12 Black Children's Books for Holiday Gift Ideas

It’s that time of year again – after the turkey’s been cooked and eaten, many parents and older relatives will be looking for suitable gifts for their children and cousins. As Christmas arrives followed by Kwanzaa, here, we’ll go through a list of good Black children’s books that will help your child gain an early love of reading as well as educating them on the world around them.

1. Zoe’s Bun by E. Danielle Butler

A story about loving yourself and what you were born with, Zoe’s Bun is a great book to help young women take pride in who they are, as well as serving as an excellent way for a parent to bond with their daughter through a common thread.

2. Zachary Goes to School by E. Danielle Butler

Zachary Goes to School is an excellent read for your preschooler or first-grader, or any child dealing with anxiety over their early learning. Empathetic and easy to follow, this book is a must-have for getting through those first school days.

3. Zoe Gets a Brother by E. Danielle Butler

A book about understanding and accepting your siblings and the impact they’ll have on your life, Zoe Gets a Brother is a good choice for those families both expecting a new arrival soon and for those who already have multiple little ones running around.

4. Adventures of the Mind by E. Danielle Butler

A writing journal filled with exercises to help expand the imagination and one’s own writing skills, Adventures of the Mind is a good fit for those kids of a creative bent.

5. Have You Thanked a Kidventor Today? By Patrice McLaurin

Written for the more scientifically curious child, Have You Thanked a Kidventor Today? is designed to stimulate natural curiosity about how the world works and serves as a fun and involved introduction to the scientific world.

6. I Am Because I Choose by Patrice McLaurin

A simple picture book that teaches the importance of things like perseverance and striving for success, I Am Because I Choose is a fantastic choice to help black children understand how important all the little decisions they make are, as well as encouraging them to try and understand others.

7. I Can Be by Felicia Lee

I Can Be helps a child explore all of the different things they can aspire to, as well as showing black children that nothing they strive for is beyond their reach.

8. Get to Know Me A to Z: Black Boys are More Than the Skin You See by Renee Eckles-Hardy

Learn the alphabet and the possibilities with Get to Know Me From A to Z! This book is a push back against the negative narratives of our Black boys with full-color illustrations just as vibrant as they are!

9. I Am Pretty: Pretty Is on the Inside by Je’Quita Zachary Johnson

Another pick for helping to build confidence and strength in young black women, I Am Pretty is wonderfully illustrated and capable of reaching different age groups with its relatable and necessary message – true beauty comes from inside. 

10. Danny Dollar Millionaire Extraordinaire – The Lemonade Escapade by Ty Allan Jackson

This book is a great introduction to the struggles and intricacies of being an entrepreneur thanks to its kid-friendly writing style and use of language. An excellent gift for the business-minded youngster, Danny Dollar Millionaire Extraordinaire is a solid choice for any parent.

11. The Supadupa Kid by Ty Allan Jackson

In a culture so currently saturated with superheroes, stories like The Supadupa Kid are important for black children of all ages, as they show that anyone can wear the mask and be a hero too. A graphic novel packed with action and laughs, this is one gift you won’t regret giving.

12. Black Heroes: A Black History Book for Kids: 51 Inspiring People from Ancient Africa to Modern-Day U.S.A. by Arlisha Norwood

A collection of biographies of famous black men and women all throughout history, Black Heroes is great for elementary school kids and serves to educate them on their history in a way that they can both understand and enjoy.

Black children deserve to see themselves positively at every turn. Regular holidays are a great time to pour into them knowledge and experiences that will create a lasting impact.

12 Black Children's Authors and Illustrators You Should Know

The first week of February is recognized as Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week. As a children’s book author, I get excited about the opportunity to share and celebrate with others. But I am also remindedthat my journey as a children’s book author came with the charge of providing anopportunity for Black children to see themselves reflected in the literature they read. As a mom of a 7-year-old daughter and 3-year-old-boy, positive imagery is a necessity in our world. In honor of both Black History Month and Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week, I thought it’d be cool to highlight some of the Black children’s authors and illustrators that are on our home bookshelf.

Authors

Rosalind Bennett – A beloved church-school teacher, Bennett launched It’s GiGi’s World Books with an energetic rhyme to explain creation in God Made It.

C. Cherie Hardy – Author of a number of children’s titles, Hardy runs Avant-Garde Books and provides community access to titles for children of color. A personal favorite in our house is The Orange Zebra.

Felicia Lee – Lee is an advocate that travels sharing the message of diversity in literacy. We’ve found courage in her book I Can Be.

Patrice McLaurin – McLaurin’s Have You Thanked an Inventor Series has opened conversations around the world. Her recent release Have You Thanked a Kidventor Today?  has inspired us to think about the contributions we can make to the world through our creativity.

Diamond McNulty – Chef Diamond is capturing the hearts of young readers with business tips and nutrition knowledge. We have been captivated by learning our alphabet with him in Chef Diamond Goes Grocery Shopping.

G.A. Sealy – Sealy’s made a much needed impact with highlighting STEM and positive male influence through his work. We keep a copy of How Do Plants Grow? to encourage our scientific exploration.

Crystal Swain-Bates – Swain-Bates may look familiar for her partnerships with Amazon. Her book Big Hair, Don’t Care gave us the freedom to let our hair blow in the wind with no worries!

Illustrators

Jonathan Barnhill – Barnhill is a vibrant sketch and street artist. He emerged as an illustrator with his work on our Zachary Goes to School.

R. Gregory Christie – Christie is an award-winning illustrator who has shared his work on informative children’s works. We found joy and visions of ourselves dancing in Jazz Baby.

Aaron Davis – Davis brings a fresh energy to illustration. His work on Super Jacob helps us tap
into our inner super hero.

Double Duty

There are a couple of ladies we have to give a nod to. They are true bada** women who write and illustrate their own work! And we don’t use that description on just anybody!

Vanessa Brantley Newton – Brantley-Newton is an award-winning illustrator. She creates for others but also builds for herself in titles like Let Freedom Sing.

MeChal Roe – Renfroe blows us away with vibrant illustrations in her Happy Hair and Cool Cuts books. We’ve gotten a couple of the styles we’ve seen.

These are just a few of the many authors and illustrators that have become a part of our lives. I could truly go on with the number of Black children’s authors and illustrators, but I won’t. 😊 Instead, I’d love to hear from you about the ones you love too! Share in the comments below.