Black History, Black Lives and Anti-Racism
We've put together a list of children's books that celebrate black lives and that explore black history both in the UK and around the world. We've also included some books that will help empower young children to talk about racism in a child-friendly way.
Many of these books can be used for Black History Month, when many of you will dedicate time to research Britain's black history and to learn more about black people who have made a difference, but we believe these books are just as important all year round.
Biographies and Non-fiction
1. Little People, Big Dreams: Pele by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara (Reading age: 4-7)
From the 'Little People, Big Dream' series, discover the life of Pelé, Brazil’s all-time King of Football.
2. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison (Reading age: 7+)
Featuring 40 trailblazing black women in the world's history, this book educates and inspires as it relates true stories of women who broke boundaries and exceeded all expectations.
3. The Extraordinary Life of Katherine Johnson by Devika Jina (Reading age: 7+)
This interesting biography of brilliant mathematician Katherine Johnson charts her life from early childhood to the present day. As well as documenting Katherine’s remarkable achievements, the book also includes a wealth of information about mathematics, space exploration and aspects of American history.
4. Queer Heroes: Meet 53 LGBTQ Heroes From Past and Present! by Arabelle Sicardi (Reading age: 7+)
This beautiful book celebrates the achievements of LGBTQ+ people through history and from around the world. It features dynamic full-colour portraits of a diverse selection of 53 inspirational role models accompanied by short biographies that focus on their incredible successes.
5. Young, Gifted and Black: Meet 52 Black Heroes from Past and Present by Jamia Wilson (Reading age: 8+)
This book celebrates a selection of black icons from history and the present day to inspire all children to discover what they can achieve. An ideal book to share with children who have questions about what’s happening in the world today.
6. Work It, Girl: Become a Leader Like Michelle Obama by Caroline Moss (Reading age: 8+)
In this book from the 'Work It, Girl' series, discover how Michelle became an inspirational leader, Flotus, lawyer, author and role model in this true story of her life.
7. Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly (Reading age: 8+)
A story of four female African American mathematicians at NASA, known as "colored computers" and how they overcame gender and racial barriers to succeed in a highly challenging STEM-based career.
8. Katherine Johnson by Leila Rasheed (Reading age: 9+)
The author explores the life of the inspirational NASA mathematician made famous by the film Hidden Voices, Katherine Johnson.
Black History
1. Coming to England by Baroness Floella Benjamin (Reading age: 3-6)
Coming to England is the inspiring true story of Baroness Floella Benjamin: from Trinidad, to London as part of the Windrush generation, to the House of Lords.
2. Grandad Mandela by Zazi Ziwelene and Zindzi Mandela (Reading age: 6+)
Zazi and Ziwelene’s great-grandad is called Nelson Mandela. Once day, they ask their grandmother 15 questions about him and his life. As their conversation unfolds, Zazi and Ziwelene learn that Nelson Mandela was a freedom fighter, a President and a Nobel Peace Prize–winner, and that they can carry on his work today.
3. Ella Queen of Jazz by Helen Hancocks (Reading age: 6+)
The inspiring, true story of how a remarkable friendship between Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe was born – and how they worked together to overcome prejudice and adversity.
4. Little People, Big Dreams: Josephine Baker by Isabel Sanchez Vegara (Reading age: 7+)
Discover the incredible life of Josephine Baker, the world-famous entertainer, activist and French Resistance agent in this true story of her life.
5. Little People, Big Dreams: Rosa Parks by Lisbeth Kaiser (Reading age: 7+)
Discover the incredible life of Rosa Parks, ' The Mother of the Freedom Movement'.
6. Little People, Big Dreams: Maya Angelou by Lisbeth Kaiser (Reading age: 7+)
This book follows Maya Angelou, from her early traumatic childhood to her time as a singer, actress, civil rights campaigner and, eventually, one of America's most beloved writers.
7. Timelines from Black History: Leaders, Legends, Legacies by DK, Mireille Harper (Reading age: 9+)
This DK children's book boasts more than 30 visual timelines, which explore the biographies of the famous and the not-so-famous - from royalty to activists, and writers to scientists, and much more. Thematic timelines also explain the development of Black history - from the experiences of black people in the US, to the story of postcolonial Africa.
Empowerment
1. Hey You!: An empowering celebration of growing up Black by Dapo Adeola (Reading age: 3-5)
A baby is born to loving parents, and grows up – going to school, making friends. Yet it’s hard for her to find books to read containing girls that look like her. Sometimes, as she grows up, she encounters racism, and life can be very hard. Yet she is reminded that she stands on the shoulders of the great black community that has come before her – and that she has the power to be anything and anyone she wants to be.
This picture book was born out of Adeola’s reaction to the killing of George Floyd and his realisation that, as a child, there were no books he saw that featured black children in a meaningful way.
2. My Hair by Hannah Lee (Reading age: 5+)
A young girl is excited about her birthday, especially as it means a trip to the hairdressers, where she can choose any hairstyle she likes for her party. As she waits at the salon, flicking through hair magazines for inspiration, she considers the variety of styles sported by her friends and family. This joyful celebration of black hair demonstrates a range of styles and will inspire children to experiment with their own look.
3. All Because You Matter by Tami Charles (Reading age: 6+)
A lyrical, heart-lifting love letter to black and brown children everywhere. This book seeks to remind children that regardless of their background, they are important and valued.
4. I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes (Reading age: 7+)
A stunning visual poem dedicated to supporting and loving black boys. The little boy depicted in this gorgeous book is a ball of energy; a gentleman and a scholar; a hilarious friend and a good brother. He gazes through a telescope to places he yearns to explore; he is a sponge, soaking up information, desperate to learn. Yet, sometimes, he is afraid of the world around him. Fortunately, the adults in his life will always be there to support him, as will all of those that are good of heart in the wider world.
5. You Are a Champion: How to Be the Best You Can Be by Marcus Rashford and Carl Anka (Reading age: 8+)
Marcus Rashford is arguably England’s best-loved footballer; not only for his amazing talent on the pitch, but also for his tireless activism fighting for the rights of children in the UK to receive free school meals over lockdown – which led to a government policy U-turn. In this gentle and encouraging book, co-written by journalist Carl Anka, Marcus assures young fans that anything is possible with hard work, good friends, and a positive attitude.
To start conversations about racism
1. Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o (Reading age: 5+)
Sulwe does not look anything like her family. They all have light-toned black skin, like the sunny day, whereas she has skin as dark as the night. Anxious and aware of her difference, Sulwe is teased at school, and tries all kinds of things to make her skin lighter. But one night she has a visit from a star, who tells her how the world learned to appreciate the value and beauty of Night.
This book reassures children that they are beautiful just the way they are, but the illustrations make quietly clear that colourism is a prejudice that exists between people of colour, too.
2. This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work by Tiffany Jewell (Reading age: 9+)
In This Book Is Anti-Racist, young people will learn how to take action against racism and injustice.
3. How High the Moon by Karyn Parsons (Reading age: 9+)
It's 1944, and in a small Southern town, 11-year-old Ella spends her summers running wild with her cousins and friends. But life isn't always so sunny. The deep racial tension that simmers beneath their town's peaceful facade never quite goes away, and Ella misses her mama - a beautiful jazz singer who lives in Boston.
So when an invitation arrives to come to visit Boston, Ella is ecstatic - and for the first time, Ella sees what life outside of segregation is like and begins to dream of a very different future. But her happiness is shattered when she returns home to the news that her classmate has been arrested for the murder of two white girls - and nothing will ever be the same again.
Fiction
Clean Getaway and Peace Maker, Noughts and Crosses: Noughts and Crosses
1. Clean Up! by Nathan Bryon (Reading age: 4-8)
Adeola and Bryon’s representation of an authentic, well-drawn black family is welcomed. When Rocket goes on holiday to visit her grandparents, she's shocked by the pollution that's spoiling their island home and putting the local sea life at risk. Can she think of a way to save the day? Clean Up reminds us that there are always things we can do to make the world better, and that environmental issues aren’t separate from our everyday lives (Plastic pollution is affecting Grammy and Grampy’s business as well as hurting turtles and ruining the beach for visitors).
2. Baby Ruby Bawled by Malaika Rose Stanley (Reading age: 5+)
Baby Ruby won't stop crying. Dad gives her a bath, Mum gives her a feed, Nana takes her for a drive and Grandad walks her around the garden. But Ruby keeps on bawling. At last her brother Theo has a go and sings her a special song he makes up. The whole family are so tired after all of this, they fall asleep - all except Ruby.
3. Windrush Child by Benjamin Zephaniah (Reading age: 9+)
This is the story of Leonard, who at 10 years old makes the journey with his mother from Jamaica to join his father in England. Leonard is part of the Windrush generation, one of thousands of people and families who were persuaded by the government to help rebuild England after the Second World War and make a better life for themselves.
In addition to his meticulous research of the period, Benjamin Zephaniah draws on his own experience of growing up in Britain in the 1960s to describe the difficulties Leonard and his family face: the freezing English weather, the awful food, the extremely unwelcoming people. The story begins by focusing on Leonard’s childhood, but follows him all the way to 2018 when he is denied citizenship in the country he has lived in all his life - a tragic example of the Windrush scandal.
4. Clean Getaway by Nic Stone (Reading age: 9+)
When Scoob’s grandma – G’ma – invites him to join her on an adventure in her brand-new campervan, obviously he says yes. As they watch Alabama drift past from the comfort of the van, G’ma reveals they’re going to retrace the steps of a road trip she took with his grandpa fifty years ago. Back then, things in America were very different, especially for black people, and people were not very accepting of G’ma and G’pop’s mixed relationship. With adventure, drama and mystery, this is a road trip like no other. A satisfying, timeless read about a family’s history which intersects with the American civil rights movement, and reminds readers of the long-lasting impact of racism and intolerance.
5. Peace Maker by Malorie Blackman (Reading age: 9+)
In Michela's world, aggression is forbidden. In order to maintain the peace, every person aboard their spaceship must wear a peacemaker, which controls their temper. However, Michela has tampered with hers, as she is determined to feel the whole range of emotions she has read about in the forbidden library, belonging to her mother, the captain. When they accidentally fly into enemy territory, peace is no longer an option - and Michela may be the ship's only hope.This short story by is an interesting look into times when standing up for yourself and fighting is the only option.
6. Noughts and Crosses: Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman (Reading age: 9+)
Sephy is a Cross – a member of the dark-skinned ruling class. Callum is a nought – a ‘colourless’ member of the underclass who were once slaves to the Crosses. The two have been friends since early childhood. But that’s as far as it can go. Until the first steps are taken towards more social equality and a limited number of Noughts are allowed into Cross schools… Against a background of prejudice and distrust, intensely highlighted by violent terrorist activity by Noughts, a romance builds between Sephy and Callum – a romance that is to lead both of them into terrible danger.