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Beyond the History Books: Contemporary Black Authors You and Your Kids Should Be Reading

As a bookseller, I spend my days watching kids browse these shelves. One thing I’ve realized over time, and with my own children, is that when we talk about Black History Month, we often default to a very specific, "textbook" list of names and events. Those stories are vital, but if that’s all we share, we miss the incredible, vibrant, and messy world of Black literature happening right now.


I want our shop to be a place where Black joy isn't a "special feature". I want the kids who walk in our doors to see themselves not just as figures in a history lesson, but as dragon-riders, detectives, messy teenagers falling in love, and kids just having a really great Saturday.


Why Representation and "Mirror Books" Matter

Statistics show that when children have access to "mirrors" (books that reflect them), their engagement with reading skyrockets. In one study, classroom reading time increased by 4 hours per week simply by adding more diverse titles to the library.


While I can't point to a specific stat for this next part, I feel it deeply: we miss the mark when the only titles we offer are about Black struggle. We shouldn't disregard history, but we must give voice to the multitude of emotions and experiences that children feel. I’ve been diving into contemporary Black authors who are redefining what "Black stories" can be.


Here are the favorites I’m currently stocking, many are in the shop now or are high on my list when I’m re-stocking my shelves:


Must-Read Black History Month Picture Books (Ages 3–7)


  • Saturday by Oge Mora: This is a family favorite. It’s a quiet, beautiful story about a mother and daughter whose "perfect" day keeps going wrong. It’s about resilience and love in the small moments. (Thank you Omu is another great one by Oge Mora!)


  • The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson: This one is pure magic. It’s about using your imagination to lift yourself up when you're bored, angry, or stuck. (other great Jacqueline Woodson Books include "The Day You Begin" and for middle grade readers, "Brown Girl Dreaming")


  • I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes: This is the ultimate "hype" book. It’s a proud, rhythmic celebration of Black boyhood that every kid should hear out loud. We also love his middle grade novel, "The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze".


Chapter Books: Big Personalities and Big Dreams (Ages 6–10)

  • Stuntboy, in the Meantime (Jason Reynolds): Portraying "the worries" (anxiety) in a way kids actually get, wrapped in a hilarious superhero shell. Reynolds has so many great titles, but we especially love his Track series for middle grade readers.


  • J.D. and the Great Barber Battle (J. Dillard): A great pick for kids who want a story about talent, hustle, and community. This is a great series for early readers.


  • The Magnificent Mya Tibbs (Crystal Allen): Spunky, funny, and perfect for fans of Ramona Quimby. If you love these stories as much as we do, be sure to check out "The Laura Line" by Allen as well.


Middle Grade: Adventure, Mythology, and Finding Your Voice (Ages 8–12)

  • Amari and the Night Brothers (B.B. Alston): If you have a kid waiting for their Hogwarts letter, give them this instead. It’s magic, mystery, and adventures - what so many kids at this age crave. Book 4 in this series is schedule to release this month, you can pre-order it here and show some love for the author!

  • Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (Kwame Mbalia): West African mythology meets modern-day bravery. If your kids love Percy Jackson, they will love this series. Plus, Mbalia's other series: The Royal Trials and Jax Freeman.

  • The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles: This is for the kids who love "weird." It’s funny, fast-paced, and features two cousins who accidentally freeze time. Giles is also the author of the "Legendary Alston Boys" series, as well as several young adult novels. He is the cofounder of We Need Diverse Books and the editor of the WNDB anthology.


Young Adult: Truth, Power, and Black Joy (Ages 13+)

  • Legendborn (Tracy Deonn): A total redirection of Arthurian legend that doesn't shy away from the reality of being Black in the South. This trilogy is the first from this author but we can't wait to see what she does next!

  • You Should See Me in a Crown (Leah Johnson): It shouldn't have to be said, but Black girls deserve the prom-queen, rom-com, joyful ending too. If you've missed out on reading storeis like this, definitely check this one out. She also has a great middle grade series starting with "Ellie Engle Saves Herself".

  • Pet (Akwaeke Emezi): A genre-defying story about what happens when adults insist monsters don't exist anymore.


Supporting Black Authors and Independent Bookstores

Black stories aren't a "genre." They are everything: fantasy, realism, humor, and love. While the number of Black characters in books is growing, the number of books actually written by Black authors still lags behind.


In 2024, only about 16% of children’s books were created by Black authors, illustrators, or compilers. So, what do we do? We keep buying books by authors of color and tell the publishing world that investing in their work is important to us.


Shop Local: I have many of these titles in the shop! For those I don't, you can find them on our Bookshop.org page to support these authors while also supporting your local independent bookstore.

Here's a more comprehensive list of great stories by black authors:


 
 
 

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