Picture Books by African American Authors

Allen, Debbie

Sassy tries out for a summer dance festival in Washington, D.C., despite the other girls' taunts that she is much too tall.

Andrews, Troy

A Grammy-nominated headliner for the New Orleans Jazz Fest describes his childhood in Tremé and how he came to be a bandleader by age six.

Asim, Jabari, 1962-

A biography of the former slave and inspiring educator describes the hardships he overcame in youth, the circumstances that challenged his efforts to learn how to read, and his triumphant pursuit of a college education.

Barnes, Derrick D. author.

Celebrates the magnificent feeling that comes from walking out of a barber shop with newly-cut hair.

Beaty, Daniel

A boy wakes up one morning to find his father gone. At first, he feels lost. But his father has left him a letter filled with advice to guide him through the times he cannot be there,

Bolden, Tonya

Under a radiant moon and surrounded by all the noises of the city at night, a little boy prays for those in need, for wars to end, for the sick to be healed, and for all the members of his family.

Brantley-Newton, Vanessa author, illustrator.

When Grandma Mimi comes to visit, her granddaughter cannot wait to see what treasures she has hidden in her purse.

Brown, Tameka Fryer

Jamie describes his mood throughout the day, using colors and rhythmic text, as he changes from an "easy green mood" while drawing a picture for his sister to a "brooding black mood" when he is teased for doing so.

Bryan, Ashley

A fearless little boy ignores Grandma's warning about nighttime monsters until he runs away and meets the two-headed giant's three-headed brother.

Cooper, Floyd

When Max leaves his grandfather's house, the moon follows him all the way home, just as Grandpa promised it would.

Diggs, Taye author.

Rhyming text shares a day in the life of a mixed-race child named Mike as he answers questions about being mixed.

Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967

Presents the popular poem by one of the central figures in the Harlem Renaissance, highlighting the courage and dignity of the African American Pullman porters in the early twentieth century.

Lee, Spike

A toddler's antics keep his mother busy as she tries to feed him, watch him on the playground, give him a bath, and put him to bed.

Lyons, Kelly Starling

Cherishing the special broom resting above her hearth for its representation of the slave heritage that once forbade legal marriages, Ellen prepares for her parents' triumphant registry at a Reconstruction-era courthouse as lawful husband and wife and proudly carries the broom so that they can repeat a cultural wedding tradition.

Nelson, Kadir

With spare text and breathtaking oil paintings, If You Plant a Seed demonstrates not only the process of planting and growing for young children but also how a seed of kindness can bear sweet fruit.

Ringgold, Faith

Lonnie and his uncle Bates go on an unforgettable journey back in time to the Harlem Renaissance, where they meet such famous writers, musicians, artists, and athletes as Louis Armstrong, Jack Johnson, Josephine Baker, and Langston Hughes.

Schofield-Morrison, Connie

On a trip to the park with her mother, a young girl hears a rhythm coming from the world around her and begins to move to the beat, finally beginning an impromptu dance in which other childen join her.

Smith, Hope Anita author.

A picture book of poems that celebrate fathers from a two-time Coretta Scott King Honor-winning poet.

Wallis, Quvenzhané, 2003- author.

A very talented little girl has a very special night ahead of her. A night where she’ll get to wear a new dress in the most beautiful shade of blue with shoes that match it perfectly. A night where she’ll get to ride in the biggest car she’s ever seen! A night that will, of course, include ice cream.

Watson, Renée

Born to parents who were both former slaves, Florence Mills knew at an early age that she loved to sing, and that her sweet, bird-like voice, resonated with those who heard her. Performing catapulted her all the way to the stages of 1920s Broadway where she inspired everyone from songwriters to playwrights, while choosing to support and promote works by her fellow black performers while heralding a call for their civil rights.

Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956- author.

A poetic tribute to a lesser-known part of African-American history describes how after working relentlessly for more than six days, slaves in nineteenth-century New Orleans were permitted to congregate in Congo Square.

Woodson, Jacqueline

When Mama's pregnancy draws attention away from Gia, she worries that the special bond they share will disappear forever once the baby is born.