A non-exhaustive list of diverse books – black characters
Hi all! It’s been a minute. But after my instagram post on diverse books the other day, I have had several people reach out for more book recs.
Here’s what I am going to focus on: books from all genres that are not necessarily about historical events/figures OR culture. There might be some of those things in the books below but my main focus was to highlight books with diverse characters.
IMPORTANT: do not read this as “books about the Civil Rights Movement or slavery are not important.” That is NOT what I am saying by any means. The reality is, most books written about people of color (POC) are about historical events and do not display a black character as the protagonist in a fairy tale or the star of the soccer team. I want my students to learn about history but I also want them to be KIDS and to see themselves in stories that kids enjoy just for the fun of it. So that is what this list is focused on.
Books that feature black characters:
Two Problems for Sophia
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
Ada Twist, Scientist
When God Made You
God’s Very Good Idea
What If…
Teddy’s Favorite Toy
Grace for President
The Adventures of Sparrowboy
All Are Welcome
Molly Mac Series
Beautiful
Green Pants
Hands Up! (This one is about protesting at the end but is a beautiful story)
Princess Truly Series
I am Famous
Jabari Jumps
Nighttime Symphony
Little Red Gliding Hood
Please, Puppy, Please
Dancing in the Wings
Mary Had a Little Glam
Monster Trouble
Even Superheroes Have Bad Days
The Word Collector
Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion
Billy Bloo is Stuck in Goo
Do NOT Bring Your Dragon to the Library
I Like Myself
The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do
Excellent Ed
The Snowy Day
I hope this list is a good jumping off point for you and that you start looking for books that include diverse characters as you buy. I was going to include books with hispanic children and books with asian/middle eastern children but I think I need to make a separate list! I purposefully didn’t link each of these books because I would love for you to support a local and/or black owned book store. But I also understand that sometimes we just need to amazon prime things!
*I’ll end with a list of black owned bookstores.*
https://www.braveandkindbooks.com/
https://bookshop.org/shop/Semicolonchi
https://brainlairbooks.handseller.com/category/categorysearch/Childrens
https://www.afriwarebooks.com/store/c4/AFRICAN-AMERICAN-CHILDRENS-BOOKS
https://www.detroitbookcity.com/
https://www.mahoganybooks.com/
https://unclebobbies.indielite.org/
https://bookshop.org/shop/thelitbar
https://www.cafeconlibrosbk.com/
https://frugalbookstore.net/collections/all
Love you all.
Rachel
