May is the month to celebrate a mother’s love, mourn military men and women, and remember the birth of Black civil rights icons Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz. Look for picture books and books for older readers about these topics on the upcoming May book lists. For now, explore the following new children’s and young adult books by Black authors releasing next month.
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Varian Johnson | Reggie Brown | Orchard Books | May 6, 2025 | PB
Marcus Bridgewater | Reggie Brown | Nancy Paulsen Books | May 6, 2025 | PB
Ballet Brown: Dancing with Heart
Bellen Woodard | Fanny Liem | Scholastic Inc. | May 6, 2025 | PB
Yesenia Moises | Versify | May 6, 2025 | PB
Antwan Eady | London Ladd | Knopf BYR | May 6, 2025 | PB
Kaija Langley | TeMika Grooms | Millner/Simon & Schuster | May 6, 2025 | PB
Dorothy H. Price | Bryan M. Wilson | Reycraft Books | May 6, 2025 | PB
Trish Cooke | Ken Wilson-Max | Charlesbridge | May 6, 2025 | PB
Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name
Luvvie Ajayi Jones | Joey Spiotto | Philomel | May 6, 2025 | PB
So Many Years: A Juneteenth Story
Anne Wynter | Jerome Pumphrey | Clarion Books | May 6, 2025 | PB
Black Diamond Kings: Heroes of Negro League Baseball
Charles R. Smith | Adrian Brandon | Candlewick | May 6, 2025 | PB
DeAnn Wiley | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) | May 13, 2025 | PB
Mariesa Dulak | Alea Marley | Walker Books US | May 13, 2025 | PB
Chris Singleton | Jayri Gómez | Bushel & Peck Books | May 13, 2025 | PB
In the Neighborhood (Brown Baby Parade)
Nikki Shannon Smith | Tamisha Anthony | Crown BYR | May 20, 2025 | Bd Bk
Glenda Armand | Alleanna Harris | Crown BYR | May 20, 2025 | PB
A Season for Fishin’: A Fish Fry Tradition
Pamela Courtney | Toni D. Chambers | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) | May 20, 2025 | PB
Nina Crews | Greenwillow | May 20, 2025 | PB
Kortney Nash | DeAndra Hodge | Godwin Books | May 20, 2025 | PB
Lawrence Roberts | Sally-Ann Roberts | Jestenia Southerland | HarperCollins | May 20, 2025 | PB
Nikkolas Smith | Kokila | May 20, 2025 | PB
One Day in June: A Story Inspired by the Life and Activism of Marsha P. Johnson
Tourmaline | Charlot Kristensen | G.P. Putnam’s Sons BYR | May 20, 2025 | PB
Bright Lights and Summer Nights
Shauntay Grant | Zach Manbeck | Tundra Books | May 27, 2025 | PB
Naturally Me at the Confidence Salon
Gabby Goodwin | Princess Karibo | Tommy Nelson | May 27, 2025 | PB
Chapter/Middle-Grade
Alliah L. Agostini | Joelle Murray | Random House B | May 6, 2025 | Chp Bk
Freedom Celebration: A Juneteenth Party
Angela Dalton | Keisha Morris | HarperCollins | May 6, 2025 | Chp Bk
Taylor Banks | Melissa de la Cruz Studio | May 6, 2025 | MG
Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Saving the World
Roseanne A. Brown | Rick Riordan Presents | May 6, 2025 | MG
Kwame Alexander | Jerry Craft | Little, Brown BYR | May 6, 2025 | MG
One Crazy Summer: The Graphic Novel
Rita Williams-Garcia | Sharee Miller | Quill Tree Books | May 6, 2025 | MG
Alby C. Williams | Roaring Brook Press | May 6, 2025 | MG
Calista Brill | Nilah Magruder | Kokila | May 6, 2025 | MG
Soni and the Life Drinkers (The Intasimi Warriors, Bk. 3)
Shiko Nguru | Lantana Publishing | May 6, 2025 | MG
Letters to Misty: How to Move Through Life with Confidence and Grace
Misty Copeland | Nikki Shannon Smith | Aladdin | May 6, 2025 | MG
Zaila Avant-garde | Felicia Whaley | Random House BYR | May 13, 2025 | Chp Bk
Liz Montague | Random House Studio | May 13, 2025 | MG
Tracy Badua | Alechia Dow | Quill Tree Books | May 13, 2025 | MG
Raqia Lowo | Christian Paniagua | Reycraft Books | May 20, 2025 | Chp Bk
Atinuke | Lauren Hinds | Candlewick | May 20, 2025 | Chap Bk
Micah Hudson: A Scientific Spill
Tanisia Moore | Sanjay Charlton | Reycraft Books | May 27, 2025 | Chp Bk
Young Adult
Charlene Thomas | Scholastic Press | May 6, 2025 | YA
Briana Johnson | Peachtree Teen | May 6, 2025 | YA
Nick Brooks | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) | May 6, 2025 | YA
Dean Atta | Quill Tree Books | May 6, 2025 | YA
Tia Williams | Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | May 6, 2025 | YA
Frederick Joseph | Candlewick | May 6, 2025 | YA
Alanna Bennett | Knopf | May 13, 2025 | YA
Malcolm Lives!: The Official Biography of Malcolm X for Young Readers
Ibram X. Kendi | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) | May 13, 2025 | YA
Ebony LaDelle | Simon & Schuster BYR | May 20, 2025 | YA
Amaka Egbe | HarperCollins | May 20, 2025 | YA
Ciera Burch | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) | May 20, 2025 | YA
Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson
Tourmaline | Tiny Reparations Books | May 20, 2025 | YA
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