Some of the most iconic and revered children's books of all time were written by Black authors. Unfortunately, these incredibly talented writers, as well as up-and-coming ones, are often pigenholed into a few weeks out of the year and overlooked the rest. Here, we've complied a list of Black children's authors that you should have on your radar and celebrate year-round. Whether you're looking for a magical tale of urban fantasy or inspiration from stories of perserverance, these authors have something to offer anyone and everyone.
The Rock and the River
has written widely across age groups and genres, and collected many awards. Her first children's book, , is about the Civil Rights Movement and won a 2011 Audie Award. Magoon is also the author of , a Robin Hood retelling set in a dystopian future, starring 13-year-old Robyn as the famous outlaw. Her latest children's book, , follows two brothers who befriend an older boy and quickly find themselves in over their heads with madcap adventures.
As Brave as You
was already well established as a great YA author when he wrote his first children's book, , a Coretta Scott King Honor Book about two brothers who visit their grandfather for the summer and become determined to prove how brave they really are. He quickly followed it up with the Track series—, , , and —about four kids on the same track team, and their friendship, dreams, and challenges. Guy Lockard narrates most of Reynolds's books and does a spectacular job of bringing his characters to life.
Brown Girl Dreaming
is a National Book Award winner for her beautiful, self-narrated memoir-in-verse , but she's been writing picture books and children's books for decades. Some of her most notable books throughout the years are , a short and poignant story about bullying; the Newbery Honor Book ; and the lyrical listen, . Her latest is , a middle-grade novel about a group of New York City middle schoolers who find refuge and hope in their unlikely friendship. It's narrated by a stellar full cast that includes the author.
Out of My Mind
's extensive backlist includes YA and children's books about social justice, history, and identity. She's the author of , a New York Times best seller about a girl with cerebral palsy determined to prove she's smarter than anyone realizes. Draper also wrote the historical novel , in which a girl investigates the reappearance of the Ku Klux Klan in her segregated North Carolina town. Her latest title is , a timely contemporary novel about Isabella, an 11-year-old biracial girl navigating the complexities of her blended family.
Bud, Not Buddy
is well known for his deft use of humor to tell stories about some of the darkest subjects. He's best known for , about a motherless boy’s road trip to find his father, and , a novel about a family trip that coincides with the Birmingham church bombing (this is not a drill: it's narrated by LeVar Burton!). Curtis's latest novel, , is a National Book Award finalist. It's about a 12-year-old boy who cuts a deal with a plantation owner after his father dies, only to find that he's in way over his head.
One Crazy Summer
's is the story of three sisters who travel from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to spend the summer with the mother they barely know. Its sequels, and , follow the sisters' further adventures. She's also the author of the National Book Award finalist , about a kid who goes on a journey through New York City to find the blues musicians who played with his beloved late grandfather.
Sugar
's novels are often rooted in history or important current events. is the story of a young girl crossing cultural divides on a plantation after the Emancipation Proclamation. follows a 12-year-old New Orleans orphan, Lanesha, during the devastating storm of Hurricane Katrina. is an important novel about three kids grappling to understand the impact of the September 11th terrorist attacks on their community. Rhodes's latest release is about the Black Lives Matter movement and the death of Emmett Till.
The Parker Inheritance
won the Coretta Scott King Author Honor for his newest release, , a mystery about a small town and a decades-old injustice investigated by two kids, Candice and Brandon, who are determined to uncover the truth. Johnson has written books for the Spirit Animals series, as well as his acclaimed thrillers for kids.
A Wish After Midnight
has written everything from picture books to young adult books, contemporary stories to urban fantasy. In her YA novel , Genna wants nothing more than to get out of her Brooklyn neighborhood—only to find herself traveling back through time to Civil War-era Brooklyn. Elliott's latest, , is about a kid who discovers his babysitter is a witch and needs him to deliver a bagful of baby dragons to a magical world!
The Crossover
is the Newbery Award-winning author of , a novel-in-verse about two brothers, basketball, and living up to a father's expectations. He also wrote its prequel, , and , a novel about soccer, bullies, and first crushes. An advocate for literacy, Alexander narrates his latest book, , a poetic meditation on the power of reading—and listening.