Children's Books That Celebrate the African-American Experience

Recommended by the Children's Librarians at The Ferguson Library.

Ages Birth - 3 Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang A little girl and her Dad engage in a simple countdown before bed that is warm and comforting. BB So Much by Trish Cooke When relatives begin arriving for Daddy's surprise party, they are unable to resist kissing, hugging and playing with the baby. EPIC

My Aunt Came Back by Pat Cummings
An adventurous auntie travels the world and always brings back something for her adoring niece. BB

Tickle Tickle by Hru Dakari
There is nothing better than a little tickle time spent between father and son. EPIC

Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora
A busy toddler spends the morning joyfully playing hide and seek and shouting "peekaboo." EPIC

Please, Baby, Baby Please by Spike and Tonya Lee
Keeping up with an energetic toddler is not easy, but a mother's patience goes a long way. EPIC

These Hands by Hope Lynn Price
Hands have a lot of power and beauty, no matter how small. EPIC

Brown Sugar Babies by Charles Smith
A celebration of caramel, chocolate and honey colored babies cute enough to eat. EPIC

My Girl by Charles Smith
Vibrant photographs and classic Motown lyrics come together in this delightful board book that you will want to share with your own "baby love." BB

Joy by Joyce Thomas
The seasons may come and go but a mother always finds joy in her little boy. BB

Age 3 - 5

Grandfather and I by Helen Buckley
While everyone else in the family always seems to be in a rush, a loving grandfather understands the importance of spending unhurried time with his grandson. EPIC

Heaven's All-Star Jazz Band by Don Carter
A little boy imagines that his jazz-loving grandpa is in heaven making music with all the legendary jazz greats. EPIC

Boy on the Beach by Niki Daly
Instead of jumping waves with his parents a little boy goes off by himself and finds his own fun on the beach - until he realizes that he is lost. EPIC

Rap a Tap Tap: Here's Bojangles - Think of That! by Leo and Diane Dillon
In this artistic tribute, legendary dancer Bill Bojangles Robinson seems to tap across the pages along with the words. EPIC

Bintou's Braids by Sylvianne Diouf
Bintou desperately wants to wear her hair in long braids but is not old enough according to village tradition. Her wise grandmother however, finds a way to make her ordinary hairstyle extraordinary. EPIC

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
When two classmates try to discourage her from auditioning for the lead role in a class play, Grace triumphantly shows them that gender and color have nothing to do with being the best. EPIC

Lulu's Birthday by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard
Although Aunt Lulu is having trouble deciding how to spend her birthday, her young niece and nephew know exactly what to do. EPIC

Ready? Set. Raymond! by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
In this beginning reader, Raymond does everything fast, including brushing his teeth and making new friends. EPIC

Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm by Jerdine Nolen
If you want to learn the secret to growing balloons, just take a few tips from a mysterious farmer named Harvey Potter. EPIC

Hugs and Hearts by Tony Parker
Charming photographs and simple rhymes celebrate the sweetest day of the year. EPIC

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe
Everyone says that Mufaro has two equally beautiful daughters. So when the king announces his wish to marry the most beautiful and worthy maiden in the land, he is delighted. But is their beauty truly equal? EPIC

Elizabeti's Doll by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen
While her mother tends to her baby brother, Elizabeti lovingly cares for her own baby which happens to be a rock. EPIC

Bippity Bop Barbershop by Natasha Tarpley
Miles is excited and a bit anxious about his first trip to the barbershop. Lucky for him, his dad has the perfect solution. EPIC

Max's Starry Night by Ken Wilson-Max
A little boy helps an elephant overcome his fear of the dark. EPIC

Do You Know What I'll Do? by Charlotte Zolotow
An old children's favorite that shows the love between siblings, newly illustrated with striking collage art by Javaka Steptoe. EPIC

Age 6-8

The Big Bike Race by Lucy Jane Bledsoe
When he receives a big clunky used bike for his tenth birthday, Ernie's dream of being a bike racer seems beyond his reach at first. JBEG

Gloria Rising by Ann Cameron
Gloria's chance meeting with a famous astronaut makes a big impression on her and helps her cope with a difficult teacher. JBEG

Ananse and the Lizard: A West African Tale by Pat Cummings
Ananse, the tricky little spider, gets out-tricked by a clever lizard in this folktale from Ghana. E398.2 C

The Village that Vanished by Ann Grifalconi
In order to save their village from the approaching slave traders, the Yao people set aside their fears and devise a plan that requires them to use their heads as well as their hearts to survive. JBEG

Just Like Mike by Gail Herman
When his mother remarries, Michael's last name is changed from Brown to Jordan and the kids at his new school can't seem to stop comparing his poor basketball skills to the "other Michael." JBEG

Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard
Following the Civil War, a little girl named Virgie is determined to go to school along with her brothers, despite the seven mile walk and their reluctance to take her. JBEG

Goin' Someplace Special by Patricia McKissack
During the era of segregation, Tricia Ann pays a visit to the one place in town that is open to all. JBEG

Big Jabe by Jerdine Nolen
While fishing, a young slave named Addy finds a little boy in a basket floating down the river and life on the plantation is never the same again. JBEG

Cosmo and the Robot by Brian Pinkney
What is a kid on Mars supposed to do when his beloved robot starts acting like a monster and must be cast off to the asteroid dump? Cosmo's brand new solar system utility belt may help. EPIC

Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold
On warm nights Cassie escapes to tar beach (her rooftop) and envisions herself flying over the George Washington Bridge. EPIC

In the Time of the Drums by Kim Siegelson
When a group of newly captured slaves arrives at Sea Island, they are greeted by drums and led back home by a mysterious conjure woman. JBEG

Imani's Music by Sheron Williams
When an African grasshopper finds himself aboard a slave ship, the only thing he has to offer the captives is is music which they take with them to the new world. EPIC

Ages 9-12

Mansa Musa: Lion of Mali by Khephra Burns
The early life of Mali's great 14th century leader is told through this lavishly illustrated fictionalized account. JBEG

The Watson's Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Kenny and the "weird Watsons" (his family) head south to visit Grandma and unexpectedly witness history. JFIC

Francie by Karen English
Life isn't easy for Francie, a quiet, smart girl, who loves trains and scooter pies and who is growing up in rural Alabama during the 1930's. JFIC

Yolonda's Genius by Carol Fenner
While most people view Yolonda's little brother as being "slow," she believes that he is musically gifted and decides to show the world. JFIC

The Skin I'm In by Sharon Flake
Teased because of her extremely dark skin, thirteen year old Maleeka slowly learns a lesson in self-acceptance when a new teacher (with a prominent birthmark on her face) arrives at her school. JFIC

Jazmin's Notebook by Nikki Grimes
While growing up in Harlem during the 1960's, a fourteen year old girl discovers that writing can be empowering. JFIC

The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton 
After moving into a house that was once used as part of the underground railroad, the Small family experience a series of strange happenings and sense danger. JFIC

When Mules Flew on Magnolia Street by Angela Johnson
Charlie spends her summer fishing, solving a mystery and making new friends. JFIC

Here We Go Round by Alice McGill
When her mother is put on bed rest during the last month of her pregnancy, seven year old Roberta is sent to stay with her grandparents in the country. Already feeling ambivalent about the new baby, will this separation make matters worse? JFIC

Junebug in Trouble by Alice Mead
After moving away from a tough housing project, Junebug discovers that one of his old buddies is showing an interest in gangs. Wanting to help, Junebug finds himself reaching out to his troubled friend and surprisingly to his own imprisoned dad as well. JFIC

Slam! by Walter Dean Myers
A talented high school basketball player realizes the need to improve his "off court" skills just as much as his ball playing skills. JFIC

Trouble Don't Last by Shelley Pearsall
Being a slave is the only life that eleven year old Samuel knows. Unexpectedly awakened one night by his old friend Harrison, he is forced to leave behind his miserable familiar life in exchange for a perilous journey and a faint hope of freedom. JFIC

The Land by Mildred Taylor
Paul Edward, son of a white plantation owner and a slave, is determined to succeed on his own in post Civil War Mississippi. A prequel to the Newbery Award-winning Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. JFIC

Willimena and the Cookie Money by Valerie Wilson Wesley
In her attempt to help the less fortunate, Willimena spends the money that she has collected selling girl scout cookies. Now she and her sister must find a way to raise the money before anyone finds out. JFIC

Between Madison and Palmetto by Jacqueline Woodson
When Maizon returns from boarding school, two best friends are reunited and try to continue their friendship despite new people and pressures. JFIC

A Piece of Heaven by Sharon Dennis Wyeth
Despite having an unstable home life, thirteen year-old Haley remains optimistic because of a special friendship. JFIC

Easy Nonfiction

The Palm of My Heart: Poetry by African American Children by Davida Adedjouma, editor
A collection of twenty poems by children, celebrating "black" in their lives. J821.08 P

Brothers of the Knight by Debbie Allen
The classic tale of The Twelve Dancing Princesses gets a new setting, Harlem, and a new cast, twelve boys who dance holes in their high tops.  J398.208 A

Rock of Ages: A Tribute to the Black Church by Tonya Bolden
The history and importance of the Black Church is thoughtfully presented in poetic words and stirring pictures. E821 B

Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges
In 1960, when she was six, Ruby Bridges was the first black student at an all-white school in New Orleans. Here, she describes that experience and her life since. J379.263 B

Satchel Paige by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Legendary pitcher Leroy (Satchel) Paige played in the Negro Leagues and the Major Leagues, and was the first African American inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame. J 796.357 P

Coming Home: From the Life of Langston Hughes by Floyd Cooper
In this story of the famous poet's childhood, young Langston lives mainly with his grandmother and a foster family and dreams of a permanent home with his parents. EB Hughes

Rosa Parks by Eloise Greenfield
An illustrated biography of the woman who, by bravely refusing to give her bus seat to a white person in 1955, is credited with beginning the Civil Rights Movement. J323.4 G

Pass It On: African American Poetry for Children by Wade Hudson, editor
This collection, by an assortment of well-known African American poets, conveys the pain and joy of the African American experience. E821.08 P

John Henry by Julius Lester
John Henry pits his strength against a steam drill in this award-winning picture book version of a classic black folk ballad. E398.21 L

Hoops with Swoopes by Susan Kunklin
A simple introduction to basketball becomes a one-woman show when WNBA star Cheryl Swoopes gets the ball. E796.323 S

Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack
Holiday celebrations are very different for the slaves and the masters on a Southern plantation just before the Civil War. J 975.03 M

Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly by Walter Dean Myers
A picture book biography of the well-known civil rights activist, written by an award-winning author. JB X, MALCOLM

Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra by Andrea Davis Pinkney
There's a sense of his music in both the writing and the illustration of this picture book about jazz great Duke Ellington. E781.65 E

Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport
A combination of magnificent artwork, refreshing text and King's own powerful words make this an outstanding tribute. EB KING

Only Passing Through by Anne Rockwell
Isabella was born a slave in New York, but after being freed in 1826, she became Sojourner Truth and traveled around the country telling people about the horrors of slavery. EB TRUTH

When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson by Pam Munoz Ryan
Marian Anderson was an acclaimed singer in Europe, but had to overcome racism before she could sing with the Metropolitan Opera in the United States. EB ANDERSON

The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South by Robert D. San Souci
In long-ago Louisiana, two sisters with very different personalities meet an old woman who has a chicken house full of magical talking eggs. E398.2 S

Minty: A Story of a Young Harriet Tubman by Alan Schroeder
A fictionalized account of the childhood of Harriet Tubman, who is famous for her work helping slaves escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad. EB TUBMAN

In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers illustrated by Javaka Steptoe
This collection of poems about African American fathers is enhanced by Steptoe's award-winning mixed media illustrations. E821.08 I

Nonfiction for Older Children

I, Too, Sing America: Three Centuries of African American Poetry by Catherine Clinton
In this anthology, twenty five poets are represented by their poems and described in short biographical sketches. J821.08 I

Sweet Words So Brave: The Story of African American Literature by Barbara K. Curry
A grandfather enthusiastically shares the history and literature of African Americans with his granddaughter. J820.9 C

Story Painter: The Life of Jacob Lawrence by John Duggleby
Jacob Lawrence's life, the culture of Harlem in the 1930's, and his colorful art are all introduced in this biography, illustrated with numerous prints of the artist's works. JB LAWRENCE

A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson by Michelle Y. Green
Johnson played professional baseball in the Negro Leagues, facing prejudice against both her race and her gender. J796.357 G

Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales and True Tales by Virginia Hamilton
A wonderful, award-winning collection of stories, in a variety of styles, that feature strong African American women. J398.2 H

Breaking Ground, Breaking Silence: The Story of New York's African Burial Ground by Joyce Hansen
The graves in an African burial site, uncovered by archaeologists in Manhattan in 1991, tell the story of how African Americans lived in New York during the colonial period. J305.567 H

The African American Family Album by Dorothy Hoobler
The stories of individual African Americans are told through interviews, letters and other original documents, and in pictures. J973.049 H

I See The Rhythm: A Story of African American Music by Igus Toyomi
A survey of African American music from African and slave songs to rap and hip-hop, told in text and paintings. J780.89 I

Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments from My Life by Mae Jemison
Funny and inspirational anecdotes from the life of America's first female African American astronaut. JB JEMISON

Vision of Beauty: The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker by Kathryn Lasky
A richly illustrated biography of Madame C.J. Walker, the daughter of freed slaves who became an entrepreneur at the turn of the 20th century. JB WALKER

Black Hoops: The History of African Americans in Basketball by Fredrick McKissack
Basketball's history from an African American perspective, from the game's beginning in 1891, through the era of segregated teams, to the many black stars of the NBA and WNBA in the 1990's. J796.323 M

Black Hands, White Sails by Patricia McKissack
This story of African American men who worked in the whaling industry in the 18th and 19th centuries explores the connections between whaling and the abolitionist movement. J639.28 M

Dare to Dream: Coretta Scott King and the Civil Rights Movement by Angela Shelf Medearis
As a child in Alabama, Coretta Scott faced segregation and prejudice, and dreamed of racial equality. As an adult, she helped her husband the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. lead the Civil Rights Movement. JB KING

Carver: A Life in Poems by Marilyn Nelson, editor
A sophisticated collection of poems that eloquently tells the story of renowned educator and botanist George Washington Carver. TEEN 821 C332Ne

The New York Public Library Amazing African American History: A Book of Answers For Kids by Diane Patrick
This book, one in a series produced by the New York Public Library, presents African American history in a question and answer format. J973.049 P

Jackie's Nine: Jackie Robinson's Values to Live By by Sharon Robinson
The baseball great's daughter explores the nine hard-won values that helped Jackie Robinson achieve his goals. J796.357 R

A Kid's Guide to African American History by Nancy I. Sanders
Over 70 activities are included in this overview that begins with the glories of ancient Africa and concludes with the achievements of present-day African Americans. J973.049 S

Leon's Story by Leon Walter Tillage
A moving memoir by a man who spent his childhood as the son of a sharecropper in the segregated and racist South. J975.655 T

The Young Oxford History of African Americans by Peter H. Wood
This comprehensive and readable eleven volume set covers African American history from the early 16th century to the 1990's. J973.049 Y

Books For Parents

Black Authors and Illustrators of Books for Children and Young Adults by Barbara Thrash Murphy
Each entry in this biographical dictionary tells briefly about the author's or illustrator's life, lists his or her publications and often contains a photograph of the subject. R-J011.62 M

Black Books Galore! Guide to More Great African American Children's Books by Donna Rand and Toni Trent Parker
This fourth book in an illustrated, award-winning series can help parents identify quality African American books for their children.  J015.73 R PROF. COLL.

The Coretta Scott King Awards Book 1970-1999 by Henrietta M. Smith, editor
An exploration of the books that have won the coveted Coretta Scott King Award, which includes author interviews, book quotes, and illustrations from award-winners. J929.81 C 1999 PARENTS COLL.

Great Books For African-American Children by Pamela Toussaint 
This useful source of introductions to great African American children's books also suggests book discussion questions for each entry. R-J028.162 T