“In fact, the confidence of people is worth more than money.” – Carter G. Woodson, the Father of Black History
One of the definitions of confidence is “belief in oneself and one’s powers or abilities.” We can instill confidence in Black children through inspirational stories, affirming words, and positive images of themselves in literature. This Black History Month, here are 45 picture books to explore in your classrooms, homes, and community gatherings. These books encourage Black children’s belief in self and speak lovingly about their hair, skin, abilities, culture, history, and imagination.
What a great and uplifting way to celebrate Black History Month!
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1. You Come from Greatness: A Celebration of Black History
Sara Chinakwe | Ken Daley | WaterBrook | January 17, 2023 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
2. You So Black
Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D. | London Ladd | Millner/Simon & Schuster | January 10, 2023 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
3. What Does Brown Mean to You?
Ron Grady | Nancy Paulsen Books | January 3, 2023 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
4. We Are Here
Tami Charles | Bryan Collier | Orchard Books | January 3, 2023 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
5. A Boy and His Mirror
Marchánt Davis | Keturah A. Bobo | Nancy Paulsen Books | January 3, 2023 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
6. Our Beautiful Colors
Nikki Shannon Smith | Bea Jackson | Golden Books | December 6, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
7. Your Special Voice (Board Book)
Temi Adamolekun | Keisha Okafor | Little Simon | December 6, 2022 | Bd Bk | Amazon | Bookshop
8. Little Black Boy: Oh, the Things You Will Do!
Kirby Howell-Baptiste | Larry C. Fields III | Paul Davey | Nancy Paulsen Books | November 15, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
9. Little Black Girl: Oh, the Things You Can Do!
Kirby Howell-Baptiste | Paul Davey | Nancy Paulsen Books | November 15, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
10. My Fade Is Fresh
Shauntay Grant | Kitt Thomas | Penguin Workshop | November 1, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
11. Black Gold
Laura Obuobi | London Ladd | HarperCollins | October 11, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
12. Hold Them Close: A Love Letter to Black Children
Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow | Patrick Dougher | HarperCollins | October 4, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
13. Shine Bright
Kheris Rogers | Mechal Roe | HarperCollins | September 27, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
14. Dear Black Child
Rahma Rodaah | Lydia Mba | HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray | September 27, 2022| PB | Amazon | Bookshop
15. Black Boy, Black Boy
Ali Kamanda | Jorge Redmond | Ken Daley | Sourcebooks Explore | August 9, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
16. Because You Are
Jael Richardson | Nneka Myers | HarperCollins | July 26, 2022 | | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
17. I Am Amazing
Alissa Holder | Zulekha Holder-Young | Nneka Myers | Flamingo Books | July 26, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
18. More Than Peach: Changing the World One Crayon at a Time
Bellen Woodard | Fanny Liem | Scholastic Inc. | July 26, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
19. Kick Push: Be Your Epic Self
Frank Morrison | Bloomsbury Children’s Books | April 19, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
20. Black: The Many Wonders of My World
Nancy Johnson James | Constance Moore | Cameron Kids | April 12, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
21. Show the World!
Angela Dalton | Daria Peoples | Viking BYR | April 5, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
22. I Color Myself Different
Colin Kaepernick | Eric Wilkerson | Scholastic Press | April 5, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
23. Dearest One
Arielle Dance | Jenny Duke | Lantana | March 1, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
24. Nigel and the Moon
Antwan Eady | Gracey Zhang | Katherine Tegen Books | February 15, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
25. The Year We Learned to Fly
Jacqueline Woodson | Rafael López | Penguin/Paulsen | January 4, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
26. Bright Brown Baby
Andrea Davis Pinkney | Brian Pinkney | Orchard Books | January 4, 2022 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
27. The Me I Choose To Be
Natasha Anastasia Tarpley | Regis and Kahran Bethencourt | Little, Brown BYR | October 19, 2021 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
28. Glow (Board Book)
Ruth Forman | Geneva Bowers | Little Simon | May 4, 2021 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
29. I Affirm Me: The ABCs of Inspiration for Black Kids
Nyasha Williams | Sóf’ya Glushkó | Running Press Kids | May 4, 2021 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
30. I Am Smart, I Am Blessed, I Can Do Anything!
Alissa Holder | Zulekha Holder-Young | Nneka Myers | Flamingo Books | December 29, 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop
31. All Because You Matter
Tami Charles | Bryan Collier | Orchard Books | October 6, 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop
32. Brown
Nancy Johnson James | Constance Moore | Cameron Kids | September 22, 2020 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
33. I Am Every Good Thing
Derrick Barnes | Gordon C. James | Nancy Paulsen Books | September 1, 2020 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
34. Cool Cuts
Mechal Renee Roe | Doubleday BYR | February 11, 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop
35. Brown Sugar Babe
Charlotte Watson Sherman | Akem | Boyds Mills | February 4, 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop
36. Black Is a Rainbow Color
Angela Joy | Ekua Holmes | Roaring Brook Press | January 14, 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop
37. Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration
Samara Cole Doyon | Kaylani Juanita | Tilbury House | PB | January 7, 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop
38. I Am Perfectly Designed
Karamo Brown | Jason Brown | Anoosha Syed | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) | PB | November 5, 2019 | Amazon | Bookshop
39. Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment
Parker Curry | Jessica Curry | Brittany Jackson | Aladdin | October 15, 2019 | Amazon | Bookshop
40. Happy Hair
Mechal Renee Roe | Doubleday BYR | October 15, 2019 | Amazon | Bookshop
41. M Is for Melanin: A Celebration of the Black Child
Tiffany Rose | little bee books | October 1, 2019 | Amazon | Bookshop
42. The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family
Ibtihaj Muhammad | S. K. Ali Hatem Aly | Little, Brown BYR | September 10, 2019 | Amazon | Bookshop
43. I Can Write the World
Joshunda Sanders | Charly Palmer | Six Foot Press | June 15, 2019 | Amazon | Bookshop
44. Don’t Touch My Hair!
Sharee Miller | Little, Brown BYR | November 6, 2018 | Amazon | Bookshop
45. Hey Black Child
Useni Eugene Perkins | Bryan Collier | Little, Brown BYR | November 14, 2017 | Amazon | Bookshop
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1 Comment
Hello
Is this only for the USA? I have a book that it would be great to include. Marcus Teaches Us (3) Simplified for kids 6-8. Is this possible?