There's a Book for That: Black History Month for Young Readers
This week we honor Black History Month with a special focus on outstanding books for young readers, including books on activists, athletes, and pioneers. Please also visit Penguin Random House’s initiative, All Ways Black for books for all ages.
Here is Dr. Martin Luther King’s iconic speech, which defined the American civil rights movement, illustrated by a Caldecott Medal-winning, New York Times-bestselling illustrator.
On August 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington, Martin Luther King gave one of the most powerful speeches in our nation’s history. His words, paired with Caldecott Honor winner Kadir Nelson’s magificent paintings, make for a picture book certain to be treasured by children and adults alike. The themes of equality and freedom for all are not only relevant today, 60 years later, but also provide young readers with an important introduction to our nation’s past.
The 1619 Project’s lyrical picture book in verse chronicles the consequences of slavery and the history of Black resistance in the United States, thoughtfully rendered by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and Newbery honor-winning author Renée Watson.
Civil rights icon Ruby Bridges—who, at the age of six, was the first black child to integrate into an all-white elementary school in New Orleans—inspires readers and calls for action in this moving letter. Her elegant, memorable gift book is especially uplifting in the wake of Kamala Harris making US history as the first female, first Black, and first South Asian Vice President.
With lyrical verse and dazzling illustrations, this joyful ode to Black hair will empower readers ages 4–8 to celebrate the historical, cultural, and emotional significance of their natural hair.
Michelle Obama’s worldwide bestselling memoir, Becoming, has been adapted for young readers.
This volume for young people is an honest and fascinating account of Michelle Obama’s life led by example. She shares her views on how all young people can help themselves as well as help others, no matter their status in life. She asks readers to realize that no one is perfect, and that the process of becoming is what matters, as finding yourself is ever evolving. In tell-ing her story with boldness, she asks young readers: Who are you, and what do you want to become?
At age eight, Simone Biles began working with a gymnastics trainer, and by fifteen she was competing in a national championship—and winning best all-around. Before she turned twenty, she was an Olympic gold medalist on her way to becoming the best gymnast the world has ever seen. And through it all, Simone has been a role model for bravely opening up about her mental health struggles, knowing when to take a break, and always finding the strength to try again.
The History of We takes what we know about modern human civilization and, through magnificent paintings, creates a tale about our shared beginnings in a way that centers BLACK PEOPLE IN HUMANKIND’S ORIGIN STORY.
Dream big with a Little Golden Book biography about one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, LeBron James! Little Golden Book biographies are the perfect introduction to nonfiction for young readers—as well as fans of all ages!
Explore the journey Muhmmad Ali took to win his final match against fellow heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier, known as the Thrilla in Manila. A story of athleticism, heart, and determination, this graphic novel invites readers to immerse themselves into the explosive power of the boxing champion and civil rights activist– brought to life by gripping narrative and vivid full-color illustrations that jump off the page.
Myths! Lies! Secrets! Uncover the hidden truth about the Underground Railroad and Black Americans’ struggle for freedom. With a mix of sidebars, illustrations, photos, and graphic panels, acclaimed author Kate Messner and coauthor and Brown Bookshelf contributor Gwendolyn Hooks deliver the whole truth about the Underground Railroad.
This children’s book, prefaced by Mireille Harper, introduces children to prominent Black people in history such as Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks, and Dr. Martin Luther King. Discover 30 timelines which have been individually commissioned, with the stunning visual designs reflecting the essence of each historical person. Learn about Lewis Latimer and his integral contributions to the lightbulb, of how Ethiopia avoided colonization thanks to its brave queen, and many more important moments in world and Black history.
Even though slavery had ended in the 1860s, African Americans were still suffering under the weight of segregation a hundred years later. They couldn’t go to the same schools, eat at the same restaurants, or even use the same bathrooms as white people. But by the 1950s, black people refused to remain second-class citizens and were willing to risk their lives to make a change. Author Sherri L. Smith brings to life momentous events through the words and stories of people who were on the frontlines of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
Rosa Parks is best known for the day she refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus, sparking the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott. Yet there is much more to her story than this one act of defiance. In this straightforward, compelling autobiography, Rosa Parks talks candidly about the civil rights movement and her active role in it. Her dedication is inspiring; her story is unforgettable.
For more information on these and related titles visit the collection Black History Month for Young Readers 2026
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