African Americans
connecting and creating ancestral roots


African American culture is uniquely rich in tradition, pain and fortitude. Created to endure, balm and connect with ancestral roots across an ocean of experience and beginnings, African American stories tell tales of home, humor, trickery, spirits and wonder. Tied to the earth and the rhythm of change, African American stories beat out truths, circle families in love and understanding and guide young people through difficult histories. African Americans have indomitable strength, will, faith and promise having survived the worst atrocities born from humanity. Their stories and their leaders will forever inspire and enliven those with ears and hearts wise enough to hear.

Please find below exceptional children's books and storytellers sharing the courage, mystery and beauty of African American culture.

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Circle Unbroken
by Margot Theis Raven
illus by E.B. Lewis



Teaching and Education Materials

Folktale Themes and Activities for Children, Volume 1: Pourquoi Tales by Anne Marie Kraus

Folktale Themes and Activities for Children, Volume 2: Trickster and Transformation Tales by Anne Marie Kraus


Storytellers and Illustrators

Eve Bunting

Len Cabral

Bryan Collier

Floyd Cooper

David Diaz

Leo and Dianne Dillon

Virginia Hamilton

Ezra Jack Keats

Julius Lester

Patricia McKissack

Daniel Minter

Kadir Nelson

Jerry Pinkney

Patricia Polacco

Doreen Rappaport

Chris Raschka

Faith Ringold

Sweet Honey and the Rock

Robert San Souci

Javaka Steptoe

Jackie Torrence


Civil Rights Leaders and Experience

Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport, illus by Bryan Collier

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom illustrated by Kadir Nelson, written by Carole Boston Weatherford

School is Not White!, The by Doreen Rappaport (Author), Curtis James (Illustrator)

Goin' Someplace Special by Patricia C McKissack, illus by Jerry Pinkney

If A Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks by Faith Ringgold

Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman (Picture Puffin) ill. by Jerry Pinkney; text by Alan Schroeder

Only Passing Through by Anne Rockwell, illus by R. Gregory Christie


Soul Gifts

Jazzy Miz Mozetta by Brenda Roberts, illus by Frank Morrison

Jazz by Walter Dean Myers (Author), Christopher Myers (Illustrator)

Poetry for Young People: Maya Angelou (Poetry For Young People) by Edwin Graves Wilson (Editor), Jerome Lagarrigue (Illustrator)

Visiting Langston by Willie Perdomo, illus by Bryan Collier

Ella Fitzgerald by Andrea Pinkney, illus by Brian Pinkney

A Tisket, A Tasket by Ella Fitzgerald, Ora Eitan

This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt, illus by R.G. Roth

Hip Cat by Jonathan London (Author), Woodleigh Hubbard (Illustrator)

Mysterious Thelonious by Chris Raschka

Charlie Parker Played Be Bop by Chris Raschka

A Band of Angels: a story inspired by the Jubilee Singers / by Deborah Hopkinson ; illustrated by Raul Colon

Dizzy by Jonah Winter, illus by Sean Qualls

Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange, illus by Kadir Nelson

Jazz On A Saturday Night (Coretta Scott King Honor Book) by Leo and Dianne Dillon

Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane by Carole Boston Weatherford (Author), Sean Qualls (Illustrator)


African American Stories of Wonder

The People Could Fly: The Picture Book by Virginia Hamilton, illus by Leo and Dianne Dillon

Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales and True Tales told by Virginia Hamilton, illus by Leo and Diane Dillon

John Henry: An American Legend retold and illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats

The Talking Eggs by Robert D. San Souci, illus by Jerry Pinkney

Precious and the Boo Hag by Patricia C. McKissak and Onawumi Jean Moss, illus by Krysten Brooker

The Gospel Cinderella by Joyce Carol Thomas, illus by David Diaz

Jump Rope Magic by Afi Scruggs, illus by David Diaz

The Complete Tales of Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris (Author), Richard Chase (Compiler) and A.B. Frost (Illustrator)

Brothers of the Knight by Debbie Allen, illus by Kadir Nelson


African Traditions

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale by Verna Aardema, illus by Leo and Dianne Dillon

Shaka: King of the Zulus by Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema ; illustrated by Diane Stanley.

First Palm Trees, An Anancy Spiderman Story by James Berry, illus by Greg Couch

Anansi and the Magic Stick by Eric Kimmel, illus by Janet Stevens

The Conjure Woman by William Miller, Terea D. Shaffer

Shadow by Marica Brown (From the French of Blaise Cendrars)

Papa, Do You Love Me? Barbara M. Joosse, Barbara Lavallee

Why the Crab Has No Head: An African Folktale retold and illustrated by Barbara Knutson

BEHIND THE BACK OF THE MOUNTAIN : Black Folktales from Southern Africa retold by Verna Aardema; pictures by Leo abnd Diane Dillon


Gullah Culture

Sukey and the Mermaid by Robert D. San Souci, illus by Brian Pinkney

Circle Unbroken by Margot Theis Raven, illus by E.B. Lewis

New Year Be Coming: A Gullah Year by Katharine Boling (Author), Daniel Minter (Illustrator)

In the Time of the Drums by Kim L. Siegelson, illus by Brian Pinkney

A Sweet, Sweet Basket by Margie Willis Clary (Author), Dennis L. Brown (Illustrator)


Overcoming

Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom by Tim Tingle, illus by Jeanne Rorex Bridges

The People Could Fly: The Picture Book by Virginia Hamilton, illus by Leo and Dianne Dillon

Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winter

Soul Looks Back in Wonder illustrated by Tom Feelings ; poems by Maya Angelou ... et al

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson ; ppaintings by James Ransome

Almost to Freedom by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, ills by Colin Bootman

Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, illus by Kadir Nelson

The Village That Vanished by Ann Grifalconi, illus by Kadir Nelson


Additional picture books about African American culture at OneWomansMind.net

Cinderella - a classic heroine quest found worldwide

Fairy Tales - valuing the fears, hopes and dreams of children

Folktales - connecting children to their cultural, human and animal families

The Season of Light - the birth of light from darkness




Tied to the earth and the rhythm of change, African American stories beat out truths,
circle families in love and understanding and guide young people through difficult histories.

- Paula Vaughan


Category List of Children's Picture Books
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