New and Recommended Children's Nonfiction Books to celebrate Black History Month

Updated January 28, 2026
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Lewis and Clark Public Library Lewis and Clark Public Library
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New and Recommended Children's Nonfiction Books to celebrate Black History Month

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The ABCs of Black history
Cortez, Rio
Paper Book
In this New York Times bestseller that takes a bold journey through the alphabet of Black history and culture, B is for Beautiful, Brave, and Bright! Letter by letter, The ABCs of Black History celebrates a story that spans continents and centuries,...
Ayo's Adventure: Across the African Diaspora from Afro to Zulu
Drew, Ain Heath
Barracoon
Hurston, Zora Neale
Paper Book
An Instant New York Times and Indie Bestseller! In the first middle grade offering from Zora Neale Hurston and Ibram X. Kendi, young readers are introduced to the remarkable and true-life story of Cudjo Lewis, one of the last survivors of the Atlantic human trade, in an...
Beacon of Hope : The Life of Barack Obama
Rappaport, Doreen/ Engel, Tonya (ILT)
Paper Book
A magnificently illustrated picture book biography of Barack Obama​: a tireless organizer, a brilliant orator, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, and the first Black president of the United States of America. Before he became the president, Barack Obama was a little...
Becoming a Ballerina : The Story of Michaela Mabinty Deprince
Obuobi, Laura/ Duchess, Olivia (ILT)
Paper Book
From Laura Obuobi, acclaimed author of NAACP Image Award nominee Black Gold and What Love Looks Like, comes a triumphant nonfiction picture book about ballet star Michaela Mabinty DePrince, one of the most celebrated ballerinas of our generation. This lyrical true tale follows...
Born on the water / Born on the Water
Hannah-Jones, Nikole
Paper Book
The 1619 Project's lyrical picture book in verse chronicles the consequences of slavery and the history of Black resistance in the United States, thoughtfully rendered by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and Newbery honor-winning author Renee Watson. A...
The doll test : choosing equality
Weatherford, Carole Boston
Paper Book
Four dolls. Two psychologists. One landmark court case. During the first half of the twentieth century, schoolchildren in many parts of the United States were segregated--Black children and white children could not legally attend the same schools. In their so-called doll test...
Frederick Douglass : the lion who wrote history
Myers, Walter Dean
Paper Book
"The go-to Frederick Douglass biography for younger students" (Booklist starred review). In this powerful picture book biography, New York Times bestselling author Walter Dean Myers and acclaimed artist Floyd Cooper take readers on an inspiring journey through the life...
Go Tell It : How James Baldwin Became a Writer
Harris, Quartez/ James, Gordon C. (ILT)
Paper Book
Discover the story of young James Baldwin in this ode to the legendary writer and the power of the written word-with exquisite prose from acclaimed poet Quartez Harris, and breathtaking illustrations from New York Times bestselling creator and Caldecott Honoree Gordon C. James.
I Have a Dream
King, Martin Luther
Paper Book
Experience history with this picture book of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic speech, including an audio CD. This Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book will inspire young readers! From Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s daughter, Dr. Bernice A. King: "My father's dream...
The highest tribute : Thurgood Marshall's life, leadership, and legacy
Magoon, Kekla
Paper Book
A brilliant picture book biography about Thurgood Marshall, who fought for equality during the Civil Rights Movement and served as the first Black justice on the Supreme Court, from Coretta Scott King Honor winners Kekla Magoon and Laura Freeman. Growing up in Baltimore, Thurgood Marshall...
Holding her own : the exceptional life of Jackie Ormes
Todd, Traci N.
Paper Book
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book * Robert F. Sibert Honor Book An evocative picture book biography about the prolific life of Jackie Ormes, whose groundbreaking cartoons became some of the first empowering depictions of Black women in America! Jackie Ormes made...
How do you spell unfair? : MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee
Weatherford, Carole Boston
Paper Book
A Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book "This moving picture book portrays a girl who met injustice with dignity and excelled."--Booklist (starred review) From a multi-award-winning pair comes a deeply affecting portrait of...
How Sweet the Sound
Alexander, Kwame/ Palmer, Charly (ILT)
Paper Book
Featuring artists ranging from Miles Davis to Kendrick Lamar, dive into this stunningly illustrated celebration of the history of Black music in America by the award-winning author of The Undefeated. Listen to the sound of...
Infinite hope : a Black artist's journey from World War II to peace
Bryan, Ashley
Paper Book
Recipient of a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award Recipient of a Bologna Ragazzi Non-Fiction Special Mention Honor Award A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of 2019 From celebrated author and illustrator Ashley Bryan comes a deeply...
The Juneteenth cookbook : recipes and activities for kids and families to celebrate
Agostini, Alliah L.
Paper Book
Celebrate and explore Juneteenth with your kids through Black American food and cultural traditions.
Little leaders : bold women in black history
Harrison, Vashti
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Meet the little leaders. They're brave. They're bold. They changed the world. Featuring 40 trailblazing black women in history, this book educates and inspires as it relates true stories of women...
Mae among the stars
Ahmed, Roda
Paper Book
A beautiful picture book for sharing and marking special occasions such as graduation, inspired by the life of the first African American woman to travel in space, Mae Jemison. An Amazon Best Book of the Month! A great classroom and bedtime read-aloud, Mae Among the Stars is the...
Opal Lee
Moses, Shelia P.
Paper Book
Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who spoke up and rose up against the odds--including Opal Lee! Opal Lee grew up as a Black girl in Texas at a time when Black and...
The People Remember
Zoboi, Ibi/ Wise, Loveis (ILT)
Paper Book
From award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Ibi Zoboi comes her debut picture book--a tour de force that uses the principles of Kwanzaa to talk about the history of African Americans. This lyrical, powerful tribute is sumptuously illustrated by New Yorker artist and rising star Loveis...
A place to land : Martin Luther King Jr. and the speech that inspired a nation
Wittenstein, Barry
Paper Book
As a new generation of activists demands an end to racism, A Place to Land reflects on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and the movement that it galvanized. Winner of the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Selected...
Recipes for change : 12 dishes inspired by a year in Black history
Platt, Michael
Paper Book
Teen chef and food justice advocate Michael Platt's Recipes for Change "beautifully weaves together important Black history with delicious recipes" (Kwame Onwuachi, James Beard Award winner and Top Chef contestant)--featuring beautiful illustrations by Alleanna Harris....
Ruby Bridges: A Talk with My Teacher
Bridges, Ruby
Paper Book
Acclaimed civil rights icon, Ruby Bridges, shares the touching tale of reuniting with the first-grade teacher who changed her life, Mrs. Henry. Once again, you have shown me that you never get too old to learn. Teaching really is the noblest of professions. When Ruby...
Sing, Aretha, sing! : Aretha Franklin, "Respect," and the civil rights movement
Abdurraqib, Hanif
Ebook
Stamped (for kids) : racism, antiracism, and you
Cherry-Paul, Sonja
Paper Book
THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER This chapter book edition of the groundbreaking #1 bestseller by luminaries Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds is an essential introduction to the history of racism and antiracism in America  
Thirteen ways of looking at a black boy
Medina, Tony
Paper Book
The New York Times' 14 Antiracist Books for Kids and Teens Arnold Adoff Poetry Awards 2020, Special Recognition Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices 2019 Bank Street College of Eduction Best Children's Books 2019 Lee Bennett...
The undefeated
Alexander, Kwame
Paper Book
Winner of the 2020 Caldecott Medal A 2020 Newbery Honor Book Winner of the 2020 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award The Newbery Award-winning author of THE CROSSOVER pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time...
Unlawful orders : a portrait of Dr. James B. Williams, Tuskegee airman, surgeon, and activist
Binns, Barbara
Audiobook
Unspeakable : the Tulsa Race Massacre
Weatherford, Carole Boston
Paper Book
Winner of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards for Author and Illustrator A Caldecott Honor Book A Sibert Honor Book Longlisted for the National Book Award A Kirkus Prize Finalist A Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book "A must-have"--Booklist (starred review)<...
What was Reconstruction?
Smith, Sherri L.
Paper Book
In the same style as the New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series, What Was? focuses on compelling historical events, great battles, protests, and discoveries. Learn about a pivotal time in American history and its momentous effects on civil rights in America in this...
Who is Ketanji Brown Jackson?
Moses, Shelia P.
Paper Book
Discover how a young girl who was the star of her school's debate team became a federal jurist and the first Black woman to sit on the United States Supreme Court. Presenting Who HQ Now: an exciting addition to the #1 New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series!
Who is Simone Biles?
Loh, Stefanie
Paper Book
Learn about the record-breaking gymnastics career and inspiring life of Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles in this book from the New York Times Best-Selling Who HQ series. In 2021, Simone Biles shocked the world when she pulled out of the Tokyo Olympic Games after...
You gotta meet Mr. Pierce! : the storied life of folk artist Elijah Pierce
Lee, Chiquita Mullins
Paper Book
A picture book biography about the barber shop of woodcarver Elijah Pierce, recipient of the highest folk art honor in the United States. "Creeeeak!" goes the screen door to self-taught artist Elijah Pierce's barbershop art studio. A young boy walks in for an ordinary...
Young, gifted and black : meet 52 black heroes from past and present
Wilson, Jamia
Paper Book
"...to be revisited again and again...The candy-colored pages and straightforward stories are hard to resist..." -The New York Times "...diverse collection of iconic figures...vibrantly illustrated...beautifully crafted volume..." -Kirkus Reviews, Starred...
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