Biographies

Muhammad Ali: A Champion Is Born by Gene Barretta

Published by Katherine Tegen Books, 2017

After 12-year-old Cassius Clay’s bicycle was stolen, a police officer introduced him to boxing, igniting a passion that led to a career as a world champion boxer, activist, and humanitarian. 40 pages; grades 1-5.

Trombone Shorty by Troy Anderson, illustrated by Bryan Collier

Published by Harry N. Abrams, 2015

New Orleans jazz musician Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews tells the story of how he got his nickname and his start in jazz music. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Rise! From Caged Bird to Poet of the People by Bethany Hegedus, illustrated by Tonya Engel

Published by Lee and Low Books, 2019

A biography of African American writer, performer, and activist Maya Angelou, who turned a childhood of trauma and emotional pain into one of the most inspiring voices of our lifetime.  48 pages; grades 1-5.

Maya’s Song by Renée Watson, illustrated by Bryan Collier

Published by HarperCollins, 2022

Maya Angelou’s story is told in a collection of free verse poems, illustrated with watercolor and collage illustrations. 48 pages; grades 2-6.

Sprouting Wing by Louisa Jaggar and Shari Becker, illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Published by Crown Books, 2021

The story of James Herman Banning, the first African American pilot to fly across the United States. 48 pages; grades 1-5.

Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art Gallery by Sandra Neil Wallace, illustrated by Bryan Collier

Published by Simon and Schuster, 2018

The story of NFL star Ernie Barnes who followed his dreams and became one of the most influential artists of his generation. 48 pages; grades 1-5.

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe

Published by Little, Brown and Company, 2016

Jean-Michel Basquiat and his unique, collage-style paintings rocketed to fame in the 1980s as a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the art world had ever seen. But before that, he was a boy who saw art everywhere: in poetry, museums, games, and the pulsing energy of New York City. 40 pages; grades 2-5.

Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Frank Morrison

Published by Harry N. Abrams, 2020

Hall-of-famer Elgin Baylor was one of the game’s all-time greatest players: an innovative athlete, team player, and quiet force for change. He played in the 1950’s and 1960’s and influenced later players like Michael Jordan and LeBron James. 40 pages; grades 2-6.

Saving American Beach: The Biography of African American Environmentalist MaVynee Betsch by Heidi Tyline King, illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2021

How MaVynee Betsch, an African American opera singer turned environmentalist, worked to preserve American Beach, Florida as a landmark of Black history. 40 pages; grades K-5.

I Am Ruby Bridges by Ruby Bridges, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith

Published by Orchard Books, 2022

Ruby Bridges tells her story of integrating William Frantz Elementary School in 1960 at the age of six. 48 pages; ages 4-8.

A Song for Gwendolyn Brooks by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by Xia Gordon

Published by Sterling Children’s Books, 2019

A collection of poems profiles the Chicago author who gave voice to the urban Black experience in the twentieth century. 48 pages; grades 2-6.

Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Michele Wood

Published by Candlewick, 2020

Henry Brown’s story of how he shipped himself in a box from slavery to freedom, told in stanzas of six lines, each line representing one side of a box, Includes historical records and excerpts from Henry Brown’s own writing. 40 pages; grades 4-8.

The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver by Gene Barretta, illustrated by Frank Morrison

Published by Katherine Tegen Books, 2020

The story of George Washington Carver, from a baby born into slavery to celebrated botanist, scientist, and inventor. His passion and determination were the seeds to this narrative of triumph over hardship–a tale that begins in a secret garden. 40 pages; grades 1-5.

Loud and Proud: The Life of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita

Published by Simon and Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2023

In 1968, Shirley Chisholm became the first Black Congresswoman, where she fought for issues that impacted women, children, and the poor. She served for 15 years, mounting an impressive campaign for President in 1972. 48 pages; grades 2-5.

Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins by Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Ebony Glenn

Published by Henry Holt and Co., 2019

Janet Collins overcame widespread discrimination to achieve her dream of being a ballerina, becoming the first Black prima ballerina in the Metropolitan Opera in 1951. 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Libba: The Magnificent Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten by Laura Veirs, illustrated by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh

Published by Chronicle Books, 2018

Elizabeth Cotten was only a little girl when she picked up a guitar for the first time. It wasn’t hers (it was her big brother’s), and it wasn’t strung right for her (she was left-handed). But she flipped that guitar upside down and backwards and taught herself how to play it anyway. By age eleven, she’d written “Freight Train,” one of the most famous folk songs of the twentieth century. 48 pages; grades 2-5.

How Do You Spell Unfair? MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison

Published by Candlewick, 2023

As the first Black winner of the Akron, Ohio spelling bee, MacNolia Cox traveled to the national bee on a segregated train, was barred from staying at the all-white hotel, and had to use a separate entrance and sit at a separate table for the competition. Despite this she finished in the top five and helped level the playing field for future participants. 40 pages; grades 2-5.

The Faith of Elijah Cummings: The North Star of Equal Justice by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Laura Freeman

Published by Random House Studio, 2022

A biography of Elijah Cummings, outlining major events in his childhood, career, and fight for justice. 40 pages; grades 1-5.

A Voice Named Aretha by Katheryn Russell-Brown, illustrated by Laura Freeman

Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2020

A beautifully illustrated picture book biography of singer Aretha Franklin. 40 pages; grades 1-4.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison

Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2020

The daughter of a pastor and a gospel singer, Aretha Franklin sang with a soaring voice that spanned more than three octaves. Her incredible talent and string of hit songs earned her the title “the Queen of Soul.” 48 pages; grades K-4.

Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by London Ladd

Published by Lee and Low, 2018

Lilly Ann Granderson was an enslaved teacher who strongly believed in the power of education and risked her life to teach others during slavery. 40 pages; grades 2-5.

Going Places: Victor Hugo Green and His Glorious Book by Tonya Bolden, illustrated by Eric Velasquez

Published by Quill Tree Books, 2022

Victor Hugo Green had a successful career as a mail carrier, but he also liked to travel. When more Black people started traveling in their cars (often safer for them than trains), Green gathered information about safe hotels and restaurants across the United States and abroad to create the Green Book. 40 pages; grades 2-5.

Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Laura Freeman

Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2020

How Kamala Harris grew from her roots in justice to become a senator and vice-president of the United States. 40 pages; grades K-5.

The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, A Young Civil Rights Marcher by Cynthia Levinson, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton

Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2017

Tells the story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a 9-year-old civil rights activist who participated in the 1963 Birmingham Children’s March. 40 pages, grades 1-5.

Ketanji Brown Jackson: Justice for All by Tami Charles, illustrated by Jemma Skidmore

Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023

When a young Black girl visits the Supreme Court building, she learns how a girl like her, influenced by her parents and her ancestors, grew up to become the first Black woman on the Supreme Court. 40 pages; grades K-5.

All Rise: The Story of Ketanji Brown Jackson by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Ashley Evans

Published by Crown Books for Young Reader, 2023

How Ketanji Brown Jackson rose above discrimination and other obstacles to become the first Black woman Supreme Court justice. 40 pages; grades K-4.

Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia Burrington

Published by HarperCollins, 2018

When young Mae Jemison is asked by her teacher what she wants to be when she grows up, Mae tells her mostly white classmates that she wants to be an astronaut, a dream that her parents wholeheartedly support. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly with Winifred Conkling, illustrated by Laura Freeman

Published by HarperCollins, 2018

The stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, four Black women whose work forever changed the face of NASA. 40 pages; grades 1-5.

A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2019

A biography of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, with an emphasis on her contributions to the Apollo 11 mission. 40 pages; grades 1-5.

Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 by Helaine Becker, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk

Published by Henry Holt and Co., 2018

Another story of Katherine Johnson’s life and NASA career, this one looking at the contributions she made to rescuing the Apollo 13 astronauts. 40 pages, grades 1-5.

Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton, illustrated by Don Tate

Published by Charlesbridge, 2016

How Lonnie Johnson’s inventive mind led him to NASA and to accidentally inventing the Super Soaker water gun. 32 pages; grades 1-5.

On the Line: My Story of Becoming the First African American Rockette by Jennifer Jones and Lissette Norman, illustrated by Robert Paul Jr.

Published by HarperCollins, 2023

Jennifer Jones tells the story of her journey to become the first Black Rockette in 1987. 40 pages; grades K-4.

King of Ragtime: The Story of Scott Joplin by Stephen Costanza

Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2021

Scott Joplin was told to get a steady job with the railroad, but the pull of music was too great. He went on to create ragtime, “an American music like the country itself–a patchwork of sounds and colors.” 56 pages; grades 1-5.

What Do You Do With a Voice Like That? The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan by Chris Barton, illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Published by Beach Lane Books, 2018

A biography of lawyer, politician, and civil rights leader Barbara Jordan. 48 pages; grades 2-6.

Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge by Ray Anthony Shepard, illustrated by Keith Mallet

Published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2021

An elegant, haunting poem tells the story of Ona Judge’s self-emancipation from George Washington’s household. 40 pages; grades 1-5.

Be a King: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Dream and You by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by James E. Ransome 

Published by Bloomsbury, 2018

Shows young readers how they can be like Martin Luther King, Jr. by being brave, kind, and empathetic; highlights key moments in King’s life. 40 pages; ages 4-9.

Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo

Published by Tommy Nelson, 2022

The true story of Black activist Opal Lee and her vision of Juneteenth as a holiday for everyone will inspire children to be brave and to work to make a difference.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Because of You, John Lewis: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Keith Henry Brown

Published by Scholastic Press, 2022

The story of 10-year-old Tybre Faw who got to meet his hero John Lewis in 2018 at a commemoration of 1965’s Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama. The two became friends, and Tybre read one of Lewis’s favorite poems, “Invictus,” at the congressman’s memorial service in 2020. 40 pages; grades 2-5.

Fancy Party Gowns: The Story of Fashion Designer Ann Cole Lowe by Deborah Blumenthal, illustrated by Laura Freeman

Published by Bonnier Publishing, 2017

Ann Cole Lowe’s passion was fashion, but pursuing it wasn’t easy, especially when she went to design school and had to learn alone, segregated from the rest of the class. Rarely credited, Ann Cole Lowe became “society’s best kept secret,” whose designs included the dresses for Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding. 40 pages; grades 1-4.

Only the Best: The Exceptional Life and Fashion of Ann Lowe by Kate Messner and Margaret E. Powell, illustrated by Erin K. Robinson

Published by Chronicle Books, 2022

Another biography about Ann Lowe with a bit more detail about her life and career as a fashion designer. 56 pages; grades 1-5.

Someday Is Now: Clara Luper and the 1958 Oklahoma City Sit-Ins by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, illustrated by Jade Johnson

Published by Seagrass Press, 2018

Teacher Clara Luper grew up hearing that she’d get to go places when they were integrated “someday”. She decided that someday had arrived, and helped her students organize a lunch counter sit-in that resulted in desegregation at stores in four states. 32 pages; grades 2-5.

The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall’s Life, Leadership, and Legacy by Kekla Magoon, illustrated by Laura Freeman

Published by Quill Tree Books, 2021

A portrait of the first Black justice on the Supreme Court, from Thurgood Marshall’s upbringing in segregated Baltimore to his achievements with the NAACP and contributions to landmark equality rulings. 40 pages; grades 2-5.

Thurgood by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Bryan Collier

Published by Schwartz and Wade, 2019

Before Rosa Parks, before Martin Luther King Jr., before the civil rights movement there was Thurgood Marshall, fighting for African Americans…and winning. Here is the powerful story of the trailblazer who proved that separate is not equal. 40 pages; grades 1-5.

Love Is Loud: How Diane Nash Led the Civil Rights Movement by Sandra Neil Wallace, illustrated by Bryan Collier

Published by Simon and Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2023

Diane Nash began her work as an activist while a student at Fisk University, helping to desegregate Nashville’s lunch counters, and went on to help organize the Freedom Riders, continuing her work up to the present day. 48 pages; grades 2-6.

To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights by Angela Dalton, illustrated by Lauren Semmer

Published by HarperCollins, 2023

Nichelle Nichols opened doors for Black actresses when she created the role of Lieutenant Uhuru on the TV show Star Trek. 40 pages; grades 2-5.

Jackie Ormes Draws the Future: The Remarkable Life of a Pioneering Cartoonist by Liz Montague

Published by Random House Studio, 2023

The story of cartoon artist Jackie Ormes, who created characters like Torchy Brown and Patty-Jo, who both entertained and addressed issues of racism and segregation. 40 pages; grades 2-5.

Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes by Traci N. Todd, illustrated by Shannon Wright

Published by Orchard Books, 2023

Another book about the life of cartoonist Jackie Ormes. 48 pages; grades 2-5.

You Gotta Meet Mr. Pierce! The Storied Life of Folk Artist Elijah Pierce by Chiquita Mullins Lee and Carmella Van Vleet, illustrated by Jennifer Mack-Watkins

Published by Kokila, 2023

This historical fiction picture book introduces readers to artist Elijah Pierce, who exhibited his art in his barbershop. 40 pages; grades 1-4.

Mae Makes A Way: The True Story of Mae Reeves, Hat & History Maker by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, illustrated by Andrea Pippins

Published by Crown Books for Young Readers, 2022

Published in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, this book traces the story of Mae Reeves, a Black woman who left Georgia in the 1930’s to become a milliner as well as a community and business leader. 48 pages; grades 2-5.

The United States v. Jackie Robinson by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

Published by Balzer + Bray, 2018

 Jackie Robinson’s battle against prejudice while serving in the military during World War II, including his court-martial for refusing to move to the back of an integrated bus. 32 pages; grades 3-6.

Sonny Rollins Plays the Bridge by Gary Golio, illustrated by James Ransome

Published by Nancy Paulsen Books, 2021

Jazz icon Sonny Rollins found an inspired spot to practice his saxophone when his neighbors complained. 32 pages; grades 1-5.

Nina: A Story of Nina Simone by Traci N. Todd, illustrated by Christian Robinson

Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2021

How Nina Simone’s gave voice to the struggle for racial equality during the civil rights movement. 56 pages; grades 1-5.

William Still and His Freedom Stories: The Father of the Underground Railroad by Don Tate

Published by Peachtree Publishing Company, 2020

After William Still found the brother who had been separated from him during slavery, he began collecting the stories of other freedom seekers. He was able to reunite families and build a remarkable source of information about enslaved people who had fled to freedom. 40 pages; grades 2-5.

Bessie the Motorcycle Queen by Charles R. Smith, Jr., illustrated by Charlot Kristensen

Published by Orchard Books, 2022

The bouncy rhyming text and beautiful illustrations tell an inspiring story about Bessie Stringfield, a daredevil motorcycle rider who fearlessly traveled across the country beginning in the 1930s. 40 pages; grades 1-4.

Little Rosetta and the Talking Guitar: The Musical Story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Woman Who Invented Rock and Roll by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

Published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2023

The story of young Rosetta Tharpe, who grew up to become a rock and roll pioneer. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Rock, Rosetta, Rock! Roll, Rosetta, Roll! Presenting Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Godmother of Rock and Roll by Tonya Bolden, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

Published by HarperCollins, 2023

The rhythmic second-person narrative tells the story of Rosetta Tharpe’s life and her influence on music. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Ablaze with Color: A Story of Alma Thomas by Jeanne Walker Harvey, illustrated by Loveis Wise

Published by HarperCollins, 2022

Alma Thomas’s career as an artist took off after she retired from teaching at age 69. She was the first Black woman to have a solo show at the Whitney Museum in New York, and the first to have a painting chosen (by the Obamas) to hang in the White House. 40 pages; grades K-4.

Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement by Angela Joy, illustrated by Janelle Washington

Published by Roaring Brook Press, 2022

Beginning with Mamie Till-Mobley’s decision to bring her son Emmett’s body home to Illinois after his horrific murder in Mississippi, the story goes back to trace Mamie’s life to that point, then continues the story of her civil rights work after his death. 64 pages; grades 3-7.

So Tall Within: Sojourner Truth’s Long Walk to Freedom by Gary D. Schmidt, illustrated by Daniel Minter

Published by Roaring Brook Press, 2018

How Sojourner Truth escaped slavery and became a tireless advocate for abolition and human rights. 48 pages; grades 2-5.

Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James Ransome

Published by Holiday House, 2017

Moses, General Tubman, Minty, Araminta: the woman we know today as Harriet Tubman went by many names. Each represented one of her many roles as a spy, as a liberator, as a suffragist, and more. 32 pages; grades 1-4.

Starstruck: The Cosmic Journey of Neil DeGrasse Tyson by Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer, illustrated by Frank Morrison

Published by Crown Books for Young Readers, 2018

The story of science superstar Neil deGrasse Tyson, the groundbreaking American astrophysicist whose work has inspired a generation of young scientists and astronomers to reach for the stars. 48 pages; grades 1-5.

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, illustrated by Oge Mora

Published by Schwartz and Wade, 2020

The inspiring true story of the nation’s oldest student, Mary Walker, who learned to read at the age of 116. 40 pages; ages 4-10.

Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome

Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018

The story of the tennis stars, including their special relationship as sisters and best friends, their constant training as children, and their incredible success in professional tennis. 48 pages; grades 1-4.

Sisters and Champions: The True Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Howard Bryant, illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Published by Philomel Books, 2018

Another biography of Serena and Venus Williams by sports reporter Howard Bryant. 32 pages; grades 1-4.

Carter Reads the Newspaper by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Don Tate.

Published by Peachtree Publishing Company, 2019

Carter Woodson’s parents had been enslaved, but he grew up to get his PhD in history from Harvard. His father taught him the value of Black history, and Carter went on to found Negro History Week, which eventually became Black History Month. 36 pages; grades K-4.

Young, Gifted, and Black: Meet 52 Black Heroes from Past and Present by Jamia Wilson, illustrated by Andrea Pippins

Published by Wide Eyed Editions, 2018

The title pretty much tells you what this collective biography includes. A second volume, Young, Gifted, and Black, Too was released in 2023.

Other Nonfiction

An American Story by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Dare Coulter

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2023

With distinctive illustrations, the book portrays life in Africa, people being captured, the Middle Passage, and the horrors of slavery once they arrived in America. Interspersed with the historical narrative are pages showing a teacher sharing this story with her students. 56 pages; grades 3-7.

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Published by Versify, 2019

 

A poem honoring the troubles and triumphs of African Americans throughout history. 40 pages; grades 1-5.

I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James

Published by Nancy Paulsen Books, 2020

A tribute to the strength, character, and worth of a Black child. 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky by Ekua Brewer-Hammond, illustrated by Daniel Minter

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2022

The history of blue dye and how its production led to the enslavement and oppression of people around the world. 40 pages; grades 1-5.

Seeking Freedom: The Untold Story of Fortress Monroe and the Ending of Slavery in America by Selene Castrovilla, illustrated by E. B. Lewis

Published by Calkins Creek, 2022

How a brave stand by two men meant eventual freedom to thousands of African Americans and led President Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. 40 pages; grades 2-6.

All Because You Matter by Tami Charles, illustrated by Bryan Collier

Published by Orchard Books, 2020

A reminder to Black and Brown children everywhere about how much they matter, that they have always mattered and they always will. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

We Are Here by Tami Charles, illustrated by Bryan Collier

Published by Orchard Books, 2023

A celebration of Black contributions around the world to music, food, fashion, and science. 40 pages; grades 1-5.

When We Say Black Lives Matter by Maxine Beneba Clarke

Published by Candlewick, 2021

In this exploration of the Black Lives Matter motto, the narrator relays to a young Black child the strength and resonance behind the words. 32 pages; grades 1-4.

Evicted! The Struggle for the Right to Vote by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by Charly Palmer

Published by Calkins Creek, 2022

The story of the long, arduous struggle for voting rights in Fayette County, Tennessee in the early 1960’s. 64 pages; grades 4-8.

The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith

Published by Kokila, 2021

When a young girl is unable to complete a family tree assignment for school, she asks Grandma for help and learns about her ancestors, the consequences of slavery, and the history of Black resistance in the United States. 48 pages; grades 1-5.

H Is for Harlem by Dinah Johnson, illustrated by April Harrison

Published by Christy Ottaviano Books, 2022

Harlem is explored from A to Z, bringing to life the rich history of the people and places that have created this neighborhood. 48 pages; grades K-4.

Black Is a Rainbow Color by Angela Joy, illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Published by Roaring Brook Press, 2020

A child reflects on the meaning of being Black in this anthem about a people, a culture, a history, and a legacy that lives on. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Black Boy, Black Boy: Celebrate the Power of You by Ali Kamanda and Jorge Redmond, illustrated by Ken Daley

Published by Sourcebooks Explore, 2022

A Black man and boy walk together on a colorful path that takes them past Black heroes from the present and past, with encouragement for the boy to believe in himself and create his own adventurous path. 40 pages; grades K-4.

Hands Up by Breanna J. McDaniel, illustrated by Shane W. Evan

Published by Dial Books, 2019

A young girl lifts her hands up in a series of everyday moments before finally raising her hands in resistance at a protest march. 32 pages, ages 4-8.

America, My Love, America, My Heart by Daria Peoples-Riley

Published by Greenwillow Books, 2021

America, do you love me? A single question from a single child multiplies across the country, inviting in more and more children of color, along with their questions. 40 pages; ages 4 and up.

Free At Last: A Juneteenth Poem written by Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, illustrated by Alex Bostic

Published by Union Square Kids, 2022

This illustrated free verse poem tells the story of the first Juneteenth celebration in Galveston, Texas. 32 pages; grades K-4.

Who Are Your People? by Bakari Sellers, illustrated by Reggie Brown

Illustrated by Quill Tree Books, 2022

When you meet someone for the first time, they might ask, “Who are your people?” and “Where are you from?” Celebrate the individuals and experiences that help shape young children into the most remarkable and unique beings that they can be. 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Swish! The Slam-Dunking, Alley-Ooping, High-Flying Harlem Globetrotters by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Don Tate

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2020

Learn about the Harlem Globetrotters, who played the most groundbreaking, breathtaking ball the world had ever seen, and celebrate the greatness, goodness, and grit of this remarkable team.

A History of Me by Adrea Theodore, illustrated by Erin K. Robinson

Published by Neal Porter Books, 2022

One mother’s account of her experience as the only Black child in school serves as an empowering message to her own daughter and children of color everywhere. 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

Published by little bee books, 2016

Readers learn about enslaved people’s duties, from chopping logs on Mondays to baking bread on Wednesdays to plucking hens on Saturday.  But Sunday meant time off and the special experience of an afternoon spent in Congo Square. 40 pages; grades 1-3.

Standing in the Need of Prayer: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison

Crown Books for Young Readers, 2022

New words based on the traditional spiritual trace the history of Black people in America.  32 pages; grades 1-5.

Unspeakable: The Boston Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Published by Carolrhoda Books, 2021

A powerful look at the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in the history of the United States. 32 pages; grades 3-6.

The Talk by Alicia D. Williams, illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu

Published by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 2022

A young Black boy enjoys hanging out with his friends and family, but as he gets older, his parents and grandparents warn him about certain kinds of behavior, culminating in The Talk about the dangers young Black boys and men face. 40 pages; all ages.

A Place to Land: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a Nation by Barry Wittenstein, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

Published by Neal Porter Books, 2019

The story behind the writing of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. 48 pages; grades 2-6.

The People Remember by Ibi Zoboi, illustrated by Loveis Wise

Published by Balzer + Bray, 2021

Tells the journey of African descendants in America by connecting their history to the seven principles of Kwanzaa. 64 pages; ages 7 and up.

Historical Fiction

Me and Muhammad Ali by Jabari Asim, Illustrated by AG Ford

Published by Nancy Paulsen Books, 2022

This historical fiction book, based on a real event, tells how Muhammad Ali’s kindness led to him meeting his hero. 32 pages; ages 4-8.

The Walk by Winsome Bingham, illustrated by E. B. Lewis

Published by Harry N. Abrams, 2023

A girl and her granny take a long walk, joined by many neighborhood friends, as they travel to their polling place to cast their votes. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

That Flag by Tameka Fryer Brown illustrated by Nikkolas Smith

Published by HarperCollins, 2023

A Black girl is troubled by her white friend’s family’s display of a Confederate flag. 40 pages; grades 1-4. 

Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson, illustrated by Frank Morrison

Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018

Under the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, children and teenagers march against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963. 40 pages; grades 1-4.

I’m From by Gary Gray, illustrated by Oge Mora

Published by Balzer + Bray, 2023

The Black narrator goes through his day, recounting the people, places, foods, and events that make him who he is. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

A Day for Rememberin’: Inspired by the True Events of the First Memorial Day by Leah Henderson, illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Published by Harry N. Abrams, 2021

In Charleston, South Carolina, in 1865, ten-year-old Eli and others newly freed from slavery gather to honor the memory of fallen Union soldiers, an event considered to be one of the first celebrations of what is now Memorial Day. 48 pages; grades 2-6.

A Ride to Remember: A Civil Rights Story by Sharon Langley and Amy Nathan, illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Published by Harry N. Abrams, 2020

In the summer of 1963, the Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Maryland became desegregated and open to all for the first time. Sharon Langley and her parents were the first African American family to walk into the park. This happened on the same day of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s March on Washington. 40 pages; grades 1-4.

The Legend of Gravity: A Tall Basketball Tale by Charly Palmer

Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2022

A tall tale about Gravity, a legendary basketball player whose teammates remember him years later not only for his amazing skills, but for his ability bring out the best in each member of the team. 40 pages; grades K-5.

The Bell Rang by James Ransome

Published by Aladdin, 2019

An enslaved family is distressed when they discover their son Ben has run away and shows readers the difficulties of those left behind. 40 pages, grades 1-6.

There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey

Published by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 2023

A celebration of Black literary figures, particularly Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, and Amiri Baraka. 

We Wait for the Sun by Dovey Johnson Roundtree and Kate McCabe, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa

Published by Roaring Brook Press, 2021

The late civil rights attorney and activist shares a poignant moment from her childhood beside her wise grandmother, who taught Roundtree the values of self-worth, strength and justice that inspired her career. 40 pages; grades K-6.

The Artivist by Nikkolas Smith

Published by Kokila, 2023

Nikkolas Smith draws on his experiences as an artist and an activist to create a narrator who calls himself an artivist and encourages readers to follow his lead. 40 pages; all ages.

A Flag for Juneteenth by Kim Taylor

Neal Porter Books, 2023

Huldah’s birthday on June 19, 1865 becomes a double celebration when news of the Emancipation Proclamation travels to the Texas plantation where she and her family live. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Waiting for Pumpsie by Barry Wittenstein, illustrated by London Ladd

Published by Charlesbridge, 2017

In 1959 Bernard is a young Red Sox fan, troubled by the lack of Black players in Major League Baseball, especially as there are none at all on his favorite team. But change is coming in the form of a rookie named Pumpsie Green. 32 pages; grades K-4.

The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson, Illustrated by Rafael López

Published by Nancy Paulsen Books, 2022

A girl and her brother draw on their knowledge of Black history to learn to fly through difficult times, with a nod to Virginia Hamilton’s The People Could Fly. 32 pages, ages 4-8.