Children's Books - African American Authors

As a young African boy travels to visit his grandmother, he passes through the village market, where he sees lots of things Granny would like and counts how many of each thing he sees.
Ages 3 to 8

A fictional correspondence between President Abraham Lincoln and a twelve-year-old slave girl that discusses his decision to write the Emancipation Proclamation.
Ages 9 and up

In 1936, three children meet at the Mercy Home for Negro Orphans in New York State, and while not all three are orphans, they are all dealing with grief and loss which together, along with the help of a sympathetic staff member and the boxing matches of Joe Louis, they manage to overcome. Ages 8 and up

"After her tribal village is attacked by militants, Amira, a young Sudanese girl, must flee to safety at a refugee camp, where she finds hope and the chance to pursue an education in the form of a single red pencil and the friendship and encouragement of a wise elder"-- Provided by publisher

After an encounter with a sparrow, Henry finds he is able to fly just like his favorite comic book hero HawkMan.
Ages 4 to 6

When Tom decides to have a birthday party for his dog Louie, one of the invited guests unwittingly starts an argument that is carried out entirely by correspondence. Ages 5 to 9

Rosy's mother remembers the pleasures of her childhood in Jamaica and the very special dolls she used to play with. Ages 4 to 8

Retells the story of Verdi's opera in which the love of the enslaved Ethiopian princess for an Egyptian general brings tragedy to all involved.
Ages 10 and up

Names the people and objects that make a girl's New York City apartment, school, and neighborhood special. Ages 3 to 7

A young girl dreams of flying above her Harlem home, claiming all she sees for herself and her family. Based on the author's quilt painting of the same name. Ages 5 to 8
Caldecott Honor

Born with a withered leg and hand, Pascal, who is about twelve years old, joins other former slaves in a search for a farm and the freedom which it promises. Ages 10 to 12

This book reveals the innermost hopes and dreams of a poor black family living in the heart of one of the richest counties in the United States (in Westchester.)

Thembi and her beloved great-grandmother, who has not left the house for many years, go together to vote on the momentous day when black South Africans are allowed to vote for the first time. Ages 1 to 6

A young African American girl thinks of her mom as a superhero, a doctor, her North Star. But when her beloved role model unexpectedly dies, she cannot even cry; sadness is too overwhelming. As she struggles with grief, she must learn how to carry on while keeping the memory of her mother very much alive inside her heart.
Ages 10 and up

Relates how girls are unique individuals, possessing self-esteem and discipline, and able to work with other girls to make the world a better place. Ages 6 to 9

The joys and frustrations of family life are portrayed through the eyes of Annie Rye, the ten-year-old daughter of a black sharecropper.
Ages 8 to 12