Books About...  African Americans

The following picture books are suggested to enrich the African American experience for preschool children.

Brown Sugar Babies
By Charles R. Smith Jr.
This picture book celebrates the many shades of brown that African-American babies can be while introducing body parts through poetic text and lively photos.

Crayon Box That Talked
By Shane DeRolf
Illustrated by Michael Letzig
Although they are many different colors, the crayons in a box discover that when they get together they can appreciate each other and make a complete picture.

Daddy Calls Me Man
By Angela Johnson
Paintings by Rhonda Mitchell
A young boy enjoys the everyday pleasures of growing up in a family of talented artists.  

Do Like Kyla
By Angela Johnson
Paintings by James E. Ransome
A little girl imitates her big sister all day until it is time for bed.
 
Feast For 10
By Cathryn Falwell
Numbers from one to ten are used to tell how members of an African American family shop and work together to prepare a meal.

Flowers for Mommy
By Susan Anderson
A little girl’s search for flowers for her mother brings her in contact with animals in her backyard.  

Golden Bear
By Ruth Young
Illustrations by Rachel Isadora
A bear and a little boy learn to play and dream together.

Greetings Sun
By Phillis and David Gershator
Paintings by Synthia Saint James
Throughout the day, children greet the sun.

Half a Moon and One Whole Star
By Crescent Dragonwagon
Illustrations by Jerry Pinkney
The summer night is full of wonderful sounds and scents as a little girl falls asleep.

How Sweet the Sound, African-American Songs for Children
By Wade and Chery Hudson
Illustrated by Floyd Cooper
Presents lyrics and background notes for twenty-three contemporary and traditional African-American songs.

I Need a Lunch Box
By Jeannette Caines
Pictures by Pat Cummings
A little boy yearns for a lunch box, even though he hasn't started school yet.

Jonathan and His Mommy
By Irene Smalls
Illustrated by Michael Hays
A six-year-old describes each step of a walk through his neighborhood with his mother.  

Kevin and His Dad
By Irene Smalls
Illustrated by Michael Hays
A young boy and his father spend an entire day working and playing together.

Loki and Alex
By Charles R. Smith Jr.
Photographs and text from the points of view of both a young African American boy and his dog tell the story of their trip to the park.

The Lord’s Prayer
Illustrated by Tim Ladwig
The words of the Lord's Prayer serve as the text for a picture book that shows a young African American girl and her father spending a day together and helping an elderly neighbor.

Peter’s Chair
By Ezra Jack Keats
When Peter discovers his blue furniture is being painted pink for a new baby sister, he rescues the last unpainted item and runs away.

My Best Friend
By Pat Hutchins
Despite differences in abilities, two little girls appreciate each other and are "best friends."

One Hot Summer Day
By Nina Crews
Relates a child’s activities in the heat of a summer day.  

The Quilt
By Ann Jonas
A child's new patchwork quilt recalls old memories and provides new adventure at bedtime.

Shades of Black
By Sandra L. Pinkney
Photographs by Myes C. Pinkney
Photographs and poetic text celebrate the beauty and diversity of African American children.

Sunday
By Synthia Saint James
Portrays an African American family as they spend a typical Sunday together.

Ten Nine Eight
By Molly Bang
A father and his little girl count down objects from ten to one as she prepares to go to bed.

Uptown
By Bryan Collier
A young boy gives a tour of the sights and sounds of Harlem.  

World Full of Monsters
By John Troy McQueen
Illustrated by Marc Brown
A little boy explains away the noise of the night by telling himself a story about a world full of friendly monsters.

Yo! Yes?
By Chris Raschka
Two lonely characters, one black and one white, meet on the street and become friends.