African American Authors Booklist

This list featuring the books of 100 wonderful Black authors, illustrators, and poets is meant to help introduce readers to some of the many African American creators who are celebrated in the field of children’s literature and tell important truths and stories that captivate kids. Some you may already be familiar with, and some are newer voices. Many create books for all ages of readers. Getting to know them all gives readers the opportunity to find favorite writers to grow with.

Find these titles by Black authors and more reading recommendations at your local library through World Cat.

Picture Books and Elementary

Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed

Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis by Jabari Asim

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick D. Barnes

Song in the City by Daniel Bernstrom

Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham

Just Like Me by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Words to My Life's Song by Ashley Bryan

My Hair Is a Garden by Cozbi A. Cabrera

Freedom Soup by Tami Charles

Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry

Everett Anderson's Goodbye by Lucille Clifton

Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Lesa Cline-Ransome

Music Is a Rainbow by Bryan Collier

Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Floyd Cooper

Bigmama's by Donald Crews

My Aunt Came Back by Pat Cummings

Honey, I Love and Other Love Poems by Eloise Greenfield

Change Sings: A Children's Anthem by Amanda Gorman

Big by Vashti Harrison

Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard

The Dream Keeper and Other Poems by Langston Hughes

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita L. Hubbard

Sing A Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations by Kelly Starling Lyons

Saturday by Oge Mora

The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad

My Pen by Christopher Myers

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson

Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshall by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

The Little Mermaid by Jerry Pinkney

Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children by Sandra L. Pinkney

Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold

You Matter by Christian Robinson

Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange

I Am America by Charles R. Smith

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe

It Jes' Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw by Don Tate

Brown Honey In Broomwheat Tea: Poems by Joyce Carol Thomas

Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Elam Walker

Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth

Middle Grade

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist

Rise of the Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste

King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender

School Trip by Jerry Craft

The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

The Last Last-Day-Of-Summer by Lamar Giles

Words With Wings by Nikki Grimes

The Magic in Changing Your Stars by Leah Henderson

The Talk: Conversations About Race, Love & Truth edited by Wade Hudson & Cheryl Willis Hudson

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson

From The Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

Tristan Strong Punches A Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

Remember: The Journey to School Integration by Toni Morrison

Polo Cowboy by G. Neri

Calico Girl by Jerdine Nolen

Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes

As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds

Root Magic by Eden Royce

The Harlem Charade by Natasha Tarpley

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

Justin and the Best Biscuits in The World by Mildred Pitts Walter

Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford

Genesis Begins Again by Alicia Williams

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich by Ibi Aanu Zoboi

Young Adult

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Vinyl Moon by Mahogany L. Browne

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

Mare's War by Tanita S. Davis

Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper

Wings of Ebony by J. Elle

Say Her Name by Zetta Elliott

The Skin I'm In by Sharon G. Flake

Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush by Virginia Hamilton

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson

We Are Not Broken by George M. Johnson

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party's Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon 

Best Shot in the West: The Thrilling Adventures of Nat Love by Patricia C. McKissack and Frederick L. McKissack Jr.

I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina

Me (Moth) by Amber McBride

Slay by Brittney Morris

The Legend of Buddy Bush by Shelia P. Moses

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Push: A Novel by Sapphire

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Native Son by Richard Wright

The Beauty that Remains by Ashley Woodfolk

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon