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 101 to 120 (of 149)

Cover: Precious and the Boo Hag

Precious and the Boo Hag

by Patricia C. Mckissack
Picture Book →
Cover: Monster

Monster

by Walter Dean Myers
Young Adult →
Cover: The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales

The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales

by Virginia Hamilton
Middle Grade →
Cover: Bud, Not Buddy

Bud, Not Buddy

by Christopher Paul Curtis
Middle Grade →
Cover: Grandma’s Records

Grandma’s Records

by Eric Velasquez
Picture Book →
Cover: Major Taylor, Champion Cyclist

Major Taylor, Champion Cyclist

by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Picture Book →
Cover: Fly High!: The Story of Bessie Coleman

Fly High!: The Story of Bessie Coleman

by Louise Borden
Picture Book →
Cover: Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream

Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream

by Deloris Jordan and Roslyn M. Jordan
Picture Book →
Cover: Max Paints the House

Max Paints the House

by Ken Wilson-Max
Picture Book →
Cover: Only Passing Through

Only Passing Through

by Anne F. Rockwell
Picture Book →
Cover: If I Only Had a Horn: Young Louis Armstrong

If I Only Had a Horn: Young Louis Armstrong

by Roxane Orgill
Picture Book →
Cover: Something Beautiful

Something Beautiful

by Sharon Dennis Wyeth
Picture Book →
Cover: The Other Side

The Other Side

by Jacqueline Woodson
Picture Book →
Cover: To Be a Slave

To Be a Slave

by Julius Lester
Middle Grade →
Cover: Wings

Wings

by Christopher Myers
Picture Book →
Cover: Daddy Calls Me Man

Daddy Calls Me Man

by Angela Johnson
Picture Book →
Cover: Dancing In The Wings

Dancing In The Wings

by Debbie Allen
Picture Book →
Cover: A Hero Ain’t Nothin But a Sandwich

A Hero Ain’t Nothin But a Sandwich

by Alice Childress
Young Adult →
Cover: Black Hands, White Sails: The Story of African-American Whalers

Black Hands, White Sails: The Story of African-American Whalers

by Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick McKissack
Middle Grade →

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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