Celebrate Black Americans with These Nonfiction Books for Young Readers
No matter the time of year, it's always a good time to celebrate the Black Americans who have made - and continue to make - their mark on this country. We've put together a list of picture book and middle grade nonfiction books to inspire and educate young readers about important Black innovators throughout American history.
Black lives matter. Black voices matter. Black stories matter.
Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans
by Kadir Nelson
The story of America and African Americans is a story of hope and inspiration and unwavering courage. In Heart and Soul, Kadir Nelson's stirring paintings and words grace 100-plus pages of a gorgeous picture book—a beautiful gift for readers of all ages, a treasure to share across generations at home or in the classroom.
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race
by Margot Lee Shetterly
illustrated by Laura Freeman
Based on the New York Times bestselling book and the Academy Award–nominated movie, author Margot Lee Shetterly and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award winner Laura Freeman bring the incredibly inspiring true story of four black women who helped NASA launch men into space to picture book readers!
Barack
by Jonah Winter
illustrated by AG Ford
The New York Times best-selling, stunning picture book biography of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.
The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver
by Gene Barretta
illustrated by Frank Morrison
From the author-illustrator team behind Muhammad Ali: A Champion is Born comes the inspirational story of George Washington Carver and his childhood secret garden in this picture book biography of the celebrated botanist, scientist, and inventor.
Althea Gibson: The Story of Tennis' Fleet-Of-Foot Girl
by Megan Reid
illustrated by Laura Freeman
A spirited picture book biography about Althea Gibson, the first black Wimbledon, French, and U.S. Open tennis champion, from debut author Megan Reid and Coretta Scott King Honor–winning illustrator Laura Freeman. Althea Gibson: The Story of Tennis’ Fleet-of-Foot Girl chronicles this trailblazing athlete’s journey—and the talent, force of spirit, and energy that made it possible for her to break barriers and ascend to the top of the tennis world.
Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation
by Andrea Davis Pinkney
illustrated by Brian Pinkney
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus, and the Montgomery bus boycott began. So did the boycott blues. The award-winning husband-and-wife team of Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney creates a rhythmic, bluesy, compelling picture book about the 382 days before the Supreme Court sent Jim Crow flying, and all the people who walked and walked and walked and never gave up.
Ready to Fly: How Sylvia Townsend Became the Bookmobile Ballerina
by Lea Lyon and Alexandria LaFaye
illustrated by Jessica Gibson
Ready to Fly is an inspiring picture book about the life of African American dancer, Sylvia Townsend, who taught herself how to dance ballet by reading books she borrowed from a bookmobile as a young girl.
Coretta Scott
by Ntozake Shange
illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Celebrated poet and playwright Ntozake Shange captures the spirit of Civil Rights pioneer Coretta Scott King in this picture book biography gorgeously illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Kadir Nelson.
Frederick Douglass: The Lion Who Wrote History
by Walter Dean Myers
illustrated by Floyd Cooper
The story of one of America’s most revered figures is brought to life by the text of award-winning author Walter Dean Myers and the sweeping, lush illustrations of artist Floyd Cooper.
My Name is Truth: The Life of Sojourner Truth
by Ann Turner
illustrated by James Ransome
A stunning picture book biography about the inspirational abolitionist and women’s rights activist Sojourner Truth, from award-winning author Ann Turner and Coretta Scott King Award-winning illustrator James Ransome.
We Are America: A Tribute from the Heart
by Walter Dean Myers
illustrated by Christopher Myers
New York Times bestselling author Walter Dean Myers and Caldecott Honor artist Christopher Myers celebrate the freedom dream that is America: our struggles, our ideals, and our hope that we can live up to them. What is it to be an American? To live in a strange and beautiful land of complexity, with a tumultuous history of epic proportions, among the people who were here first, who came after, who will come tomorrow.
Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World
by Susan Hood
illustrated by 13 Extraordinary Women
Fresh, accessible, and inspiring, Shaking Things Up introduces fourteen revolutionary young women—each paired with a noteworthy female artist—to the next generation of activists, trail-blazers, and rabble-rousers. From the award-winning author of Ada’s Violin, Susan Hood, this is a poetic and visual celebration of persistent women throughout history.
Muhammad Ali: The People's Champion
by Walter Dean Myers
illustrated by Alix Delinois
New York Times bestselling author Walter Dean Myers explores Muhammad Ali’s life and recounts his most famous fights in this celebrated picture book biography. Myers examines the depth and complexity of the larger-than-life legend and heavyweight champion of the world, and the bold, vibrant art of Alix Delinois reflects the beauty and power of the man who could "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."
My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
by Martin Luther King III
illustrated by AG Ford
A remarkable picture book memoir of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the prime of his civil rights activism--told through the eyes of his oldest son, Marty, and illuminated by New York Times bestselling artist AG Ford. Marty shares the great moments and hardships of growing up as a son of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and maintaining the special bond between father and son.
Ida B. Wells: Let the Truth Be Told
by Walter Dean Myers
illustrated by Bonnie Christensen
In this Amistad co–publised picture book biography, award–winning author Walter Dean Myers’s story of Ida B. Wells, a pioneer, activist, and journalist, blends harmoniously with the historically detailed water colors paintings of illustrator Bonnie Christensen.
Mahalia Jackson: Walking With Kings and Queens
by Nina Nolan
illustrated by John Holyfield
A fascinating picture book biography about Mahalia Jackson’s rise to becoming the Queen of Gospel. Accompanied by John Holyfield’s gorgeous illustrations, Nina Nolan wonderfully captures the amazing story of how Mahalia Jackson became the Queen of Gospel.
Harlem Renaissance Party
by Faith Ringgold
Caldecott Honor artist Faith Ringgold takes readers on an unforgettable journey through the Harlem Renaissance. Bold and vibrant illustrations capture the song and dance of the Harlem Renaissance while Ringgold's story will captivate young readers, teaching them all about this significant time in our history.
In the Land of Milk and Honey
by Joyce Carol Thomas
illustrated by Floyd Cooper
Lemons as big as oranges, the cool Pacific Ocean, mountains that rise up beyond the outstretched bay—California beckons as one girl makes her way west on a journey filled with excitement, hope, and the promise of a place where people from all paths come together and music fills the air. This is the true story of author Joyce Carol Thomas's trip from Oklahoma to California in 1948, when she moved there as a girl. During that time, many people went west, drawn by warmth and possibility, reflected in the people of all cultures and ethnicities who started a new life there.
Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly
by Walter Dean Myers
illustrated by Leonard Jenkins
Award-winning author Walter Dean Myers, together with illustrator Leonard Jenkins, delivers a compelling portrayal of one of America's most influential Civil Rights figures.
Michelle Obama: First Lady and Superhero
by Sarah Howden
illustrated by Nick Craine
For over 50 years, kids have discovered the wonderful world of reading with I Can Read. Now they build their confidence and love of reading, while learning about lives of inspiring women who are showing everyone what women can do!
Misty Copeland: Ballet Star
by Sarah Howden
illustrated by Nick Craine
Misty Copeland is the first-ever African-American to become a principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre. Watch along with Ruby and her sister Jasmine as Misty dances in The Nutcracker!
Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter
by Nadia L. Hahn
illustrated by Gustavo Mazali
Beginning readers will learn about the milestones in Harriet Tubman’s life in this Level Two I Can Read biography, which includes a timeline and historical illustrations all about the life of this inspiring figure, as well as a rare historical photograph of her. Much mythology and conflicting lore exists about Harriet Tubman. This book was carefully vetted by noted Harriet Tubman expert Dr. Kate Larson
Strong Voices: Fifteen American Speeches Worth Knowing
introductions by Tonya Bolden
illustrated by Eric Valasquez
forward by Cokie Roberts
Strong Voices: Fifteen American Speeches Worth Knowing is a collection of speeches that showcases the voices of those at the reins of power, and of those who are not, at flashpoints in American history. Read the original words—sometimes abridged and sometimes in their entirety—that have shaped our cultural fabric. Introductions by acclaimed writer Tonya Bolden provide historical context and critical insights to the meaning and impact of every speech. Illustrations by award-winning artist Eric Velasquez illuminate what it was really like at each moment in history.
Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad
by Ann Petry
This gripping and critically acclaimed biography of Harriet Tubman now has a gorgeous new cover by Caldecott Medalist Kadir Nelson and a foreword by multi-award-winning author Jason Reynolds.
The Harlem Hellfighters: When Pride Met Courage
by Walter Dean Myers and Bill Miles
"We cannot let this history die, nor can we let it fade away. As it has filled me with pride and given me understanding of one group of outstanding soldiers, so it should be passed on to all Americans to appreciate and honor" (from the introduction by coauthor and unit historian Bill Miles). The Harlem Hellfighters: When Pride Met Courage is a portrait of bravery and honor. With compelling narrative and never-before-published photographs, this 160-page highly illustrated narrative nonfiction book introduces the unsung American heroes of the 369th Infantry Regiment, the Harlem Hellfighters.
The United States v. Jackie Robinson
by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
The inspiring true story of baseball star Jackie Robinson's court-martial after he refused to move to the back of a supposedly integrated Army bus in 1944, from author Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and acclaimed illustrator R. Gregory Christie.
Streetcar to Justice: How Elizabeth Jennings Won the Right to Ride in New York
by Amy Hill Hearth
One hundred years before Rosa Parks's brave ride in Montgomery, a young African American woman named Elizabeth Jennings Graham took a stand against segregation when she refused to get off a streetcar in New York City. From bestselling author and New York Times reporter Amy Hill Hearth, this fascinating biography about a forgotten Civil Rights activist illuminates a hidden piece of history.
Chasing Space: Young Readers' Edition
by Leland Melvin
In this inspiring memoir, adapted from the simultaneous version for adults, young readers will get to learn about Leland Melvin’s remarkable life story, from being drafted by the Detroit Lions to bravely orbiting our planet in the International Space Station to writing songs with will.i.am, working with Serena Williams, and starring in top-rated television shows like The Dog Whisperer, Top Chef, and Child Genius. With do-it-yourself experiments in the back of the book and sixteen pages of striking full-color photographs, this is the perfect book to inspire young readers.
Mo'ne Davis: Remember My Name: My Story from First Pitch to Game Changer
by Mo'ne Davis with Hilary Beard
At the age of thirteen, Mo'ne Davis became the first female pitcher to win a game in the Little League World Series and the first Little Leaguer to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. A month later she earned a place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. This inspiring memoir from a girl who learned to play baseball with the boys and rose to national stardom before beginning eighth grade will encourage young readers to reach for their dreams no matter the odds. Mo'ne's story is one of determination, hard work, and an incredible fastball.
The Keeper: The Unguarded Story of Tim Howard: Young Readers' Edition
by Tim Howard with Ali Benjamin
In this heartwarming and candid account, Tim Howard opens up about how a hyperactive kid from New Jersey with Tourette Syndrome defied the odds to become one of the world's premier goalkeepers.
Hidden Figures: Young Readers' Edition
by Margot Lee Shetterly
This book brings to life the stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, who lived through the Civil Rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War, and the movement for gender equality, and whose work forever changed the face of NASA and the country.