Children's Books by African American Authors

A collection of poems written by Afro-American children celebrating what it means to be Black

Presents Maya Angelou's poem illustrated by paintings and drawings of Jean-Michel Basquiat.

A collection of twenty tales recounting the antics of the West Indian trickster Anancy and his companions Bro Monkey, Bro Dog, and Bro Tiger.

Children's poetry.

A collection of poems that celebrate the joy, beauty, imagination, and freedom of childhood.

Each letter of the alphabet is represented by a line from a poem by different African American poets, describing an aspect of the black experience.

In a story of the Ila people, the colorful birds of Africa ask Blackbird, whom they think is the most beautiful of birds, to decorate them with some of his "blackening brew."

Donald Crews, the Caldecott Honor artist and award-winning creator of Freight Train, Truck, and many other classic picture books for young children, writes of his own childhood experiences visiting his grandparents in Florida. Share this book at home or in the classroom. Everyone will enjoy the memories of a perfect day in the country, exploring and playing, and the connections among family members across generations. Four children travel with their mother, and when the train arrives in Cottondale, Florida, the summer at Bigmama's house begins! Donald Crews brilliantly evokes the sights, sounds, and emotions of a memorable childhood experience. Beautifully and richly illustrated, this is a wonderful choice for family reading and classroom sharing. "A very special book by a superb artist and storyteller."--The Horn Book A fun read-aloud, it also helps children ages 3 to 6 easily learn about how to share details of place in storytelling.

From Donald Crews, the Caldecott Honor artist and award-winning creator of Truck, Freight Train, and many other classic picture books for young children, this picture book is a fun introduction to basic math concepts. What can you do with ten black dots? One dot can make a sun, two dots can make the eyes of a fox, and three dots can make a snowman's face. And that's just the beginning in this unique counting book! Children will develop visual learning skills, explore creativity, and practice counting numbers, all in one deceptively simple--and fun!--picture book. A proven favorite at home and in the preschool classroom.

A retelling of a traditional Liberian tale in which King Leopard invites all the animals to a spear-throwing contest whose winner will marry his daughter and succeed him as king.

Donso, a West African hunterman, learns the importance of living in harmony with nature and the necessity of placing humans among, not above, all other living things.

An illustrated collection of poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar, including "A Boy's Summer Song," "The Sparrow," and "Little Brown Baby."

Presents a word, with English translation, for each of the twenty-four letters in the Swahili alphabet. Brief explanation of each word introduces an East African custom.

The numbers one through ten in Swahili accompany two-page illustrations of various aspects of East African life.

Readers learn about the lives of countless slaves and former slaves, who tell about their forced journeys from Africa to the United States, their work in the fields and houses of their owners, and their passion for freedom. Illustrations.

Artwork and poems by such writers as Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, and Askia Toure portray the creativity, strength, and beauty of their African American heritage.

Angels are everywhere, and here, in this extraordinary book, we see them directly affecting the lives of children. Jan Spivey Gilchrist and Eloise Greenfield have created a collection of drawings and poetry that show angels guiding, comforting, and protecting children during their many milestones and their everyday activities -- playtime, snowy days, special moments with More and Dad, and many more places and times. Artist Jan Spivey Gilchrist depicts the unique beauty of angels using her fine-arts graphite style. This illustrative approach is part of a one-woman exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago.

From the legendary children's book writer Eloise Greenfield comes the beautiful Coretta Scott King Honor-winning middle grade memoir written in collaboration with her mother and grandmother and illustrated by award-winning illustrator Jerry Pinkney. Three generations of African-American women remember their "childtimes" in this lyrical memoir spanning a century of American history. This book preserves the lives and communities of times past for future generations. Complete with a family tree, photos from the authors' family albums, and drawings by Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator Jerry Pinkney, Eloise Greenfield and Lessie Jones Little's Childtimes beautifully captures the experiences of grandmother, mother, and daughter as they recall moments from their childhood. "The intimate details of loving and growing up and the honesty with which they are told will involve all readers, both white and black, and broaden their understanding of this country's recent past." --School Library Journal

Describes the period of the 20th century when many African Americans left the South to make better lives for themselves in the northern states.

Juvenile poetry.

A collection of poems exploring the sounds, sights, and emotions enlivening a black neighborhood during the course of one evening.

A brief biography of the black woman sometimes known as the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement for her part in precipitating the Montgomery bus boycott.

In this story told in a series of rhyming poems, Zuri faces her fears about starting a new school year with the help of free-spirited best friend, Danitra.

Thirteen poem-prayers the author might have prayed as a child, expressing the hopes, fears, longings and ordinary, everyday concerns touching a child's life.

Over a dozen poems with some aspect of the African country of Tanzania as a theme.

Poems describe the different shoes children wear, including sandals, running shoes, golf shoes, and workboots.

In this West Indian version of the Rumpelstiltskin story, Lit'mahn spins thread into gold cloth for the king's new bride.

Each story focuses on the role of women--both real and fantastic--and their particular strengths, joys and sorrows.

Illus. in black-and-white. In this companion volume to the award-winning The People Could Fly, Virginia Hamilton traces the history of slavery and the Underground Railroad in America. Thirty-five inspiring stories describe ingenious escapes, desperate measures, and daring protests of former slaves.

In this retelling of a folktale, a group of slaves, unable to bear their sadness and starvation any longer, calls upon the African magic that allows them to fly away.

Surveys the history of black dance in America, from its beginnings with the ritual dances of African slaves, through tap and modern dance to break dancing. Includes brief biographies of influential dancers and companies.

Chronicles the early twentieth-century artistic and intellectual revolution in black America

A biography of Bayard Rustin, a skillful organizer behind the scenes of the American civil rights movement whose ideas stongly influenced Martin Luther King, Jr.

The true story of racism and injustice when nine young men and boys were falsely accused and convicted of raping two white women on a train in Scottsboro, Alabama, in 1931. Haskins describes how the judge, the jury system, and the public feeling in the Jim Crow South prevented the youths from getting a fair trial, so that they spent years in jail and their lives were destroyed.

Black youngsters form the shapes of numbers one through ten.

Black youngsters form themselves into letters of the alphabet

A fine anthology with contributions by such writers as Langston Hughes and Gwendolyn Brooks.

An introduction to jazz which focuses on its historical development.

Twenty-six short poems introduce animals for each letter of the alphabet, from Ape to Zebra.

Chronicles and captures poetically the history, mood, and movement of African American music.

Black-and-white photographs accompany this version of the song that has come to be considered the African American national anthem.

Retells six tales from American black folk literature: "Why the Waves Have Whitecaps," "Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Bear," "Why Dogs Hate Cats," "The Farmer and the Snake," "What is Trouble?" and "The Knee-High Man."

Readers learn about the lives of countless slaves and former slaves, who tell about their forced journeys from Africa to the United States, their work in the fields and houses of their owners, and their passion for freedom. Illustrations.

A history of African-American whalers between 1730 and 1880, describing their contributions to the whaling industry and their role in the abolitionist movement.

George Washington Carver spent his life asking questions and looking for the answers. He gained a reputation as the farmers' best friend after teaching about crop rotation: He told farmers to grow peanuts and sweet potatoes to rest their soil between cotton crops. And what could they do with all those peanuts? Carver developed more than 300 peanut-based products, from milk to printers' ink, and more than 100 ways to use sweet potatoes. Young children love the story of this exceptional inventor.

Ida B. Wells-Barnett rose from her roots in slavery to become an outspoken voice for her people. She was an important and influential journalist at a time in history when few women had careers. Using the power of her writing, she launched the first anti-lynching campaign and gained worldwide attention for this cause. Readers will love the story of this exceptional talent.

I always loved running, said Jesse Owens, who as a boy could outrun all his playmates. When he competed in the Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, people used words like express and comet to describe him. Owens won an amazing four Olympic gold medals in track and field events, and demonstrated to the world that Nazi leader Adolf Hitler's theory of racial inferiority was wrong. An athlete, humanitarian, speaker, and author, Owens dedicated his later years to helping the youth of America reach for greatness.

Music has been in my blood from the day I was born, said Louis Armstrong. He rose from a troubled childhood and a life of poverty to set the music world on fire. Armstrong's lively trumpet playing, trademark scat singing, and natural talent for showmanship dazzled audiences for more than fifty years. In clear, crisp prose, the McKissacks place Armstrong in American musical history and show the impact his extraordinary talent made throughout the world.

Don't wait for opportunities to come...get up and make them. said Madam C. J. Walker. She rose from laundry woman to become America's first black woman millionaire. Born in poverty, Walker set her sights on a better life and made her fortune by developing hair care and beauty products specially formulated for African Americans. As her wealth and influence grew, she also channeled her energies into working for civil rights and social change. This real-life rags-to-riches story is presented in an engaging narrative by the McKissacks.

Marian Anderson, with the power of her magnificent voice, triumphed over the racial barriers of her time. In a career that spanned four decades, she lifted herself out of poverty to become a world-famous singer. In this wonderful, easy text, the McKissacks show how the light of Marian Anderson grew bright and transformed her into one of the most beloved people around the world.

Paul Robeson proved his prowess on the football field and excelled in college and law school in an era that offered few opportunities to African Americans. He won international acclaim as a singer and actor, but was blacklisted as a controversial political activist. Today, Robeson's legacy has reclaimed its rightful place in history. He is recognized for his astounding range of talents and his unwavering stature as a champion of civil rights.

I believe in the essential goodness of my fellow man, said Ralph Bunche. In the early years of the United Nations, Bunche took the spotlight as an extraordinary negotiator for peace around the world. He became the first African American to win the Nobel Peace Prize. In simple, clear prose, Patricia and Frederick McKissack introduce an American statesman who devoted his life to a world of equality and of peace.

I have plowed and reaped and husked and chopped and mowed, and can any man do more than that'...Ain't I a woman? Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) was born into slavery in 1897 and sold away from her family as a child. Many years later, free at last, she became the first black woman to travel around the country preaching for human rights. Patricia and Fredrick McKissack introduce young readers to one of America's most eloquent, often-quoted reformers, an outspoken woman who delivered passionate sermons on the abolition of slavery and the importance of women's rights.

All her life, Zora Neale Hurston dreamed of becoming a successful writer. She traveled throughout the southern United States and Caribbean to collect what she called lying stories. These tales of African-American culture and folklore became the core of her writing. With easy-to-read simplicity, Patricia and Fredrick McKissack paint a lyrical portrait of this gifted storyteller of the Harlem Renaissance.

A series of poems written from the point of view of the poet Langston Hughes, offering an overview of key events and themes in his life.

The book contains a treasure chest of archival photographs that depict the historical events surrounding school desegregation. These unforgettable images serve as the inspiration for Ms. Morrison"s text--a fictional account of the dialogue and emotions of the children who lived during the era of "separate but equal" schooling. Ages 4-8
Coretta Scott King Award

A history of the African-American struggle for freedom and equality, beginning with the capture of Africans in 1619, continuing through the American Revolution, the Civil War, and into contemporary times.
Coretta Scott King Award

Examines the events and people that have shaped America, providing portraits of figures such as Chief Tecumseh, President Abraham Lincoln, and musician Jimi Hendrix, and featuring lyrical, free-verse poetic text.

Using an "Everyman" player as his narrator, Kadir Nelson tells the story of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through the decline after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947. Illustrations from oil paintings by artist Kadir Nelson.
CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD

Newbery Honor Book National Book Award finalist Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Flora Stieglitz Straus Award Beautiful verse explores agricultural scientist George Washington Carver's life and many achievements, from his work as a botanist and inventor to his unsung gifts as a painter, musician, and teacher. George Washington Carver was determined to help the people he loved. Born a slave in Missouri, he left home in search of an education, eventually earning his master's degree. When Booker T. Washington invited Carver to start the agricultural department at the all-black-staffed Tuskegee Institute, Carver truly found his calling. He spent the rest of his life seeking solutions to the poverty among landless Black farmers by developing new uses for soil-replenishing crops such as peanuts, cowpeas, and sweet potatoes. This STEAM biography reveals Carver's complex and profoundly devout life.