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BKLYN - African American Picture Books - Black Authors or Illustrators

A list of picture books with African American characters, by African American authors or illustrators. While this list is not comprehensive, it is a great snapshot of the books available which feature both African American creators and characters.

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26 items

Happy hair
written & illustrated by: Mechal Renee Roe.
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Dancing in the wings
Debbie Allen ; pictures by Kadir Nelson.
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Sassy tries out for a summer dance festival in Washington, D.C., despite the other girls' taunts that she is much too tall.

Girl of mine
by Jabari Asim ; illustrations by LeUyen Pham.
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A toddler girl is whisked away on a fantastic adventure swinging above blossoming gardens in the moonlight. The sweet text, inspired by "Rock-A-Bye Baby," will whisk little ones off to peaceful slumber.

My cold plum lemon pie bluesy mood
by Tameka Fryer Brown ; illustrated by Shane Evans.
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Jamie describes his mood throughout the day, using colors and rhythmic text, as he changes from an "easy green mood" while drawing a picture for his sister to a "brooding black mood" when he is teased for doing so.

Freedom's school
by Lesa Cline-Ransome ; illustrations by James E. Ransome.
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Hungry for learning, Lizzie and her brother Paul attend a new school built for freed slaves.

Firebird
Misty Copeland ; illustrated by Christopher Myers.
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American Ballet Theater soloist Misty Copeland encourages a young ballet student, with brown skin like her own, by telling her that she, too, had to learn basic steps and how to be graceful when she was starting out, and that some day, with practice and dedication, the little girl will become a firebird, too. Includes author's note about dancers who led her to find her voice.

Full, full, full of love
by Trish Cooke ; illustrated by Paul Howard.
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For young Jay Jay, Sunday dinner at Gran's house is full of hugs and kisses, tasty dishes, all kinds of fishes, happy faces, and love.

Max and the tag-along moon
Floyd Cooper.
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When Max leaves his grandfather's house, the moon follows him all the way home, just as Grandpa promised it would.

Shortcut
Donald Crews.
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Children taking a shortcut by walking along a railroad track find excitement and danger when a train approaches.

Harvey Moon, museum boy
written and illustrated by Pat Cummings.
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When Harvey and his pet lizard Zippy go on a school field trip, Zippy gets loose in the museum and they have a harrowing adventure.