Banned Books Week is a worldwide event that celebrates freedom in literature, access to information, and sharing ideas through books. It started in 1982 as a response the books that were banned or challenged in libraries, schools, and bookstores during that time.
Interested in books for children, young adults, parents, or educators with Black protagonists and Black authors? Check out the Books for Black Kids book directory! It’s a work in progress with over 2,000 listings and counting.
Every year, PEN America tracks how often books are banned, challenged, and “banned pending investigation” throughout the country. Preliminary findings from the organization estimate that over 10,000 instances of book bans will appear on the 2023–2024 list, almost triple the number from the previous list.
According to the American Library Association, 4,240 unique titles were targeted in 2023 for censorship, a 65% increase from the previous year; 47% of the books targeted focus on the experiences of people of color and the LGBTQ+ community.
“I believe that censorship is the enemy of freedom,” said Ava DuVernay, honorary chair of Banned Books Week 2024. “By banning books, we deny ourselves the opportunity to learn from the past and to envision a braver future. Books have the power to open minds and build bridges.”
As such, here is a list of 31 children’s books by Black authors—specifically, books for preschools, early childhood education, and lower elementary school classrooms—that have made an appearance on banned book lists in recent years. Most of the books on this list teach children about key figures in Black history, Black American culture, self-acceptance, and the importance of believing in yourself and your dreams.
The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth & Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore
Historical fiction based on a civil rights institution, The Book Itch details the story behind the African National Memorial Bookstore in Harlem, one of the most prominent Black bookstores in history. Read more about its legacy here.
Young, Gifted and Black: Meet 52 Black Heroes from Past and Present
Written in the spirit of Nina Simone’s song “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black,” this book and accompanying series will introduce young children to Black legends of the past and present. Learn more about this book; the sequel, Young, Gifted and Black Too: Meet 52 More Black Icons from Past and Present; and the board book for infants and toddlers, Baby Young, Gifted, and Black: With a Mirror!
Not Quite Snow White
In this story, Tameika, a young girl who loves to perform, is told that she’s “not quite” right for the role of Snow White. Not Quite Snow White demonstrates the value of self-confidence, even when you doubt yourself. Click here for more information.
Mae Among the Stars
Mae Among the Stars introduces children to the story of Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space. Read more about the book here.
You Matter
Teach children about the diversity in the world around us with You Matter by Christian Robinson. “In this full, bright, and beautiful picture book, many different perspectives around the world are deftly and empathetically explored—from a pair of bird-watchers to the pigeons they’re feeding. Young readers will be drawn into the luminous illustrations inviting them to engage with the world in a new way and see how everyone is connected, and that everyone matters.” Check it out here.
Before She Was Harriet
Before Harriet Tubman become a visionary who led slaves to freedom, she was a slave, a Union spy, and a young girl from humble beginnings. Learn more about her story here.
The Undefeated
The Undefeated by acclaimed author Kwame Alexander is a self-proclaimed love letter to Black America. “With references to lyrics and lines originally shared by our most celebrated heroes, this poem digs into the not-so-distant past to underline the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present.” Learn more about the book here.
Trombone Shorty
Written by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews himself, this book tells the story of the (now) Grammy-Award-winning musician. Invited to play onstage by Bo Diddley at the age of four, he has shared the stage with Lenny Kravitz, U2, Jon Batiste, and more. Click here for more information.
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
The relationship between a boy and his barber is not to be understated. “Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut is a high-spirited, engaging salute to the beautiful, raw, assured humanity of black boys and how they see themselves when they approve of their reflections in the mirror.” Read more here.
I Am Every Good Thing
Another positive and uplifting ode to Black boyhood from Derrick Barnes, I Am Every Good Thing empowers children to be themselves. “I am worthy of success, of respect, of safety, of happiness. I am worthy to be loved.” Click here for more information.
I Promise
LeBron James inspires children to reach for the stars in I Promise. By reminding children (and adults, for that matter) to keep dreaming, even when the goals seem out of reach, I Promise encourages readers everywhere to persevere and never give up. Read more here.
A Kids Book About Racism
This book is designed to be an age-appropriate introduction to racism for children aged five to nine. Read more information about the book here. Also available for pre-order from the same series, check out A Kids Book About Systemic Racism.
My Hair is a Garden
After being teased by her classmates, a kind neighbor teaches Mackenzie about the beauty and strength of Black hair. Click here for more information.
Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice
Part of the Something Happened series, this book follows two families—one White, one Black—as they discuss a police shooting of a Black man in their community. The book comes with sample dialogues, child-friendly questions, and guidelines for adults to help children discuss racism and racial justice in their own lives. Click here for more information.
I Am Enough
I Am Enough teaches young girls everywhere the beauty of being themselves, even in the face of bullying. Read more here.
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
Written and illustrated by Vashti Harrison, Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History tells the story of 40 Black female visionaries. Click here for more information. Also available in Spanish, Pequeñas líderes: mujeres extraordinarias de la historia afroamericana.
Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History
In Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History, children will learn about dozens of history’s Black male trailblazers. Read more about the book here. Also available in Spanish, Pequeños héroes: hombres extraordinarios de la historia afroamericana.
Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You
Adapted from the award-winning, bestselling Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, this book offers an age-appropriate glimpse into the role racism and racial justice play in shaping modern-day society. Learn more about the book here. Available in a number of languages, including Spanish and German.
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family
Written by Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad, The Proudest Blue is a story about family bonds, being true to yourself, and new experiences at school. Click here for more information. Also, check out Ibtihaj Muhammad’s autobiography, Proud: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream, and those of other Black Olympians.
Looking for Bongo
After a young boy loses his beloved toy, he searches high and low, asks his entire family, and puts out a trap to find the thief. Read more about the book here. Also available in Spanish, Buscando a Bongo.
Full, Full, Full of Love
Full, Full, Full of Love is an ode to family gatherings, love, and the food that bonds us. Read more about the book here.
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race
Based on the award-winning movie about their lives, Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race tells the story of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, with beautiful illustrations for our youngest readers. “Finally, the extraordinary lives of four African American women who helped NASA put the first men in space is available for picture book readers,” proclaims Brightly in their article “18 Must-Read Picture Books of 2018.” Read more here.
Saturday
Saturday teaches young readers the joy of spending time with the people you love—no matter what may go wrong along the way. Click here for more information.
Mixed Me!
In Mixed Me!, actor Taye Diggs tells the story of a young biracial boy with a lot of questions about his mixed background. Read more here.
Sulwe
In Sulwe, actor Lupita Nyong’o teaches children about colorism, self-esteem, and beauty standards. Sulwe, a dark-skinned girl with light-skinned family members, goes on a journey that shows her the beauty of being unique. Click here for more information.
Your Name is a Song
In Your Name is a Song, a girl with a unique name learns about the musicality of names around the world. A “glossary of names” and link to an online video are also provided so readers can correctly pronounce the names mentioned in the book. Read more here.
Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat
This book about artist Jean-Michel Basquiat shows young children that beautiful art can be found everywhere. Click here for more information.
Hair Love
Based on the Academy-Award-winning short, this book is “an ode to loving your natural hair – and a celebration of daddies and daughters everywhere.” Read more about the book here. Also available in Spanish, Amor del pelo.
Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra
In Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra, young children can take a look into the life of the most influential figures in the creation of jazz. Read more about his story here.
The Day You Begin
The Day You Begin encourages children to embrace their differences and share their stories, even “in the room where no one else is quite like you.” Read more about the book here. Also available in Spanish, El día en que descubres quién eres.
Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills
Harlem’s Little Blackbird tells the story of Florence Mills, a performer who fought against prejudice and racism to become an international sensation. Click here for more information.