156 Board Books for Children Celebrating Black Culture

Board books are ideal for young children yet often overlooked, despite being perfectly suited for introducing the written word at a stage when young brains are especially receptive to learning. With sturdy, easy-to-clean pages, rounded corners for safety, and colorful illustrations paired with large, readable text, board books are designed for early engagement. Their light, rhythmic language makes them fun to read aloud, and today there is a growing selection of excellent board books that celebrate Black culture—enriching children of all backgrounds and helping foster a lifelong love of reading.

Cover of My Daddy Is Everything

My Daddy Is Everything

by Carole Boston Weatherford

Cover of When I Move

by Carole Boston Weatherford

Cover of In the Neighborhood: A Brown Baby Parade Book

In the Neighborhood

by Nikki Shannon Smith

Cover of Acoustic Rooster Sings the Alphabet

Acoustic Rooster Sings the Alphabet

by Kwame Alexander

Cover of Acoustic Rooster and Friends

Acoustic Rooster and Friends

by Kwame Alexander

Cover of Easter Fun: A Brown Baby Parade Book

by Nikki Shannon Smith

Cover of My Hair Is Like Yours

My Hair Is Like Yours

by St. Clair Detrick-Jules

Cover of Light

by Ruth Forman

Cover of On the Farm: A Brown Baby Parade Book

by Nikki Shannon Smith

Cover of Corduroy Takes a Bow

Corduroy Takes a Bow

by Viola Davis

Cover of I’m Not Small Board Book

I’m Not Small Board Book

by Nina Crews

Cover of I Love You Like Yellow: A Board Book

I Love You Like Yellow

by Andrea Beaty

Cover of Just Like You

by Anne Wynter

Cover of No More Sleeping in

No More Sleeping in

by Anne Wynter

Cover of The Dream Big, Little One Collection

The Dream Big, Little One Collection

by Vashti Harrison

Cover of Brown Sugar Baby Sweetest Love

Brown Sugar Baby Sweetest Love

by Kevin Lewis

Cover of Countdown to Christmas: A Brown Baby Parade Book

Countdown to Christmas

by Nikki Shannon Smith

Cover of Countdown to Christmas: A Brown Baby Parade Book

Countdown to Christmas

by Nikki Shannon Smith

Cover of Hey, Baby Girl!

Hey, Baby Girl!

by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Cover of My Hair Is Like the Sun

My Hair Is Like the Sun

by St. Clair Detrick-Jules

Cover of Hair Love ABCs

by Matthew A. Cherry

Cover of One

by Ruth Forman

Cover of Halloween Friends: A Brown Baby Parade Book

Halloween Friends

by Nikki Shannon Smith

Cover of Brown Sugar Baby Christmas Joy

Brown Sugar Baby Christmas Joy

by Kevin Lewis

Cover of Big Red Fire Truck

Big Red Fire Truck

by Ken Wilson-Max

Cover of Baby, Sleepy Baby

Baby, Sleepy Baby

by Atinuke

Cover of The Making of Butterflies

The Making of Butterflies

by Zora Neale Hurston and Adapted by Ibram X. Kendi

Cover of A is for Aretha

A is for Aretha

by Leslie Kwan

Cover of Baby Boy, You Are a Star!

Baby Boy, You Are a Star!

by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Cover of Love Is All Around: A Brown Baby Parade Book

Love Is All Around

by Nikki Shannon Smith

Cover of Ours

by Ruth Forman

Cover of Shady Baby Feels: A First Book of Emotions

Shady Baby Feels

by Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade

Cover of Skin Again (Board Book)

Skin Again (Board Book)

by bell hooks

Cover of The Hair Book

by LaTonya Yvette

Cover of The Story of Juneteenth

The Story of Juneteenth

by Dorena Williamson

Cover of Bloom

by Ruth Forman

Cover of Me and My Mama: Celebrate Black Joy and Family Love

by Carole Boston Weatherford

Cover of Brown Baby Lullaby (board book)

Brown Baby Lullaby (board book)

by Tameka Fryer Brown

Cover of Brown Sugar Baby

Brown Sugar Baby

by Kevin Lewis

Cover of Hands On!

by Anne Wynter

Cover of One Big Day

by Anne Wynter

Cover of The Big Five

by Bella Makatini

Cover of Count to Love!

by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney

Cover of Lullaby for a Black Mother

Lullaby for a Black Mother

by Langston Hughes

Cover of M Is for Melanin: A Celebration of the Black Child

M Is for Melanin

by Tiffany Rose

Cover of Baby Ballers: Michael Jordan

by Bernadette Baillie

Cover of Help Wanted, Must Love Books

Help Wanted, Must Love Books

by Janet Sumner Johnson

Cover of Do Not Bring Your Dragon to the Library

Do Not Bring Your Dragon to the Library

by Julie Gassman

Cover of Little Naturalists George Washington Carver Loved Plants

Little Naturalists George Washington Carver Loved Plants

by Kate Coombs

Cover of Martin Luther King Jr.: My First Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara

Cover of Up, Up, Up, Down!

Up, Up, Up, Down!

by Kimberly Gee

Cover of The Epic Story of Toussaint Louverture

The Epic Story of Toussaint Louverture

by Denizé Lauture

Cover of Glow

by Ruth Forman

Cover of Everything Grows

Everything Grows

by Raffi Cavoukian

Cover of A Rosa Le Encantan Los Dinosaurios/Rosa Loves Dinosaurs

A Rosa Le Encantan Los Dinosaurios/Rosa Loves Dinosaurs

by Jessica Spanyol

Cover of A Rosa Le Encanta Jugar a la Pelota/Rosa Plays Ball

A Rosa Le Encanta Jugar a la Pelota/Rosa Plays Ball

by Jessica Spanyol

Cover of Who Was Jackie Robinson?: A Who Was? Board Book

Who Was Jackie Robinson?

by Lisbeth Kaiser

Cover of Leo Loves Daddy

Leo Loves Daddy

by Anna McQuinn

Cover of B Is for Baby (Board Book)

B Is for Baby (Board Book)

by Atinuke

Cover of Juneteenth for Mazie

Juneteenth for Mazie

by Floyd Cooper

Cover of You Are My Happy Board Book

You Are My Happy Board Book

by Hoda Kotb

Cover of Baby Young, Gifted, and Black: With a Mirror!

Baby Young, Gifted, and Black

by Jamia Wilson

Cover of The Story of Rosa Parks

The Story of Rosa Parks

by Patricia A. Pingry

Cover of Cool Cuts

by Mechal Renee Roe

Cover of The Story of Martin Luther King Jr.

The Story of Martin Luther King Jr.

by Johnny Ray Moore

Cover of I Love My Haircut!

I Love My Haircut!

by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

Cover of Curls

by Ruth Forman

Cover of My Baby Loves Valentine’s Day

My Baby Loves Valentine’s Day

by Jabari Asim

Cover of Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?: A Who Was? Board Book

Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?

by Lisbeth Kaiser

Cover of These Hands

by Hope Lynne Price

Cover of Happy Hair

by Mechal Renee Roe

Cover of What Will Fit?

by Grace Lin

Cover of I Can Code: And/Or

by Vicky Fang

Cover of When God Made You (Board Book)

When God Made You (Board Book)

by Matthew Paul Turner

Cover of Follow Your Dreams, Little One

Follow Your Dreams, Little One

by Vashti Harrison

Cover of Rupaul Charles

by RuPaul

Cover of Baby Babbles B, 1

Baby Babbles B, 1

by C. Hope Flinchbaugh

Cover of Lola at the Library with Mommy

Lola at the Library with Mommy

by Anna McQuinn

Cover of Lola Loves Stories with Daddy

Lola Loves Stories with Daddy

by Anna McQuinn

Cover of My Baby Loves Halloween

My Baby Loves Halloween

by Jabari Asim

Cover of My Hair

by Danielle Murrell Cox

Cover of Antiracist Baby

Antiracist Baby

by Ibram X. Kendi

Cover of I Am Strong: A Little Book about Rosa Parks

by Brad Meltzer

Cover of The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz

by Carly Gledhill

Cover of Hey, Baby!: A Baby’s Day in Doodles

by Andrea Pippins

Cover of This Little Dreamer: An Inspirational Primer

This Little Dreamer

by Joan Holub

Cover of Little Heroes of Color: 50 Who Made a Big Difference

Little Heroes of Color

by David Heredia

Cover of Hey Black Child

Hey Black Child

by Useni Eugene Perkins

Cover of I Look Up To… Serena Williams

I Look Up To… Serena Williams

by Anna Membrino

Cover of I Look Up To…Misty Copeland

I Look Up To…Misty Copeland

by Anna Membrino

Cover of My Hair Is Beautiful

My Hair Is Beautiful

by Shauntay Grant

Cover of Princess Hair

by Sharee Miller

Cover of Baby Bear Board Book

Baby Bear Board Book

by Kadir Nelson

Cover of Think Big, Little One

Think Big, Little One

by Vashti Harrison

Cover of The Obamas: A Lift-The-Flap Book

by Violet Lemay

Cover of My Baby Loves Christmas

My Baby Loves Christmas

by Jabari Asim

Cover of I Love All of Me: Wonderful Me

I Love All of Me

by Lorie Ann Grover

Cover of Bitty Brown Babe

Bitty Brown Babe

by Deborah Lefalle

Cover of I Am Brave: A Little Book about Martin Luther King, Jr.

by Brad Meltzer

Cover of Chocolate Me!

by Taye Diggs

Cover of Grandma’s Purse

Grandma’s Purse

by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Cover of Baby Goes to Market (Board Book)

Baby Goes to Market (Board Book)

by Atinuke

Cover of Whose Knees Are These?

Whose Knees Are These?

by Jabari Asim

Cover of Whose Toes are Those?

Whose Toes are Those?

by Jabari Asim

Cover of Rosa Parks: My First Rosa Parks

by Lisbeth Kaiser

Cover of Baby Says

by John Steptoe

Cover of Woke Baby

by Mahogany L. Browne

Cover of Dream Big, Little Leader

Dream Big, Little Leader

by Vashti Harrison

Cover of Be Bold, Baby: Michelle Obama

by Alison Oliver

Cover of I Look Up To… Michelle Obama

I Look Up To… Michelle Obama

by Anna Membrino

Cover of Rosa Loves Dinosaurs

Rosa Loves Dinosaurs

by Jessica Spanyol

Cover of Rosa Plays Ball

Rosa Plays Ball

by Jessica Spanyol

Cover of Maya Angelou: My First Maya Angelou

by Lisbeth Kaiser

Cover of Bath! Bath! Bath!

Bath! Bath! Bath!

by Christiane Engel

Cover of Good Morning, Superman

Good Morning, Superman

by Michael Dahl

Cover of Homemade Love [board Book]

Homemade Love [board Book]

by bell hooks

Cover of In the Snow

by Elizabeth Spurr

Cover of This Little Trailblazer: A Girl Power Primer

This Little Trailblazer

by Joan Holub

Cover of Happy to Be Nappy

Happy to Be Nappy

by bell hooks

Cover of Be Boy Buzz

by bell hooks

Cover of Counting on Community

Counting on Community

by Innosanto Nagara

Cover of Let There Be Light

Let There Be Light

by Desmond Tutu

Cover of Lottie Paris Lives Here

Lottie Paris Lives Here

by Angela Johnson

Cover of One Love (Board Book)

One Love (Board Book)

by Cedella Marley

Cover of Nappy Duck And Potty Piggy

Nappy Duck And Potty Piggy

by Bernette Ford

Unavailable

Cover of A is for Activist

A is for Activist

by Innosanto Nagara

Cover of The Snowy Day

by Ezra Jack Keats

Cover of Corduroy: Giant Board Book

by Don Freeman

Cover of I Can Do It Too!

I Can Do It Too!

by Karen Baicker

Cover of Boy of Mine

by Jabari Asim

Cover of Girl of Mine

by Jabari Asim

Cover of Puddin’ Jeffrey and Leah: Best Friends

Puddin’ Jeffrey and Leah

by Wade Hudson

Cover of Peekaboo Morning

Peekaboo Morning

by Rachel Isadora

Cover of Please, Baby, Please (Board Book)

Please, Baby, Please (Board Book)

by Spike Lee

Cover of Peter’s Chair

Peter’s Chair

by Ezra Jack Keats

Cover of My Truck Is Stuck!

My Truck Is Stuck!

by Kevin Lewis

Cover of Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children

Shades of Black

by Sandra Pinkney

Cover of To Be a Kid

by Maya Ajmera and John D. Ivanko

Cover of Feast for 10

by Cathryn Falwell

Cover of Baby’s First Signs

Baby’s First Signs

by Kim Votry

Cover of Sugar Pie Honey Bunch - Book #2

Sugar Pie Honey Bunch - Book #2

by Charles R. Smith Jr.

Cover of How Sweet It is to Be Loved by You - Book #3

How Sweet It is to Be Loved by You - Book #3

by Charles R. Smith Jr.

Cover of I’ll Be There - Book #4

I’ll Be There - Book #4

by Charles R. Smith Jr.

Cover of Water, Water

by Eloise Greenfield

Unavailable

Cover of Whistle for Willie

Whistle for Willie

by Ezra Jack Keats

Cover of Shake Shake Shake

Shake Shake Shake

by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney

Unavailable

Cover of Good Morning, Baby

Good Morning, Baby

by Cheryl Willis Hudson

Unavailable

Cover of Good Night, Baby (Revised) (What A Baby)

Good Night, Baby (Revised) (What A Baby)

by Cheryl Willis Hudson

Unavailable

Cover of Pretty Brown Face: Family Celebration Board Books

Pretty Brown Face

by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Cover of Kia Tanisha

by Eloise Greenfield

Cover of A Windy Day

by Laura Pegram

Unavailable

Cover of Joshua by the Sea

Joshua by the Sea

by Angela Johnson

Cover of Joshua’s Night Whispers

Joshua’s Night Whispers

by Angela Johnson

Cover of Rain Feet

by Angela Johnson

Cover of Big Friend, Little Friend

Big Friend, Little Friend

by Eloise Greenfield

Cover of Daddy And I...

by Eloise Greenfield

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