Curated by the South Orange Public Library

Discover a powerful, age-inclusive collection of stories created to inspire, educate, and celebrate Black history, culture, and excellence. In honor of the national theme A Century of Black History Commemorations, the South Orange Public Library presents weekly Black History Month booklists thoughtfully curated by SOPL librarians.

Each list is organized by a weekly subtheme and features carefully selected titles for every age group — from babies through high school students. These collections are designed to grow with your child, deepen understanding, and spark meaningful conversations at every stage of learning.

All titles are available through the South Orange Public Library or the BCCLS system, making access easy for every family.

Browse by Age Group

Babies, Toddlers, Pre-K, Kindergarten | Early Elementary and Middle Grade | Middle through High School

Weekly Theme

Week 4 – Turning Knowledge Into Action
This week’s booklist invites young readers to dig deeper, ask questions, start conversations, and explore hands-on activities that bring history and ideas to life. These books inspire curiosity, critical thinking, and meaningful action — empowering children to turn what they learn into positive change in their homes, schools, and community.

Babies, Toddlers, Pre-K, Kindergarten

A is for Activist
By Innosanto Nagara 
This book helps introduce young children to the importance of activism and community engagement.

Antiracist Baby
By Ibram X. Kendi, Illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky. This book helps parents and young children think about and address racism in their daily lives

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Kenya’s Art
By Linda Trice, Illustrated by Hazel Mitchell
Instead of throwing away her broken toys, Kenya decides to use them as an opportunity to teach her class how to reduce, reuse, and make art.

Stacey Speaks Up
By Stacey Abrams, Illustrated by Kitt Thomas
A story about how everyone has the power to make a difference. 

Superheroes are Everywhere
By Kamala Harris, Illustrated by Michael Renee Roe Vice President Harris encourages everyone to become superheroes in their communities.

Thank you, Omu! 
By Oge Mora
When Omu makes a delicious red stew, she attracts hungry guests from all over the neighborhood and sees that sharing can lead to the most beautiful surprises.

V is for Voting
By Kate Farrell, Illustrated by Caitlin Kuhwald
"This playful, though powerful book engages little readers in the tenets of democracy and activism through rhyming text and colorful works of art." ―PBS Kids for Parents

Woke Baby
By Mahogany L. Browne, Illustrated by Theodore Taylor III
Celebrates what it means to be a baby and what it means to become woke. 

Early Elementary - Middle Grade

Giant Steps to Change the World
By Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee, Illustrated by Sean Qualls
Using examples of people throughout history who have taken "giant steps", this book urges kids to follow in their footsteps and not be hindered by fear or a sense that you are not good enough. 

Love is Powerful
By Heather Dean Brewer, Illustrated by LeUyen Pham
A child goes to the 2017 Women’s March and discovers that even in a crowd of tens of thousands of people, her voice can still be heard.

Nigeria Jones
By Ibi Zoboi
A bold new YA coming-of-age story that explores race, feminism, and complicated family dynamics.

One Plastic Bag 
By Miranda Paul, Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
Discover the inspiring true story of Isatou Ceesay, an African woman who started a recycling movement to combat the pollution caused by plastic bags in her community. 

Saving American Beach: The Story of African American Environmentalist MaVynee Betsch
By Heidi Tyline King, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes
This biography tells the history of American Beach - a beach open to black people during Jim Crow - and MaVynee’s efforts to preserve and save it after desegregation.

Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace
By Jen Cullerton Johnson, Illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler
A picture book biography of scientist Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize (in 2004) for her work planting trees in her native Kenya.

She Persisted: Ruby Bridges
By Kekla Magoon and Chelsea Clinton
Readers learn about the amazing life of Ruby Bridges--and how she persisted.

Speak Up
By Miranda Paul, Illustrated by Ebony Glenn
A diverse group of children discover many different ways to speak up and make their voices heard.

The Story of Fannie Lou Hamer: An Inspiring Biography for Young Readers By Margeaux Weston
Explore how she used her powerful voice to improve her community and encourage others to elect leaders who would treat them fairly.

What is: Black Lives Matter?
By Salina Harris, Illustrated by J.L. Stovall
A child watches a Black Lives Matter protest on TV and asks his parents to learn more about it.

Your Voice, Your Vote
By Leah Henderson, Illustrated by Keisha Morris
Discover both the past and present-day fight to vote with Quetta Little as she learns the power of casting your vote.

Middle - High School

A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe
By Mahogany L. Browne
As New York goes into lockdown and neighborhoods begin to feel the brunt of the pandemic, the city’s teens persevere with love and hope amidst all the fear and loss.

How the Boogeyman Became a Poet
By Anthony Keith Jr. 
Traces the author's journey from being a closeted gay Black teen battling poverty, racism, and homophobia to becoming an openly gay first-generation college student who finds freedom in poetry.

King of the Neuro Verse
By Idris Goodwin
In a world where the systems are turned against kids like him, Pernell needs to find a way to succeed with his ADHD, rather than in spite of it.

March: Book One
By John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, Illustrated by Nate Powell
A vivid first-hand account of John Lewis' lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation.

A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope
Edited by Patricia Caldwell
Filled with stories of strength and resistance, love and betrayal, this collection contains an array of complex and true-to-life characters in which you cannot help but see yourself reflected. 

Represent: The Unfinished Fight for the Vote
By Michael Eric Dyson and Mark Favreau
This electrifying, can’t-miss story of American democracy is the “indispensable book we need right now” (Senator Raphael Warnock), “a must read for every American” (The Root), and “a balm for our democracy” (Reverend Al Sharpton).  

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
By Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
An energizing narrative shines a light on the many insidious forms of racist ideas—and on ways you can identify and stamp out racist thoughts, leading to a better future.

Work With What You Got
By Zion Clark and James S. Hirsch
Elite wheelchair racer, wrestler, and America’s Got Talent contestant Zion Clark recounts his childhood adversity, awe-inspiring perseverance, and self-invention.