In honor of Black History Month, here are some wonderful picture books with black protagonists for children ages 1-4. I particularly recommend books by Ezra Jack Keats, whose simple stories and beautiful illustrations have been some of my kids’ favorites for many years.
If you’re looking for a comprehensive, printable Black History Month book list, you can go here!
If you’d like a list of posts about different topics in black history, you can go here!
The Snowy Day (Ezra Jack Keats)
A young boy experiences the wonder and magic of playing outside in the snow.
Bright Eyes, Brown Skin (Cheryl Willis Hudson)
Four young children experience a fun, busy day at preschool together.
I Like Myself! (Karen Beaumont)
This board books encourages kids to love everything about who they are.
Lola at the Library (Anna McQuinn)
Every Tuesday Lola visits the library with her mom, and they listen to stories, play with toys, check out books, and get a treat on the way home.
Please, Baby, Please (Spike Lee, Tonya Lewis Lee)
A playful ode to the unpredictable ups and downs of raising a baby.
Whose Toes Are Those? (Jabari Asim)
A perfect board book to introduce little ones to their toes, inspired by This Little Piggy.
Yo! Yes? (Chrisr Raschka)
Two young boys, one white and one black, meet and converse through one- or two-word exchanges that ultimately seal their friendship.
Peekaboo Morning (Rachel Isadora)
A fun board book for little ones who love to play Peekaboo.
Rain Feet (Angela Johnson)
A young boy discovers the magic of playing outside in the rain.
Pecan Pie Baby (Jacqueline Woodson)
A little girl talks with her mom about what will happen when Mommy’s new baby is born.
Baby Says (John Steptoe)
The joy of siblings is celebrated as a baby and toddler play together in their bedroom.
Feast for 10 (Cathryn Falwell)
A book about counting that traces the process of buying, preparing, and eating a meal.
Cassie’s Word Quilt (Cathryn Falwell)
Based on the character from “Tar Beach,” Cassie introduces young readers to words that label important parts of her neighborhood.
Peekaboo Bedtime (Rachel Isadora)
A toddler plays peekaboo with lots of important people and things in his world.
Golden Bear (Ruth Young)
A young boy goes through his day with his best friend, Golden Bear, by his side.
Uh-Oh! (Rachel Isadora)
A toddler experiences lots of “uh-ohs” in various parts of his day, from breakfast to getting dressed.
Welcome, Precious (Nikki Grimes)
A family basks in the wonder of welcoming a new baby into their lives.
Dream Big, Little One (Vashti Harrison)
A brief description of 18 African-American women who have changed the course of history, in board book format.
Daddy Calls Me Man (Angela Johnson)
A little boy celebrates the relationship he has with his father through his own short words and phrases.
Full, Full, Full of Love (Trish Cooke)
A young boy enjoys a fun Sunday dinner with his whole family, but his relationship with his grandma is extra special.
Honey Baby Sugar Child (Alice Face Duncan)
A celebration of a mother’s unconditional love for her child.
Pretty Brown Face (Andrea Davis Pinkney)
A young boy learns about what makes his face so special in this sweet look at a loving African-American family.
Goggles (Ezra Jack Keats)
Peter from “The Snowy Day” returns in this classic about he and his neighborhood friends finding some motorcycle goggles.
Peter’s Chair (Ezra Jack Keats)
Peter is not happy when his new baby sister is born and his parents want to paint his favorite chair.
Whistle for Willie (Ezra Jack Keats)
Peter tries to learn to whistle for his dog on a hot summer’s day.
Hi, Cat! (Ezra Jack Keats)
Peter’s friend Archie finds a stray cat, who seems to cause everything to go wrong.
Joshua By The Sea (Angela Johnson)
Young Joshua visits the seashore with his family.
Leo Can Swim (Anna McQuinn)
Little Leo loves to go to the pool with his Daddy and learns to swim in his swimming class.
Brown Boy, Brown Boy, What Can You Be?
Matthew thinks and dreams about all the potential careers he could have when he grows up.
Do you have any favorites picture books with black protagonists that I missed?