25 Books for National Caribbean-American Heritage Month

This June, we once again celebrate and honor children’s and young adult authors for National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. It is a month for “recognizing the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States.” The Caribbean is comprised of many islands and independent countries represented by people whose heritage boasts various languages, dialects, religions, custom, and traditions. Hopefully, the stories and poetry featured are great reflections of such. This list contains picture, middle-grade, and young adult titles, including four that are due to be released in the coming months. For more books that feature Caribbean settings or culture, go here. Our stories matter!

A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice

Auntie Luce’s Talking Painting

The Field

Rice & Rocks

My Caribbean Grandma

Anna Carries Water

The Nutmeg Princess

Every Little Thing

Clemente!

Not a Copper Penny in Me House: Poems from the Caribbean

Monica Gunning | Frane Lessac | Pan Macmillan, 1995 | Amazon

The Jumbies God’s Revenge (The Jumbies)

Tracey Baptiste | Algonquin Young Readers, 2019 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Tight

Torrey Maldonado | Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Ashley Bryan: Words to My Life’s Song

Blue Mountain Trouble

Martin Mordecai | Arthur A. Levine, 2009 | Amazon | IndieBound

Behind the Mountains

Edwidge Danticat | Orchard Books, 2002 | Amazon | IndieBound

The Color of My Words

Lynn Joseph | HarperCollins, 2000 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Everywhere Faces Everywhere

James Berry | Reynold Ruffins | Simon & Schuster, 1997 | Amazon

Queen of the Conquered

Kacen Callender | Orbit, 2019 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Dear Haiti, Love Alaine

With the Fire on High

Elizabeth Acevedo | HarperTeen, 2019 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Learning to Breathe

Janice Lynn Mather | Simon & Schuster BYR, 2018 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Pride

Ibi Zoboi | Balzer + Bray, 2018 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Black Beach

Glynis Guevara | Inanna, 2018 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

The Star Side of Bird Hill: A Novel

Naomi Jackson | Penguin Press, 2015 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Touching Snow

M. Sindy Felin | Atheneum BYR, 2007 | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

If you believe BCBA provides a valuable service, please take a few minutes to donate and support our mission to promote awareness of children’s and young adult literature by Black authors. Thanks in advance for your thoughtful gift!

Amazon/IndieBound Disclosure: BCBA is a participant in the Amazon and IndieBound Affiliate Programs. Both are services that offer participants the opportunity to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and IndieBound.org. Clicking on the book links will direct you away from bcbooksandauthors.com. Thanks for your support!

Summer Reading: 40 Picture-to-YA Books (Nonfiction)

What’s Your Story?: Tonya Duncan Ellis: Living My Dream