Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang A little girl and her Dad engage in a simple countdown before bed that is warm and comforting.
So Much by Trish Cooke When relatives begin arriving for Daddy's surprise party, they are unable to resist kissing, hugging and playing with the baby.
My Aunt Came Back by Pat Cummings An adventurous auntie travels the world and always brings back something for her adoring niece.
Tickle Tickle by Dakari Hru There is nothing better than a little tickle time spent between father and son.
Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora A busy toddler spends the morning joyfully playing hide and seek and shouting "peekaboo."
Please, Baby, Please by Spike and Tonya Lee Keeping up with an energetic toddler is not easy, but a mother's patience goes a long way.
These Hands by Hope Lynn Price Hands have a lot of power and beauty, no matter how small.
Brown Sugar Babies by Charles R.Smith A celebration of caramel, chocolate and honey colored babies cute enough to eat.
My Girl by Charles R. Smith Vibrant photographs and classic Motown lyrics come together in this delightful board book that you will want to share with your own "baby love."
Joy! by Joyce Carol Thomas The seasons may come and go but a mother always finds joy in her little boy.
Ages 9-12
Mansa Musa: Lion of Mali by Khephra Burns The early life of Mali's great 14th century leader is told through this lavishly illustrated fictionalized account.
The Watson's Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis Kenny and the "weird Watsons" (his family) head south to visit Grandma and unexpectedly witness history.
Francie by Karen English Life isn't easy for Francie, a quiet, smart girl, who loves trains and scooter pies and who is growing up in rural Alabama during the 1930's.
Yolonda's Genius by Carol Fenner While most people view Yolonda's little brother as being "slow," she believes that he is musically gifted and decides to show the world.
The Skin I'm In by Sharon Flake Teased because of her extremely dark skin, thirteen year old Maleeka slowly learns a lesson in self-acceptance when a new teacher (with a prominent birthmark on her face) arrives at her school.
Jazmin's Notebook by Nikki Grimes While growing up in Harlem during the 1960's, a fourteen year old girl discovers that writing can be empowering.
The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton After moving into a house that was once used as part of the underground railroad, the Small family experience a series of strange happenings and sense danger.
When Mules Flew on Magnolia Street by Angela Johnson Charlie spends her summer fishing, solving a mystery and making new friends.
Here We Go Round by Alice McGill When her mother is put on bed rest during the last month of her pregnancy, seven year old Roberta is sent to stay with her grandparents in the country. Already feeling ambivalent about the new baby, will this separation make matters worse?
Junebug in Trouble by Alice Mead After moving away from a tough housing project, Junebug discovers that one of his old buddies is showing an interest in gangs. Wanting to help, Junebug finds himself reaching out to his troubled friend and surprisingly to his own imprisoned dad as well.
Slam! by Walter Dean Myers A talented high school basketball player realizes the need to improve his "off court" skills just as much as his ball playing skills.
Trouble Don't Last by Shelley Pearsall Being a slave is the only life that eleven year old Samuel knows. Unexpectedly awakened one night by his old friend Harrison, he is forced to leave behind his miserable familiar life in exchange for a perilous journey and a faint hope of freedom.
The Land by Mildred Taylor Paul Edward, son of a white plantation owner and a slave, is determined to succeed on his own in post Civil War Mississippi. A prequel to the Newbery Award-winning Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry.
Willimena and the Cookie Money by Valerie Wilson Wesley In her attempt to help the less fortunate, Willimena spends the money that she has collected selling girl scout cookies. Now she and her sister must find a way to raise the money before anyone finds out.
Between Madison and Palmetto by Jacqueline Woodson When Maizon returns from boarding school, two best friends are reunited and try to continue their friendship despite new people and pressures.
A Piece of Heaven by Sharon Dennis Wyeth Despite having an unstable home life, thirteen year-old Haley remains optimistic because of a special friendship.
Easy Nonfiction
The Palm of My Heart: Poetry by African American Children by Davida Adedjouma, editor A collection of twenty poems by children, celebrating "black" in their lives.
Brothers of the Knight by Debbie Allen The classic tale of The Twelve Dancing Princesses gets a new setting, Harlem, and a new cast, twelve boys who dance holes in their high tops.
Rock of Ages: A Tribute to the Black Church by Tonya Bolden The history and importance of the Black Church is thoughtfully presented in poetic words and stirring pictures.
Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges In 1960, when she was six, Ruby Bridges was the first black student at an all-white school in New Orleans. Here, she describes that experience and her life since.
Satchel Paige by Lesa Cline-Ransome Legendary pitcher Leroy (Satchel) Paige played in the Negro Leagues and the Major Leagues, and was the first African American inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Coming Home: From the Life of Langston Hughes by Floyd Cooper In this story of the famous poet's childhood, young Langston lives mainly with his grandmother and a foster family and dreams of a permanent home with his parents.
Rosa Parks by Eloise Greenfield An illustrated biography of the woman who, by bravely refusing to give her bus seat to a white person in 1955, is credited with beginning the Civil Rights Movement.
Pass It On: African American Poetry for Children by Wade Hudson, editor This collection, by an assortment of well-known African American poets, conveys the pain and joy of the African American experience.
John Henry by Julius Lester John Henry pits his strength against a steam drill in this award-winning picture book version of a classic black folk ballad.
Hoops with Swoopes by Susan Kunklin A simple introduction to basketball becomes a one-woman show when WNBA star Cheryl Swoopes gets the ball.
Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack Holiday celebrations are very different for the slaves and the masters on a Southern plantation just before the Civil War.
Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly by Walter Dean Myers A picture book biography of the well-known civil rights activist, written by an award-winning author.
Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra by Andrea Davis Pinkney There's a sense of his music in both the writing and the illustration of this picture book about jazz great Duke Ellington.
Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport A combination of magnificent artwork, refreshing text and King's own powerful words make this an outstanding tribute.
Only Passing Through by Anne Rockwell Isabella was born a slave in New York, but after being freed in 1826, she became Sojourner Truth and traveled around the country telling people about the horrors of slavery.
When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson by Pam Munoz Ryan Marian Anderson was an acclaimed singer in Europe, but had to overcome racism before she could sing with the Metropolitan Opera in the United States.
The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South by Robert D. San Souci In long-ago Louisiana, two sisters with very different personalities meet an old woman who has a chicken house full of magical talking eggs.
Minty: A Story of a Young Harriet Tubman by Alan Schroeder A fictionalized account of the childhood of Harriet Tubman, who is famous for her work helping slaves escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad.
In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers illustrated by Javaka Steptoe
This collection of poems about African American fathers is enhanced by Steptoe's award-winning mixed media illustrations.
Nonfiction for Older Students
I, Too, Sing America: Three Centuries of African American Poetry by Catherine Clinton In this anthology, twenty five poets are represented by their poems and described in short biographical sketches.
Sweet Words So Brave: The Story of African American Literature by Barbara K. Curry A grandfather enthusiastically shares the history and literature of African Americans with his granddaughter.
Story Painter: The Life of Jacob Lawrence by John Duggleby Jacob Lawrence's life, the culture of Harlem in the 1930's, and his colorful art are all introduced in this biography, illustrated with numerous prints of the artist's works.
A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson by Michelle Y. Green Johnson played professional baseball in the Negro Leagues, facing prejudice against both her race and her gender.
Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales and True Tales by Virginia Hamilton A wonderful, award-winning collection of stories, in a variety of styles, that feature strong African American women.
Breaking Ground, Breaking Silence: The Story of New York's African Burial Ground by Joyce Hansen The graves in an African burial site, uncovered by archaeologists in Manhattan in 1991, tell the story of how African Americans lived in New York during the colonial period.
The African American Family Album by Dorothy Hoobler The stories of individual African Americans are told through interviews, letters and other original documents, and in pictures.
I See The Rhythm: A Story of African American Music by Igus Toyomi A survey of African American music from African and slave songs to rap and hip-hop, told in text and paintings.
Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments from My Life by Mae Jemison Funny and inspirational anecdotes from the life of America's first female African American astronaut.
Vision of Beauty: The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker by Kathryn Lasky A richly illustrated biography of Madame C.J. Walker, the daughter of freed slaves who became an entrepreneur at the turn of the 20th century.
Black Hoops: The History of African Americans in Basketball by Fredrick McKissack Basketball's history from an African American perspective, from the game's beginning in 1891, through the era of segregated teams, to the many black stars of the NBA and WNBA in the 1990's.
Black Hands, White Sails by Patricia McKissack This story of African American men who worked in the whaling industry in the 18th and 19th centuries explores the connections between whaling and the abolitionist movement.
Dare to Dream: Coretta Scott King and the Civil Rights Movement by Angela Shelf Medearis As a child in Alabama, Coretta Scott faced segregation and prejudice, and dreamed of racial equality. As an adult, she helped her husband the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. lead the Civil Rights Movement.
Carver: A Life in Poems by Marilyn Nelson, editor A sophisticated collection of poems that eloquently tells the story of renowned educator and botanist George Washington Carver.
The New York Public Library Amazing African American History: A Book of Answers For Kids by Diane Patrick This book, one in a series produced by the New York Public Library, presents African American history in a question and answer format.
Jackie's Nine: Jackie Robinson's Values to Live By by Sharon Robinson The baseball great's daughter explores the nine hard-won values that helped Jackie Robinson achieve his goals.
A Kid's Guide to African American History by Nancy I. Sanders Over 70 activities are included in this overview that begins with the glories of ancient Africa and concludes with the achievements of present-day African Americans.
Leon's Story by Leon Walter Tillage A moving memoir by a man who spent his childhood as the son of a sharecropper in the segregated and racist South.
The Young Oxford History of African Americans by Peter H. Wood This comprehensive and readable eleven volume set covers African American history from the early 16th century to the 1990's.
A Dream Fulfilled: The Story of Barack Obama By Tanya Savory This book is about an inspirational man whose life shows us the value of hope, education, and hard work. Obama’s journey – from his unusual youth to his travels to Kenya in search of his father to Harvard Law School and, finally, to the White House – proves that dreams can indeed be fulfilled. Foster Care Odyssey: A Black Girl’s Story by Theresa Cameron A black baby is left in the care of a charity of Buffalo, New York in 1954 – a time when blacks and whites have very little to do with one another. Lena By Jacqueline Woodson Desperate to escape their abusive father, Lena and her younger sister set out one night disguised as boys just as the sun is setting.