Growing up I didn’t really get the difference in the books that I was reading. Yea, there was a variety of characters, but I didn’t see how it would shape my view of the world so early. Now that I’m a parent, I’m realizing how important it is for my son to be reading black children’s books with characters that look like him. Now that Black History Month is coming, the books are more easily grabbable at the front of your library or bookstore.

Black History Month means so much more when you have children, especially African American children. It’s not just a month to celebrate our heritage, but also to connect those lessons to our children and a reminder for every one of the beautiful people we can honor.

black childrens books

As parents we can do so much to teach and incorporate the lessons our history has taught us and one way is through your night story time or by sharing books with your children. Here are a few black children’s books you might want to pick up during Black History Month and for the 11 months after.

black childrens books

  1. Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table – Jacqueline Briggs Martin
  2. Gordon Parks – Jamey Christoph
  3. Ira’s Shakespeare Dream – Glenda Armand
  4. Discovering Black America – Linda Tarrant-Reid
  5. Biddy Mason Speaks Up – Arisa White
  6. My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – Martin Luther King, III
  7. What Was Your Dream, Dr. King? – Mary Kay Carson
  8. President of the Whole Sixth Grade – Sherri Winston
  9. You Should Meet Misty Copeland – Laurie Calkhoven
  10. Sauerkraut – Kelly Jones
  11. The Youngest Marcher – Cynthia Levinson
  12. Freedom Summer – Deborah Wiles
  13. Hey, Black Child – Useni Eugene Perkins
  14. Trombone Shorty – Troy Andrews
  15. When Marian Sang – Pam Munoz Ryan
  16. Born to Swing – Mara Rockliff
  17. Just a Lucky So and So: The Story of Louis Armstrong – Lesa Cline-Ransme
  18. Play Louis, Play – Muiel Harris Weinstein
  19. Josephine – Patricia Hruby Powell
  20. When the Beat Was Born – Laban Carrick Hill
  21. The Day You Begin – Jacqueline Woodson
  22. Radiant Child, The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat – Javaka Steptoe
  23. Lift Your Light a Little Higher – Heather Henson
  24. Ticktock Banneker’s Clock – Shana Keller
  25. The Hallelujah Flight – Phil Bildner
  26. Henry’s Freedom Box – Ellen Levine
  27. Words Set Me Free – Lesa Cline-Ransome
  28. Jump Back, Paul – Sally Derby
  29. The Stone Thrower – Jael Ealey Richardson
  30. Skit-Skat Raggedy Cat – Roxane Orgill
  31. Let ‘Er Buck – Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and Gordon James
  32. Woosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Invenions – Chris Barton
  33. Little Leaders: Bold Women in History – Vashti Harrison
  34. Mae Among the Stars – Roda Ahmed
  35. The Young Marcher – Cynthia Levinson
  36. All American Boys – Brendon Kiely and Jason Reynolds
  37. What Color is My World – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld
  38. Princess Hair – Sharee Miller
  39. Piecing Me Together – Renee Watson
  40. We March – Shane Evans
  41. Yesterday I had the Blues – Jeron Ashford Frame
  42. Look What Brown Can Do – T. Marie Harris
  43. One Crazy Summer – Rita Williams-Garcia
  44. Chocolate Me! – Taye Diggs
  45. Harlem’s Little Blackbird – Renee Watson
  46. Of Thee I Sing – Barack Obama
  47. Jabari Jumps – Gaia Cornwall
  48. Hair Love – Matthew A Cherry
  49. Please Baby Please – Tanya Lewis Lee and Spike Lee
  50. Saturday – Oge Mora