. Random, 1992. (Reviewed in Booklist. Uses general history, slave narratives and biography in a work about African-American slavery and resistance.)
Hart, Ayanna. Africans in America Minneapolis: Lerner Pub., c1995.
Haskins, Jim. The Harlem Renaissance Illustrated with photos and prints. Millbrook, 1996. [192p] (Advanced level. National Council for the Social Studies Notable Children's Trade Books in the Social Studies. An account of the artistic and intellectual revolution in Black America during the Harlem Renaissance.)
Haskins, James The Freedom Rides : Journey For Justice (Presents a history of the struggle to eliminate "separate but equal" laws that had existed in the South since the end of the Civil War. J 323.11 H)
Haskins, James The March On Washington (Illustrated with photographs ; introduction by James Farmer. Discusses the people and events connected with the 1963 March on Washington, as well as the consequences of this well-known civil rights demonstration. J 323.11 H)
Hoyt-Goldsmith, Diane. Celebrating Kwanzaa. (Illustrated by Lawrence Migdale. Holiday House, 1993. Ages 9-12
A Chicago family celebrates Kwanza.
Book Of Black Heroes: From A to Z by W. Hudson & V. Wesley
"A compendium of Black men and women of accomplishment ... A useful item for black history collections." Booklist Written by Wade Hudson and Valerie Wilson Wesley. ages: 7 AND UP
T. Igus (Editor) Book Of Black Heroes: Great Women In The Struggle, (More than 80 historical and contemporary women of African descent are spotlighted in this volume. A Reading Rainbow review book selection.
Justusbooks WebSite http://www.justusbooks.com/modules/content/?id=220 (An Outstanding Children's List Fiction, Nonfiction, Picture Books. Just Us Books, Inc. is an independent publishing company specializing in books and learning materials for children and young people. It focuses on Black history, Black culture and Black experiences. Founded by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson in 1988, this innovative company is now considered one of the leading publishers of Black interest titles for young people.)
Kaboose WebSite http://resources.kaboose.com/kidslinks/social-studies/black-history/Black_History.html
Copyright © 2007 Kaboose Inc. Kaboose, Zeeks and Funschool are trademarks of Kaboose Inc.
Kids Explore America's African-American Heritage. John Muir Pub., 1993. Ages 9-12
(Written by children for children, this book is intended to help Americans of all ages enjoy and appreciate a unique part of their heritage. 80 students, under the direction of 25 teachers, have collaborated to produce a kids'-eye view of America's African-American culture: History, food, celebrations, art, dance, music, stories, heroes and heroines.
KidsPlace WebSite http://www.npl.org/Pages/KidsPlace/Sites/afr.html -
African-American History:
‘Culture and Change: Black history in America’ http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/
Meet famous African Americans, listen to jazz music, publish your own writing, and explore history with an interactive timeline on the Scholastic site – i.e.: ‘The Underground Railroad’
video interview with (Children’s Books) author Christopher Paul Curtis.
Faces of Science: African-Americans in the Sciences WebSite http://www.princeton.edu/~mcbrown/display/faces.html Profiles of African-American men and women who contributed to science, mathematics and engineering. Indexed by people, profession and women scientists.
Family Education Network: Black History Month
http://www.familyeducation.com/topic/front/0,1156,1-4818,00.html?yah
Celebrate Black History with articles, quizzes, a poll and suggested reading list.
History Channel: Black History Month http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/blackhist/main.html
Celebrate Black History Month and learn about great African-Americans – i.e.:
‘The Underground Railroad’ DVD (for purchase) ‘History of Black/African american History Month, highlighting Carter G. Woodson, ……….
African-Americans in History -- brief biographies http://www.uga.edu/~iaas/History.html
…. on prominent African-Americans including: Benjamin Banneker, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Booker T. Washington, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., Lorraine Hansberry, George Washington Carver, and Colin Powell.
Afro-American Almanac WebSite http://equity.edreform.net/resource/88
An on-line presentation of the African in America beginning with the slave trade to the Civil Rights Movement. * Cataloged: 2-12-03 * Contributor: mailto:joywallace@attbi.com * Country: U.S.A.
* Created: 2001 * Publisher: The Digital Development Group * Resource Availability: 200 OK
(somewhat complicated to navigate)
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum WebSite http://nlbm.com
…. gives information about the history teams, and players of the Negro Leagues as well as other related links. Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.
Real African-American Heroes WebSite http://www.raaheroes.com/index.htm
Focus on military leaders, astronauts, medal of honor winners from the Civil War to Vietnam.
The Life of Harriet Tubman - New York History Net WebSite http://www.nyhistory.com/harriettubman/life.htm
Harriet Tubman's life from slavery, her escape to freedom and her role in the Underground Railroad are documented.
The Underground Railroad WebSite http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad/
You are a slave...take the journey to Freedom as you follow The Underground Railroad.
KidsZone WebSite http://www.afro.com/children/discover/discover.html
(i-page Visual Graphic of Africa/n contintent and Countries, non-controversial facts)
kultureKidz--AA Kulture Zone Website http://www.aakulturezone.com/kidz/abc/index.html
Copyright © 1999-2008 Tywebbin Creations. Webmaster@aakulturezone.com
More BOOKS....
Lawrence, Jacob The Great Migration : An American Story (Paintings by Jacob Lawrence ; with a poem in appreciation by Walter Dean Myers. A series of paintings chronicles the journey of AfricanAmericans who, like the artist's family, left the rural South in the early twentieth century to find a better life in t J 759.13 L)
Denise Jordan Susie King Taylor: Destined to be Free (the moving story of one of the first Black nurses in the United States. She was also the first to write and publish her own...)
Lester, Julius. To Be a Slave. Illustrated by Tom Feelings. London: Longman Young, 1970. [160p]
Levine, Ellen Freedom's Children : Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories Illustrated with photographs. Southern blacks who were young and involved in the civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s describe their experiences. J 973.04 L
Marzollo, Jean Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King (Illustrated by J. Brian Pinkney. A picture book introduction to the great civil rights leader. J B King M)
Myers, Walter Dean. Now Is Your Time!; The African-American Struggle for Freedom. Harpercollins Juvenile, 1992. Young adult. (Myers recounts the history of African-Americans. Golden Kite Honor Book, 1991.)
Myers, Walter Dean. One More River to Cross; An African American Photograph Album. Reprint ed. Browndeer Press, 1999. Ages 9-12. (A photographic album of African American history. Golden Kite Award Winner)
Payton, Shelia. African Americans New York: Marshall Cavendish, c1995.
Marilyn Nelson A Wreath for Emmett Till- Illustrated byPhilippe Lardy -Houghton Mifflin Company (Marilyn Nelson has memorialized the life of Emmett Till in a crown of sonnets that is heart wrenchingly beautiful. An innocent fourteen year old whose “stuttering whistle” at a white woman leads to his brutal beating and drowning death, Till’s story is one of several incidents that sparked the Civil Rights Movement.)
Pinkney, Andrea Davis Dear Benjamin Banneker Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. Banneker, a free black mathematician and astronomer, takes a stand against slavery and writes Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson about his slave-owning policies.
Preschool Black History Activities Website
http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/black-history.htm focus on, i.e. Underground Railroad book, ‘Follow The Drinking Gourd’ about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Martin Luther King, jr, pa peace table Black/African American Inventors
PBS Parents WebSite http://www.pbs.org/parents/special/blackhistory-books.html Books that Bring the Black Experience to Life
...MORE BOOKS...
Silverman, Jerry. Just Listen to This Song I'm Singng; African-American History through Song Illus. with photos and prints. Millbrook, 1996. (National Council for the Social Studies Notable Trade Books for Children. Intermediate and advanced. Sheet music and lyrics to thirteen songs from African American music, 1860-1960.)
Smead, Howard. The Afro-Americans New York: Chelsea House, c1989
Charles R. Smith Jr. Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali illustrated by Bryan Collier, published by Candlewick Press
Stein, RC. Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, 1986. [Ages 5-6]
Timeforkids WebSite http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/bhm/0,8805,97217,00.html (v-e-r-y limited)
R. Gregory Christie Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan Lee and Low Books
(.. the story of an eight year old boy’s courage to lead a group of orphans safely out of the Sudan, their war-torn homeland. R. Gregory Christie uses a combination of muted earth tones and bold colors as a backdrop to tell the story of young men who have persevered through hard times. Their courage and beliefs allow them to overcome insurmountable circumstances of survival.)
Morrie Turner Explore Black History with Wee Pals Created in 1964, (Wee Pals was the first comic strip in metropolitan newspapers to feature a multi-ethnic cast of characters.)
EVEN MORE SOURCES
African-American Bibliography Books for Children
The Internet School Library Media Center selected bibliography of books which deal with the Black experience. Most annotations are re-printed from the Library of Congress. …... For some publisher information, visit commerical publishers sites on this site. The ISLMC is a meta-site for librarians, teachers, parents and students.
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/mulafro.htm
http://kids.nypl.org/reading/recommended2.cfm?ListID=59
Black Books Galore!
Black Books Galore! sells African American children's books and organizes ... Guide to Great African American Children's Books (John Wiley & Sons, ...
www.blackbooksgalore.com
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History-Based Fiction
Fox, Paula THE SLAVE DANCER (Kidnapped by the crew of an Africa-bound ship, a thirteen-year-old boy discovers to his horror that he is on a slaver and his job is to play music for the exercise periods of the human cargo. JFIC F)
Ellen Levine Henry's Freedom Box (After his family is sold to another slave owner, Henry "Box" Brown comes up with a plan to escape slavery by mailing himself to freedom. Ages 7-9)
Curtis, Christopher Paul The Watsons Go To Birmingham—1963 (The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons,an African-American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963. J FIC C)
Lyons, Mary E. Letters From A Slave Girl (A fictionalized version of the life of Harriet Jacobs, told in the form of letters that she might have written during her slavery in North Carolina and as she prepared for escape to the North in 1842. J FIC L)
Emily Arnold McCully The Escape of Oney Judge: Martha Washington’s Slave Finds Freedom (This fascinating story, based on historical facts, is about a young woman who grew up as a slave to the wife of the first President, then escaped to freedom. Ages 7-9)
Rochelle, Belinda When Jo Louis Won The Title (Jo's grandfather helps her feel better about herself when he tells her the story about why she is named for the heavyweight boxing champion, Joe Louis. Illustrated by Larry Johnson. J PIC R)
Schroeder, Alan Minty : A Story Of Young Harriet Tubman (Pictures by Jerry Pinkney. In this fictionalized account, young Harriet Tubman, whose childhood name was Minty, dreams of escaping slavery on the Brodas plantation in the late 1820's. JFIC S)
Taylor, Mildred D. The Well In Mississippi (In the early 1900s ten-year-old David Logan's family generously shares their well water with both white and black neighbors in an atmosphere of potential racial violence.) J FIC T
Tim Tingle Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom
In the 1800s, a Choctaw girl is befriended by a slave boy from a plantation across the river. When she learns his family is in danger, she helps them cross to freedom. Ages 8-10
Deborah Wiles Freedom Summer
In the summer of 1964, two best friends, one black and one white, are astonished to learn that the community swimming pool in their Southern town will be filled in with tar rather than desegregated. Ages 5-9
Sources: http://kids.nypl.org/reading/recommended2.cfm?ListID=59
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Folktales for Children
(NOTE: these are fictional references)
Bang, Molly.Wiley and the Hairy Man -Aladdin Books ed. New York: Aladdin, 1987, c1976. (Wiley outsmarts the very scary, Hairy man. An American folktale.)
Chesnutt, Charles. Conjure Tales. Retold by Ray Anthony. New York: Dutton, 1973
Hamilton, Virginia. Her Stories; African American Folktales, Fairy Tales and True Tales --Illus. by Leo and Diane Dillon. Blue Sky. [All ages (]A Coretta Scott King Award Book & A Best Book for YAs 1996.19 tales about African American women, including three real women. Rec. NYTimes Book Review.)
Hamilton, Virginia. The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales. 1st ed. Knopf; distributed by Random House, c1985.
(Award winning collection of tales.)
Hamilton, Virginia. A Ring of Tricksters; Animal Tales from America, the West Indies and Africa Illustrated by Barry Moser. New York: Blue Sky Press, 1997. (12 trickster tales which show the migration of African culture to the United Statesvia the West Indies. LC.)
Hamilton, Virginia. When Birds Could Talk & Bats Could Sing; The Adventure of Bruh Sparrow, Sis Wren, and Their Friends --Illustrated by Barry Moser. New York: Blue Sky, 1996. [63p] (Collection for children featuring sparrows, jays, buzzards and bats, based on the African American talesoriginally written down by Martha Young on her father's plantation in Alabama after the Civil War. Folktales, with some original stories by Young. Reviewed in SLJ.)
Lester, Julius. Black Folktales Illustrated by Tom Feelings. 1st Evergreen ed. New York: Grove Press, 1992. [110p]
(Adult title, but excellent for teacher background material.)
Lester, Julius. The Tales of Uncle Remus; The Adventures of Brer Rabbit 1st ed. Dial Books, 1987. [157p]Lester, Julius. Further Tales of Uncle Remus; The Misadventures of Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, Brer Wolf, the Doodang and Other Creatures. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. 1st ed. New York: Dial Books, c1990. [148p]
Lester, Julius. John Henry Pictures by Jerry Pinkney. 1st ed. New York: Dial Books, c1994. [unp] A Caldecott Honor Book & Boston Globe Horn Book Award. A retelling of the tall tale of John Henry.Lester, Julius. The Knee-High Man, and Other Tales New York: Dial, 1972. ( Great collection of shorter stories, such as Why Dog Hates Cat. Great for storytelling.)
Lester, Julius. The Last Tales of Uncle Remus 1st ed. New York: Dial, 1994. [156p]
Lester, Julius. More Tales of Uncle Remus; Further Adventures of Brer Rabbit, His Friends, Enemies and Others 1st ed. New York: Dial Books, 1988. [143p]
Lester, Julius. Sam and the Tigers --Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Dial Books for Young Readers, 1996. [40p] (A retelling of Helen Bannerman's Little Black Sambo. A Children's Notable. Trade Books in Social Studies from National Council for the Social Studies.)
McKissack, Patricia. Mirandy and Brother Wind, New York: Knopf, 1988. [Ages 8-11] A Caldecott Honor Book and Coretta Scott King Award 1989, Notable Children's Book 1988/
McKissack, Patricia. The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural --New York: Knopf, 1992. (Coretta Scott King Award; Newbery Honor Book
San Souci, Robert D. The Hired Hand; An African-American Folktale --Pictures by Jerry Pinkney. 1st ed. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1997. [unp] (When old Sam hires a man to help in his saw mill, the hired hand teaches Sam's lazy son a lesson about how to treat people.)
Stevens, Janet. Tops & Bottoms. Harcourt Brace, 1995. Ages 4-8 Caldecott Honor Book, 1996. Hare turns his luck around by striking a deal with a rich but lazy bear who lives down the road.
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