This list featuring the books of 100 wonderful Black authors, illustrators, and poets is meant to help introduce readers to some of the many African American creators who are celebrated in the field of children’s literature and tell important truths and stories that captivate kids. Some you may already be familiar with, and some are newer voices. Many create books for all ages of readers. Getting to know them all gives readers the opportunity to find favorite writers to grow with.
Find these titles by Black authors and more reading recommendations at your local library through World Cat.
Picture Books and Elementary
Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed
Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis by Jabari Asim
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick D. Barnes
Song in the City by Daniel Bernstrom
Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham
Just Like Me by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Words to My Life's Song by Ashley Bryan
My Hair Is a Garden by Cozbi A. Cabrera
Freedom Soup by Tami Charles
Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
Everett Anderson's Goodbye by Lucille Clifton
Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Music Is a Rainbow by Bryan Collier
Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Floyd Cooper
Bigmama's by Donald Crews
My Aunt Came Back by Pat Cummings
Honey, I Love and Other Love Poems by Eloise Greenfield
Change Sings: A Children's Anthem by Amanda Gorman
Big by Vashti Harrison
Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard
The Dream Keeper and Other Poems by Langston Hughes
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita L. Hubbard
Sing A Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations by Kelly Starling Lyons
Saturday by Oge Mora
The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad
My Pen by Christopher Myers
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson
Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshall by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
The Little Mermaid by Jerry Pinkney
Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children by Sandra L. Pinkney
Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold
You Matter by Christian Robinson
Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange
I Am America by Charles R. Smith
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe
It Jes' Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw by Don Tate
Brown Honey In Broomwheat Tea: Poems by Joyce Carol Thomas
Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Elam Walker
Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth
Middle Grade
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Rise of the Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender
School Trip by Jerry Craft
The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Last Last-Day-Of-Summer by Lamar Giles
Words With Wings by Nikki Grimes
The Magic in Changing Your Stars by Leah Henderson
The Talk: Conversations About Race, Love & Truth edited by Wade Hudson & Cheryl Willis Hudson
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
From The Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
Tristan Strong Punches A Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
Remember: The Journey to School Integration by Toni Morrison
Polo Cowboy by G. Neri
Calico Girl by Jerdine Nolen
Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes
As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds
Root Magic by Eden Royce
The Harlem Charade by Natasha Tarpley
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
Justin and the Best Biscuits in The World by Mildred Pitts Walter
Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford
Genesis Begins Again by Alicia Williams
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich by Ibi Aanu Zoboi
Young Adult
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Vinyl Moon by Mahogany L. Browne
The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert
Mare's War by Tanita S. Davis
Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper
Wings of Ebony by J. Elle
Say Her Name by Zetta Elliott
The Skin I'm In by Sharon G. Flake
Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush by Virginia Hamilton
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
We Are Not Broken by George M. Johnson
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party's Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon
Best Shot in the West: The Thrilling Adventures of Nat Love by Patricia C. McKissack and Frederick L. McKissack Jr.
I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina
Me (Moth) by Amber McBride
Slay by Brittney Morris
The Legend of Buddy Bush by Shelia P. Moses
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
Push: A Novel by Sapphire
Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Native Son by Richard Wright
The Beauty that Remains by Ashley Woodfolk
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
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