African American Characters Books

Stories where Black children see themselves reflected as heroes, dreamers, inventors, and everyday kids. Not "books about race" — books about Black joy, Black family, Black life in its full range.

552 books

Cover of Hair Love
Hair Love
Matthew A. Cherry
Ages 3–7
Cover of Me and Momma and Big John
Me and Momma and Big John
Mara Rockliff, William Low
Ages 4–11
Cover of Jefferson's Sons: A Founding Father's Secret Children
Jefferson's Sons: A Founding Father's Secret Children
Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Ages 9–12
Cover of Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers
Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers
Michelle Obama
Ages 10–14
Cover of Only the Best
Only the Best
Kate Messner, Margaret E. Powell
Ages 4–11
Cover of Fifty Cents and a Dream Young Booker T. Washington
Fifty Cents and a Dream Young Booker T. Washington
Jabari Asim
Ages 4–11
Cover of The Journey of Little Charlie
The Journey of Little Charlie
Christopher Paul Curtis
Ages 10–14
Cover of Light for the World to See
Light for the World to See #1
Light for the World to See
Kwame Alexander
Ages 10–18
Cover of Who Was Harriet Tubman?
Who Was? #1
Who Was Harriet Tubman?
Yona Zeldis McDonough, Who HQ
Ages 6–9
Cover of Our White Boy
Sport in the American West #1
Our White Boy
Jerry Craft
Ages 10–14
Cover of Big
Big
Vashti Harrison
Ages 6–9
Cover of What Was the Underground Railroad?
What Was?
What Was the Underground Railroad?
Yona Zeldis McDonough, Who HQ
Ages 6–9
Cover of One of Our Kind
One of Our Kind
Nicola Yoon
Cover of Who Was Kobe Bryant?
Who Was?
Who Was Kobe Bryant?
Ellen Labrecque, Who HQ
Ages 6–9
Cover of He Said, She Said
He Said, She Said
Kwame Alexander
Ages 12–18
Cover of Mississippi Bridge
Mississippi Bridge
Mildred D. Taylor
Ages 6–9
Cover of Stealing the Game
Streetball Crew #2
Stealing the Game
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Raymond Obstfeld
Ages 9–14
Cover of Who Is LeBron James?
Who Was?
Who Is LeBron James?
Crystal Hubbard, Who HQ
Ages 6–9
Cover of American Ace
American Ace
Marilyn Nelson
Ages 12–18
Cover of The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street
The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street
Sharon Flake
Ages 4–11
Cover of A Way Out of No Way Writing about Growing Up Black in America
A Way Out of No Way Writing about Growing Up Black in America
Jacqueline Woodson
Ages 8–12
Cover of Jessi's Baby-Sitter
The Baby-Sitters Club #36
Jessi's Baby-Sitter
Ann M. Martin
Ages 8–12
Cover of Last Stop on Market Street
Last Stop on Market Street
Matt de la Peña
Ages 3–7
Cover of Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad
Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad
Ellen Levine
Ages 4–11