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We have picked our favorite books about the African American experience. You can find these in the Easy Fiction and Easy Non-fiction sections of the library.
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We Are Here
by Tami Charles
This much-anticipated follow-up to the New York Times best-selling picture book All Because You Matter celebrates the rich history of Black and brown men and women who have made significant contributions from the beginning of time.
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Juneteenth
by Van G. Garrett
A lyrical picture book about our newest national holiday, Juneteenth, follows the annual celebration in Galveston, Texas—the birthplace of Juneteenth—through the eyes of a boy coming to understand his place in Black American history, in a story from three Texan creators.
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Do You Know Them?
by Shana Keller
Inspired by the printed newspaper ads placed by African Americans who were separated from family members by the Civil War, enslavement and emancipation, this moving story follows Lettie who saves every penny she earns for something that could bring her whole family together.
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There Was a Party for Langston
by Jason Reynolds
This finger-snapping, toe-tapping ode to the Word King and literary genius Langston Hughes invites readers to a party at the Schomberg Library where Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, and others arrive to recite poems at their hero's feet.
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Nell Plants a Tree
by Anne Wynter
This gorgeous picture book follows a young girl named Nell whose careful tending of a pecan tree creates the living center of a loving, intergenerational Black family.
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Boy Dad
by Sean Williams
Celebrating fathers who raise, love and uplift little men, this picture book shows how there's nothing a dad won't do for his favorite boy.
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Nigel and the Moon
by Antwan Eady
When Nigel looks up at the moon, his future is bright. He imagines himself as...an astronaut, a dancer, a superhero, too! Among the stars, he twirls. With pride, his chest swells. And his eyes, they glow. Nigel is the most brilliant body in the sky. It is career week at school, and Nigel can't find the courage to share his dreams. It's easy to whisper them to the moon, but not to his classmates--especially when he already feels out of place.
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Show the World!
by Angela Dalton
In this beautiful and empowering celebration of self-expression, the young narrator journeys through her neighborhood, showing young readers all the many ways they can show the world exactly who they are.
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Uncle John's City Garden
by Bernette G. Ford
Visiting the city from her home in the suburbs, an African American girl sees how a few packets of seeds, some helping hands and hard work transform an empty lot in a housing project into a magical place where vegetables grow and family gathers.
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Who are Your People?
by Bakari Sellers
The New York Times best-selling author and CNN analyst presents this picture book in which he pays tribute to the roots that help shape young children into whoever they want to be.
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Carter Reads the Newspaper
by Deborah Hopkinson
This first-ever picture book biography of Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History Month, emphasizes the importance of pursuing curiosity and encouraging a hunger for knowledge of stories and histories that have not been told. Illustrations also feature brief biographical sketches of important figures from African and African American history.
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My Hair is Magic!
by M. L. Marroquin
A little girl knows her hair is great just as it is. When people ask, "Why is your hair so BIG?" she answers, "Why isn't yours?" Her hair is soft, it protects her, it's both gentle and fierce. While some might worry about how it's different and try to contain it, she gives it the freedom to be so extraordinary it almost has a life of its own.
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Ruby's Reunion Day Dinner
by Angela Dalton
Inspired by the rich tradition of African American reunions, a multigenerational story follows the experiences of young Ruby, who helps loved ones prepare the foods they are bringing while trying to think of a signature dish of her own.
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All Because You Matter
by Tami Charles
A lyrical, heart-lifting love letter to Black and Brown children everywhere reminds them how much they matter, that they have always mattered, and they always will.
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I am Every Good Thing
by Derrick. Barnes
Proud of everything that makes him who he is, a young Black narrator celebrates the creativity, adventurous spirit, humor, and loyalty that shape his undeterred spirit and confident goals, even when people who do not understand try to limit his potential.
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Brown Sugar Babe
by Charlotte Watson Sherman
After a young girl declares she is pink, her mother shows her all the wonderful things that brown can be and to be proud of her skin.
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