If you think kids books by african american authors are only for families of color, think again. These books center, reflect, and affirm black boys, and were written and illustrated by black authors and artists. Children book authors and avid readers contributed their favorite childrens books to a list of the, top 150 recommended africanamerican childrens books. Get your own author profile on, or let us host your primary web presence. May 19, 2018 this was a great place to find black children s and black kids books. But i am a huge sucker for picture books, early readers, chapter books, etc. Black history month gives us 29 days to honor african americans and the everexpanding contributions they make to culture. We are pleased to provide books on the african experience world wide, as well as books on the african american experience from your favorite african american authors. The conscious kid library curated this list of 25 childrens books celebrating black boys, in partnership with moms of black boys united. Writing for babies through schoolage children, pinkney has published more than 20 books and been honored as a coretta scott king book award winner. The stunning, thoughtprovoking first novel by a lost giant of american literature the new yorkerjune, 1957. This limited book list features childrens picture books by black authors that my family has enjoyed reading. The wellknown author retells 24 black american folk tales in sure storytelling voice.
This adorable tale written by acclaimed director spike lee and his wife tonya. With books about everything from jazz and jackie robinson to slavery and segregation, there are many rich biographies and themes to explore with children during black history month february or any time of year. Africanamerican authors from african and the african. Childrens book, authors, booksellers, and avid readers contributed their favorite childrens books, published bewteeen 1972 and 2019, to this list. Black history month is a great time to highlight the work of black authors in the u. As of 2017, still only 28 percent of childrens ya books published each year represent people of color, and when fewer still portray marginalized. Bcba is an online resource for childrens books written by black authors. So, growing up, there werent a lot of picture books that had people who looked like me. Only 1% of childrens books have bame main characters uk. Kids books for african american history month, from picture books to ya. Lullaby for a black mother by langston hughes, illustrated by sean qualls. Holding the position of childrens laureate from 20 2015, and originally from the clapham district in london, blackman describes herself simply. We meet many great authors the environment was family friendly and there were lots of black men and black women attending with. See more ideas about childrens authors, american children, african american.
Books of interest to african americans and people of color. Heres a great article about the challenge from bookriot. This february, were taking a look at recent history and celebrating contemporary icons and rising stars in fiction, nonfiction, poetry and more. But before he made movies and wrote books, he was a poor african american looking for work.
These products are our current recommendations for you. A prolific writer known for his colorful portrayals of black life from the 1920s1960s, hughes wrote plays, short stories, poetry, several books, and contributed the lyrics to a broadway musical. Books for littlesbfl is free and accessible for readers who cant afford a paywall. Or maybe its because i didnt learn to read until age ten. I think my parents realized this early on and tried to make up for it the best they could. See more ideas about books, childrens books and african american books. Louis black authors of childrens literature believes that for black children, stories written about them and their interests are important when learning how to read. However, kids today have a much larger selection of childrens books to choose from with brown. Childrens picture books by black authors what do we do. Read the biographies, discover the published books, and watch videos for more than 3,300 black, afroamerican, african and authors of african descent from the caribbean, europe, the americas, and the entire african diaspora. Reading one of these new childrens books is the perfect way to celebrate black history month with your little one. A diverse range of classics, contemporary mustreads, and memoirs youll definitely wanna fill your time with. Consider these 10 black childrens authors who offer listens to captivate kids of all ages, interests, and ethnic variations.
King into a captivating narrative to tell the story of. African american childrens books written by african american authors are a wonderful addition to any household. From madeline to alice in wonderland, it was hard to find a face that looked like my own in these classic childrens tales. An ode to the fresh cut by derrick barnes, illustrated by gordon c. Discover the best childrens africanamerican story books in best sellers.
Increases in the number of childrens books about kids of color in the past few years have brought the rate of childrens books with an african american character from 6 percent in 2008 to 11. We meet many great authors the environment was family friendly and there were. Two of his most controversial books were, native son 1940 and black boy 1945. The undefeated caldecott medal book kwame alexander. Black is the body was one of oprah magazines 25 most anticipated books of 2019, and now its out and in its second printing. I even got my masters in writing books for children and teenagers. We know children and young readers will enjoy most, if not all, of these books, because they have already brought joy to countless children. Join us weekly for new features and mentions as we prepare for international childrens book day on april 2nd. Picture books find biographies of african americans who made their mark and fiction that reflects their experiences in these childrens picture books. Taken from the poem by langston hughes and beautifully illustrated. This list of black childrens books by black authors are ones which you may want to get for the kiddos in your life or your own library. The report was created by the clpe centre for literacy in primary education and aimed to explore the extent and quality of ethnic representation in childrens publishing in the uk. Writers and scholars have bemoaned the whiteness of childrens books for decades, but the topic took on new life in 2014, when the influential black author walter dean myers and his son, the. Consider these 10 black childrens authors who offer listens to captivate kids of.
Feb 01, 2018 weve decided to accept the challenge and read childrens books written by black authors for black history month. Stlblackauthors saint louis black authors of childrens. An agebyage guide to the best historical fiction books for kids. Here are some black childrens illustrators and authors to add to your childs bookshelf.
Authors both far and wide will be gathered on our list of. And not only are black, asian and minority ethnic bame authors and illustrators underrepresented in the childrens book market, but so are bame kids themselves. This is not a curated list, and we do not endorse any of the books listed. Aug 08, 2018 the report was created by the clpe centre for literacy in primary education and aimed to explore the extent and quality of ethnic representation in childrens publishing in the uk. To celebrate black history month, weve included 26 books by black authors from the last two centuries, all of which are mustread works. Each novel, memoir, or collection of poetry or essays listed below is a powerfully written and completely captivating celebration of the black experience. One hot afternoon in the backwaters of the deep south, a young black farmer named tucker caliban salts his fields, shoots his horse, burns. Today we celebrate the books that will broaden your child s imagination and open new worlds of discovery and selflove.
With over fifty published books and 21,000 followers on twitter, blackman is a literary force to be reckoned with. Whether you are a student, parent, educator, librarian, avid reader, or someone who just stumbled upon this site, this resource is for you to expand your knowledge of black childrens authors and the stories they write. Americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie, children of blood and bone by tomi adeyemi, the hate u give by angie thomas, thei. Our online author directory lists traditional and selfpublished. Nowadays, most places will allow you to check more than one when it comes to your race. May 27, 2019 increases in the number of childrens books about kids of color in the past few years have brought the rate of childrens books with an african american character from 6 percent in 2008 to 11. Part of the diversity movement in publishing is not just to publish more picture books with diverse characters but also to bring more books by minority authors into the world.
Richard wright 19081960 writer of the famous fourpart series, uncle toms children 1938, wright is remembered for fearlessly writing about the black mans struggle against and suffering in a heavily racist society. As a call out, some of the books below will feature biracial children. After noticing the lack of childrens books featuring black children, andrea davis pinkney decided to do something about it. Martin luther king by doreen rappaport, illustrated by bryan collier. The uncomfortable truth about childrens books mother jones. Partnering with authors including celebrities such as famed filmmaker spike lee, kadir nelson has brought us some gorgeous illustrations of black children and families. Please note that all purchases on this website are processed via amazon, and that as an amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases made via our website.
Jan, 2020 this list of black childrens books by black authors are ones which you may want to get for the kiddos in your life. You may also share your work with readers on our discussion forums just dive right. Imanis moon by janay brownwood, illustrated by hazel mitchell. Jan 28, 2020 as one of our country s great black writers, baldwin published a slew of books, short stories, and essays in his life time.
Clearly, we could all use some generational storytelling about now. Go tell it on the mountain by james baldwin, nobody knows my name by james baldwin, if beale street could talk by. This was a great place to find black childrens and black kids books. The report concluded that of 9,115 childrens books published in the uk in 2017. Most are from a christian perspective biographies, devotionals, bibles, childrens books, urban christian fiction. Jan 22, 2019 part of the diversity movement in publishing is not just to publish more picture books with diverse characters but also to bring more books by minority authors into the world. Only 1% of british childrens books feature a main character who is black or minority ethnic, a investigation into representations of people of colour has found, with the director calling the.
In fact, a 2018 research project by the centre for literacy in primary education showed that only 4% of childrens books published in the previous 12 months featured bame. This limited book list features childrens picture books by black. In his first book, go tell it on the mountain, he penned a semiautobiographical story of a teen growing up in 1930s harlem who struggles with selfidentity as the stepson of a strict pentecostal minister. Please, baby, please, by spike lee and tonya lewis lee. Our mission is to promote awareness of childrens and young adult literature by black authors. I also aim to fill my childrens reading experiences with a full spectrum of brown and black characters in a variety of books. Our pick of childrens books with black characters fictional stories. Bcba is an online resource for children s books written by black authors. As a kid, growing up, there werent many black characters in the books i coveted so much. Best sellers in childrens africanamerican story books. However, kids today have a much larger selection of childrens books to choose from with brown characters of all shades for them to identify with and most of them have been written.
Weve decided to accept the challenge and read childrens books written by black authors for black history month. This picturebook biography is an excellent and accessible introduction for young readers to learn about one of the worlds most influential leaders, dr. May 05, 2015 17 books every black child should read it s world book day. As one of our countrys great black writers, baldwin published a slew of books, short stories, and essays in his life time. The biographical dictionary black authors and illustrators of childrens books by barbara rollock is a significant revision of the earlier edition, published in 1987.
The biographical dictionary black authors and illustrators of children s books by barbara rollock is a significant revision of the earlier edition, published in 1987. Black childrens books and authors bcba our mission is to promote awareness of childrens and young adult literature by black authors. Today we celebrate the books that will broaden your childs imagination and open new worlds of discovery and selflove. But theres one problem with me writing a list of the 20 best. Childrens picture books by black authors what do we. Authors both far and wide will be gathered on our list of exceptional reads for your little one. Our online author directory lists traditional and selfpublished authors. Bame childrens books black, asian and minority ethnic. From achebe to zora, youll discover a wide variety african american and black writers from all over the world. African american fiction classics, african american. African american literature, american children, masters, las vegas, childrens book writers, curly kids, black authors, little girl names, black characters. Top 150 recommended africanamerican childrens books.
1280 380 103 130 1379 986 1250 1516 699 1067 185 496 821 154 476 1179 245 102 561 928 834 377 1284 892 771 1471 184 962 1175 567 1193 240 577 178