African Americans Books for Kids
272 books in african americans. Every book rated for reading level and content intensity.
African Americans books for kids span a wider readiness range than parents usually expect. The same genre category contains gentle picture books and high-intensity middle-grade novels — Lexile and grade-level scores measure text complexity, not what's actually in the story. A african americans title appropriate for a confident 8-year-old reader could still cover themes a sensitive 12-year-old isn't ready for.
Across HootRated's 272 african americans titles, books span picture books through Grade 10. About 77% are rated Gentle or Mild — safe picks for sensitive readers and kids reading ahead of their emotional readiness. 1% sit at the Intense or Very Intense end. Average content intensity is 1.8/5.
Use the intensity badges (green → red, low → high) to filter by emotional readiness rather than just age. For deeper detail on how we rate, see our rating methodology.
The sin eater
Gary D. Schmidt
The sin eater
Gary D. Schmidt
Day I Saw My Father Cry
Bill Cosby
Day I Saw My Father Cry
Bill Cosby
Louis Armstrong
Dharathula H. Millender
Louis Armstrong
Dharathula H. Millender
The Honeywood street fair
Catherine Lukas
The Honeywood street fair
Catherine Lukas
Animal Sounds
Claudette C. Mitchell, Patricia Tefft Cousin, Gracie R. Porter
Animal Sounds
Claudette C. Mitchell, Patricia Tefft Cousin, Gracie R. Porter
My weekly chores (Visions)
Claudette C Mitchell
My weekly chores (Visions)
Claudette C Mitchell
Where Do I Live/VIS/d
Claudette C. Mitchell, Patricia Tefft Cousin, Gracie R. Porter
Where Do I Live/VIS/d
Claudette C. Mitchell, Patricia Tefft Cousin, Gracie R. Porter
At the playground
Patricia Tefft Cousin
At the playground
Patricia Tefft Cousin
Civil rights, the long struggle
Eileen Lucas
Civil rights, the long struggle
Eileen Lucas
Louis Armstrong
Wendie C. Old
Louis Armstrong
Wendie C. Old
Child of the civil rights movement
Paula Young Shelton
Child of the civil rights movement
Paula Young Shelton
The Cruisers
Walter Dean Myers
The Cruisers
Walter Dean Myers
Kendra
Coe Booth
Kendra
Coe Booth
Carlos is gonna get it
Kevin Emerson
Carlos is gonna get it
Kevin Emerson
Lucky beans
Becky Birtha
Lucky beans
Becky Birtha
Trophy night
Ryan Howard
Trophy night
Ryan Howard
Friend on freedom river
Gloria Whelan
Friend on freedom river
Gloria Whelan
Civil Rights Movement
Susanne Bushman
Civil Rights Movement
Susanne Bushman
The foot warmer and the crow
Evelyn Coleman
The foot warmer and the crow
Evelyn Coleman
The year they walked
Beatrice Siegel
The year they walked
Beatrice Siegel
The Story of Epaminondas
Cathy East Dubowski
The Story of Epaminondas
Cathy East Dubowski
Snakes
Al Young
Snakes
Al Young
And the Sun God said: That's hip.
Ernest Gregg
And the Sun God said: That's hip.
Ernest Gregg
Prince
Bruce Brooks
Prince
Bruce Brooks
The heart man: Dr. Daniel Hale Williams.
Louise Meriwether
The heart man: Dr. Daniel Hale Williams.
Louise Meriwether
Growin'
Nikki Grimes
Growin'
Nikki Grimes
King
William Joseph Johnston
King
William Joseph Johnston
The tales of Uncle Remus
Julius Lester
The tales of Uncle Remus
Julius Lester
Sister X and the victims of foul play ...
Carlene Hatcher Polite
Sister X and the victims of foul play ...
Carlene Hatcher Polite
Fannie Lou Hamer
David Rubel
Fannie Lou Hamer
David Rubel
Northern J. Calloway presents
Carol Hall
Northern J. Calloway presents
Carol Hall
Can't scare me!
Melissa Milich
Can't scare me!
Melissa Milich
Quiz book on Black America
Clarence N. Blake
Quiz book on Black America
Clarence N. Blake
Ride the red cycle
Harriette Robinet
Ride the red cycle
Harriette Robinet
Sometimes my mommy gets angry
Bebe Moore Campbell
Sometimes my mommy gets angry
Bebe Moore Campbell
Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington
Frances E. Ruffin
Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington
Frances E. Ruffin
Follow in their footsteps
Glennette Tilley Turner
Follow in their footsteps
Glennette Tilley Turner
Little Eight John
Jan Wahl
Little Eight John
Jan Wahl
Best short stories by Afro-American writers, 1925-1950
Nick Aaron Ford, Harry Lee Faggett
Best short stories by Afro-American writers, 1925-1950
Nick Aaron Ford, Harry Lee Faggett
Blacks in America, 1861-77
Florence Jackson
Blacks in America, 1861-77
Florence Jackson
We keep a store
Anne Shelby
We keep a store
Anne Shelby
Thank you, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr!
Eleanora E. Tate
Thank you, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr!
Eleanora E. Tate
The secret of Gumbo Grove
Eleanora E. Tate
The secret of Gumbo Grove
Eleanora E. Tate
Bruh Rabbit and the tar baby girl
Virginia Hamilton
Bruh Rabbit and the tar baby girl
Virginia Hamilton
Tony Dorsett
Marcia McKenna Biddle
Tony Dorsett
Marcia McKenna Biddle
The little black truck
Libba Moore Gray
The little black truck
Libba Moore Gray
Peoples
Robert C. S. Downs
Peoples
Robert C. S. Downs
A piece of heaven
Sharon Dennis Wyeth
A piece of heaven
Sharon Dennis Wyeth
I only made up the roses
Barbara Ann Porte
I only made up the roses
Barbara Ann Porte
Willie Bea and the time theMartians landed
Virginia Hamilton
Willie Bea and the time theMartians landed
Virginia Hamilton
Raw Head, Bloody Bones
Mary E. Lyons
Raw Head, Bloody Bones
Mary E. Lyons
Ernestine & Amanda
Sandra Belton
Ernestine & Amanda
Sandra Belton
Imani's music
Sheron Williams
Imani's music
Sheron Williams
Shayla's double brown baby blues
Lori Aurelia Williams
Shayla's double brown baby blues
Lori Aurelia Williams
Presents for everyone!
Lara Bergen
Presents for everyone!
Lara Bergen
The extra-thankful Thanksgiving
Kim Watson
The extra-thankful Thanksgiving
Kim Watson
The Halloween costume hunt
Kim Watson
The Halloween costume hunt
Kim Watson
An adventure with Captain Brainstorm!
Fracaswell Hyman
An adventure with Captain Brainstorm!
Fracaswell Hyman
Kia Tanisha
Eloise Greenfield
Kia Tanisha
Eloise Greenfield
Martin Luther King Jr.
Anne E. Schraff
Martin Luther King Jr.
Anne E. Schraff
Browse all 272 african americans books
- Booker T. Washington
- A spicy-herby day
- The education of Mary
- Bigfoot
- DK NFL Readers: Terrell Davis (Level 4: Proficient Readers)
- Callie Ann and Mistah Bear
- Poochie
- No bad news
- Uh-oh! It's Mama's birthday!
- The Rockhound mystery
- Martin Luther King, the man who climbed the mountain
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
- The adventures of Sugar and Junior
- Molasses man
- Meet Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Sara and the door
- The tent in the notch.
- Hazel.
- Young children rap
- The days when the animals talked
- Two tickets to freedom
- Lucky breaks loose
- Branford Marsalis
- Sassafrass
- When I was little
- Trina's Family Reunion
- The civil rights movement
- Larry Johnson, king of the court
- Kenya's word
- A Yank among us
- The minstrel's melody
- Addy Studies Freedom
- Troubles for Cecile
- Mike and Lottie
- A house by the river
- The darkest corner
- Green Pastures, a Play
- Sour Land
- An enchanted hair tale.
- Corduroy's Garden
- The Hired Hand
- Rooftop
- The sittin' up
- Cast two shadows
- Sugarcane House
- Last Summer with Maizon
- Look at You, Baby Face!
- Miz Fannie Mae's fine new Easter hat
- Next Stop Freedom
- Little Man, Little Man
- Jackson Jones and the curse of the outlaw rose
- The Mirk and Midnight Hour
- 145th Street
- Go Down Moses
- Clean Your Room, Harvey Moon! (Houghton Mifflin Leveled Library: Level 2: Theme:)
- Willie and the All-Stars
- Beyond Mayfield
- The Snowy Day Board Book
- Hooray for the Dandelion Warriors!
- Little Bill Mixed Prepak
- Look! I can read!
- The Halloween Costume Hunt (Little Bill The Halloween Costume Hunt (Lift the Flap Story))
- The minstrel's melody (History mysteries)
- My camp-out
- All-Star Allen Iverson
- The journal of Biddy Owens, the Negro leagues
- Messy Bessey's Holidays (Rookie Reader)
- How to Lose Your Cookie Money (Willimena Rules!, 3)
- Coming on Home Soon
- Crystal
- Harriet Tubman (What Was It Like?)
- Lauryn Hill (High Interest Books)
- Dave Parker
- The Freedom Riders
- Malcolm X
- Yo! Yes?
- Lauryn Hill (Celebrity BIOS (Children's Press))
- Raven in a Dove House
- Springtime blossoms
- Hotlanta #1 (Hotlanta) (Hotlanta) (Hotlanta)
- Sassy
- How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba Sized Trophy
- Sassy Collection
- Dazzle Disaster Dinner Party
- Star Is Born
- Zane and The Hurricane: A story of Katrina
- Faraway Home
- Night Running
- Overload
- The secret of Gumbo Grove
- Sidewalk story
- UNCLE JED'S BARNERSHOP
- DO LIKE KYLA
- African American History
- A ring of tricksters
- A picture book of Jesse Owens
- Snow on snow on snow
- Grandfather and I
- Grandmother and I
- The Bridges Of Summer
- Feathers
- Armando's Great Big Surprise #5
- Soulfire
- The Gold Cadillac
- Booker T. Washington
- Members of the C.L.U.B.
- Mysteries on Monroe Street
- What's What? a Guessing Game
- Showdown at the Okie Dokie (Cheetah Girls (Sagebrush))
- Stealing Freedom
- The Minstrel's Melody (American Girl History Mysteries)
- The Land (Speak)
- Continental drift
- A Song for Harlem
- EllRay Jakes the dragon slayer
- The bluest eye
- Oh, Freedom!: Kids Talk About the Civil Rights Movement with the People Who Made It Happen
- Value of Courage
- Big Sixteen
- Let's Go to the Gullah Gullah Island Market (Gullah Gullah Island)
- Wiley and the Hairy Man (Ready-to-Read)
- I Am the Darker Brother
- Yolandas Genius
- John Henry
- The Honeywood street fair
- Is It My Turn Now? (Little Bill)
- Honey, I Love (Let's Read Aloud)
- African American civil rights movement
- Miami Gets It Straight (Road to Reading)
- Acting
- My weekly chores (Visions)
- Stealing Home
- Rosa Parks (Black Americans of Achievement (Econo-Clad))
- Having Our Say
- The Life and Death of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Dinner at Aunt Connie's House
- Book 3 Middle Grade Series for Black Girls
- Sharon G. Flake Collection, The
- African American Biography Volume 7. (African American Biography)
- Major modern black American writers
- Days of sorrow, years of glory, 1831-1850
- Going the distance
- Fifteen years
- Elizabeth Jones, emergency
- Remembering the Marches in Selma, Alabama
- More Stories Julian Tells (Julian Stories)
- Escape from Ghost Hotel
- African Americans in Us History/0151-3N27
- A Hunger For Learning
- Martin Luther King, Jr
- Wilma Rudolph
- It's a Black Thing Everyone Needs to Understand
- Jackie Robinson (Black Americans of Achievement (Econo-Clad))
- John Henry
- Whose Side Are You On?
- The Black Snowman
- Malcolm X
- Barry Sanders (Ovations)
- Freedom Like Sunlight
- Diddie, Dumps and Tot
- Stories for Our Children
- The Empak Heritage Kids: Kumi & Chanti Tell the Story of Jean Baptiste DuSable (An Empak "Black History" Publication Series: Black History at an Early Age)
- Kwanzaa
- Land of the four winds =
- Kids' book of wisdom
- Tamika And The Wisdom Rings
- Kid Caramel, private investigator
- The Chill Street Gang Spring Break Vacation (The Chill Street Gang)
- Malik & the fairy Rasta
- Blast Back
- Junebug
- African American Eras Library
- Presents for everyone!
- Copper Sun
- Booker T. Washington
- Ruby Bridges
- The Snow's meltdown
- EllRay Jakes Is Magic
- Historical Sources on the Civil Rights Movement
- Stars and Sparks on Stage
- Most Powerful Words about Civil Rights
- Shirley Chisholm
- Rent Party Jazz
- Suzanne de Passe
- The other side of free
- Addy
- Remember As You Pass Me By
- Hot sidewalks (Visions)
- Ants Everywhere (Visions: African-American Experiences, Volume 31: Young Readers Series)
- Brown v. Board of Education, Topeka, KS, 1954
- Addy Studies Freedom
- Afro-Bets book of shapes
- Just right stew
- Mysterious Thelonious
- Bound for Glory 1910-1930
- Struggle and Love
- Kobe Bryant (Awesome Athletes Set III)
- A Picture Book Of Harriet Tubman (Live Oak Readalong)
- I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly
- Barack Obama
- Slavery in America
- Young James Hickok and A Girl Named Hannah
- Contemporary achievements
- The Civil Rights Movement
- Jim Crow Era
- Rosa Parks
- The struggle for civil rights
- Duo cai duo yi di Gelishi
- Harriet Tubman
- Wilma Rudolph
- The Freedom Tree
- Jonathan and His Mommy
Questions parents ask about african americans books
- What are the best african americans books for kids?
- HootRated catalogs 272 african americans children's books spanning picture books through Grade 10. Each is rated on reading level and content intensity. The picks above are sorted by quality signals — hook factor, discussion potential, and content appropriateness.
- Are african americans books appropriate for sensitive readers?
- 210 books (77%) are rated Gentle or Mild — safe for sensitive readers. 2 (1%) are rated Intense or Very Intense. Average intensity is 1.8/5. Filter by intensity badge to match your child's emotional readiness.
- What reading level are african americans books?
- African Americans books in our catalog span picture books through Grade 10. The typical reading level lands around Grade 4. Reading level measures text difficulty — separate from content intensity, which measures emotional weight. The two often don't track together for gifted readers — the Gifted Kid Paradox.