The very best books celebrating African American culture and values, by African American authors and/or illustrators, from 1970 to the present.

Book cover of An American story
2024

An American Story

by Alexander, Kwame
Call Number: x 326 A376
Book cover for Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre
2022

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre

by Weatherford, Carole Boston
Call Number: x 323.1 W362
Book cover for R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul
2021

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul

by Weatherford, Carole Boston
Call Number: x 92 F829We
Book cover for The Undefeated
2020

The Undefeated

by Alexander, Kwame
Call Number: x 811 A376-1
Book cover for The Stuff of Stars
2019

The Stuff of Stars

by Bauer, Marion Dane
Call Number: xz folio
Book cover for Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets
2018

Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets

by Alexander, Kwame
Call Number: x 811 A376

Presents a collection of twenty poems written in tribute to well-known poets from around the world.

 
Book cover for Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat
2017

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat

by Steptoe, Javaka
Call Number: x 92 B316St

Author and Illustrator Javaka Steptoe paints brightly colored scenes of Basquiat’s life and artistic career on textured pieces of wood. This book won the Caldecott medal in 2017 and combines an artist’s biography with the message to children that they can create art based from their own stories and life experiences.  

 
Book cover for Trombone Shorty
2016

Trombone Shorty

by Andrews, Troy
Call Number: x 92 A571
Grades K - 4. Hailing from the Tremé neighborhood in New Orleans, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews got his nickname by wielding a trombone twice as long as he was high. A prodigy, he was leading his own band by age six, and today this Grammy-nominated artist headlines the legendary New Orleans Jazz Fest.
 
Book cover for Firebird: Ballerina Misty Copeland Shows a Young Girl How to Dance Like the Firebird
2015

Firebird: Ballerina Misty Copeland Shows a Young Girl How to Dance Like the Firebird

by Copeland, Misty
Call Number: xz

(Gr. K-2)  American Ballet Theater soloist Misty Copeland encourages a young ballet student, with brown skin like her own, by telling her that she, too, had to learn basic steps and how to be graceful when she was starting out, and that someday, with practice and dedication, the little girl will become a firebird, too. Includes author's note about dancers who led her to find her voice.

Book cover for Knock Knock: My Dad's Dream For Me
2014

Knock Knock: My Dad's Dream For Me

by Beaty, Daniel
Call Number: xz
Book cover for I, Too, Am America
2013

I, Too, Am America

by Hughes, Langston
Call Number: x 811 H893-7
Book cover for Underground
2012

Underground

by Evans, Shane
Call Number: xz

(Grades K - 3) A family uses the Underground Railroad to escape slavery. Sparsely worded but powerful.

Book cover for Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave
2011

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave

by Hill, Laban Carrick.
Call Number: xz

Grades K - 4

Chronicles the life of Dave, a nineteenth-century slave who went on to become influential poet, artist, and potter.Gorgeous illustrations by Bryan Collier, including one fold-out page.
Book cover for My People
2010

My People

by Hughes, Langston
Call Number: x 811 H893-6
Book cover for The Blacker the Berry...
2009

The Blacker the Berry...

by Thurman, Wallace, 1902-1934.
Call Number: Ed.a
Book cover for Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
2007

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

by Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956-
Call Number: x 92 T885We
Book cover for Rosa
2006

Rosa

by Giovanni, Nikki
Call Number: x 323.1 G512

(Gr. 3-5) Sometimes the smallest act galvanizes people into decisive action. In this case, it was a woman refusing to give up her seat on a bus and a bus boycott that lasted nearly a year before the Supreme Court ruled that segregation on buses was illegal. Includes one fold-out spread. A handsomely illustrated look at a watershed event.

Book cover for Ellington Was Not a Street
2005

Ellington Was Not a Street

by Shange, Ntozake
Call Number: x 811 S528 folio

Gr. 3 and up. Shange's poem "Mood Indigo" pays tribute to several African American men who made important contributions to 20th century culture: Paul Robeson, W.E.B. DuBois, Ray Barretto, Dizzy Gillespie, "Sonny Til" Tilghman, Kwame Nkrumah, and Duke Ellington. Includes brief biographies of each.

Book cover for Beautiful Blackbird
2004

Beautiful Blackbird

by Bryan, Ashley.
Call Number: x 398 B915-10
Book cover for Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman
2003

Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman

by Grimes, Nikki.
Call Number: x 92 C692Gr folio
Book cover for Goin' Someplace Special
2002

Goin' Someplace Special

by McKissack, Pat, 1944-
Call Number: xz

Gr. 3-5. In segregated 1950s Nashville, TN, a young African American girl braves a series of obstacles to get to the public library, one of the few integrated places in the town.

Book cover for Uptown
2001

Uptown

by Collier, Bryan.
Call Number: xz
Book cover for In the Time of the Drums
2000

In the Time of the Drums

by Siegelson, Kim L.
Call Number: xz
Book cover for I See the Rhythm
1999

I See the Rhythm

by Igus, Toyomi.
Call Number: x 789 I24
Book cover for Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman
1997

Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman

by Schroeder, Alan.
Call Number: x 92 T885Sc
Book cover for The Middle Passage: White Ships/Black Cargo
1996

The Middle Passage: White Ships/Black Cargo

by Feelings, Tom.
Call Number: x 709 F295-1
Book cover for The Creation
1995

The Creation

by Johnson, James Weldon, 1871-1938.
Call Number: x 811 J67Ra
Book cover for Soul Looks Back in Wonder
1994

Soul Looks Back in Wonder

by
Call Number: x 811.08 S7225
Book cover for The Origin of Life on Earth: An African Creation Myth
1993

The Origin of Life on Earth: An African Creation Myth

by Anderson, David A., 1930-
Call Number: x 398 A546
Book cover for Night on Neighborhood Street
1992

Night on Neighborhood Street

by Greenfield, Eloise.
Call Number: x 811 G812-4 1996
Book cover for Aida
1991

Aida

by Price, Leontyne.
Call Number: x 782 V484Pr 1997
Book cover for Nathaniel Talking
1990

Nathaniel Talking

by Greenfield, Eloise.
Call Number: x 811 G812-3
Book cover for Mirandy and Brother Wind
1989

Mirandy and Brother Wind

by McKissack, Pat, 1944-2017.
Call Number: xz
Book cover for Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale
1988

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale

by Steptoe, John, 1950-1989.
Call Number: x 398 S837-1
Book cover for Half a Moon and One Whole Star
1987

Half a Moon and One Whole Star

by Dragonwagon, Crescent.
Call Number: xz
Book cover for The Patchwork Quilt
1986

The Patchwork Quilt

by Flournoy, Valerie, 1952-
Call Number: xz
Book cover for My Mama Needs Me
1984

My Mama Needs Me

by Walter, Mildred Pitts.
Call Number: xz
Book cover for Black Child
1983

Black Child

by Magubane, Peter.
Call Number: 301.45096 M213
Book cover for Mother Crocodile = Maman-Caiman
1982

Mother Crocodile = Maman-Caiman

by Diop, Birago.
Call Number: x 398 D593 1981
Book cover for Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum
1981

Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum

by Bryan, Ashley.
Call Number: x 398 B915-7 1987a
Book cover for Cornrows
1980

Cornrows

by Yarbrough, Camille.
Call Number: x Ed.a
Book cover for Something on My Mind
1979

Something on My Mind

by Feelings, Tom.
Call Number: x 811 G862
Book cover for Africa Dream
1978

Africa Dream

by Greenfield, Eloise.
Call Number: xz Ed.a
Book cover for Ray Charles
1974

Ray Charles

by Mathis, Sharon Bell.
Call Number: x 92 C476Ma 2001