This year’s national Black History theme is “Black Resistance.” Black people have resisted and fought against oppression for centuries. Resistance is more than sit-ins, street protests, and boycotts. Black people also resist systemic racism, stereotypes, and race-based violence through education, entrepreneurship, arts and culture, athletics and health, and so much more. As forces seek to bury our contributions to society, deny oppressive and exploitative systems, and minimize brutality against black people, Black History Month is a time for us to remember, learn, and celebrate within our community, with our allies, and our friends to come.

Here are books that focus on the black family and loving ourselves (from our hair to our skin to our cultural traditions and more). Some books show children working with their families to make a change. Others show black families loving, teaching, laughing, and supporting one another. Take a look and see if you can find a new book to read and share today. 

Ages 0-3 (Board Book Versions)

I, Too, Sing America. (Author: Langston Hughes. Illustrator: Katie Crumpton) Contemporary and inspirational images of a little boy growing up with his loving family illustrate this classic poem by Langston Hughes.

Together. (Author: Megan Madison & Jessica Ralli. Illustrator: Anne/Andy Passchier) This board book celebrates inclusive representations of love, relationships, and families.

Brown Sugar Baby. (Author: Kevin Lewis. Illustrator Jestenia Southerland) This book celebrates a mother’s love for her child.

Bedtime Bonnet. (Author: Nancy Redd. Illustrator: Nneka Myers) A family shows all the different ways that they protect their hair in preparation for going to bed.  “When the sun goes down, our hair goes up!”

Ages 4-8

Our Story Starts in Africa. (Author: Patrice Lawrence. Illustrator: Jeanetta Gonzales.) A little girl learns about African history and the triumphs and struggles of the African diaspora from her aunt.   

Mommy is the Mayor. (Author: Letitia Clark. Illustrator: Sarah K. Turner.) By watching her mommy serve as her town’s mayor, a little girl learns about the importance of local government, representation, and giving back to her community.

The Talk. (Author: Alicia Williams. Illustrator: Brianna Uchendu.) As a little boy grows older, his family talks to him about how he is perceived by some in society and how he should behave to stay safe.                

Bathe the Cat.(Author: Alice McGinty. Two dads work hard to get the family to clean before grandma arrives, but the family cat has other plans.    

Brown is Warm, Black is Bright. (Author: Sarah L. Thomson. Illustrator: Keith Mallett) From black history to a colorful Fall day, a little girl shares with her father how brown and black are beautiful.

I am Amazing! (Author: Alissa Holder & Zulekha Holder-Young. Illustrator: Nneka Myers) A boy is sad because classmates tell him that superheroes don’t look like him, but his dad shows him that superheroes look differently and then helps him find his own superhero power!

Freedom Soup. (Author: Tami Charles. Illustrator: Jacqueline Alcántara.) A little girl learns how to make her grandmother’s freedom soup, a tradition that dates back to the Haitian Revolution,

Love is Powerful. (Author: Heather Dean Brewer. Illustrator: LeUyen Pham.) A little girl works with her mom to find her voice and share her message during the 2016 Women’s March.

The Electric Slide and Kai. (Author: Kelly J. Baptist. Illustrator: Darnell Johnson) With a family wedding coming up, a boy struggles to learn his family’s favorite dance, the electric slide, until he learns that he just has to be himself.

Daddy and Me and the Rhyme to Be.(Author: Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and Halcyon Person. Illustrator: Parker-Nia Gordon) A girl loves spending time with her dad making music, but when she wants to write a hip-hop song for him on his birthday, she can’t find the right rhymes.

Why? (Author: Taye Diggs. Illustrator: Shane Evans.) Children ask their family members about the protests, pain, and anger they see around them.

Song in the City. (Author: Daniel Bernstrom. Illustrator: Jenin Mohammed) A little girl, who is blind, struggles to convince her grandmother that the city is filled with music until her grandmother finally hears the music all around her.

My Rainbow. (Author: Trinity & DeShanna Neal. Illustrator Art Twink) A black transgender girl on the autism spectrum pushes back against stereotypes and wants long hair like her dolls. Her family works to make her dream come true.

Lovely Day. (Author: Bill Withers. Illustrator Olivia Duchess) This book’s touching illustrations to the Bill Withers song show a brother’s and sister’s love for one another.

A Boy and His Mirror. (Author: Marchànt Davis. Illustrator: Keturah A. Bobo) A little boy’s mother and magic mirror help him find pride to respond to children who tease him at school because of his hair.

Love Grows Everywhere. (Author: Barry Timms. Illustrator: Tisha Lee) A family shows its community that like a plant love grows everywhere.

Mama’s Home. A little girl celebrates the seven Big Mamas in her community who love and help take care of her - one for each day of the week - while her mother travels long periods of time for work.

I Color Myself Different. (Author: Colin Kaepernick. Illustrator: Eric Wilkerson) A little boy who is adopted draws a picture showing that he is a different color from his parents and learns to stand up to classmate questions challenging why he is different.

Daddy-Daughter Day. (Author: Pierce Freelon. Illustrator: Olivia Duchess) From protests to dress-up, this daddy-daughter team love carving out special time together. #girldad

Rainbow Joe and Me. (Author: Maria Diaz Strom.) Rainbow Joe, a neighbor who is blind, teaches a little girl and her mom to expand their perspectives of how to see colors in order to understand how Rainbow Joe sees beautiful colors in a different way.

All the Places We Call Home. (Author: Patrice Gopo. Illustrator: Jenin Mohammed.) From Southern Africa to Jamaica, a little girl in the United States listens to her mother’s stories about the countries that shape her identity.

Big Papa and the Time Machine. (Author: Daniel Bernstrom. Illustrator: Shane W. Evans.) A little boy confides in his grandfather that he’s scared to go to school and travels in his grandfather’s time machine to see when his grandfather had to face his fears and be brave in response to some of the tough times and barriers he experienced during his life.

My Mom is a Construction Manager. (Author: The Darden Kids. Illustrator: Princess Karibo.) Children discuss the path that led to their mother becoming a construction manager and describe her responsibilities in that role.

Ages 6-10

Born on the Water. (Author: Nikole Hannah-Jones & Renée Watson. Illustrator: Nikkolas Smith.) Upset because she cannot complete her family history assignment, a little girl learns from her grandmother about the triumphs and struggles of the black diaspora and that before slavery, her ancestors had their own language, culture, and academic excellence.  

Justice Makes a Difference.(Author: Dr. Artika Tyner and Jacklyn Milton.) Justice’s grandmother teaches her different ways she can help serve the community.

What’s My Superpower? Discovering Your Unique Talents. (Author: Delanda Coleman & Terrence Coleman. Illustrator: Bowen Jiang) The son and brother of superheroes searches for his superpower and finds out that he doesn’t have to follow superhero stereotypes, but can use his intelligence to figure out a new way to help his family save the world.

Want more? Please also see our recommendations for  Black History Month 2021 and  Black History Month 2022.