All-Time Favorite African-American Children’s Books | AALBC

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These curated titles represent the all-time favorites of authors, booksellers, and avid readers across the AALBC community. Spanning decades of literature, this collection celebrates our rich legacy of quality stories featuring Black children. While some titles may be out of print, they remain essential touchstones of the Black experience in children’s publishing. Read more about this list →

Books 1 to 20 (of 149)

Cover: Layla’s Happiness

Layla’s Happiness

by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie
Picture Book →
Cover: Sulwe

Sulwe

by Lupita Nyong’o
Picture Book →
Cover: Black, White, Just Right!

Black, White, Just Right!

by Marguerite W. Davol
Picture Book →
Cover: Hair Love

Hair Love

by Matthew A. Cherry
Picture Book →
Cover: The Undefeated

The Undefeated

by Kwame Alexander
Picture Book →
Cover: Whose Knees Are These?

Whose Knees Are These?

by Jabari Asim
Board Book →
Cover: New Kid

New Kid

by Jerry Craft
Middle Grade →
Cover: Genesis Begins Again

Genesis Begins Again

by Alicia D. Williams
Middle Grade →
Cover: A Song for Gwendolyn Brooks

A Song for Gwendolyn Brooks

by Alice Faye Duncan
Picture Book →
Cover: Baby Says

Baby Says

by John Steptoe
Board Book →
Cover: The Skin I’m In

The Skin I’m In

by Sharon G. Flake
Middle Grade →
Cover: The Season of Styx Malone

The Season of Styx Malone

by Kekla Magoon
Middle Grade →
Cover: Sing to the Moon

Sing to the Moon

by Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl
Picture Book →
Cover: Mommy’s Khimar

Mommy’s Khimar

by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Picture Book →
Cover: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy

Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy

by Tony Medina
Picture Book →
Cover: I Can Be Anything! Don’t Tell Me I Can’t

I Can Be Anything! Don’t Tell Me I Can’t

by Leo and Diane Dillon
Picture Book →
Cover: I Am Loved

I Am Loved

by Nikki Giovanni
Picture Book →

The Legacy of Black Children’s Literature

We know children and young readers will enjoy most, if not all, of these books, because they have already brought joy to countless children. We recommend printed books for young readers, or when reading to a child.

If you feel strongly about uplifting children through books, please read and share our guide, “Ten Steps to Promote Diversity in Children’s Literature.”

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