Vineland Public Library Children's Department

African American Authors and Illustrators

This is a list of suggested fictional works by African American authors and illustrators. This lists covers a variety of age levels.  Call number are listed first.  Please feel free to ask a librarian to help you find these books.

JE Col Uptown by Bryan Collier. A tour of the sights of Harlem, including the Metro-North Train, brownstones, shopping on 125th Street, a barber shop, summer basketball, the Boy's Choir, and sunset over the Harlem River.  Reading Level: Kindergarten — 3rd grade

Also illustrated by Bryan Collier: Martin’s Big Words

J Fic Cur   Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis.  During the time of the Great Depression, ten-year-old Bud, from Flint, Michigan, escapes a bad foster home and sets out to search for the man he believes to be his father, the famous bandleader, H.E. Calloway of Grand Rapids. Reading Level: 4th grade & up   Also by Christopher Paul Curtis: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963

J Fic Eng  Francie by Karen English.  Thirteen-year-old Francie Weaver has one goal: to get out of Noble, Alabama. Her father, working up north for the railroad, promises to bring her family to Chicago. In the meantime, Jesse, a sixteen-year-old determined to learn how to read, becomes Francie’s special project. When Jesse is accused of attacking a white man, Francie and her family become endangered. Reading Level: 3rd — 6th grade

JE Flo  Patchwork Quilt, The by Valerie Flournoy.  Using scraps cut from the family's old clothing, Tanya helps her grandmother and mother make a beautiful quilt that tells the story of her family's life. Reading Level: Kindergarten — 2nd grade

J 398.2082 Ham Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales and True Tales by Virginia Hamilton.  A collection of twenty-five African American folktales focuses on strong female characters and includes "Little Girl and Bruh Rabby," "Catskinella," and "Annie Christmas."  Reading Level: 3rd — 6th grade

JE How   Aunt Flossie’s Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard.  Sunday afternoons are Sarah and Susan’s favorite time of the week because they get to visit their great-great-aunt Flossie and share tea, cookies and crab cakes while they listen to her stories of long ago.  Reading Level: Preschool — 3rd grade   Also by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard: Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys

J Fic Joh  Heaven by Angela Johnson.  Fourteen-year-old Marley lives in the southern town of Heaven, which is actually the perfect place to live, until Marley makes a startling discovery and learns that everything is not as it seems.  Reading Level: 6th — 10th grade

JE McK   Goin’ Someplace Special by Patricia McKissack, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney.  ‘Tricia Ann is excited because she gets to go across town on the bus by herself to Someplace Special. Join ‘Tricia Ann on her journey and discover where all are welcome, no matter what the color of your skin.  Reading Level: 1st — 4th grade

JB Truth   Sojourner Truth: Ain’t I a Woman by Patricia McKissack, illustrated by Fredrick McKissack.  A moving biography which captures the strength, steadfastness and perseverance of a powerful woman determined to be free.  Reading Level: 4th — 7th grade    Also by Patricia McKissack: Mirandy and Brother Wind, The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural and A Picture of Freedom: the Diary of Clotee, a Slave Girl

JE Mit  Uncle Jed’s Barbershop by Margaree King Mitchell.  In the segregated South of the 1920’s, Sarah Jean’s Uncle Jed is the only black barber in the county. He travels all over the county cutting his customers’ hair. His one dream is to one day open up his own barber shop and he is saving his money for this goal. Will his dream come true?  Reading Level: 1st — 4th grade

JE Mye  Black Cat by Christopher Myers.  A black cat travels along quiet city streets, over rooftops and into the subway, seemingly intent on some destination it alone knows.  Reading Level: Preschool — 3rd grade   Also by Christopher Myers: Wings

YA Fic Mye  Monster by Walter Dean Myers.  While on trial as an accomplice to a murder, sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon records his experiences in prison and in the courtroom in the form of a film script as he tries to come to terms with the course his life has taken.  Reading Level: 7th grade & up Also by Walter Dean Myers: Brown Angels,Fallen Angels, Scorpion and Slam!

J 811 Mye  Harlem by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Christopher Myers.  A poem celebrating the people, sights and sounds of Harlem.  Reading Level: 1st — 4th grade

JE Rin  Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold.  Eight-year-old Cassie Louise Lightfoot has a dream: to be free to go wherever she wants for the rest of her life. One night when she is on the rooftop of her family’s apartment building (“tar beach”), her dream comes true when the stars lift her up and she flies over the city, claiming all she sees for herself and her family.  Reading Level: Preschool — 3rd grade  Also by Faith Ringgold: Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky

J 398.21 San  Talking Eggs, The by Robert San Souci, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. This is the tale of two sisters: Rose, who is spoiled and lazy, but her mother’s favorite and Blanche, who is forced to fetch and carry and do all the hard work for her mother and sister. Blanche is rewarded for her kindness by an old witch woman. Rose does not show the old woman the same kindness and respect and is therefore duly rewarded for her actions. Reading Level: Kindergarten — 3rd grade   Also illustrated by Jerry Pinkney: Minty: A Story of Harriet Tubman

JE Ste  Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe.  An African folktale about two beautiful daughters: Manyara, who is always in a bad temper and Nyasha, who is sweet and kind. The Great King has to choose a wife. Who will be his wife?  Reading Level: Kindergarten — 3rd grade

JPB Tay/J Fic Tay  Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor.  The story of an African American family fighting to stay together and strong in the face of brutal racist attacks, illness, poverty, and betrayal in the South during the 1930’s. Nine-year-old Cassie Logan, growing up in the protection of her family, is unprepared for the discrimination that she meets. This is the story of a family struggling with physical survival, as well as survival of the human spirit. Reading Level: 3rd — 7th grade  Also by Mildred Taylor: The Land, Let the Circle Be Unbroken and The Friendship

J Fic Woo  Miracle’s Boys by Jacqueline Woodson.  This is the story of three brothers who are raising themselves after losing their father in a drowning accident and their mother to diabetes. Ty’ree has given up his dreams of college to work full-time to support the others; Charlie is slipping into a life of crime; and young Lafayette retreats inwards, withdrawing from friends and blaming himself for his mother’s death. These brothers have only each other to rely on and must decide whether they’ll work with that or let it tear them apart. Reading Level: 7th grade & up