Black history lives in everyday moments, in imagination, in family stories, and in dreams of the future. At Jackalope, we believe books are one of the most powerful ways to honor that truth, especially for children.
This reading list was created to celebrate Blackness. Not only the stories of struggle and resistance, but also stories of joy, curiosity, creativity, tenderness, brilliance, and belonging. These books invite children to see Black history as living and ongoing, something to be celebrated every day of the year.
Below you’ll find the full list of titles we have featured, organized by theme. Many of these books may fit into more than one category, as Black stories are expansive, layered, and interconnected.
Everyday Joy
Books that center tenderness & family
These stories celebrate the small, beautiful moments that shape childhood: mornings at home, meals with loved ones, music, and so much more everyday joy.
- Brown Sugar Baby by Kevin Lewis
- I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes
- Me & Mama by Cozbi A. Cabrera
- Soulful Struttin’ by Julia Durango
- Saturday Morning at the Shop by Keenan Jones
- Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora
- Jollof Day by Bernard Mensah
- Beach Hair by Ashley Woodfolk
Identity, Confidence, & Self-Expression
Books that center pride & self-worth
These books affirm identity, encourage confidence, and remind children that who they are is already enough.
- Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
- BIG by Vashti Harrison
- Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes
- As You Are by Meera Shah
- Maya and the Robot by Eve L. Ewing
- Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
- The Spark in You by Andrea Pippins
- Curls by Ruth Forman
Excellence & Curiosity
Books that center creativity, brilliance, & boldness
These stories spotlight curiosity, problem-solving, innovation, and the brilliance of Black thinkers, creators, and leaders.
- Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas by Jeanne Walker Harvey
- Counting on Katherine by Helaine Becker
- Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed
- Buzzing with Questions by Janice Harrington
- Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark by Allen R. Wells
- Jayden’s Impossible Garden by Mélina Mangal
- Saving the Day by Karyn Parsons
- There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds
History & Legacy
Books that center changemakers, trailblazers, & cultural memory
These books connect past, present, and future, honoring those who paved the way and those still shaping what comes next.
- The Youngest Marcher by Cynthia Levinson
- The Oldest Student by Rita Lorraine Hubbard
- Make a Pretty Sound by Traci Todd
- Hidden Figures (Young Readers Edition) by Margot Lee Shetterly
- Dancing with Water by Gwendolyn Wallace
- Black Ballerinas by Misty Copeland
- Make Your Mark by Jacci Gresham
- Let’s Fly! by Barrington Irving
Activism & Courage
Books that center justice, bravery, & speaking up
These stories model courage, community action, and the power of using one’s voice.
- Stamped (for Kids) by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
- No Voice Too Small by Lindsay Metcalf
- Stay Angry, Little Girl by Madeleine L’Engle and Michelle Jing Chan
- The Artivist by Nikkolas Smith
- How Do You Spell Unfair? by Carole Boston Weatherford
- Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson
- Loud and Proud by Lesa Cline-Ransome
- Outspoken: Paul Robeson by Carole Boston Weatherford
Imagination, Fantasy, & Futures
Books that center heroism, possibility, & storytelling
These books imagine expansive futures where Black children are heroes, dreamers, and world-builders.
- Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
- Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
- Future Hero by Remi Blackwood
- Magic Like That by Samara Cole Doyon
- The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton
- Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tọlá Okogwu
- Jax Freeman and the Phantom Shriek by Kwame Mbalia
- Root Magic by Eden Royce
- The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles
Belonging & Togetherness
Books that center friendship, connection, & community
These stories emphasize care, connection, and the power of community.
- Joy Takes Root by Gwendolyn Wallace
- Something, Someday by Amanda Gorman
- More Than Words by Roz MacLean
- You Can Sit with Me by Rachel Tawil Kenyon
- In My From by Gary R. Gray Jr.
- Stacey’s Remarkable Books by Stacey Abrams
- You Will Do Great Things by Amerie
- Where There Is Love by Shauntay Grant
Why This Matters
Championing Black joy, excellence, imagination, voices, and history every day means expanding the stories we tell and the shelves we build. It means offering children books that reflect the fullness of Black life and honoring Black history as something living, evolving, and deeply present.
We hope this list becomes a resource you return to at the library, at home, in classrooms, and in conversations.
If there’s a book you love that belongs here, we’d love to hear from you!
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