The Last, Last Day of Summer by L. R Giles is a fun chapter book. Become an exceptional fencer. my daughter loves please baby please and it’s a board book! Its about diversity, love, family and skin tone with playful poems for kids to read. I was introduced to them in the late 1980s via a children’s literature class. My 14-month-old is obsessed with the Leo books! This one is for older elementary, but I cannot highly enough recommend Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. So, I wanted to start a bookstore for kids to be able to find books they are able to identify with.'”. Sarah and her family set off on the Oregon Trail. Also, a great resource for books written or illustrated by POC is the ALA’s Coretta Scott King Award list. Another oldie but goodie favorite, also illustrated by the wonderful E.B. View Gallery 20 Photos 1 of 20 ‘Hair Love’ by Matthew A. Cherry. Newbery winner! He wrote of the 2017-2018 Texas Bluebonnet books, Whoosh!, about Lonnie Johnson, the creator of the Super Soaker (it was my school’s favorite Bluebonnet book that year). Something a 6-7 year old could relate to but not a picture book? by Daniel Bernstrom. Thank you for reading. Really well narrated and entertaining. My daughter eagerly tunes in every day; she doesn’t want to miss a word of it. Read on for 25 middle grade books by Black authors across all genres: mystery, fantasy, historical fiction, graphic novel, contemporary, memoir, and verse. Be cautious and do your research when searching #Ownvoices authors – I’ve come across so many reading lists who include books featuring Black characters by white authors and claim they are written by Black authors. I also love Islandborn by Junot Diaz and Leo Espinosa! Inspirational for young women. I would love to see some of the fashion posts you do with a focus on black designers:) Or some of the posts you do about where to buy affordable art with a focus on black artists. My 12 year old daughter Kelsey Thomas has written a epic fantasy called “Call of the Wolves”. (written by Clifton L. Taulbert). “Catching a Storyfish” by Janice Harrington! Please keep sharing. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jun/22/police-killings-disabled-black-people-mental-illness. Add these eight new children’s books by black authors and illustrators to your kids' shelves this month—and read them all year long. “The Day You Begin” by Jacqueline Woodson is so beautiful, Yes! And that’s powerful. Looking back that book opened my view on the world and society and I think it is ESSENTIAL reading for ALL young teenagers and adults. Spotlight on Black Authors and Characters: Books for Ages 0-8; Don’t Judge a Book By Its Color; 57 Children’s Books Featuring Black Protagonists; Books with Black Characters for Kids 8-12; Powerful Picture Books Teaching Children About African American History; Remember Reading Podcast: Monster by Walter Dean Myers 1-16 of over 8,000 results for "childrens books by black authors" Best Seller in Children's Christian Social Issues Fiction. He makes amazing art—puppets of beach refuse, stained glass windows out of beach glass, cut paper illustrations using his mother’s sewing scissors. Then as for chapter fun chapter books: anyone a fan of the Little Shaq series by Shaquille O’Neal? My daughter loves them. An excellent resource for keeping up with the latest releases by Black authors in children’s and young adult literature is Black Children’s Books and Authors (BCBA). Don’t miss Kelly Starling Lyons… She’s an amazing author. She loves when CJ closes his eyes and feels the music :). We’d love to hear…. Yes! THANK YOU for linking to Mahogany Books! Both are African American women. Some folks were looking for baby books and Gabrielle Union wrote Welcome to the Party which looks very sweet. He has been making books for decades. By Cara Luddy, Communications Assistant at Central Library. We loved The Magnificent Maya Tibbs series by Crystal Allen. Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea (!) Love this!! Please, Baby, Please comes in a board book! https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/multicultural-early-chapter-books-for-kids/. Another great Black owned book store is Eye See Me out of St. Louis: Also, he is FANTASTIC. There are some great titles here, including several that I read with my four-year-old on a regular basis. And I so appreciate how Marguerite Abouet wrote them to dismantle the “violent, impoverished Africa” trope, and gave a healthy, beautiful, communal, nuanced narrative that has been missing in literature. (Top illustration by Bryan Collier from the book Trombone Shorty.). Love this! Does anyone have suggestions for books about black children by POC that are early chapter books? I saw that reader comment on Friday and love how you have quickly remedied the situation come Monday! Jul 19, 2018 - Explore Shaneka B's board "Children books by African American Authors", followed by 115 people on Pinterest. My son’s favorite baby book was Baby Says by John Steptoe. They are so fun to read and have beautiful illustrations. My mommy’s khimar – wonderful story about a little girl and the scarves her mother wears https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Mommys-Khimar/Jamilah-Thompkins-Bigelow/9781534400597. Would love to see more young adult options!! I am a librarian and I am constantly recommending Ghost to students. I’ve long loved illustrator and author Jerry Pinkney. 17 Books Every Black Child Should Read It's World Book Day! Thank you for purchasing from independent booksellers and especially supporting minority-owned businesses. He is a very, very special person and his books are so, so beautiful (his fine art, too which is in museums and galleries)—and—consider this—despite publishing amazing books for years and having the heart of a true artist, he’s never won a Caldecott. Children’s books with female characters, and five books to teach kids kindness. 8 Triumphant African American Chapter Books. Seems to be flying under the radar but is totally charming. Really great list here and I greatly appreciate the way you linked to independent bookstores rather than amazon! Visit www.onlib.org or call (315) 435-1900 to check them out! Librarian here – Mia Mayhem is a great early reader chapter book series by Kara West and Leeza Hernandez. Being honest and forthright about our past mistakes is a painful but important part of unlearning racism. We had checked it out from the library but my daughter asked me to buy the book this week because she plans to re-read it “lots, mom.” So much to like about this book as Zoe navigates friendships, pursues a passion for baking, and learns about/works to correct inequality in the criminal justice system. My kids have been watching regularly during quarantine and particularly love hearing Oprah read the Hula Hoopin Queen. Shop their recommendations on children's books … Her stories are based in West Africa and awesome. They are not books about black children or race or ethnicity, they are great stories about a boy growing up on a game preserve in Africa. The characters are 10-12, but the stories are fine for younger kids. Sam and the tigers by Julius Lester (a retelling and reimagining of an old racist book that he turns into a beautiful story about a smart and brave black boy). I just ordered four books for my kids (ages 0-4). From topics of self-love to finding encouragement, here are 20 children’s books by Black authors that any child will enjoy. We love ONE DAY IN THE EUCALYPTUS, EUCALYPTUS TREE and GATOR, GATOR, GATOR! One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia as well as her other books are good for middle readers. Thanks for including some for older kids! I am taking notes and saving books on a wishlist, but would love to capture these resources and refer to them again and again in the future. A source for books representing racially diverse, LGBTQ+, and other currently underrepresented identities in children’s books is Ourshelves.com. Vashti Harrison’s Little Leaders books on exceptional men and women in Black history are so good. Although the story itself isn’t written by a black author, The Talking Eggs by Robert Souci, is a Creole folktale and illustrated by Caldecott-award winner Black illustrator Jerry Pinkney. Spam or Self-Promotional The list is spam or self-promotional. There are so many more, enjoy! Small Black Children's Book Authors Worth Supporting For The Munchkins: 10 Children’s Books By Burgeoning Black Authors To Add To Your Kiddies’ Libraries Posted on June 16, 2020 - … From their About page: “The Brown Bookcase is an independent bookstore founded by 9 year old, Rylei, in order to display diversity in children and teen books. June 12, 2020 4:52pm / Reply. Many people might already own Tar Beach but she wrote & illustrated SO many books. I heartily recommend it. A very different book than Mae Jamison’s. My 12-year-old just eats them up. Get breaking news coverage as events unfold. Michael Jordan and me, In order to grow our small business, Cup of Jo earns revenue in a few different ways. Years ago, we wrote a post about books featuring characters of color, but a reader pointed out that some of those authors were white. An oldie but goodie and my absolute favorite Jacqueline Woodson picture book: The Other Side (illustrations by E.B. Reading one of her books each day on Facebook! It’s not enough to read books about Black women – we need to support Black women and nonbinary artists and authors. We've decided to accept the challenge and read children’s books written by Black authors for Black History Month. Love! For a older kids (I read these out loud to my 5 1/2 year old) the “Dragons in a Bag” series by Zetta Elliot are great. For middle and large humans, Mae Jemison’s memoir ‘Find Where The Wind Goes’ is a good read. Many of these lists have all been picture books and girl-centric. My third grader also loved From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks. https://www.amazon.com/My-Forever-Guardian-Healing-friends/dp/1734814217/ref=nodl_, Love this list! As many as half the people killed by police are disabled, and a third are Black and disabled. http://christineaplatt.com/book-author/christine-platt/ by Trish Cooke is wonderful – and so much fun to read! They are fun to read, too. ‘I was having trouble finding books to read with characters that look like me and that I could relate to. Black Children's Books: Our Favorite Stories For African American Youngsters Bedtime reading is one of our favorite childhood memories. This list of Black children’s books by Black authors are ones which you may want to get for the kiddos in your life. She has one for middle school too. I highly recommend it. Saving this for gift ideas for my niece and nephew! Dark Emu is well regarded and available in kids, middle, and adult reader formats. She wrote “How Old is Grandma?”. by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi – due to release on June 16th: https://www.mahoganybooks.com/9780593110416, For older kids (older-elementary, middle, and high) and/or for families to read together, the brilliant and necessary, STAMPED: Racism, Antiracism, and You, by Jason Reynolds (author of GHOST) and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi: https://www.mahoganybooks.com/9780316453691. “A Snowy Day” and “Whistle for Willie” are the two that stand out in my mind the most, but there are more. received the Newbery Honor and the Coretta Scott King Author Award! I read this book over and over and over again as a kid, and have such vivid, visceral memories as a 9-year-old empathizing and trying to contemplate what growing up Black in the Jim Crow South might’ve been like and feeling like the main character Cassie was one of my friends. I am not talking about this post or any from the past week. Just want to add Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon (more for high schoolers), Barracoon by Zora Neale Hurston, Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, and Crossover by Kwame Alexander. Lovely book about consent which my kids have asked for again and again. My Brother Charlie, by Holly Robinson Peete is great. The writing level is appropriate for upper elementary, but our entire family ended up listening to it as a read-aloud book because we were all interested. I would suggest Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea, by Meena Harris. The author will be reading a book a day on Instagram Live. Yes! I know that Niki Daly is white though). Donald Crews’ board books are essential though. Easter Parade to name a few. donald crews is a favorite in our house (kids are 4 & 2)—freight train, ten black dots, and flying are frequently pulled from the shelves. Thank you. 4.9 out of 5 stars 3,566. https://www.vashtiharrison.com/little-leaders, https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/575904/akissi-tales-of-mischief-by-marguerite-abouet-and-mathieu-sapin/. by Matthew Paul Turner and David Catrow | Feb 28, 2017. My nephews loved Beautful Blackbird and His books are great, but this post is about books my Black authors, which Keats is not. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. For a middle grade reader, I’d recommend From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks. We had that book when my now-nine-year-old twins were babies and seeing this comment, I got hit with a wave of nostalgia! https://www.missingdaddy.net/. Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold, a 1991 Caldecott winner. As always, thank you. Freight Train by Donald Crews! Saturday by Oge Mora is wonderful! I saw the animated short for “Hair Love.” So beautiful and sad at the same time. Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold is absolutely magical. A very distinct choice that does not go unnoticed- when others are still linking to their Amazon affiliates. When God Made You. 14 Genius Tips for Living in a Small Space, This Cozy Minnesota Home Will Make You Want a Candelabra. They are board books and so fun to sing together! We all loved it. The following books are available at Onondaga County Public Libraries. It’s about a black 8 year old girl who finds out she’s not a super klutz, she’s a super hero! Leo Learns to Swim is another. Activity & Novelty Books Board Books Boxed Sets Chapter Books Guided Reading Levels Media Tie-In Middle Grade Books Picture Books Spanish Language Test Preparation Browse All Children’s Chapter Books While it’s wonderful and necessary to have diverse and affirming representations of BIPOC kids and communities (which we need more of, especially given the diversity problem in children’s literature), it’s also critical that families (and specifically white families) have access to stories that explicitly name and deal with Whiteness and White privilege, that provide parents with tools and resources to start talking with children about these topics from a young age. Ghost by Jason Reynolds is a great book, my 11-year-old son loved to read, who is not a big reader and I also could not stop reading it. Jason Reynolds is always a fantastic writer but he really excels with that series. But it seems like everything is picture books or for middle readers (ie, fourth grade or so)? And I love that they link to an independent bookstore. Suitable, and I’d encourage, for tweens/teens to also view. if it takes into account the wonderful suggestions in the comments. I read With the Fire on High and Poet X earlier this year and currently have Clap When You Land on hold at my library :), All of Ashley Bryan’s books are phenomenal. Parents with kids who love vehicles can appreciate a genuinely entertaining vehicle book… ;). We cover everything from fashion to culture to parenthood, and we strive to be authentic. Tar Beach made a big impression on me when I was a kid, especially in my school of mostly non-black students. We just watched Trombone Shorty on Storyline Online, what a great book! I came here to suggest the March graphic novels by Congressman John Lewis. I highly recommend Storyline Online. My kids are white, and they definitely need to learn about their own whiteness and about the challenges that people of color face, but I also want them to be able to read books with children of color as the protagonists, given that still the vast majority of children’s books are illustrated with white kids. Christine Platt! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_(comics). Incorrect Book The list contains an … Check them out here. I love Grandma’s Tiny House by JaNay Brown-Wood, Grandma’s Purse by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Brown Baby Lullaby by Tameka Fryer Brown, both Saturday and Thank You, Omu! For Love of the Game. Kaba is a leading organizer and educator for racial justice, Adding a book to the list by a friend’s grandmother. I’m sorry for my mistake. Featuring Black characters at the forefront, these stories have positive role models that inspire and empower. I am leading a Summer Reading Book Club on ‘New Kid’ and told students NOT to order the audio book because it’s a graphic novel. Thank you for all of these suggestions. We publish several sponsored posts each month, which are always labeled at the top. 90 $11.99 $11.99. I remember loving that book when I was a kid, fantastic illustrations. “The Only Black Girls in Town” by Brandy Colbert. My Daddy and I, It may be a lot of work, but I would love a list to books like this similar (or within) your shop page, esp. here’s one from a New Zealand / Pacific writer: Mophead: How Your Difference Makes a Difference by Selina Tusitala Marsh https://aucklanduniversitypress.co.nz/mophead-how-your-difference-makes-a-difference/. He came and did an author visit at my elementary school library in January 2019 and the kiddos LOVED him. -one of our all-time family favorites! Given out each year to novels and picture books at the same conference that awards the Newbery and Caldecott, the Coretta Scott King Award goes to Black writers and illustrators. 8 Lists of 100 African American Books by School Grades, K-8 by PimaLib_AngelaH June 27, 2018 A collaboration with a teacher from TUSD on how to best serve the African-American students by encouraging them to read more led to the idea of making a reading list of books … See more ideas about books, childrens books, picture book. <3. Same here! Also ordering “Lullaby” which I will definitely make me cry. I hope Atinuke writes more!! Mac Barnett. More more more said the baby is a sweet simple one my kids loved. A diverse range of classics, contemporary must-reads, and memoirs you'll definitely wanna fill your time with! “King and the Dragonflies” by Kacen Callender. Thank you for reading! That’s where we’ve been trying to purchase from also. I’ve been thinking recently about how the concept of “growth mindset” can apply to white people learning how to be anti-racist. The book helped my son heal from the loss of so many people and things this year. The absence of these narratives implicitly reinforces the idea that race is something that doesn’t apply to white people and centers white people as “neutral/normal”. Was just coming here to say illustrator Christina Robinson is AMAZING!! Personal fave: Mia Mayhem – Breaks Down Walls. He has an amazing read-along and creative YouTube series right now. For older readers, the “Children of Blood and Bone” books by Tomi Adeyemi stand out. I must say reading the book is half the story ( pun!!!) Thank you for creating this list. She’s so mischievous – reminds me of why I loved Pippi Longstocking or Ramona Quimby or Matilda! I love Atinuke’s books! Christopher Myers is a profilic writer of sports-themed chapter books. My phone is going to give out any minute so this one I am adding in haste (but possibly is on the list)… https://www.mahoganybooks.com/children/, They also curate bundles, such as this one for young readers: Someone may have already posted this, but if you missed it, watch the KidsLit4BlackLives Rally from last Thursday, put on by the Brown Bookshelf (https://thebrownbookshelf.com/). Also, I know the author is white, but I just love Jabari Jumps….by Gaia Cornwall. We have been doing it together with my son’s kindergarten class! The animated short for Hair Love is wonderful! Bruce Pascoe is the author of Dark Emu and Sally Morgan is the author of My Place. Are any of these board books? Great series. Since many black families are dealing with grief this year, I suggest “My Forever Guardian” by Kristina Jones. Matthew Paul Turner’s books are delightful & make me cry each time I read them. The graphic novel style drew in my non-readers. ron’s big mission – rose blue My fifth grade students loved Akissi. She writes beautiful historical fiction. He is a gifted artist, writer, and illustrator who calls a small island in Maine his home. “Ways to Make Sunshine” by Renée Watson. Donte decides to take matters into his own hands after being continuously bullied at school. ❤️. I’m sorry, I made a mistake in my post! Along the way they face the harsh trials of the journey west, but if they can make it to California, they have a chance at a better life. My 9 year old son and I read Ghost together and I enjoyed it as much as he did and it lead to so many good conversations. These are affiliate links and all proceeds earned will be donated to the NAACP. It also comes with a downloadable activity book for kids to begin using their voices by writing to their local officials (phenomenalgirl.com). The author has several other books as well. “Sarah Journeys West” by Nikki Shannon Smith. Visit bcbooksandauthors.com to see newly published books and read author interviews. Children Book authors and avid readers contributed their favorite children’s Books to a list of the, “Top 150 Recommended African-American Children’s Books.” AALBC.com: Selling Black Books Since 1997 ★ Black Books are for Everyone AALBC.com: Selling Black Books Since 1997 ★ Next, I’ll be looking for Ghost. Thanks for the list! The Crossover by Kwame Alexander. Victoria Aveyard Cassandra Clare Sarah Dessen John Green Sarah J ... African Americans - Kids Fiction: Books. This is my 21 month old’s current favorite. They are short chapter books with lots of pictures about a girl that lives with her extended family in Africa. The author will be doing read-alouds on Instagram Live of her book Mae Among the Stars. Also, PET is a newer release by a black non-binary author. My 5.5 yo watched it and couldn’t stop hugging me after that. Hope this helps! Rita Williams Garcia is a magician! My 5th grade daughter’s teacher is currently reading “The Watsons Go to Birmingham” to them every day in their Zoom conference. I just finished ‘Brown Girl Dreaming’ last night. Also check out his youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzW_SBxroAj5hclD4q5KwZw. Julian is a Mermaid, by Jessica Love. I love sharing her books with young children. There are also many great videos of her talking about her work and inspiration. Anything by Ashley Bryan—at almost 100 (!) That is so interesting to hear. P.S. Thank you for the list, and thank you for not linking to Amazon, but to Mahogany. Roda Ahmed. Her chapter on The Angry Black … Any book by or illustrated by Kadir Nelson is a treasure to own. Please check out books by Yuyi Morales, Duncan Tonatiuh, Matt de la Peña, Alma Flor Ada, Isabel Quintero and Juana Martinez-Neal. I teach 5th grade and many a reluctant reader zoomed through all of his books. As a call out, some of the books below will feature biracial children. Thanks for including books for kids of all ages! Christopher Myers is a profilic writer of sports-themed chapter books. Try Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke. What’s more, they tell important stories in straightforward, yet gentle ways that open kids eyes to the world around them. Elizabeth Acevedo is a Dominican-American author of YA books – I’ve been enjoying her books recently! I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this already in the comments, but our family would HIGHLY recommend the Audio Version of the book of New Kid as well. Three of the four currently released titles features a woman of color (Madame C.J. I love that you linked us to a family owned bookstore for these selections. Please baby please was one of my boys’ favorites. Anything by Nicola Yoon, Angie Thomas, Jewell Parker Rhodes, Nic Stone, Kwame Alexander. Subscribe to syracuse.com. I love Please, Baby, Please. Her books include Zeely, The House of Dies Drear, MC Higgins the Great, The Planet of Junior Brown, and The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales. “Leaving Lymon” by Lesa Cline-Ransome. Yes, ditto, thanks for the non-amazon links! Jacqueline Woodside has a lot of picture books on topic. I just bought the first 3 books for my 8 year old from Ashay by the Bay bookstore <3. One of my daughters is really into space and NASA ;). They’re popular at our library! https://www.eyeseeme.com/, Highly recommend Mariame Kaba’s Missing Daddy. My little guy is 8 months, I want to be sure that the books I’m reading to him, and he’s chewing on (ha), have POC faces. Lewis). I think my daughter is going to love that book. They’re sort of magical realism for kids – a magic portal in Prospect Park leads to a magic world :). So! Credit: Little, Brown Little Leaders, by Vashti Harrison This gorgeous book tells the stories of 40 black women who have … As we actively work to diversify our children’s libraries and literary experiences, please think about adding books about children of color with disabilities as well. (shelved 73 times as childrens-chapter-books) avg rating 4.18 — 1,428,650 ratings — published 1952 We have The Snowy Day as a board book and that’s a forever favorite. http://www.ala.org/rt/emiert/cskbookawards/coretta-scott-king-book-awards-all-recipients-1970-present. Thank you so much for this list. Tiffany Haddish, Karamo Brown, Lupita Nyong'o, and more will all make appearances in Netflix's new kids show Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices. I don’t think Ezra Jack Keats is Black (despite featuring Black children in his books). He attended Cooper Union (the only Black student at the time) and was accepted only because Cooper Union had a blind admissions process (you basically submitted a tray of your artwork). New chapter books for kids by Black authors Updated Jul 15, 2020; Posted Jul 15, 2020 Explore newly released children's chapter books by Black authors, available at … It’s is for sale on Amazon.com. Just Us Women by Jeanette Caines is a very sweet book about a girl and her aunt. She chose New Kid as her Christmas gift to her cousins this past year because she wanted to share the love! We second The Watsons Go To Birmingham! Great for middle readers (4th-8th grade). Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Her Jada Jones series is a great early chapter book series. Peekaboo Morning and Leo Loves Baby Time are great and come in board book. Look up illustrator Shane Evans’ books. My son had it memorized very quickly! Really well done and an interesting, unexpected plot twist. I read that to my son on many nights when he was younger. https://www.amazon.com/My-Forever-Guardian-Healing-friends/dp/1734814217/ref=nodl_, https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Ashley-Bryan/706174, https://aucklanduniversitypress.co.nz/mophead-how-your-difference-makes-a-difference/, https://www.amazon.com/Cree-Wins-Day-Lora-Bynum/dp/0692872736/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=cree+wins+the+day&qid=1591724388&sr=8-1, https://www.mahoganybooks.com/9780593110416, https://www.mahoganybooks.com/9780316453691, https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Mommys-Khimar/Jamilah-Thompkins-Bigelow/9781534400597, https://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com/frameset.html, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jun/22/police-killings-disabled-black-people-mental-illness, https://socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/, http://www.ala.org/rt/emiert/cskbookawards/coretta-scott-king-book-awards-all-recipients-1970-present, https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/multicultural-early-chapter-books-for-kids/, http://christineaplatt.com/book-author/christine-platt/, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzW_SBxroAj5hclD4q5KwZw, https://www.vashtiharrison.com/little-leaders, John Derian Lives in a Sea Captain’s House, Behind the Scenes: Making a Magazine Cover. We bought a bunch of new books by Black authors and our favorites are ,” Mufaro’s beautiful daughters,” (its won a caldecott award and was by the 1st Black children’s illustrator) and a new one, “A good kind of trouble” for my 13 year old and she loves it!! I still stand by my sentiment that saying “some of those authors were white” is a missed opportunity. They range from fun and zany to gut-wrenching and heartbreaking, and some are a mix. Great for kids ages 8-12. Just found this awesome app called “We Read Too” that has a huge list of books featuring BOPOC characters divided into age ranges from picture book to YA. http://nanasbookshelf.com/where-to-buy/. Please check out Cree Wins the Day (linking on Amazon, sorry: https://www.amazon.com/Cree-Wins-Day-Lora-Bynum/dp/0692872736/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=cree+wins+the+day&qid=1591724388&sr=8-1). Both are big hits with my two year old. All rights reserved (About Us). Great list! His artwork is distinctive, simple and beautiful. Came here to comment the same! I love this so much. It’s hard enough finding books for Black boys at all, let alone finding chapter books for black boys that have Black characters or are written by Black authors… It’s my go-to birthday gift for little people :). I looked at his website (https://dontate.com/) and he is also a founding member of a blog called The Brown Bookshelf, which is dedicated to promoting youth literature created by black authors (per his website). Has anyone signed up for it? We also loved the Anna Hibiscus series (early chapter books) by Atinuke about a delightful, elementary school aged girl in contemporary Africa (& a bit in Canada). One of my all-time favorite kids’ books. We’ve had that book home from the library a few times. Thank you for this list COJ, there are so many good choices here! His goal? Hi Jamie, :-). Please check out the A Kids Book About (insert a whole bunch of compelling topics) series (https://akidsbookabout.com/), founded by Portland author Jelani Memory, who wrote the first one, A Kids Book About Racism for his kids only, and then the whole company sprouted from there. Looking at original post from 2016, I am incorrect that all but one author on the original list is white. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/20). What’s the Most Beautiful Thing You’ve Ever Read? If you are looking for books for older kids, check out Harriette Robinet. She sets off on a quest to discover why the heart-shaped herb that gives the Black Panther incredible powers is dying. Ghost and the other books in the Track series are so good. One of my favorite books growing up as a child was Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, by John Steptoe. When Rory’s mom has trouble making ends meet, he takes on a job at the creepy Foxglove Manor. She has done many varied and interesting things in her life, and sprinkles good life lessons and advice throughout. I don’t have kids of my own but am always looking for gift ideas for friends’ kids. 42 Amazing Books Written By Black Authors. I read the third book in the March series first and loved it. However, I think that saying “some of those authors were white” about the original post is shirking responsibility on your end. Anti-Racist Baby, a board book (!) But when she receives a letter from her biological father in prison, she becomes determined to prove his innocence. Thank you! Inappropriate The list (including its title or description) facilitates illegal activity, or contains hate speech or ad hominem attacks on a fellow Goodreads member or author. I love that some of these books have a clear lesson related to race, and some are simply books. Explore newly released children's chapter books by Black authors, available at Onondaga County Public Libraries. Mahogany books (mahoganybooks.com) is a black-owned bookstore which has a great selection, and have an online store. That would be so wonderful! His latest You Matter is an essential read for children and adults alike. Alberta is the only Black girl in her school’s senenth grade. It has only three words in it, yet manages to beautifully capture the love between a baby and his older brother. She won every major children’s literature award and the American Library Assn gives an annual award in her memory. We feature only items we genuinely love and want to share, and this is an arrangement between the retailer and Cup of Jo (readers never pay more for products). I second Pat Mora! May I suggest The Soil is Good by Tori Johnson-Jones? Only the little kids were not white, which was a huge departure back then. when you can discuss them confidently then you really begin to learn skills from literature and put in place the courage and bravery the author has taught you. For kids a little older, When I Get Older: the Story Behind “Wavin’ Flag” by K’naan is a beautiful and timely story about K’naan’s own life as a refugee from Somalia – first to New York, then to Toronto. Other YA authors: Sherri L Smith, Ibi Zoboi, Steph Keuhn are just a few other authors to check out. Racial segregation repulsed me but the amazing writing style drew me in. “Please Baby Please” is a treasured family favorite. Me and Neesie, I loved this book as a kid. julian is a mermaid – jessica love A book written by Ashley Sirah Chea and illustrated by Vanessa Newton. Anything that Kadir Nelson had his hands in is guaranteed to be amazing…some of his works are We Are the Ship, The Undefeated, Heart and Soul, Henry’s Freedom Box. Ryan does her best to overcome life’s struggles, even when her dad has to find a new job or her classmates tease her for having a boy’s name. The reason I got so much out of this book is because I had an amazing teacher who was happy to discuss all the themes I was reading about. I haven’t read it yet but it is high on my list! No white person has to be stuck where they are now or where they were yesterday. Also check out the books adapted from Bob Marley songs by his daughter Cedella! Stephen is biracial, but he’s beginning to realize that people will always see him as Black. Thank you! Check out The Brown Bookcase (https://www.thebrownbookcase.com/about)! The Watson’s Go to Birmingham or Bud Not Buddy)! We actually can get better at this. Yes Jason Reynolds! The following books by black authors (in alphabetic order by title) were published in 2018 and fall under a wide range of genres. We read it with our second grader and it prompted such good dialogue. Love the idea behind this list! Another bookstore I will be ordering from is Semicolon, Chicago’s only black woman-owned bookstore. For babies and toddlers: So Much! I really like ‘Baby Goes to the Market’ and ‘B is for Baby’ by Atinuke. We also sometimes earn an affiliate commission on the sales of products we link to. It’s a beautiful tribute to the diversity and beauty of city life through the great stage that we urban dwellers know so well… the bus! Grace Byers – I Believe I Can and I am Enough. Additionally, Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson (she has so many other excellent MG/YA books as well!) Beautiful prose about the Stolen Generation. https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Ashley-Bryan/706174. I’d also recommend The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas for middle school and up. In this series of posts I’m going to list our Top Five Favorite Chapter Books for Black Boys. Nice list. I also enjoyed his autobiography for children which is inspiring. And yes, Ezra Jack Keats was white. “Black Brother, Black Brother” by Jewell Parker Rhodes. Whose Toes are Those? Agreed Rose. Highly recommend. Love this! Nowadays, most places will allow you to check more than one when it … It’s important for children to see themselves reflected in the books they read and in the authors that write those books. Has everything listed here and a lot more. Anything by Brandy Colbert is worth a read – her YA and MG books focus on black stories that aren’t centered around pain and violence. oooh, I was coming to ask the same thing – thank you for the suggestion! He writes in a fantastic rhythm with great stories and messages. We have Baby Goes to Market and B is for Baby. Here are 15 we like…, Any others to add to the list? © 2020 Advance Local Media LLC. We have been reading the Rebel Girls new chapter book series. We have the big board book and it’s one of my sons favorites! On the topic of black children in classic picture books, I loved Corduroy growing up! For independent reading, here are two early reader series to check out: Polly Diamond and Mia Mayhem. They feature great books and Trombone Shorty was read by Angela Bassett which was very entertaining. Also, there’s a board book of What a wonderful world with beautiful illustrations that I read to my kids for years. Thank you so much for not linking to Amazon and for choosing Mahogany Books. I submitted “Freight Train” last night but it must not have gone through. These are the ways we support Cup of Jo, and allow us to run the site and engage with this community we truly love. Thanks for the links! His autobiography “Words to My Life’s Song” tells of the racism he encountered throughout this life, his unwavering creativity and how he is always making the world a more beautiful place. Sorry, I should have added that you could probably read the Rebel Girls series to a child around the age of 7-8 (some words will be difficult for them to read on their own). Let it Shine. Thirteen-year-old King struggles to process the death of his older brother while holding onto the fear that his father will reject him for being gay. Probably already known, but Faith Ringgold is always worth remembering. Yes, Ashley Bryan is wonderful! The author is white, however. – author Meena Harris, Kamala’s niece, just released it last week. thank you so much Ka, I did a little research and I love his work and his life is inspiring. I do love A Snowy Day regardless…, oh my gosh I completely forgot about A Snowy Day! As Olive Kitteridge said, "There's no such thing as a simple life." Know that everyone feels it and appreciates it, even folks who are not black themselves! A great book! Believe the author and illustrator is also white. So happy to read this! I heard great positive things about it. LOVE LOVE LOVE Anna hibiscus series in our house. I would love some recommendations for children’s books with Asian and/or Latinx authors and characters. He posts lots of read alouds, social/emotional talks, and art demonstrations :). When Janie takes a necklace from the burned-down ruins of Creek Church, she unknowingly disturbs its restless spirits and stirs up the town’s troubled past. Hosted by … Nathaniel Talking by Eloise Greenfield. The two also collaborated on a few more Children’s books; such as, I found about Raven Reads https://ravenreads.org/ an indigenous book subscription. A book that deals with the toxicity of racism and white supremacy is Dig by A.S. King — it’s more of a teen book than a younger children’s book, but very good for the points you bring up. the paperboy – dav pilkey, I have sent this list to my local library! We get quarterly book boxes, one of my daughter’s favorite books from the box is Baby Goes to Market by Atinuke. Pat Mora is an amazing Chicana writer, and all her books have Latinx characters. It’s a beautiful book! Diane Alber. I haven’t field tested it with a teenager, but I feel that it would have been a useful read for me in my college years. Don Tate is an author and illustrator, and a lovely person in general. He has some, but there’s still alot more white faces than others. His Caldecott winning The Lion & the Mouse is a family favorite, but he has so many other wonderful books , and many, if not most are written by black authors. When I was 12 I read ‘Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry’. Bestselling authors, Vashti Harrison and Renee Watson, say books about black resilience, joy and self-love are of the utmost importance. A Cup of Jo is a daily lifestyle site for women. A lovely delight. I was coming to say the same thing!! [chapter book, ages 10 and up] Naming how you didn’t get it quite right last time around shows that growth mindset. Many, though not all, of the authors share the identities of the characters. Each one features Black characters and all are by Black authors. You are obviously working hard to be responsive to current events, and it’s appreciated. Thank you for stepping up before it was popular. These books are must-reads to add to your 2019 list of books … You could order them from Blue Cypress Books or Octavia Books in New Orleans–she’s a local author there and they keep them stocked. Slightly breaks and re-heals my heart each time as a working parent. My daughter LOVES Ghost and the other two books on the bottom row of recommendations: Brown Girl Dreaming and New Kid. I can’t wait to read them together! All of Kwame Alexander’s books. He burst onto the kiddy lit scene back in the 1960s with his fabulous books about little kids doing ordinary stuff. The Jaden Toussaint series by Marti Dumas is fabulous, particularly for kids who love music. She launched a campaign, using the hashtag #1000BlackGirlBooks, to collect 1,000 books featuring black female protagonists and donate them to a school in … Soup Day by Melissa Iwai was a favorite of my daughter’s :). Magabala books is a wholly Indigenous publisher with EXCELLENT children’s books as well as books for all ages. Anything by Christopher Paul Curtis (e.g. I’ve had to do some pretty deep digging to come up with really good chapter books with black main characters. I have noticed your shift to inclusivity over the past couple of years. It’s a sweet, intergenerational story–-great for young kids to read with their grandparents! Ghost is fantastic. Popular Authors. grandma’s purse – vanessa brantley newton We love Anna Hibiscus’s adventures, too, and Atinuke’s picture books! Princess Shuri is already an accomplished scientist – even if she is only 13. A companion book to “Finding Langston.” Cline-Ransome adds depth to Lymon’s character and details his family’s struggles and experiences during America’s Great Migration. Only one author is Black, and over half of the authors are white. The Last, Last Day of Summer by L. R Giles is a fun chapter book. I would love to see more discussion on CoJ around how White families can discuss Whiteness and White privilege with their children. I think that’s telling and is, in its own way, a form of injustice and privilege. The Akimbo books by Alexander McCall Smith are wonderful. My 8 year old son loves The Clubhouse Mystery series. Lewis, is Little Cliff and the Cold Place. The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander is a picture book that celebrates Black excellence and won the 2020 Caldecott Medal as well as a Newbery Honor. He does amazing ‘Brain Yoga’ for kids on his Insta: @jasonreynolds83. And Fremantle Press also has an Indigenous charter. I bought ‘Don’t touch my hair’ after it was listed here. Here’s the list—it goes back 50 years! Yes to Storyline Online! If you’d like some Australian content. An accessible and inspiring story about the impact dedicated individuals – and even children – can have shaping our communities. here are a few of our ***heart-thumping favorite*** picture books (age 0-7) featuring main characters who are Black: the chicken chasing queen of lamar county – janice harrington Spotlight on Black Authors and Characters: Books for Ages 0-8 Picture books can be impressive and effective tools to help teach young children about both history and modern-day life. 1 - 20 of 1014 results Grid View Grid. Does anyone know about a black or indigenous book similar store in Canada? I LOVE that these are linked to Mahogany Books in DC. She wrote several children’s books but also several poetry collections, and a wonderful memoir called House of Houses, if you’re interested! I went to college with the author, Ti, and would love to see her get a wave of books sold, plus the reviews are great! Find any video of him being interviewed/speaking and it is inspiring. If you have a 10-12 year old (especially one that loves track!) This page has a lot of great early chapter book recs! Don’t forget books by Ezra Jack Keats. I got chills reading The Undefeated with my kids! These authors are offering read-alouds of their books and books by their favorite authors. What Are Your Most Beloved Children’s Books? Honey, I Love, also by Eloise Greenfield, is one of my favourite books of children’s poetry. Thank you. Today, we wanted to feature great children’s books written by Black authors. Our 12-year-old son just finished Miles Morales Spider-Man, which my husband and I also read. Some of our family’s faves are “Freight Train,” “Shortcut” & “Night at the Fair.”. Jason Reynolds. Second! My daughter and I love Eva Chen’s books. But an interesting twist is this: there are many, many more chapter books targeted for black girls than for black boys. These books can help start those conversations. Here’s another one about learning disabilities, Nelson Beats the Odds by Ronnie Sidney II. Mae Among The Stars by Roda Ahmed – inspired by the life of the first African American woman to travel in space, Mae Jemison, this is my #1 go-to book gift for little humans! But the stories should be able to be understood and there are beautiful illustrations to highlight the narrative. Hardcover $6.90 $ 6. Thank you Omu by the same author is lovely as well. Christian Robinson is wonderful too! what a character! 19 empowering books with Black characters It’s important that children have access to diverse books, and young readers will love these tales of daring heroes, brave kids and great friendships. Did you read along with the text? I second this recommendation. My son is a big fan of Kwame Alexander’s books (Crossover, Rebound, Booked). I really liked the previous post about black businesses. It is such a great book as is the rest of that series – Patina, Lu and Sunny. This was a missed opportunity for you to model that process. I think it might be good for a wide range of ages, but might be particularly well suited for pre-teen boys! Thank you for linking to Mahogany Books instead of Amazon so that people can support a black owned small business! I wanted to thank cupofjo for their continued inclusion of BPOC on the blog. The whole thing is incredible! DC writer. Andrea Pinkney wrote a book about Ezra Jack Keats called a Poem for Peter. Another black-owned bookstore (in the SF Bay Area) is Ashay by the Bay (www.ashaybythebay.com). Our entire family (9 year old son, 7 year old daughter, 3 year old son, mom, and dad) loved it so much we wanted to listen to it again. Here's a great article about the challenge from BookRiot. The cover is a picture of a girl who looks like a wolf. You have already started the work and have expanded your content and contributors to cover all people. The great Virginia Hamilton, who died in 2002, wrote 35 books for children and young adults. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor Set in Mississippi at the height of the Depression, this is the story of one African-American family’s struggle to maintain their integrity, pride, and independence in the face of racism and social injustice. “From the Desk of Zoe Washington” by Janae Marks. (We had the Kwela Jamela books, and they are great. Their book, My Place is an essential read. I am so excited to look up the other books in your article and in the comments. An easier read — Khalil’s Way by David Miller. I loved it so much I stole a copy from my school library that I still have today. Aspiring pastry chef Zoe has big plans for her future. I would add Belle, the last mule at Gee’s Bend and The Green Book by Calvin Ramsey…I read these to my 3rd and 4th graders every year. This is one of my very favorite books from childhood. We love any children’s book illustrated by Kadir Nelson! by Oge Mora, anything illustrated by Christian Robinson, and Bedtime for Sweet Creatures by Nikki Grimes. We love Donald Crews books too. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Kevin Lewis writes fun picture books for young kids who like vehicles! Thank you for featuring books written by black authors- and thanks for naming how you didn’t do that last time. Wonderful author, she’s 91 now and Jan Spivey Gilchrist. I’d bet many of your readers here have checked his books out from the library and/or would recognize them even if they didn’t realize he was the author. All but one author on your original list was white! It is a book I wish I could have had for my children when they were little!