Here is a list of some of the new releases the Books for Black Kids community might want to check out.
Every book on this list was released in June 2024. They were all written by a Black author and/or features a Black protagonist. Some of the entries are from accomplished writers, whereas other authors are newcomers to the Black children’s literature scene. Taraji P. Henson also released her first children’s book last month.
Here are some of the releases from June 2024.
Stamped from the Beginning: A Graphic History of Racist Ideas in America
Adapted from Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s “Stamped from the Beginning” series, this graphic novel tells the living history of racism in the United States, expanding on the “post-racial” myth. Award-winning historian and comic artist Joel Christian Gill has collaborated with Dr. Kendi to use vivid illustrations to learn from the past and work towards a more equitable, antiracist future.
Click here for more information about the book and Dr. Kendi’s literary work.
Miles Morales Suspended: A Spider-Man Novel
The sequel to Jason Reynolds’ Miles Morales: Spiderman, Miles Morales: Suspended follows the adventures and antics of a normal teenager, who happens to be a superhero. An ideal book for the superhero and Marvel fan in your life.
Read more about the book and the author.
The Kids Book of Black History in Canada
A follow-up to the 2003 The Kids Book of Black Canadian History, this updated edition details the 400+ years of Black History in Canada for elementary and middle school students. It spams the gamut from the 1604 arrival of Mathieu Da Costa, the first known African in Canada, to the legacy of slavery, the Black Loyalists, the Underground Railroad, the Exodusters and the Black civil rights movements in Canada.
Read more about the book here.
Be, Black Girl, Be
Be, Black Girl, Be is a lyrical and affirming ode to Black girls and the families who love them.
Read more about the book here.
Four Eids and a Funeral
A classic story of friends-turned-enemies-turned-lovers, as two teenagers work to save the town’s Islamic center and, possibly, their relationship.
Click here for more information about the book and the author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé.
You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!): A Lil TJ Book
Taraji P. Henson’s debut book teaches young children that the key to making true friends is being yourself. Perfect to settle the first-day-of-school jitters.
Read more about the book here.
The Color of a Lie
This work of historical fiction follows a white-passing family trying to build a new life while keeping a grave secret.
Read more about the book and the author.
The Cookie Crumbles
A middle-school mystery about a cooking contest gone awry. Can these friends find the culprit before it is too late?
Click here for more information about the book and the author Alechia Dow.
Soul Step
A mother and daughter bond through the joy of step dancing, tradition, and pride.
Read more for information about the book and the authors Jewell Parker Rhodes and Kelly McWilliams.
Better Must Come
A young adult suspense novel set in Jamaica, two teenagers try to change their lives in the face of drugs, gangs, and poverty.
Read more about the book and the author.
Children of Anguish and Anarchy (Legacy of Orisha, 3)
The last of the Legacy of Orisha trilogy, Children of Anguish and Anarchy follows Zélie as she tries to face her final enemy and save her people.
Read more about the book and the author.
Rapunzella, Or, Don’t Touch My Hair
Rapunzella, Or, Don’t Touch My Hair combines fairy tales, fantasy, poetry, and prose to show Rapunzella coming into her own. While celebrating her hair, of course.
Read more about the book here.