March is Women’s History Month, and BCBA is celebrating by featuring the stories of Black girls and women in a two-part series. Part one features 60 fiction titles ranging from picture books to young adult novels. All books are written by women authors, both traditional and self-published. The stories cover a wide variety of genres and themes, and hopefully there’s something of interest for everyone. Some are familiar classics while others speak on relevant, contemporary issues. Get to know these girls and women and their stories! If you like the authors, discover more stories by them in our directory. Part two of our series will honor the achievement of Black women, past and present. Our stories matter.
Lottie Paris Lives Here – Angela Johnson, Illustrator – Scott M. Fischer
Early Sunday Morning – Denene Millner, Illustrator- Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Malaika’s Costume – Nadia L. Hohn, Illustrator – Irene Luxbacher
This Is It – Daria Peoples-Riley
Splash, Anna Hibiscus! – Atinuke, Illustrator – Lauren Tobia
Thunder Rose – Jerdine Nolen, Illustrator – Kadir Nelson
Bintou’s Braids – Sylviane Anna Diouf, Illustrator – Shane Evans
Keisha Cane and Her Very Sweet Tooth – Ashley Foxx, Illustrator – Aprill Foxx
Kia Tanisha – Eloise Greenfield, Illustrator – Jan Spivey Gilchrist
The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County – Janice N. Harrington, Illustrator – Shelley Jackson
Summer Jackson: Grown Up – Teresa Harris, Illustrator – A. G. Ford
I Love My Hair! – Natasha Tarpley, Illustrator – E. B. Lewis
Dancing in the Wings – Debbie Allen, Illustrator – Kadir Nelson
Imani’s Moon – Janay Brown-Wood, Illustrator – Hazel Mitchell
My Feet Are Laughing – Lissette Norman, Illustrator – Frank Morrison
The Honest-to-Goodness Truth – Patricia C. McKissack, Illustrator – Giselle Potter
Big Hair, Don’t Care – Crystal Swain-Bates, Illustrator – Megan Bair
Grandma’s Purse – Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Sweet, Sweet Memory – Jacqueline Woodson, Illustrator – Floyd Cooper
Something Beautiful – Sharon Dennis Wyeth, Illustrator – Chris K. Soentpiet
Willimena Rules!: How to Lose Your Class Pet – Valerie Wilson Wesley, Illustrator – Maryn Roos
Nikki and Deja: Nikki and Deja – Karen English, Illustrator – Laura Freeman
Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel – Nikki Grimes, Illustrator – R. Gregory Christie
Jupiter Storm – Marti Dumas, Illustrator – Stephanie Parcus
Jada Jones: Rock Star – Kelly Starling Lyons, Illustrator – Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Lone Bean – Chudney Ross
Thief! – Malorie Blackman
Little Divas – Philana Marie Boles
The Jumbies – Tracey Baptiste
Aumas’s Long Run – Eucabeth Odhiambo
The Sweetest Sound – Sherri Winston
Midnight without a Moon – Linda Williams Jackson
The Diary of B. B. Bright, Possible Princess – Alice Randall & Caroline Randall Williams
The Perfect Place – Teresa E. Harris
American Girl: Meet Cecile – Denise Lewis Patrick, illustrator – Christine Kornacki
The Magnificent Mya Tibbs: Spirit Week Showdown – Crystal Allen
Zoe in Wonderland – Brenda Woods
One Crazy Summer – Rita Williams-Garcia
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry – Mildred D. Taylor
Ninth Ward – Jewel Parker Rhodes
Silhouetted by the Blue – Tracy L. Jones
Orleans – Sherri L. Smith
The Star Side of Bird Hill: A Novel – Naomi Jackson
So Not the Drama: A Del Rio Bay Clique Novel – Paula Chase
Zahrah the Windseeker – Nnedi Okorafor
A Bitter Pill to Swallow – Tiffany Gholar
The Skin I’m In – Sharon Flake
See No Color – Shannon Gibney
Ameican Street – ibi Zoboi
Pointe – Brandy Colbert
Kendra – Kamichi Jackson
Ship of Souls – Zetta Elliot
Rainbow Jordan – Alice Childress
Allegedly – Tiffany Jackson
You Don’t Know Me but I Know You – Rebecca Barrow
The Prey of Gods – Nicky Drayden
Piecing Me Together – Renee Watson
The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas
Calling My Name – Liara Tamani
Let’s Talk About Love – Claire Kann
What are your thoughts on our Black cover girl selections? Are you looking forward to reading any of their stories? Let us know in the comments!
And since you’re here, please know that your thoughtful donation will support our mission to promote awareness of children’s and young adult literature by Black authors. Our stories matter. Thank you!
