Celebrating history shapers like John Lewis and Mae Jemison and lesser-known individuals with comparable impact, such as playwrights August Wilson and Lorraine Hansberry, and engineer Raye Montague, these 28 titles share the lives, struggles, and triumphs of notable Black Americans.

Glenn Burke, Game Changer: The Man Who Invented the High Five by Phil Bildner. illus. by Daniel J. O’Brien. Farrar. Feb. 2024. 40p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780374391225. 
Gr 1-5–The opening pages will draw in just about everybody: Glenn Burke on the field was a “five-tool” talent. He could run faster than anyone, connect bat to ball, hit with power, catch anything that came his way, and his throwing arm was a cannon! This Black man should have been one of the greatest names in baseball history, but his story takes a melancholy turn. Burke is gay. VERDICT For all sports/Black history/LGBTQIA+ shelves, this book is a must, but supplement it with historical resources.

The Purple One: A Story of Prince by Matthew Burgess. illus. by Sirin Thada. Enchanted Lion. ISBN 9781592704224. 
Gr 1-3–Burgess works with Thada to create a fascinating and vivid picture book biography of music icon Prince. The work traces his journey from childhood to superstardom with an electric narrative. VERDICT For music collections, biography, or even Americana, this book lends itself to story hours and certainly as an icebreaker for conversations on style, substance, and marching to the beat of a different drummer.

Stokes: The Brief Career of the NBA’s First Black Superstar by Ty Chapman & John Coy. illus. by Lonnie Ollivierre. Lerner/Millbrook. ISBN 9781728492490. 
Gr 2-6–Fans of basketball may not know the name of 1950s NBA superstar Maurice Stokes, and this excellent picture book biography corrects that. VERDICT A very interesting and well-illustrated biography, this is surely a necessity for the shelves.

 Fighting with Love: The Legacy of John Lewis by Lesa Cline-Ransome. illus. by James E. Ransome. Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman. ISBN 9781534496620. 
Gr 1-3–A deeply informative biography of the great civil rights leader John Lewis. VERDICT A strong biography on Lewis, this is a highly recommended volume will complement the civil rights shelves as well as collections on Black Americans who worked within and occasionally outside the political establishment but always for the good of the country.

 Extraordinary Magic: The Storytelling Life of Virginia Hamilton by Nina Crews. illus. by author. Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano. ISBN 9780316383592. 
Gr 1-4–Depicting the genesis of the imaginative world of a groundbreaking writer for children, this is the first picture book biography about Virginia Hamilton. Before she was the first Black author to get a Newbery, she was Ginny Hamilton. VERDICT Purchase this lovely picture book biography as an introduction to Hamilton’s work or to encourage future creators. With every page, readers will be inspired to follow their own magic.

Bea Breaks Barriers!: How Florence Beatrice Price’s Music Triumphed Over Prejudice by Caitlin DeLems. illus. by Tonya Engel. Astra/Calkins Creek. ISBN 9781635924275. 
Gr 2-4–A picture book biography introduces young readers to Florence Beatrice Price, the first Black American classical composer, organist, and pianist. VERDICT This is an engaging introduction to an important, often overlooked figure in Black history and a great choice for children’s music education or Women’s or Black History Month.

A Song for August: The Inspiring Life of Playwright August Wilson by Sally Denmead. illus. by Alleanna Harris. Levine Querido. ISBN 9781646144396. 
Gr 1-5–This biography elegantly recounts award-winning, acclaimed poet and playwright August Wilson’s formative years. VERDICT Denmead provides readers with a scope of Wilson’s early life and artistry; she also promotes the value of his expressiveness, as his achievements are still relevant and have an ongoing cultural impact on modern points of view.

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 Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer by Quartez Harris. illus. by Gordon C. James. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316483933. 
Gr 2-5–In descriptive and poetic language, this book reveals how reading and writing were powerful motivators for young James Baldwin. VERDICT This book is especially recommended because it not only explains the growth of a successful writer, but it also can stimulate discussions of the ways in which reading and writing enrich our lives.

Perfect Match: The Story of Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton by Lori Dubbin. illus. by Amanda Quartey.Lerner/Kar-Ben. ISBN 9798765603000. 
Gr 1-3–A nonfiction picture book about Althea Gibson, the Black American tennis player, and Angela Buxton, a Jewish British tennis player, whose friendship led to them playing doubles at Wimbledon in 1956. VERDICT Recommended for history, sports, and biography collections looking for excellent picture books that ably diversify their offerings for this age group.

Let’s Fly: Barrington Irving’s Record-Breaking Flight Around the World by Barrington Irving & Chana Stiefel. illus. by Shamar Knight-Justice. Dial. ISBN 9780593532133. 
K-Gr 3–In this autobiographical picture book, Irving and Stiefel describe Irving's journey to become the youngest person and first Black man to fly solo around the world. VERDICT This rich and inspiring true story will have children riveted.

Ida B. Wells Marches for the Vote by Dinah Johnson. illus. by Jerry Jordan. Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano. ISBN 9780316322478. 
Gr 2-4–Johnson writes with the conviction of Ida B. Wells and her inherent beliefs about right and wrong. VERDICT Until her name is as familiar as Abraham Lincoln’s, we can’t have too many books about Wells; pair this with Michelle Duster’s extraordinary Ida B. Wells, Voice of Truth.

Legends of Hip-Hop: Biggie Smalls: An Opposites Biography by Pen Ken. illus. by Saxton Moore. ­HarperFestival. ISBN 9780063234307.
PreS-K–A biography for the tiniest readers about one of hip-hop’s biggest stars. The latest in the “Legends of Hip-Hop” series continues to make young children aware of hip-hop’s stars while introducing them to foundational concepts; perhaps because of that fabulous moniker, Biggie Smalls’s biography fittingly covers opposites. VERDICT Recommended for libraries where biographies for younger children are popular.

 Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King by Coretta Scott King. illus. by Ekua Holmes. Macmillan/Godwin. ISBN 9781250167101.
Gr 3-5–This abridged illustrated version of Coretta Scott King’s autobiography is both powerful and beautiful. Multimedia collages dominate the pages: layered portraits, straightforward portrayals of the text, and mosaics incorporating newspaper print and photographs. VERDICT A gorgeous book to introduce children to the triumphs and tragedies of one of the Civil Rights Movement’s most avid champions.

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What I Must Tell the World: How Lorraine Hansberry Found Her Voice by Jay Leslie. illus. by Loveis Wise. Zando. ISBN 9781638930693. 
Gr 3-5–This book follows the development of Lorraine Hansberry’s writing career. Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun made it to Broadway, where it portrayed the true experience of her family. VERDICT This well-written and well-illustrated book introduces young readers to an important writer and is an excellent choice for discussing the significance of writers finding their own voices.

 Dancing through Space: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights by Lydia Ludikis. illus. by Sawyer Cloud. Albert Whitman. ISBN 9780807514580. 
Gr 1-4–Lukidis and Cloud combine their talents to create a captivating biography of Dr. Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space. This innovative book masterfully juxtaposes Jemison’s two passions, science and dance, beautifully illustrating the dichotomy of her interests. VERDICT With accessible language and inspiring message, this book is an excellent addition to any library.

Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller by Breanna J McDaniel. illus. by April Harrison. Dial. ISBN 9780593324202. 
K-Gr 4–A young librarian in Harlem, Baker was still at home in the world of books, but what she found in the way of authentic Black representation was missing; she created a collection including the works of writers and illustrators who would give Harlem’s children the books in which they would see themselves conquering the world. VERDICT An essential purchase not to be missed—what a wonderful person, and what a worthy life.

 Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin by Michelle Meadows. illus. by Jamiel Law. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780063273474. 
Gr 4-6–This book covers legendary writer James Baldwin, from his childhood in Harlem during the Great Depression, to his early beginnings as a writer and expat, to his involvement in the civil rights movement, relationship with Lucien Happersberger, and the final years of his career. VERDICT This stunning picture book biography is highly recommended.

Unstoppable John: How John Lewis Got His Library Card—and Helped Change History by Pat Zietlow Miller. illus. by Jerry ­Jordan. Viking. ISBN 9780593524909. 
Gr 2-4–Many books have been written by and about civil rights icon John Lewis, who died in 2020, and his work as an adult. This story focuses on his quest for a library card. He was denied one as a teen in 1956 for being Black. The book frames this rejection as the inciting incident in Lewis’s long history of fighting for civil rights. VERDICT This serves as an accessible introduction to a civil rights hero, regardless of flaws, and is worth an add to larger collections.

[Read: 20 Picture Books to Celebrate Black Artists This Black History Month and Year Round]

 Freedom on the Sea: The True Story of the Civil War Hero Robert Smalls and His Daring Escape to Freedom by Michael Boulware Moore. illus. by Bryan Collier. Macmillan/Godwin. ISBN 9781250818355. 
Gr 1-4–This book authentically recounts the story of the author’s great-great-grandfather, Robert Smalls. As an enslaved person, he lived with his wife and two children above the Mill House Hotel, where his wife worked and he dreamed of making enough money to buy freedom for himself and his family. But an opportunity arose for another way to escape slavery. VERDICT A genuine account of an enslaved person daringly achieving a better life. Highly recommended for elementary school libraries. 

 Beacon of Hope: The Life of Barack Obama by Doreen Rappaport. illus. by Tonya Engel. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316397834. 
Gr 1-4–Barack Obama's own words are used to infuse the text with honesty and purpose; this use of quotes from President Obama elevates the text and adds the expected depth that characterizes this outstanding series. VERDICT A very successful biography that portrays a purpose-driven life fueled from Obama’s early years to the White House; the text captures the energy and passion of a man who broke barriers and changed history.

 A Voice of Hope: The ­Myrlie Evers-Williams Story by Nadia Salomon. illus. by London Ladd. Philomel. ISBN 9780593525913. 
Gr 4-6–Myrlie Evers-Williams was the first woman chair of the NAACP. VERDICT An utterly compelling narrative of a woman who was integral to the fight for civil rights and mostly overlooked by history. Colorful and engaging, it is a reminder of how much women sacrificed to fight for equality. Strong first buy.

 Prince Among Slaves: The Remarkable True Story of an African Prince Enslaved in Mississippi, and His Journey Home by N.H Senzai. illus. by Anna Rich. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen. ISBN 9781984816986. 
Gr 1-5–An engrossing historical tale of survival, endurance, and faith entangled in the difficult history of enslavement in the United States. VERDICT Full of drama and heart, this is the story of a heroic man of faith who boldly spoke out against slavery; his story has a place in all library collections serving upper elementary students. Highly recommended.

 Go, Wilma, Go!: Wilma Rudolph, from Athlete to Activist by Amira Rose and Michael G. Long Davis. illus. by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow. Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781547612093. 
Gr 1-3–In this picture book biography, Wilma Rudolph’s enduring and inspiring legacy is explored. Throughout the text, the authors thoughtfully explore Rudolph’s athletic victories as well as her hardships as a child and in her adult life. VERDICT An engaging and insightful biography of an American hero—highly recommended for purchase.

Bridges Instead of Walls: The Story of Mavis Staples by Mavis Staples & Carole Boston Weatherford. illus. by Steffi Walthall. Penguin/Rocky Pond. ISBN 9780593624692. 
Gr 3-5–Staples, with Weatherford, recounts biographical events from when she was a girl attending services at the Progressive Baptist Church and delighting in the church’s choir to when she and her family reached stardom through gospel music and soul. VERDICT An inspiring picture book for older children who love biographies, for use in units covering the importance of music in the Civil Rights Movement.

 Up Periscope!: How Engineer Raye Montague Revolutionized Shipbuilding by Jennifer Swanson. illus. by Veronica Miller Jamison. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316565486. 
Gr 1-5–In a nonfiction work told with clarity and enthusiasm, Swanson writes about Raye Montague. As a young girl, Montague was determined to become an engineer who designed ships—battleships, aircraft carriers, and submarines. She reached her goal despite the many obstacles. VERDICT An outstanding choice for biography and science classes, women’s history studies, and Black history studies.

 Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins—The First Lady of Children’s Music by Traci N. Todd. illus. by Eleanor Davis. Chronicle. ISBN 9781452170640. 
K-Gr 3–Rhythmic text carries the hint of the music that influenced Jenkins when she was young and that she created for children throughout her career. The majority of her life story focuses on her incredible gift for sharing music with children and encouraging them to “make a happy sound.” VERDICT A wonderful addition to library collections or for use in music classrooms to introduce this early childhood icon.

A Crown of Stories: The Life and Language of Beloved Writer Toni Morrison by Carole Boston Weatherford. illus. by Khalif Thompson. HarperCollins/Quill Tree. ISBN 9780062911032. 
Gr 1-5–Renowned author Toni Morrison is celebrated in the latest offering from Weatherford. VERDICT In addition to being a useful mentor text on the second-person voice, this is an excellent addition to biography collections and displays highlighting Black and Women’s History months.

 It’s Her Story: Mae Jemison by Lesley Williams. illus. by Brooke O’Neill. PI Kids/Sunbird. ISBN 9781503769861. 
Gr 2-5–The inspirational, true story of the life of the first African American woman to travel into space. VERDICT Young readers will love this book. Purchase at least two copies—one for the biography section and one for the graphic novel section. Students will be recommending this to others in no time.