For the second part of our Black History Month blog, we have compiled a list of books for every age and stage. Each of the 55 selected titles is written and/or illustrated by a Black writer or artist. As we close in on the end of Black History Month, we encourage our Nannies Plus community to continue to celebrate Black lives, amplify Black voices, and educate themselves and each other every single day. 

Your family team becomes stronger with open minds and open hearts, and your environment becomes more harmonious, accepting, and supportive as those within it begin to understand, accept, and even celebrate differences and diversity.

Board Books (Ages 0-3)

Babies Dancing Around the World board book

Babies Around the World Dancing

Written by Tamara Barker

Girl of Mine board book

Girl of Mine / Boy of Mine

Written by Jabari Asim

Dream Big, Little One board book

Dream Big, Little One

Written & Illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Homemade Love board book

Homemade Love

Written by bell hooks 

Baby Goes to Market board book

Baby Goes to Market

Written by Atinuke

Early Readers (Ages 4-8)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T picture book

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul 

Written by Carole Boston Weatherford 

Illustrated by Frank Morrison

Me & Mama picture book

Me & Mama 

Written & Illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera

The Undefeated picture book

The Undefeated 

Written by Kwame Alexander 

Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

The Bell Rang picture book

The Bell Rang 

Written & Illustrated by James E. Ransome

Sulwe picture book

Sulwe 

Written by Lupita Nyong’o 

Illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Nana Akua Goes to School picture book

Nana Akua Goes to School 

Written by Tricia Elam Walker 

Illustrated by April Harrison

Idia of the Benin Kingdom picture book

Idia of the Benin Kingdom 

Written by Ekuiwa Aire

Grandpa Cacao picture book

Grandpa Cacao: A Tale of Chocolate, from Farm to Family 

Written & Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

The Vast Wonder of the World picture book

The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just

Written by Melina Mangal

Rocket Says Look Up picture book

Rocket Says Look Up! 

Written by Nathan Bryon

Illustrated by Dapo Adeola

Middle Readers (Ages 9-13)

Before the Ever After chapter book

Before the Ever After 

Written by Jaqueline Woodson

Lifting as We Climb chapter book non-fiction

Lifting as We Climb: Black Women’s Battle for the Ballot Box 

Written by Evette Dionne

New Kid graphic novel

New Kid 

Written & Illustrated by Jerry Craft

Genesis Begins Again chapter book

Genesis Begins Again 

Written by Alicia D. Williams

Look Both Ways short stories

Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks 

Written by Jason Reynolds

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky chapter book

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky 

Written by Kwame Mbalia

Infinite Hope photo autobiography

Infinite Hope: A Black Artist’s Journey from World War II to Peace 

Written & Illustrated by Ashley Bryan

When Stars are Scattered graphic novel

When Stars Are Scattered 

Written by Omar Mohamed (as told to Victoria Jamieson)

Illustrated by Iman Geddy

This Promise of Change chapter book

This Promise of Change: One Girl’s Story in the Fight for School Equality 

Written by Jo Ann Allen Boyce & Debbie Levy

Root Magic chapter book

Root Magic 

Written by Eden Royce

Young Adults (Ages 14-17)

Legendborn young adult novel

Legendborn 

Written by Tracy Deonn

Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree young adult novel

Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree 

Written by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani

When You Look Like Us young adult novel

When You Look Like Us

Written by Pamela N. Harris

War Girls young adult novel

War Girls 

Written by Tochi Onyebuchi

A Few Red Drops young adult non-fiction

A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 

Written by Claire Hartfield

Liccle Bit young adult novel

Liccle Bit 

Written by Alex Wheatle

Turning 15 On the Road to Freedom young adult non-fiction

Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March 

Written by Lynda Blackmon Lowery (as told to Elspeth Leacock & Susan Buckley)

A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich young adult novel

A Hero Ain’t Nothin’ but a Sandwich 

Written by Alice Childress

Charming as a Verb young adult novel

Charming as a Verb 

Written by Ben Philippe

We Are Not Yet Equal young adult non-fiction

We Are Not Yet Equal: Understanding Our Racial Divide 

Written by Carol Anderson & Tonya Bolden

Adults

Between the World and Me memoir

Between the World and Me 

Written by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Hattiesburg non-fiction

Hattiesburg: An American City in Black & White 

Written by William Sturkey

Four Hundred Souls short stories

Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019

Edited by Ibram X. Kendi & Keisha N. Blain

A Tall History of Sugar novel

A Tall History of Sugar 

Written by Curdella Forbes

The Rib King novel

The Rib King 

Written by Ladee Hubbard

Illustrated by Black Artists

Sunday Shopping picture book

Sunday Shopping by Sally Derby

Illustrated by Shadra Strickland

Littles board book

Littles: And How They Grow by Kelly DiPucchio

Illustrated by AG Ford

Carter Reads the Newspaper picture book

Carter Reads the Newspaper by Deborah Hopkinson

Illustrated by Don Tate

Midnight Teacher picture book

Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Grandersonn and Her Secret School by Janet Halfmann

Illustrated by London Ladd

So Tall Within picture book

So Tall Within: Sojourner Truth’s Long Walk Toward Freedom by Gary D. Schmidt

Illustrated by Daniel Minter

A House for Every Bird picture book

A House for Every Bird by Megan Maynor

Illustrated by Kaylani Juanita

Pies from Nowhere picture book

Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Dee Romito

Illustrated by Laura Freeman

Magic Trash picture book

Magic Trash: A Story of Tyree Guyton and His Art by JH Shapiro

Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Just in Case You Want to Fly picture book

Just in Case You Want to Fly by Julie Fogliano

Illustrated by Christian Robinson

Hosea Plays On picture book

Hosea Plays On by Kathleen M. Blasi

Illustrated by Shane W. Evans

Nannies and parents, what books are you reading yourself and to the children in your lives in honor of Black History Month? Tell us your favorites in the comments!