BLACKnOUT
BOOKS WRITTEN BY BLACK AUTHORS YOUR CHILDREN SHOULD READ
PRESENTS
Whether you’re concerned about the lack of diversity in your child’s reading list or want to ensure that they see themselves reflected in the books they consume, finding books with Black protagonists is an important goal that everyone should embrace. When children of color feel represented, their hopes, dreams, and goals feel attainable.
A boy is teased for looking different than the other kids. His skin is darker, his hair curlier. He tells his mother he wishes he could be more like everyone else. And she helps him to see how beautiful he really, truly is.
Chocolate Me by Taye Diggs
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Hey Black Child by Useni Eugene Perkins
This lyrical, empowering poem celebrates black children and seeks to inspire all young people to dream big and achieve their goals. Six-time Coretta Scott King Award winner and four-time Caldecott Honor recipient Bryan Collier brings this classic, inspirational poem to life.
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The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney
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Life in Amira's peaceful Sudanese village is shattered when Janjaweed attackers arrive, unleashing unspeakable horrors. After losing nearly everything, Amira needs to find the strength to make the long journey on foot to safety at a refugee camp. She begins to lose hope, until the gift of a simple red pencil opens her mind -- and all kinds of possibilities.
Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o
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Sulwe has skin the color of midnight. She is darker than everyone in her family. She is darker than anyone in her school. Sulwe just wants to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything.
Happy to be Nappy by Bell Hooks
Happy with hair all short and strong. Happy with locks that twist and curl.Just all girl happy! Happy to be nappy hair!
Nominated for an NAACP Image Award, here is a buoyantly fun read aloud brimming with playful -- and powerful -- affirmations.
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Plum fantastic by Whoopi Goldberg
Alexandrea Petrakova Johnson does not want to be a beautiful ballerina, and she does not want to leave her friends in Apple Creek. Unfortunately, that doesn't stop her ballet-crazy mother from moving them to Harlem. Not only is Al a terrible dancer, but she's also got a rotten case of stage fright! Al's ballet classmates are going to have to use all the plum power they've got to coach this scary fairy!.
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Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes
This rhythmic, read-aloud title is an unbridled celebration of the self-esteem, confidence, and swagger boys feel when they leave the barber's chair-a tradition that places on their heads a figurative crown, beaming with jewels, that confirms their brilliance and worth and helps them not only love and accept themselves but also take a giant step toward caring how they present themselves to the world. The fresh cuts. That's where it all begins
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New Kid by Jerry Craft
His parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade.
As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself?
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