Books About African American History · 55 titles considered

The Best African American History Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about african american history? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About African American History

Sale price

$1498

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2017

Rosa Parks

By Lisbeth Kaiser, Marta Antelo (Illustrator) · Little People, BIG DREAMS series

A brave act on a bus ignites a movement for equality.

32 pages· 567 words· Est. 5 min read-aloud

5.8/7 Bookroo experts·4.4/5 Goodreads · 1,207 ratings

$15.99Save 6%

Summary: Rosa Parks, raised in segregated Alabama, learns to stand up for her rights. In 1955, her refusal to surrender her bus seat sparks the Montgomery Bus Boycott, challenging racial injustice. This pivotal moment in history leads to the end of segregation on public transport. Discover how one woman's courage became a catalyst for change, inspiring generations to fight for equality. With engaging illustrations and insightful facts, this story celebrates Rosa's enduring legacy and the power of dreams to transform the world.

Sale price

$1498

Picture Book · Ages 6–9 · 2015

Juneteenth for Mazie

By Floyd Cooper

A young girl prepares to honor the day her ancestors gained freedom.

32 pages· 454 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud

5.5/7 Bookroo experts·4.3/5 Goodreads · 985 ratings

$15.95Save 6%

Summary: Mazie eagerly anticipates Juneteenth, a day marking her ancestors' liberation from slavery. As she prepares to celebrate, she reflects on their struggles and triumphs. Will this day of remembrance inspire her own journey toward understanding freedom's true meaning?

Sale price

$1899

Picture Book · Ages 6–9 · 2020

A Ride to Remember

By Sharon Langley, Amy Nathan, Floyd Cooper (Illustrator)

A carousel ride becomes a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights movement.

40 pages· 1,745 words· Est. 14 min read-aloud

5.5/7 Bookroo experts·4.3/5 Goodreads · 411 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Summary: In 1963, young Sharon Langley made history as the first African American child to ride a desegregated carousel at Gwynn Oak Amusement Park. On the same day as Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic March on Washington, her ride symbolized a community's triumph over segregation. As protests and unity opened the park to all, Sharon's experience became a beacon of hope and change. Discover how one ride echoed the dreams of a nation striving for equality. What possibilities did this moment unlock for future generations?

Sale price

$1797

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2020

Overground Railroad

By Lesa Cline-Ransome, James E. Ransome (Illustrator)

A young girl journeys north, seeking freedom and new beginnings.

48 pages· 901 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud

5.5/7 Bookroo experts·4.3/5 Goodreads · 966 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Summary: Ruth Ellen boards the Silver Meteor train, leaving behind the South's cotton fields for a new life up North. As she travels, she reflects on her journey through poems and the words of Frederick Douglass. Each stop reveals new landscapes and the promise of freedom, culminating in the bustling lights of New York. Will the North fulfill her family's dreams of opportunity and change? Experience a child's perspective on the Great Migration, where every mile traveled is a step toward hope and possibility.

Sale price

$1797

Picture Book · Ages 7–11 · 2010

Ruth and the Green Book

By Calvin Alexander Ramsey, Gwen Strauss, Floyd Cooper (Illustrator)

A family navigates a perilous journey with a guide to safe havens during a time of racial injustice.

Jane Addams Children's Book Honor (2011)

32 pages· 1,494 words· Est. 12 min read-aloud

4.3/5 Goodreads · 2,519 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Summary: Ruth embarks on a road trip with her family in the 1950s, only to face the harsh realities of racial discrimination. As they travel from Chicago to Alabama, they encounter hostility and closed doors. But hope arrives in the form of The Green Book, a guide listing safe places for Black travelers. With this lifeline and the kindness of strangers, Ruth's family strives to reach their destination. Will they find safety and acceptance on their journey? Discover the power of resilience and community in a world divided by prejudice.

Sale price

$1797

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2016

Steamboat School

By Deborah Hopkinson, Ron Husband (Illustrator)

A boy and his teacher defy a law banning Black education by creating a floating school.

Jane Addams Children's Book Award (2017)

40 pages· 1,155 words· Est. 9 min read-aloud

4.3/5 Goodreads · 708 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Summary: In 1847 Missouri, young James finds school dull until Reverend Meachum's inspiring lessons light a spark. When a law shuts down their school, Meachum's determination leads to a daring solution—a floating school on the Mississippi River. Can they outsmart the oppressive law and continue their education? This true story of resilience and ingenuity challenges discrimination and celebrates the power of learning.

Sale price

$674

Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2017

Who Was Coretta Scott King?

By Gail Herman, Who HQ, Gregory Copeland (Illustrator) · Who Was . . . ? series

A biography of Coretta Scott King, from her childhood to her role in the civil rights movement and beyond

112 pages· 7,529 words· Est. 1 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 368 ratings

$6.99Save 4%

Summary: Coretta Scott King, a valedictorian from Alabama, becomes a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement. After her husband's assassination, she steps into leadership, championing racial equality, women's rights, and LGBT rights. Her journey from a politically active student to a global advocate raises questions about resilience and legacy. How does one woman continue a movement and inspire change across continents?

Sale price

$674

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2010

Who Was Rosa Parks?

By Yona Zeldis McDonough, Who HQ, Stephen Marchesi (Illustrator) · Who Was . . . ? series

A biography of Rosa Parks, a civil rights activist who refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus in 1955, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott and becoming a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement

112 pages· 8,123 words· Est. 1 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 2,192 ratings

$6.99Save 4%

Summary: In 1955 Montgomery, Rosa Parks' refusal to surrender her bus seat sparks a nationwide civil rights movement. Her courageous stand challenges racial injustice and earns her the title 'Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.' Discover how one woman's bravery changed history.

Sale price

$1899

Picture Book · Ages 5–11 · 2004

Ellington Was Not a Street

By Ntozake Shange, Kadir Nelson (Illustrator)

Discover a community of Black innovators who defied adversity and sparked a movement that changed the world.

Coretta Scott King Award (2005)

40 pages· 124 words· Est. 1 min read-aloud

4.2/5 Goodreads · 1,450 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Summary: In a time of racial segregation, a group of visionary Black thinkers gathered in one home, defying societal limits. Through adversity, they celebrated Black culture and ignited a transformative movement. Their legacy continues to inspire and guide us today. Explore their story through vivid art and poetic reflection.

Sale price

$1398

Picture Book · Ages 5–12 · 2020

The ABCs of Black History

By Rio Cortez, Lauren Semmer (Illustrator)

Explore Black history through an alphabet of triumph, creativity, and iconic figures.

64 pages· 1,411 words· Est. 11 min read-aloud

4.7/5 Goodreads · 1,079 ratings

$14.95Save 6%

Summary: Journey through the alphabet with 'The ABCs of Black History,' celebrating triumphs, creativity, and iconic figures like Zora Neale Hurston and Malcolm X. Each letter unveils a story of power, science, and soul, spanning continents and centuries. Discover significant moments like the Great Migration and delve into the lives of influential people from Mae Jemison to the Little Rock Nine. This unique ABC book offers hope and love, with rhyming text and detailed back matter to enrich your understanding of Black history and culture.

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Browse by age

African American History Picture Books

Illustrated read-alouds about african american history for preschool and elementary-age readers.

Sale price

$1899

When Marian Sang

Ages 7–10 · 2002

A singer's voice defies barriers at a historic concert.

Sale price

$799

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt

Ages 3–7 · 1993

A seamstress crafts a secret map to freedom using scraps of cloth.

Sale price

$2526

Juneteenth

Ages 7–9 · 2005

Discover the origins and evolution of Juneteenth.

Sale price

$1799

The Oldest Student

Ages 4–8 · 2020

A young girl dreams of freedom and learning to read in the midst of slavery and hardship.

Sale price

$1599

Aretha Franklin

Ages 4–7 · 2020

Discover how a young girl from Tennessee became the Queen of Soul and a music legend.

Sale price

$1599

Jesse Owens

Ages 4–7 · 2020

A young athlete defies racism and sets world records at the 1936 Olympics.

Sale price

$1799

The Book Itch

Ages 7–10 · 2015

A bookstore in Harlem becomes a hub for change and ideas.

Sale price

$1799

Freedom in Congo Square

Ages 4–8 · 2016

In 19th century Louisiana, slaves find brief freedom and joy in Congo Square every Sunday.

Sale price

$1799

Freedom Over Me

Ages 6–10 · 2016

Explore the untold dreams and worth of those deemed mere property.

Sale price

$1799

Counting the Stars

Ages 4–8 · 2019

A mathematician's calculations are crucial for a historic space mission.

Sale price

$1899

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer

Ages 4–7 · 2015

A civil rights champion fights for equal voting rights against fierce opposition.

Sale price

$1599

I am Harriet Tubman

Ages 5–8 · 2018

A young enslaved girl escapes to freedom and becomes a leader in the fight against slavery

View all african american history picture books

Browse by age

African American History Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about african american history for developing and independent readers.

Sale price

$699

Who Were the Tuskegee Airmen?

Ages 8–12 · 2018

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first airplane pilots of color ever in the US military, and they played a major role in winning World War II.

Sale price

$1799

Katherine Johnson

Ages 6–8 · 2017

Discover the mathematician whose calculations launched NASA's early missions.

Sale price

$599

Escape North!

Ages 7–9 · 2000

Escape slavery, lead others to freedom, and fight for justice.

Sale price

$599

What Was the March on Washington?

Ages 8–12 · 2013

A quarter of a million Americans gather in Washington, DC, to demand equal rights for black Americans.

Sale price

$899

Duke Ellington

Ages 6–9 · 1998

Discover the groundbreaking journey of jazz legend Duke Ellington.

Sale price

$699

Who Was Louis Armstrong?

Ages 8–12 · 2004

The life of Louis Armstrong, a famous jazz musician, is explored from his childhood in New Orleans to his rise to fame.

Sale price

$999

Childtimes

Ages 8–12 · 1979

Three generations of women share vivid childhood memories, revealing a century of history and heritage.

Sale price

$799

Amos Fortune, Free Man

Ages 9–12 · 1950

Captured at 15, Amos dreams of freedom for 45 years. Will he finally break his chains?

Sale price

$399

Harriet Tubman

Ages 6–10 · 2005

A brave woman defies oppression, leading many to freedom.

Sale price

$2500

Sojourner Truth

Ages 9–12 · 2000

A woman born into slavery in New York endures separation, abuse, and loss before finding her voice as a powerful advocate for freedom, justice, and equality.