National Literacy Month is about celebrating the joy of reading. Yes, joy is something that book lovers feel when discovering new authors or excitedly waiting on new releases from longtime favorites. It’s also a time to encourage less excited readers to explore various genres, as the saying goes, “Everyone is a reader… Some just haven’t found their favorite book yet.” This National Literacy Month, here are 30 book series that range from picture to young adult titles. Look out for these upcoming series’ first books, Rena Barron’s, Maya and the Rising Dark, Bunheads by Misty Copeland, and Varian Johnson’s middle-school, graphic novel Twins. If these and the 30 selections are not enough, this past article includes 27 more! We’d love to know your thoughts on our list, please leave a comment below. Happy Reading! Our stories matter.
Picture Books
Denene Millner
Fresh Princess
Fresh Princess: Style Rules! (#2) | Gladys Jose | HarperCollins | 2020 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
Fresh Princess (#1) | Gladys Jose | HarperCollins | 2019 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
Connie Schofield-Morrison
I Got…
I Got the School Spirit (#3) | Frank Morrison | Bloomsbury | 2020 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
I Got the Christmas Spirit (#2) | Frank Morrison | Bloomsbury | 2018 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
I Got the Rhythm (#1) | Frank Morrison | Bloomsbury | 2014 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
Troy Andrews
Trombone Shorty
The 5 O’Clock Band | Bryan Collier | Harry N. Abrams | 2018 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
Trombone Shorty | Bryan Collier | Harry N. Abrams | 2015 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
Kwame Alexander
Acoustic Rooster
Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie Starring Indigo Blume | Tim Bowers | 2020 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band | Sleeping Bear Press | Tim Bowers | 2011 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
Nathan Bryon
Rocket Says
Rocket Says Clean Up! (#2) | Dapo Adeola | 2020 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
Rocket Says Look Up! (#1) | Dapo Adeola | Random House BYR | 2019 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
Nadia L. Hohn
Malaika
Malaika’s Surprise | Irene Luxbacher | Groundwood Books | 2021 | PB | Amazon | IndieBound
Malaika’s Winter Carnival | Irene Luxbacher | Groundwood Books | 2017 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
Malaika’s Costume | Irene Luxbacher | Groundwood Books | 2016 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
Chapter Books
Kelly Starling Lyons
Ty’s Travels
Ty’s Travels: Zip, Zoom! | Nina Mata | HarperCollins | 2020 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop
Ty’s Travels: All Aboard! | Nina Mata | HarperCollins | 2020 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop
Siman Nuurali
Sadiq
Sadiq and the Explorers | Anjan Sarkar | Picture Window Books | ChpBk | 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop
Sadiq and the Perfect Play | Anjan Sarkar | Picture Window Books | ChpBk | 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop
Sadiq and the Bridge Builders | Anjan Sarkar | Picture Window Books | ChpBk | 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop
Sadiq and the Ramadan Gift | Anjan Sarkar | Picture Window Books | ChpBk | 2020| Amazon | Bookshop
Monalisa DeGross
Donavan
Donavan’s Double Trouble | Amy June Bates | Amistad | 2007 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop
Donavan’s Word Jar | Cheryl Hanna | Amistad | 1994 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop
Theanne Griffith
The Magnificent Makers
Riding Sound Waves (#3)| Reggie Brown | Random House BYR | 2020 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop
Brain Trouble (#2)| Reggie Brown | Random House BYR | 2020 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop
How to Test a Friendship (#1) | Reggie Brown | Random House BYR 2020 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop
Nikki Shannon Smith
Azaleah Lane
The Dramatic Life of Azaleah Lane | Gloria Felix | Picture Window Books | ChpBk | 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop
The Amazing Life of Azaleah Lane | Mari Lobo | Picture Window Book | 2020 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop
Nikki Grimes
Dyamonde Daniel
Halfway to Perfect (#4) | R. Gregory Christie | Puffin| 2010 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop
Almost Zero ( #3) | R. Gregory Christie | Puffin| 2010 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop
Rich (#2) | R. Gregory Christie | Puffin| 2010 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop
Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel (#1) | R. Gregory Christie | Puffin| 2010 | ChpBk | Amazon | Bookshop
Middle-Grade
Lesa Cline-Ransome
Finding Langston
Leaving Lymon (#2) | Holiday House | 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
Finding Langston (#1) | Holiday House | 2018 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
Sundee T. Frazier
Cleo Edison Oliver
Cleo Edison Oliver in Persuasion Power (#2) | Arthur A. Levine Books | 2017 | MG | Amazon | IndieBound
Cleo Edison Oliver, Playground Millionaire (#1) | Arthur A. Levine Books | 2016 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
Jerry Craft
Class Act | Quill Tree Books | 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
New Kid | Quill Tree Books | 2019 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
Denise Lewis Patrick
Cecile (American Girl)
Cécile’s Gift (#3) | American Girl | 2011 | MG | Amazon | IndieBound
Troubles for Cecile (#2) | American Girl | 2011 | MG | Amazon | IndieBound
Meet Cecile (#1) | American Girl | 2011 | MG | Amazon | IndieBound
Kwame Mbalia
Tristan Strong
Tristan Strong Destroys the World (#2) | Rick Riordan Presents | 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (#1) | Rick Riordan Presents | 2019 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
Victoria Bond & T. R. Simon
Zora and Me
Zora and Me: The Summoner (#3) | Candlewick | 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
The Cursed Ground (#2) | Candlewick | 2018 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
Zora and Me (#1) | Candlewick | 2011 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
Lamar Giles
Legendary Alston Boys
The Last Mirror on the Left (#2) | Dapo Adeola | 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
The Last Last-Day-Of-Summer (#1) | Dapo Adeola | 2019 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
Fracaswell Hyman
Mango Delight
Summer in the City (#2) | Sterling Children’s Books | MG | 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop
Mango Delight (#1) | Sterling Children’s Books | MG | 2017 | Amazon | Bookshop
Rashad Jennings
The Coin Slot Chronicles
Arcade and the Dazzling Truth Detector (#4) | Zonderkidz | 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
Arcade and the Fiery Metal Tester (#3) | Zonderkidz | 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
Arcade and the Golden Travel Guide (#2) | Zonderkidz | 2019 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
Arcade and the Triple T Token (#1) | Zonderkidz | 2019 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
Hope Anita Smith
CJ
Keeping the Night Watch (#2) | Hope Anita Smith | E. B. Lewis | Holt (BYR) | MG | 2008 | Amazon | Bookshop
The Way a Door Closes (#1) | Hope Anita Smith | Shane W. Evans | Holt (BYR) | MG | 2003 | Amazon | Bookshop
Craig Robinson & Adam Mansbach
Jake the Fake
Jake the Fake Keeps His Cool (#3) | Keith Knight | Crown BYR | MG | 2020 | Amazon | Bookshop
Jake the Fake Goes for Laughs (#2) | Keith Knight | Crown BYR | MG | 2019 | Amazon | Bookshop
Jake the Fake Keeps It Real (#1) | Keith Knight | Crown BYR | MG | 2017 | Amazon | Bookshop
Daniel José Older
Dactyl Hill Squad
Thunder Run (#3) | Scholastic Press | 2020 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
Freedom Fire (#2) | Arthur A. Levine Books | 2019 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
Dactyl Hill Squad (#1) | Arthur A. Levine Books | 2018 | MG | Amazon | Bookshop
Young Adult
Justina Ireland
Dread Nation
Deathless Divide (#2) | Balzer + Bray | 2020| YA | Amazon | Bookshop
Dread Nation (#1) | Balzer & Bray | 2019 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
Ashley Woodfolk
Flyy Girls
Micah: The Good Girl | Penguin Workshop | 2020 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
Lux: The New Girl | Penguin Workshop | 2020 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
Nic Stone
Dear Martin
Dear Justyce (#2) | Crown BYR | 2020 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
Dear Martin (#1) | Crown BYR | 2017 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
Tochi Onyebuchi
War Girls
Rebel Sisters (#2) | Razorbill | 2020 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
War Girls (#1) | Razorbill | 2019 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
Tomi Adeyemi
Legacy of Orisha
Children of Virtue and Vengeance (#2) | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) | 2019 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
Children of Blood and Bone (#1) | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) | 2018 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
L.L. McKinney
The Nightmare-Verse
A Crown So Cursed (#3) | Imprint | 2021 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
A Dream So Dark (#2) | Imprint | 2019 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
A Blade So Black (#1) | Imprint | 2018 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
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