Difference between revisions of "Picture Books Featuring African Americans"

Revision as of 16:53, 24 June 2015

Article in Juvenile Fiction, African American, and Picture Books categories.

Find in Fiction: Picture Books

• Rain! by Linda Ashman

As an old man grumbles his way through a rainy morning, spreading gloom, his neighbor, a young child, spreads cheer while hopping through puddles in frog-themed rainwear.

• Big Snow by Jonathan Bean

An excited and frustrated boy watches hopefully as wintry weather develops slowly into a 'big snow.’

• I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont

In rhyming text, a little girl expresses confidence and joy in her uniqueness, no matter her outward appearance.

• The Hallelujah Flight by by Phil Bildner

James Banning, along with his co-pilot Thomas Allen, make history by becoming the first African Americans to fly across the United States.

• Ron's Big Mission by Rose Blue

One day in 1959, nine-year-old Ron McNair, who dreams of becoming a pilot, walks into the public library and insists on checking out some books, despite the rule that only white people can have library cards.

• How Do You Wokka-Wokka? by Elizabeth Bluemle

A young boy who likes to "wokka-wokka, shimmy-shake, and shocka-shocka" gathers his neighbors together for a surprise celebration.

• The Rain Stomper by Addie K. Boswell

When it begins to rain and storm on the day of her big parade, Jazmin stomps, shouts, and does all she can think of to drive the rain away.

• Momma, Where Are You From? by Marie Bradby

Momma describes the special people and surroundings of her childhood, in a place where the edge of town met the countryside, in a time when all the children at school were brown.

• Grandfather and I by Helen E. Buckley

A child considers how Grandfather is the perfect person to spend time with because he is never in a hurry.

• The Flower Garden by Eve Bunting

Helped by her father, a young girl prepares a flower garden as a birthday surprise for her mother.

• Full, Full, Full of Love by Trish Cooke

• Rain Play by Cynthia Cotten

Most people leave the park when rain begins to fall, while others enjoy the sights, sounds, and feel of the cool water--until thunder and lightning come near.

• You Are Here by Nina Crews

When the rain keeps Mariah and Joy confined to the indoors, they create a magic map and go on a fantastic imaginary voyage.

• Hot Day on Abbott Avenue by Karen English

• Feast for Ten by Cathryn Falwell

• Corduroy by Don Freeman

• When Gorilla Goes Walking by Nikki Grimes

• The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice N. Harrington

A young farm girl tries to catch her favorite chicken, until she learns something about the hen that makes her change her ways.

• Come On, Rain by Karen Hesse

• Flower Girl Butterflies by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard

• Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora

• • Yo, Jo! by Rachel Isadora

Jomar greets his neighbors using slang, but his grandfather wants to hear some more traditional words.

• Yo, Jo! by Rachel Isadora

• Lily Brown's Paintings by Angela Johnson

When Lily Brown paints, she imagines all sorts of fantastic things in the scenes that she sees every day.

• Lottie Paris and the Best Place by Angela Johnson

Lottie Paris goes to the library, her favorite place in the world, and makes a new friend for whom the library is also a special place.

• One of Three by Angela Johnson

• Violet's Music by Angela Johnson

• Hair Dance! by Dinah Johnson

• Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats

• Keisha Ann Can! by Daniel Kirk

• Please, Puppy, Please by Spike Lee

Two toddlers have fun with their puppy.

• Wonder Horse by Emily Arnold McCully

Bill "Doc" Key, a former slave who became a veterinarian, trained his horse to recognize letters and numbers and to perform in skits around the country, moving the nation toward a belief in treating animals humanely.

• Lulu and the Duck in the Park by Hilary McKay

Lulu, who loves animals, brings an abandoned duck egg to school, even though her teacher has banned Lulu from bringing animals to school ever again.

• Precious and the Boo Hag by Patricia McKissack

Home alone with a stomachache while the family works in the fields, a young girl faces up to the horrifying Boo Hag that her brother warned her about.

• Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn

Every Tuesday Lola and her mother visit their local library to return and check out books, attend story readings, and share a special treat.

• These Hands by Margaret H. Mason

An African-American man tells his grandson about a time when, despite all the wonderful things his hands could do, they could not touch bread at the Wonder Bread factory. Based on stories of bakery union workers.

• Snug in Mama's Arms by Angela Shelf Medearis

• Family by Isabell Monk

• H.O.R.S.E.: A Game of Basketball and Imagination by Christopher Myers

Two friends try to outdo each other on the basketball court in an out-of-this-world game of H.O.R.S.E.

• Thunder Rose by Jerdine Nolen

Unusual from the day she is born, Thunder Rose performs all sorts of amazing feats, including building fences, taming a stampeding herd of steers, capturing a gang of rustlers, and turning aside a tornado.

• Jojo's Flying Side Kick by J. Brian Pinkney

• Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children by Sandra Pinkney

Photographs and poetic text celebrate the beauty and diversity of African American children.

• Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold

• My Best Friend by Mary Ann Rodman

Six-year-old Lily has a best friend all picked out for play group day, but unfortunately the differences between first-graders and second-graders are sometimes very large.

• My Pop Pop and Me by Irene Smalls

A young boy who loves to sniff the lemon whiff and to clink the dishes in the sink helps his Pop Pop bake a cake.

• Kenya's Song by Linda Trice

For homework Kenya has to choose her favorite song, but there are so many different kinds of music in her community that she has a hard time deciding.

• Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler

With a clap of his tiny hands and tap of his teeny feet, a musically-inclined baby inspires his finger-snapping sister, scat-singing granny, soft-shoe dancing uncle, and the rest of his loving family to get in on the fun!

• Cinnamon Baby by Nicola Winstanley

When a baby is born to musician Stanley and Miriam, who makes the world's best cinnamon bread, they can't figure out how to make her stop crying -- until they find the cure that's been right in front of them the whole time.

• Squeak! Rumble! Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! A Sonic Adventure by Marsalis Wynton

Takes readers (and listeners) on a rollicking, clanging, clapping tour through the many sounds that fill a neighborhood.

Find in the Nonfiction Section

• Little Red Riding Hood by Little Red Riding Hood in JP 398.2 Pinkney

A sweet little girl meets a hungry wolf in the forest while on her way to visit her grandmother.

• The Talking Eggs: a Folktale From the American South by Robert D. San Souci in JP 398.2 San Souci

. A Southern folktale in which kind Rose, following the instructions of an old witch, gains riches, while her greedy sister makes fun of the old woman and is duly rewarded.

• My People by Langston Hughes in JP 811.54 Hughes

Langston Hughes's spare but eloquent tribute to his people has been cherished for generations. Acclaimed photographer Charles R. Smith, Jr. interprets this beloved poem in vivid sepia photographs.

• The Blacker the Berry: Poems by Joyce Carol Thomas in JP 811.54 Thomas

LA collection of poems, including "Golden Goodness," "Cranberry Red," and "Biscuit Brown," celebrating individuality and Afro-American identity.