The best Black History Month picture books for parents and teachers, sorted by grade. Read alouds from our channel come first.
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Picture books for MLK Day in January and Black History Month in February: biographies, history, and Black joy.
36 books
Peter heads out in his red snowsuit to make tracks, snow angels, and a snowball he saves in his pocket. A Caldecott classic that captures pure childhood wonder.
Kids who feel different, from their lunches to their summers, discover that sharing their stories helps them find each other. A gorgeous read for starting school and building belonging.
A confident boy heads to his first day of kindergarten ready to rule with kindness and a big smile. Joyful and affirming for kids about to start school.
Dr. King's own words tell his story, set against Bryan Collier's striking collage art. A perfect first introduction to his life and message.
Kwame Alexander's powerful poem honors Black Americans who persevered, paired with Kadir Nelson's breathtaking Caldecott winning portraits. One to read slowly and talk about.
On hot summer nights, Cassie dreams of flying over Harlem from her apartment rooftop. Faith Ringgold's quilt inspired classic about big dreams and family.
CJ asks why he doesn't have what others have as he and his grandma ride the bus across town, and Nana helps him see the beauty around them. A Newbery Medal winner about gratitude and community.
In 1963 Birmingham, thousands of children march for civil rights when their parents can't risk their jobs. A stirring story that shows kids their voices matter.
Young Mae dreams of floating among the stars, and her parents tell her she can be anything. Inspired by Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space.
Two Union soldiers, one Black and one white, find friendship during the Civil War. A moving, true family story best for older kids.
Lonnie Johnson grew from a curious kid tinkering with junk into a NASA engineer who invented the Super Soaker by accident. An inspiring story about persistence and invention.
An enslaved girl tells how her family's week is ruled by the bell, until her brother runs away. A powerful, simple story for older kids.
Donald Crews remembers summers at his grandmother's country home, where everything is exactly as he left it. A loving, nostalgic look at family and summer traditions.
Katherine Johnson loved to count as a child and grew up to become the NASA mathematician who helped bring Apollo 13 home. An inspiring true story about math and determination.
Young Connie can't sit at the Woolworth's lunch counter, then watches her older siblings join the Greensboro sit ins. A child's eye view of a turning point in history.
Henry Brown, an enslaved man, mails himself to freedom in a wooden crate. A powerful Caldecott Honor true story of courage.
Ruby Bridges tells her own story of integrating a New Orleans school as a first grader in 1960. Brave, personal, and told in words young kids can follow.
Dr. King's famous speech comes to life with Kadir Nelson's majestic paintings. A beautiful way to share his words with children for the first time.
Harriet Tubman's escape and her work leading others to freedom are told through her faith and courage. A stunning Caldecott Honor book.
Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman in Congress and ran for president, and this lively book shows how she got things done. An energizing introduction for kids.
Jacqueline Woodson traces her family's history through generations of quilts that once guided people to freedom. A beautiful Newbery Honor picture book.
Thurgood Marshall grew from a mischievous kid in Baltimore into the lawyer who won Brown v. Board and the first Black Supreme Court justice. An engaging biography.
Poems trace Fannie Lou Hamer's life from sharecropping to fighting for the right to vote. A powerful Caldecott Honor biography for older readers.
Nine year old Audrey Faye Hendricks marched for civil rights in Birmingham and went to jail for it. An inspiring true story that shows kids can change the world.
A girl learns her family history from her grandmother, starting with ancestors brought to America in 1619. A powerful story about heritage and pride.
Claudette Colvin refuses to give up her bus seat at 15, months before Rosa Parks. An important story about courage.
Tybre Faw, a young boy inspired by John Lewis, meets his hero and walks with him across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. A moving true story about mentorship.
Kadir Nelson tells American history through the voice of an elderly Black woman. Gorgeous paintings and a powerful story for families to share.
An elderly woman walks to vote and remembers her family's long fight for voting rights. A moving story about democracy.
Young Jean Michel Basquiat dreams of being a famous artist and turns his world into art. A Caldecott winner bursting with energy.
Young Michael Jordan worries he is too short to play basketball, and his parents teach him that hard work matters more than height. Inspiring for any kid who feels too small.
Poets gather to celebrate Langston Hughes, dancing on the floor above his ashes at a famous party. A joyful tribute to words and poetry.
Simple words and striking art follow a group escaping slavery through the night. A powerful, accessible introduction to the Underground Railroad.
This powerful book tells the history of Tulsa's thriving Greenwood district and its destruction in 1921. Honest and important for older kids.
Kadir Nelson tells the history of the Negro Leagues with stunning paintings. Reach for it with any baseball fan; the art alone is worth it.
