Curated by the South Orange Public Library

Discover a powerful, age-inclusive collection of stories created to inspire, educate, and celebrate Black history, culture, and excellence. In honor of the national theme A Century of Black History Commemorations, the South Orange Public Library presents weekly Black History Month booklists thoughtfully curated by SOPL librarians.

Each list is organized by a weekly subtheme and features carefully selected titles for every age group — from babies through high school students. These collections are designed to grow with your child, deepen understanding, and spark meaningful conversations at every stage of learning.

All titles are available through the South Orange Public Library or the BCCLS system, making access easy for every family.

Browse by Age Group

Babies, Toddlers, Pre-K, Kindergarten

Early Elementary and Middle Grade

Middle School through High School

Weekly Theme

Week 1 – No Sidekicks Here
These books center Black children as the main characters — leaders of their own stories, not supporting roles. This collection highlights identity, confidence, and representation through narratives where Black youth are fully seen, heard, and valued.

Babies, Toddlers, Pre-K, Kindergarten

All Because You Matter
By Tami Charles, Illustrated by Bryan Collier
A poetic tribute to black and brown children, reminding them how much they matter not only to people in their lives today, but also to their ancestors who dreamed of what they could become. 

Curls
By Ruth Forman, Illustrated by Geneva Bowers
A poetic ode to the beautiful curls of African-American girls.

The Day You Begin
By Jacqueline Woodson, Illustrated by Rafael Lopez
A girl realizes that she’s not alone in feeling different, she finds commonality with others and celebrates.

Green Pants
By Kenneth Kraegel
Wearing green pants makes Jamison feel strong and like he can do anything. When he is asked to be in a wedding and to wear a tuxedo, he has to decide if he is brave enough to wear other pants.

I Affirm Me
By Nyasha Williams, Illustrated by Sóf'ya Glushkó
This empowering alphabet board book offers affirmations for Black children to help them nurture and embrace their authentic selves and to enjoy the magic of childhood.

I Like Myself
By Karen Beaumont, Illustrated by David Catrow
High on energy and imagination, this ode to self-esteem encourages kids to appreciate everything about themselves--inside and out.

I Promise
By Lebron James, Illustrated by Nina Mata
The promises we make to ourselves and our community today help us develop into the people we become in the future.

Lola series
By Anna McQuinn, Illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw. 
This series follows the adventures of a little girl and her brother – including going to the library, getting a cat and planting a garden. 

Sulwe
By Lupita Nyong’o, Illustrated by Vashiti Harrison
A whimsical, heartwarming story to inspire children to see their own unique beauty.  

Whose Knees Are These?
By Jabari Asim, Illustrated by LeUyen Pham
A celebration of a beautiful baby boy’s cute little knees.

Early Elementary - Middle Grade

Black Girl Black Girl
By Ali Kamanda and Jorge Redmond, Illustrated by Amanda Quartey
Encourages young Black girls to rise with passion and to trust in their fierce spirit and magnificent grace. 

Black Sands series
By Manuel Godoy, Illustrated by David Lenormand
Whether it’s ancient Greece, Sumer, Canaan, Kush, or Egypt, readers will dive deep into this culturally phenomenal series.

Bunheads
By Misty Copeland, Illustrated by Setor Fiadzigbey
A little girl discovers her love of ballet. The perfect book for the ballet dancer in your life.

Dear Black Boy
By Martelus Bennett
Written as a letter of encouragement to all boys of color who feel like sports is their only choice.

Black Girl Power: 15 Stories Celebrating Black Girlhood
By Leah Johnson
Middle grade stories and poems that celebrates the joy, strength, and experience of Black girlhood, including stories from Ibi Zoboi, Sharon M. Draper, and Leah Johnson.  

How to Code a Sandcastle
By Josh Funk, Illustrated by Sara Palacios
Using fundamental computer coding concepts, a child works to build the perfect sandcastle.

Libby Loves Science: Mix and Measure
By Kimberly Derting and Shelli R. Johannes, Illustrated by Joelle Murray
Libby and her friends compete to have the best booth at the school fair. Also provides a range of experiments for children to follow.

Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy
By Angie Thomas
An inventive, hilarious, and suspenseful contemporary fantasy trilogy inspired by African American history and folklore.

Where Black Flowers Bloom
By Ronald L. Smith
A gripping, richly imagined fantasy set in an alternate ancient African world in which a Black girl finds her power and saves her people from evil.

Middle - High School

Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America
Edited by Ibii Zoboi and 16 other authors
An essential collection of captivating stories about what it’s like to be Young and Black in America by some of the most acclaimed bestselling Black authors writing for teens.

Black Girl You Are Atlas
By Renée Watson, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes
The author writes about growing up as a young Black girl at the intersections of race, class, and gender.

Black Panther series
By Ta-Nehisi Coates, Illustrated by Brian Stelfreeze
Wakanda is under threat and Black Panther must protect it and its community.

Blackout
By Nicola Yoon and five other authors
A summer heatwave blankets New York City in darkness. But as the city is thrown into confusion, a different kind of electricity sparks.

Chlorine Sky
By Mahogany L. Browne 
Told in verse about a young woman who loses a best friend, but finds herself in the process.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man
By Jason Reynolds
Miles Morales is just your average teenager; Sunday dinner with his parents, playing video games with his best friend, crushing on Alicia. He’s even got a scholarship spot at the prestigious Brooklyn Visions Academy. Oh yeah, and he’s Spider-Man.

Running Overload
By Jake Maddox, Illustrated by Tina Francisco
The story of an eighth-grade girl who is determined to excel at track, but soon finds that her life will suffer without balance.

The Unboxing of a Black Girl
By Angela Shanté
This timeless book illuminates the places where Black girls are nurtured or boxed in, through stories and poems about expectations, exploitation, love, loss, and self-realization.