NEW 2024 Black History Children's & Young Adult Books

Black History Month is in full swing!

Here are some of our favourite new Black History children’s and young adult books for ages 3 to 18!

NEW 2024 Black History Children’s & Young Adult Books

Preschool

Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin
by Michelle Meadows

Before he became a writer, James “Jimmy” Baldwin was a young boy from Harlem who loved stories. He found joy in music, family, and books. When he discovered the written word, it gave him a voice. From the publication of the groundbreaking collection of essays The Fire Next Time to his passionate demonstrations during the civil rights movement, Jimmy used his voice fearlessly. Brought to life with expressive illustrations, Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues chronicles the life of an incredible visionary who left an indelible mark on American literature and history. ~ African -Preschool

Colin Powell: A Little Golden Book Biography
by Frank Berrios

Help your little one dream big with a Little Golden Book biography about Colin Powell, a son of immigrants who became a four-star general and the United States’ first Black secretary of state. The inspiring Little Golden Book biographies are the perfect introduction to nonfiction for young readers. ~ African – Preschool

Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King
by Coretta Scott King

Coretta is the autobiography of Coretta Scott King––wife of Martin Luther King, Jr.; founder of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (the King Center); and extraordinary civil and human rights activist. Learn about how a girl born in the segregated deep south became a global leader and an unforgettable champion of social change. Celebrate the life of theCoretta Scott King with this picture book adaptation of her critically acclaimed adult memoir. ~ African – Preschool

Fighting with Love: The Legacy of John Lewis
by Lesa Cline-Ransome

John Lewis left a cotton farm in Alabama to join the fight for civil rights when he was only a teenager. He soon became a leader of a movement that changed the nation. Walking at the side of his mentor, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Lewis was led by his belief in peaceful action and voting rights. Today and always his work and legacy live on. Beautifully illustrated Fighting With Love tells the story of groundbreaking civil rights leader John Lewis. ~ African – Preschool

Elementary School

Dear Ruby, Hear Our Hearts
by Ruby Bridges

“I’ve heard their hearts and now share those hearts with you. These pages truly speak to the power of children!” Ruby Bridges was the first Black child to attend an all-white elementary school in New Orleans. She established the Ruby Bridges Foundation to promote tolerance and create change through education. She traveled across the US, listening to the inspiring voices of young children. Dear Ruby, Hear Our Hearts is a compilation of letters from concerned young students about today’s issues, including bullying, climate change, gun violence, and racism. Reading Ruby’s intuitive and inspirational responses, young readers will embrace the courage to be brave, bold, and confident. ~ African – Elementary School

Ida B. Wells Marches for the Vote
by Dinah Johnson

Ida B. Wells grew up during a time when women did not have the right to vote. But Ida aspired for equality; she had learned from her parents to forge a life through hope and bravery, so she worked tirelessly to fight for an America that was fair to everyone regardless of race and gender. Her courageous activism made her one of the most influential civil rights leaders in American history. Ida B. Wells Marches For the Vote is a stunning picture book biography about the early life of Ida B. Wells, her incredible work as a suffragist, and her critical role in the Women’s March of 1913. ~ African – Elementary School

Do You Know Them?: Families Lost and Found After the Civil War
by Shana Keller

After the war’s end, everyone is missing someone. Lettie is missing her family. They had been sold and lost long before enslavement was abolished. Every week, she reads the advertisements in the newspapers to her congregation. Lettie is determined to find her loved ones, too. She saves every penny she earns, but not to buy candy or toys. She saves for something better—something that could bring her whole family together. Do You Know Them? is a moving and triumphant picture book inspired by the printed newspaper ads placed by African Americans who were separated from family members by the Civil War, enslavement, and emancipation. Every ad depicted in this poignant tale is authentically historical, bringing the heart-wrenching past to life. ~ African – Elementary School

We Dream a World
by Yolanda King

We Dream A World is a stirring tribute to Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King, Jr., by heir granddaughter, Yolanda – a national civil rights figure in her own right. With inspiration from Langston Hughes and deep love for her grandparents, Yolanda King shows the world that young people are strong enough to carry on their elders’ legacy while creating a new path for themselves. Her words are meaningful and universal, painting an expressive tableau of the issues facing young people today – racial equality, bullying, gun violence, climate change, disease, community, empowerment, inclusion, and more. Yolanda’s words will comfort and inspire the next generation of dreamers. ~ African – Elementary School

The Story of Sojourner Truth: A Biography Book for New Readers
by Anita Crawford Clark

Sojourner Truth, born Isabella Baumfree, was one of the most important leaders in the anti-slavery movement. Before she fought for freedom and changed American history, she was a young enslaved girl who wanted a better life for herself and for all Black people. She overcame many incredible challenges as she bravely stood up for equality and justice. The Story of Sojourner Truth is an inspiring chapter book about one of America’s greatest champions for human rights. ~ African – Elementary School

Middle School

Hip-Hop: The Beat of America
by Jarrett Williams

How did a bunch of young people from the inner city create a genre of music that became a global phenomenon? From its humble origins at house parties in the Bronx, where DJs mixed old records to create new sounds, charismatic MCs let their clever lyrics flow, and B-boys and B-girls pioneered inventive dance moves, Hip-Hop: The Beat of America explores this musical and cultural revolution. Meet Aaliyah, a hip-hop superfan, and her dad, who grew up in the 1970s when rap music first hit the scene. The pair take a day trip to the Bronx where Aaliyah discovers the many unsung heroes who helped create the foundations of the hip-hop we all enjoy today. So get ready to drop the beat, bust a move, and get down with some fresh rap knowledge! ~ African & Middle School

Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers
by Zora Neale Hurston & Ibram X. Kendi

Of the millions of men, women, and children transported from Africa to America to be enslaved, eighty-six-year-old Cudjo Lewis was then the only person alive to tell the story of his capture and bondage—fifty years after the Atlantic human trade was outlawed in the United States. Cudjo shared his firsthand account with legendary folklorist, anthropologist, and writer Zora Neale Hurston. Adapted with care and delivered with age-appropriate historical context by award-winning historian Ibram X. Kendi, Cudjo’s incredible story is now available for young readers and emerging scholars. With powerful illustrations, Barracoon is a poignant story and an invaluable contribution to teaching young people about Black history. ~ African & Middle School

High School

Poemhood: Our Black Revival
by A. McBride, T. Byas & E. Martin

“Come, claim your wings. / Lift your life above the earth, / return to the land of your father’s birth. / What exactly is it to be Black in America?” For some, it’s learning how to morph the hatred from others into love for oneself; for others, it’s unearthing the strength it takes to continue to hold one’s swagger when multitudinous factors work to make Black lives crumble. For some, it’s gathering around the kitchen table as Grandma tells the story of Anansi the spider, while for others it’s grinning from ear to ear while eating auntie’s spectacular 7Up cake. Starring thirty-seven poets, with contributions from acclaimed authors, including Kwame Alexander, Ibi Zoboi, and Nikki Giovanni, Poemhood: Our Black Revival is a riveting anthology that celebrates Black poetry, folklore, and culture. ~ African – High School

American Wings
by S.L. Smith & E. Wein

In the years between World War I and World War II, aviation fever was everywhere, including among Black Americans. But what hope did a Black person have of learning to fly in a country constricted by prejudice and Jim Crow laws, where Black aviators like Bessie Coleman had to move to France to earn their wings? Featuring rare historical photographs, American Wingsfollows a group of determined Black Americans: Cornelius Coffey and Johnny Robinson, skilled auto mechanics; Janet Harmon Bragg, a nurse; and Willa Brown, a teacher and social worker. Together, they created a flying club and built their own airfield south of Chicago. As the U.S. hurtled toward World War II, they established a school to train new pilots, teaching both Black and white students together and proving, in a time when the U.S. military was still segregated, that successful integration was possible. ~ African – High School