Picture Books by Black Authors and Illustrators from Perpich Library

February 19, 2026

It’s Black History Month and now, more than ever, it’s important that we learn about the past so that our present world can be put into its proper context. Because picture books are an excellent way to teach and learn about history in a simple yet impactful way, the Library is presenting a selection of picture books by Black authors and illustrators that tell stories of Black lives – real and imagined. Many more books like this can be found in our Children’s Arts and Diversity collection.

All items on this list are available at the Perpich library. Click on titles for more information.

1. All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson; illustrated by E.B. Lewis
Through the eyes of one little girl, All Different Now tells the story of the first Juneteenth, the day freedom finally came to the last of the slaves in the South. Since then, the observance of June 19 as African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. This stunning picture book includes notes from the author and illustrator, a timeline of important dates, and a glossary of relevant terms. Told in Angela Johnson’s signature melodic style and brought to life by E.B. Lewis’s striking paintings.

2. Bronzeville Boys and Girls by Gwendolyn Brooks; illustrated by Faith Ringgold
This classic picture book from Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Gwendolyn Brooks, paired with full-color illustrations by Caldecott Honor artist Faith Ringgold, explores the lives and dreams of the children who live together in an urban neighborhood. In 1956, Gwendolyn Brooks created thirty-four poems that celebrated the joy, beauty, imagination, and freedom of childhood. Bronzeville Boys and Girls features these timeless poems, which remind us that, whether we live in the Bronzeville section of Chicago or any other neighborhood, childhood is universal in its richness of emotions and new experiences.

3. Dream Street by Tricia Elam Walker; illustrated by Ekua Holmes
A magical story from the critically acclaimed author of Nana Akua Goes to School and a Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Award winning illustrator. Illuminating this vivid cast of characters are vibrant, joyful illustrations that make this neighborhood (based on the Roxbury neighborhood in Boston where the author and illustrator grew up together as cousins) truly sing.

4. Firebird by Misty Copeland; illustrated by Christopher Myers
In her debut picture book, ballet dancer Misty Copeland tells the story of a young girl–an every girl–whose confidence is fragile and who is questioning her own ability to reach the heights that Misty has reached. Misty encourages this young girl’s faith in herself and shows her exactly how, through hard work and dedication, she too can become Firebird.

5. I, Too, Am America by Langston Hughes; illustrated by Bryan Collier
Winner of the Coretta Scott King illustrator award, I, Too, Am America blends the poetic wisdom of Langston Hughes with visionary illustrations from Bryan Collier in this inspirational picture book that carries the promise of equality.

6. Magic Trash: A Story of Tyree Guyton and His Art by J. H. Shapiro; illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Tyree Guyton, an urban environmental artist, loved his childhood home–that’s where his grandpa Sam taught him to “paint the world”. So he wanted to wake people up… to make them see Detroit’s crumbling communities. Paintbrush in hand, Tyree cast his artistic spell, transforming everyday junk into magic trash. Soon local kids and families joined Tyree in rebuilding their neighborhood, discovering the healing power of art along the way.

7. Nina: A Story of Nina Simone by Traci N. Todd; illustrated by Christian Robinson
This luminous, defining picture book biography illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Christian Robinson, tells the remarkable and inspiring story of acclaimed singer Nina Simone and her bold, defiant, and exultant legacy.

8. Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe
Jean-Michel Basquiat and his unique, collage-style paintings rocketed to fame in the 1980s as a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the art world had ever seen. But before that, he was a little boy who saw art everywhere: in poetry books and museums, in games and in the words that we speak, and in the pulsing energy of New York City. Now, award-winning illustrator Javaka Steptoe’s vivid text and bold artwork echoing Basquiat’s own introduce young readers to the powerful message that art doesn’t always have to be neat or clean–and definitely not inside the lines–to be beautiful. Winner of the Randolph Caldecott Medal and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award.

9. The Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop by Carole Boston Weatherford; illustrated by Frank Morrison
The roots of rap and the history of hip-hop have origins that precede DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash. Kids will learn about how it evolved from folktales, spirituals, and poetry, to the showmanship of James Brown, to the culture of graffiti art and break dancing that formed around the art form and gave birth to the musical artists we know today. Written in lyrical rhythm by award-winning author and poet Carole Boston Weatherford and complete with flowing, vibrant illustrations by Coretta Scott King Award winner, Frank Morrison, this book beautifully illustrates how hip-hop is a language spoken the whole world ’round.

10. The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander; illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Originally performed for ESPN’s The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to Black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world’s greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. Robust back matter at the end provides valuable historical context and additional detail for those wishing to learn more.

All items on this list are available at the Perpich Library.

Title descriptions are provided by Amazon and/or the publisher.