Children's Books by African American Authors

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.

"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

Twelve-year-old Deirdre, whose passion for photography has earned her the nickname "Camera Dee," feels uncomfortable being the only black student at her new school.

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

What's a mother hen to do when her chickies get too picky? Find out in this tongue-twisting tale pack-pack-packed with laughter. "Impossible to read only once" -- "Chicago Tribune" Henny is carrying a sacky filled with snicky-snacky for her chicks. They demand a snacky-snicky instead. So Henny eats the snicky-snacky. But the chicks know what to do! "The repetitious rhymes may tangle the tongue, but young listeners will be given to gales of laughter....Illustrations complement well the absurdity of the tale."--"School Library Journal."

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

Illus. in full color. Cassie, who flew above New York in Tar Beach, soars into the sky once more. This time, she and her brother Be Be meet a train full of people, and Be Be joins them. But the train departs before Cassie can climb aboard. With Harriet Tubman as her guide, Cassie retraces the steps escaping slaves took on the real Underground Railroad and is finally reunited with her brother at the story's end. "Cassie learns her people's history well; so will readers of this impressive picture book. Ringgold's dynamic paintings combine historical fact with strongly realized emotions."--(starred) Booklist. "Groundbreaking!"--(starred) School Library Journal.  

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

A baby and big brother figure out how to get along. Ages 4 to 6

Charles, an African American student, learns to appreciate his similarities to and differences from his new friend Hector, who is from Puerto Rico.

After the Civil War Paul, the son of a white father and a black mother, finds himself caught between the two worlds of colored folks and white folks as he pursues his dream of owning land of his own land. Ages 10 and up
Coretta Scott King Award

Sadistically teased by two white boys in 1940's rural Mississippi, a black youth severely injures one of the boys with a tire iron and enlists Cassie's help in trying to flee the state. Ages 12 and up
Coretta Scott King Award

A black family living in the South during the 1930's are faced with prejudice and discrimination which their children don't understand. Ages 11 and up
Newbery Medal

During the Depression, a rural black family deeply attached to the forest on their land tries to save it from being cut down by an unscrupulous white man. Ages 8 and up

In Mississippi in the early 1900s ten-year-old David Logan's family generously shares their well water with both white and black neighbors in an atmosphere of potential racial violence. Ages 8 and up

With the help of Good Snake, a young African boy gets his dearest wish. Ages 12 and up

Jason wants to help, but isn't sure that his mother needs him at all after she brings home a new baby from the hospital. Ages 5 to 6

On a hot, humdrum day Ty meets a man who, using a washboard, comb, spoons, and pail, fills that night with music
Ages 4 and up

Despite his love of drawing and his feelings of inadequacy as an athlete, sixth-grader Xander Suitcase Bingham works to become a baseball player to win the approval of his father.

A young black girl relates the daily events of her family's migrant life in the cotton fields of central California. Ages 5 to 8 Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Award

Troubled fourteen-year-old Gayle is sent down South to live with her uncle and aunt, where her life begins to change as she experiences the healing power of the family.
Ages 12 and up

In the summer of 1968, after travelling
to spend a month with the mother they barely know, Delphine and her two younger sisters arrive to a cold welcome as they discover that their mother, a dedicated poet and printer, is resentful of the intrusion of their visit and wants them to attend a nearby Black Panther summer camp.
Ages 8 and up
Coretta Scott King Award

After Mama takes a job in Chicago during World War II, Ada Ruth stays with Grandma but misses her mother who loves her more than rain and snow.
Ages 5 to 8
Caldecott Honor

Fourteen-year-old MelaninSun's comfortable, quiet life is shattered when his mother reveals she has fallen in love with a woman.
Ages 10 and up

Twelve-year-old Toswiah finds her life changed when her family enters the witness protection program.
Ages 10 and up

Marie, the only black girl in the eighth grade willing to befriend her white classmate Lena, discovers that Lena's father is doing horrible things to her in private.
Ages 12 and up

After meeting at their private school in New York, fifteen-year-old Jeremiah, who is black and whose parents are separated, and Ellie, who is white and whose mother has twice abandoned her, fall in love and then try to cope with people's reactions.
Ages 12 and up

Twelve-year-old Lafayette's close relationship with his older brother Charlie changes after Charlie is released from a detention home and blames Lafayette for the death of their mother. Ages 12 and up.
Coretta Scott King Award

Illustrations by Jon J Muth. Johnson and his sister, Beebee's mama has gone away many times before, but something tells them that this time she won't be coming back. Then a social worker comes and takes them to meet their aunt Gracie. Beebee barely remembers her, and Mama never even told Johnson about her. They wonder where she's been all this time - and why she would want to take care of them. Warily, though, the children begin to trust Aunt Gracie, and in the process, understand what it means to be a family. Full-colour, full-page illustrations. Ages 5-9.

Jacqueline Woodson is the 2018-2019 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Winner of a Newbery Honor! Soonie's great-grandma was just seven years old when she was sold to a big plantation without her ma and pa, and with only some fabric and needles to call her own. She pieced together bright patches with names like North Star and Crossroads, patches with secret meanings made into quilts called Show Ways -- maps for slaves to follow to freedom. When she grew up and had a little girl, she passed on this knowledge. And generations later, Soonie -- who was born free -- taught her own daughter how to sew beautiful quilts to be sold at market and how to read. From slavery to freedom, through segregation, freedom marches and the fight for literacy, the tradition they called Show Way has been passed down by the women in Jacqueline Woodson's family as a way to remember the past and celebrate the possibilities of the future. Beautifully rendered in Hudson Talbott's luminous art, this moving, lyrical account pays tribute to women whose strength and knowledge illuminate their daughters' lives.

A young girl and her grandmother visit the girl's father in prison. Ages 4-8

Eight-year-old Lettie describes the preparations for her sister's wedding and the day itself, a day of celebration in the slave quarters, where free time for fun is infrequent. Ages 5-8

Explains how the hair style of cornrows, a symbol in Africa since ancient times, can today in this country symbolize the courage of outstanding African Americans. Ages 5 and up