books — Just Write It Already Blog

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.

“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison

I’ve always been a scattered background writer. In fact, I have scraps of writing stashed in notebooks all over the house. I also have some post-it notes and fast food napkins with what I consider to be possible writing perfection scribbled on the folds. Once, several years ago, I was even brave enough to publish. But then I was too scared and preoccupied with other things to market myself. Fast forward to the end of last year, I was “due any day now” pregnant with my second child having a conversation with my mentor about the state of my life, specifically my desire to write for myself, not just others. I had so much potential, but seemingly not enough time, energy or motivation to realize it. In the spirit of authenticity, I’ll be honest and share that I even told her part of my stagnation was the lack of enthusiasm from my husband about my endeavors. She said, “Danielle, have you considered that maybe he’s not that enthused because you’ve been all talk and no action? Maybe if you were to complete something, he’d be on board. But it’s not fair for you to hold him accountable to being more excited about projects that you’re not enthusiastic or committed enough to complete.” Ouch, amen, and thank you ma’am! My mentor’s message translated in my hormonally sensitive mind that day as “Just Write It Already!” I couldn’t help but think she was probably right about my husband and those closest to me. They were all probably sick of hearing me talk of the next big thing without me actually doing anything.

That day I stopped talking about what I wanted to do, what I was gonna do, what I planned to do and what I hoped to do. I started writing the plan in ONE notebook (that was a big deal for me). I drafted the book I wanted to publish in that same notebook.

I was DOING it, not talking about doing it. After a few weeks I connected with a local publisher who was accepting new authors and submitted my manuscript for review. Scary! Within 45 days my first children’s book was published. As I was launching that book, the second children’s book was already in progress. Within about 120 days, I’d released two children’s books!

Moving from talking to doing required me to make sacrifices. My responsibilities as a wife and mother along with a full-time job did not yield to my dreams of being a writer. I had to stay up late (against the advice of sleeping while my newborn was sleeping). I had to wake up early, or in the middle of the night, to get things done. I had to cry tears of frustration; I even cursed a little (well, actually A LOT). But I got it done and it was so worth it!