As an author and someone who has BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) in our family, I wanted to do what I could for the Black Lives Matter movement. No surprise, that meant books.
I have been devouring all the lists of fabulous anti-racism children’s books, and books featuring BIPOC main characters that are flying around the Internet, however I’m seeing a lot of duplicative lists. It’s the same fabulous books over and over. But I know there are more books out there! So, I went digging and, in addition to all of my books, which feature BIPOC main characters, I came up with all of these. Check them all out and add them to your colorful home library.
(These are affiliate links.)
The Water Princess and I Am Human, by Susan Verde
Are They Really Scary?, by Julia Inserro
Mr. Scruff, by Simon James
Love Makes a Family, by Sophie Beer
How to Code a Sandcastle, by Josh Funk
Finding Your Spot in the World, by Diane Alber
Anna Hibiscus, by Atinuke (picture books and chapter books)
I Belong, by Laurie Wright
If I Ran for President, by Catherine Steir
Have you Thanked an Inventor Today? by Patrice McLaurin
When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree, by Jamie L.B. Deenihan
That Girl on TV Could Be Me!, by Leticia Ordaz
Nonni’s Moon, by Julia Inserro
The Undefeated, by Kwame Alexander
Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion, by Alex T. Smith
Amazing Grace, by Mary Hoffman
And So Much More, by Jessica Collaco
Loretta’s Gift, by Pat Zietlow Miller
What If, by Samantha Berger
Tomorrow Most Likely, by Dave Eggers
Where Would Santa Go?, by Julia Inserro
The Big Bed, by Bunmi Laditan
The King of Kindergarten, by Derrick Barnes
Girl of Mine, by Jabari Asim
The Do-Over Day, by Julia Inserro
Dancing Hands, by Margarita Engle
Jabari Jumps, by Gaia Cornwall
B is for Breathe, by Melissa Boyd
The Princess and the Pea, Rapunzel , The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Hansel and Gretel and Peekaboo Morning, all by Rachel Isadora
I’m a Pretty Princess, by Crystal Swain-Bates
Mary Had a Little Glam, by Tammi Sauer
Don’t Paint the Cat, by Julia Inserro
He’s Got the Whole World in his Hands, by Kadir Nelson
Ada Twist, by Andrea Beaty (picture book and chapter book)
One Big Heart, by Linsey Davis
Save the Bees, by Bethany Stahl
My Magical Dreams, by Becky Cummings
Celestina the Astronaut Ballerina, by Donald Jaconsen
Kindness Rocks, by Sonica Ellis
Alfie, by Thyra Heder
Do You Know What Your Parents Do When You're Asleep?, by Sonya Annita Song
Grandma’s Purse, by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
My Camel Wants To Be a Unicorn, by Julia Inserro
Equality's Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America, by Deborah Diesen
Princess Truly, by Kelly Greenawalt (picture books and early readers)
The Adventures of Mr. Macaw, by Leticia Ordaz
Riley Can Be Anything, by Davina Hamilton
Grace for President, by Kelly DiPucchio
The Adventurers Club, by Julianne Price
Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions, by Chris Barton
A Buck and a Puck, by JLW
Black Girl Shine!, by Shavondra Walker
The Rumble Hunters, by Courtney B. Dunlap
Mrs. Hughes Is Missing, by Sharon Jones-Scaife
Rad Girl Revolution, by Sharita Manickam
Small Tales from Ry’Ael, by Ry'Ael R Holmesm
I Love You More Than All, by Kealy Connor Lonning
It’s in You, by Sharifa Anozie
It’s Okay to be Different, by Sharon Purtill
Chrissy Doesn’t Like Her Hair!, by Christine Williams
Haboba’s House, by Alia Gabres
The Thankful Mermaid: I Am Generous, by Hayley Rose
Kindness Gets a Thumbs Up!, by Brenda Li
Peter Reynolds - many of his book feature a BIPOC main character. Check out Ish, The Word Collector, Be You, Sky Color… there are LOTS and they’re all beautiful.
Wow! That’s a fabulous list!! And here’s the thing, there’s MORE. So dig on, read on, and spread the love. Fill your homes and your hearts with lots of BIPOC literature. Let’s prove that Black Lives Matter, one page at a time.