20 Bestselling Children’s Books

Period: September/October - 2020

AALBC Bestseller Seal

The African American Literature Book Club’s Bestsellers List has been published continuously since 1998. It celebrates the bestselling titles from our curated selection of books written by or about Black people. Learn More below.

★ New: The BLK Bestsellers: America’s Bestselling Books

Fiction: Walter Mosley’s “touching and contemplative” short story collection, The Awkward Black Man, makes Walter a 23-Time AALBC bestselling author with 10 AALBC bestselling books!

Nonfiction: The top selling book, across all genres, this period is His Truth Is Marching on: John Lewis and the Power of Hope by Jon Meacham.

Children’s Books: Children’s sales are led by Jabari Asim’s all-time bestselling board book on AALBC, Whose Knees Are These?

Poetry: Moments, the Minutes, the Hours: The Poetry of Jill Scott is our bestselling poetry book this period, continuing to sell well 12 years after it was published.

2
Cover for Different and the Same

Different and the Same

by Adijah & Atiya Brabham
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3
Cover for Layla’s Happiness

Layla’s Happiness

by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie
Add to Cart
5
Cover for Baby Says

Baby Says

by John Steptoe
Add to Cart
7
Cover for Thunder Rose

Thunder Rose

by Jerdine Nolen
Add to Cart
10
Cover for Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream

Salt in His Shoes

by Deloris Jordan and Roslyn M. Jordan
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11
Cover for Beautiful Moon: A Child’s Prayer

Beautiful Moon

by Tonya Bolden
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14
Cover for Sulwe

Sulwe

by Lupita Nyong’o
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15
Cover for The Undefeated

The Undefeated

by Kwame Alexander
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17
Cover for Barack Obama: Son Of Promise, Child Of Hope

Barack Obama

by Nikki Grimes
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18
Cover for Daddy Calls Me Man

Daddy Calls Me Man

by Angela Johnson
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19
Cover for Genesis Begins Again

Genesis Begins Again

by Alicia D. Williams
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20
Cover for Grown

Grown

by Tiffany D. Jackson
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More About our Bestsellers List

View a printer-friendly version or a collage of the book covers.

You will learn about books selling well in the Black community that may never show up on lists published by corporate entities. Spread the word about our list; don’t let one or two lists, which we don’t control, determine which books are important.

We collect our bestselling titles from all our sales channels. The majority of our sales come from this website and our in-person events. We also include sales generated through our affiliate relationships, including Bookshop.org, Libro.fm (audiobooks), and Amazon.com*.

*For a few years, we actively boycotted Amazon but have discontinued this practice to ensure we do not exclude authors who are exclusive to that platform. We still discourage exclusivity but support all Black authors.