FICTION by Black Authors

Allen, D. & Nelson, K. (2003). Dancing in the Wings. New York, NY:

Puffin Books.

Debbie Allen is a famous dancer/actress who has written a fictional story about a young girl expressing her early aspirations to become a dancer. The illustrations by Kadir Nelson are authentic, realistic and breathtaking.

For ages, 4-8 years old, grades: Preschool – 3rd Grade.

Hamilton, D. & Reinoso, E. (2017). Riley Can Be Anything. London:

The Ella Riley Group.

For ages, 2-5 years old, grades: K – 1st . Also, the author has completed another book in the series titled, Riley Knows He Can. The second book in the series is for an older audience, ages 4-10 years old, grades: K – 4th.

Hru, D. & Lewis, E. B. (1996). The Magic Moonberry Jump Ropes (1st ed.).

New York, NY: Penguin Publishing Group.

The jump ropes grant wishes and young girls will love the jump rope rhymes.

For ages 5-8 years old, grades: K – 3rd.

Johnson, A. & Mitchell, R. (1994). Rain Feet. New York: Scholastic, Inc.

For ages 3 – 5 years old, grades: Preschool – K. There are two more titles in the series titled, Joshua By the Sea & Joshua’s Night Whispers. They are available in both board book and hardcover formats.

Kenfack, G. & Vital H. O. (2017). Mambo’s Toy Collection.

Colorado Springs, CO: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.

For ages 2 – 8 years old, grades: Preschool – 3rd. Other titles included in the series are

Mambo Goes to School, Mambo Goes to the Market & Mambo and the Great

Baobabs Reunion.

Lee, S., Lee-Lewis, T. & Nelson, K. (2007). Please, Baby, Please.

New York, NY: Little Simon.

The book is available in board book and other formats. For ages 2 – 5 years, grades: Preschool – Kindergarten. The authors have also written other books for young readers titled, Please, Puppy, Please & Giant Steps to Change the World.

Lester, J. & Pinkney, J. (1999). John Henry. London, England: Puffin Books.

This tall tale is for ages 4 – 8 years old, grades: Preschool – 3rd. This book is a Caldecott Honor book and it has also been awarded a Society of illustrator’s gold medal.

McKissack, P., McKissack, F. & Chesworth, M. (2002). Miami Jackson Sees It Through

(Revised ed.). New York, NY: Random House Books for Young Readers.

This chapter book is for ages 6 – 9 years old, grades: 1st – 4th. There are two more chapter books in the series titled, Miami Jackson Gets It Straight & Miami Jackson Makes the Play.

Porter, C., Taylor, D., Rosales, M., Graff, V. R. & Roberts, L. (1993).

1864 Meet Addy, An American Girl Book 1.

Middleton, WI: Pleasant Company Publications.

This chapter book is for ages 7 and up and grades: 2nd and up. There are six books in this chapter book series.

Shipp, B. & Boyer, R. (2016). The Meteorologist in Me. Middleton, DE:

The Power of Love Books.

This inspirational children’s picture book was written by an African American female meteorologist. She wrote a fictional story about a young girl named Summer who aspires to be a T.V. meteorologist. The author also educates young readers by sharing scientific facts about the climate and weather. For all ages 5 - 8 years, grades: grades K - 3rd.

Mollel, T. & Reasoner, C. (1998). The Princess Who Lost Her Hair: An Akamba Legend

(Legends of the World) (1st ed.). Mahwah, N.J.: Troll Communications.

For ages 7 and up, grades: 2nd – 3rd.

Barnes, D. & James, G. C. (2017). Crown: An Ode To The

Fresh Cut. Evanston, IL: Agate Publishing, Inc.

This novel is about a young man's visit to a local barbershop and the feelings it conveys in his behavior, just from the process of getting his hair cut. This novel has won several

awards: A Newberry Honor Book, A Caldecott Honor Book,

A Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book, A Coretta Scott King

Illustrator Honor Book, An Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award Book.

For ages: 3-8 Years and grades: Preschool - 3rd.

Tarpley, N. A. & Lewis, E. B. (2001). I Love My Hair!.

New York City, NY: LIttle Brown Books for Young Readers.

For ages: 5 - 8 years old, grades: Preschool - 3rd.

This book is a celebration of black hair.

Smalls, I. & Johnson, C. A. (2014). Pop Pop and Me and a Recipe.

Irvine, CA: Xist Publishing.

For ages: 4 - 7 years old, grades: Preschool - 2nd.

Nelson, K. (2005). He's Got the Whole World in His Hands (1st ed.).

New York City, NY: Dial Books.

For ages: 4 - 8 years old, grades: Preschool - 3rd.

Dungy, T. & Bates, A. J. (2008). You Can Do It!

New York City, NY: Little Simon Inspirations.

For ages: 4 - 7 years old, grades: Preschool - 2nd.

Flournoy, V. & Pinkney, J. (1985). The Patchwork Quilt ( 1st ed.)

New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers.

For ages: 4 - 8 years old, grades: Preschool - 3rd.

This story is based on an African American tradition of oral

storytelling and patchwork quilting. The main character is named Tanya who helps her grandmother create a quilt.

Greenfield, E. & Byard, C. (1991). Africa Dream.

New York, NY: HarperCollins.

For ages: 4 - 8 years old, grades: Preschool - 3rd.

This story is about a young girl who dreams about the continent of Africa.

Harris, T. & Ford, A. G. (2011). Summer Jackson: Grown Up.

New York, NY: HarperCollins.

For ages: 4 - 8 years old, grades: Preschool - 2nd.

Summer Jackson is sick of being age seven and wants to be older.

Steptoe, J. (2008). Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters.

London, England: Puffin Books.

For ages: 4 and up, grades: Preschool and up.

The king is searching for a queen and considers

Mufaro's two daughters.

Brown-Wood, J. & Mitchell, H. (2014). IMANI'S MOON.

Traverse City, MI: Mackinac Island Press.

For ages: 6 years old and up, grades: 1st and up.

This folktale is about a young girl who wants to

touch the moon.

Myers, B. & Reddick, N. (2018). The Adventures of Olivia: The Bugs Inside Me.

Location [unknown]: Waterfalls Publishing.

For ages: 4 years and up, grades: Kindergarten and up.

This book is about an eight year old girl named Olivia, who is dealing with bullies and trying to make lemons out of lemonade. She strives for the positive

and avoids the negative.

In both e-book and paperback formats.

Laditan, B. & Knight, T. (2018). The Big Bed. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.

This book is about a young girl who does not want to share her parent's bed, someone has to go!

For ages: 4 -6 years old, grades: Preschool - 1st.

In e-book and hardback formats.

Mowry, T. & Mowry, T. (2016). Twintuition: Double Vision.

New York, NY: HarperCollins.

For ages: 8 and up, grades: 3rd and up.

This book is about a set of twin tweens who are unhappy about their move with their mother to a small town in Texas, in addition they develop the power to predict the future. This chapter book is the first in a series of three books.

Diggs, T. & Evans, S. W. (2015). Mixed Me!

New York, NY: Feiwel & Friends.

For ages: 4 - 8 years old, grades: 1st - 2nd.

This book is about a young boy who is bi-racial and his experiences in his family.

Wyeth, S. D. & Soentpiet, C. K. (2002). Something Beautiful.

Decorah, IA: Dragonfly Books.

For ages: 3 - 7 years old, grades: Preschool - 2nd.

A young girl polls her neighborhood to define what their "something beautiful" is compared to where they are all currently residing in a blighted environment. She resolves to make her current surroundings "something beautiful".