Children’s Books for Black History Month

Martin Luther King Jr. Day just passed, and Black History Month is here. While it’s always a great time to read books by and about Black authors, artists, inventors and more, this can be a special time of year for reflection and learning. This list features both fiction and nonfiction children’s books published within the last few years.

My Daddy Is a Cowboy by Stephanie Seales

This gorgeous and vibrant picture book is a celebration of play, the relationship between father and child, and Black joy. Wake up early with a young girl as her Daddy takes her on an early morning horseback ride in their city. Not only does the girl learn about her community and gain some confidence in herself, but readers also discover the rich tradition of urban horsemanship and contemporary Black cowboys. This book has received awards including the 2025 Coretta Scott King Illustrator award and a 2025 Caldecott Honor.

Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key by Tracy Occomy Crowder

If you’re looking for books about community for an older child, check out this chapter book: Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key by Tracy Occomy Crowder. This story takes place during the summer of 2008 in Chicago. While it is fiction, it references history like the presidential election and the potential for Chicago to host the Olympics in 2016 all through the eyes and voice of a 10-year-old boy. It is full of love and laughter with a big mystery at its heart.

Onyx & Beyond by Amber McBride

Sticking with the historical fiction theme, Onyx & Beyond by Amber McBride is a middle-grade novel in verse about a boy growing up in the 1960s. Onyx dreams of becoming an astronaut, but is tasked with a huge secret after his grandmother passes away: taking care of his mother who has early-onset dementia. This powerful and emotional story follows a boy who fights for family and hope against overwhelming odds.

Danté Plays His Blues by Allen R. Wells

While Danté Plays His Blues by Allen R. Wells is a fiction picture book, it has amazing illustrations and a lovely story about family and discovering music. Illustrator Shamar Knight-Justice uses mixed media and different textures such as real sheet music to make Wells’s words come alive. This book can be paired with nonfiction texts about the blues and real blues legends such as Muddy, the Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters by Michael Mahin.

Everywhere Beauty is Harlem: The Vision of Photographer Roy DeCarava by Gary Golio

Let’s learn more about Black artists with this picture book, Everywhere Beauty is Harlem: The Vision of Photographer Roy DeCarava by Gary Golio. This is a gorgeous tribute to the beauty of the Harlem Renaissance. Follow DeCarava as he captures the art around him with his camera—SNAP! Golio did his research with this one, and it shows in the backmatter, which is full of photos, where to find DeCarava’s work and more. The illustrator, E.B. Lewis, takes readers through 1940s Harlem with his exceptional watercolors.

Extraordinary Magic: The Storytelling Life of Virginia Hamilton by Nina Crews

Extraordinary Magic: The Storytelling Life of Virginia Hamilton by Nina Crews is a picture book biography of the first African American to win the Newberry Medal. This book takes you through Hamilton’s childhood that was full of love, but it was not without challenges. Hamilton grew up during segregation, which Crews explains in a sensitive and child-friendly manner. Hamilton found the magic of words—a gift she later shared with generations of readers.

Miles of Style: Eunice W. Johnson and the Ebony Fashion Fair by Lisa Brathwaite

Miles of Style: Eunice W. Johnson and the Ebony Fashion Fair by Lisa Brathwaite is a well-researched picture book biography about the co-founder of the magazine Ebony. The book begins with her childhood and showcases the innovation Johnson shared with the world to create the magazine that highlights Black elegance and fashion as well as the incredible cross-country fashion fair fundraiser. This book is a great introduction to Black fashion and Johnson’s life. The book ends with photographs and more resources for learning.

African American Resource Center

While this list has several suggestions, there are so many more waiting to be discovered. Please ask your local librarian or check out the African American Resource Center located at the Rudisill Regional Library at 1520 N. Hartford Ave.  Online, it has a wealth of information, including databases, upcoming programs, community events and more book lists. And if you visit Rudisill in person, don’t miss their vintage Wurlitzer jukebox.

Kristina Acosta, MLIS, is the youth librarian at Herman and Kate Kaiser Library. Check out her weekly children’s storytime at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays.