Books Make Great Gifts

African American Children's Books -Books make great Gifts (Updated in Nov. 2011)
I almost didn't make this list for three reason. 1- I knew it would take a while 2- no matter how many authors or titles I remember to include I knew I would forgot some and not know others. I'll share the third reason later. The set up for this list is pretty straight forward. For the authors who have extensive works published their names are written prior to the section. I will list no more then two works per author in a section. Middle grade and Young Adult fiction are combined, so it begins as early as eight. I have not listed age ranges however once you click on a author or title you'll learn more about the item. I also have not separated fiction from non fiction I made a special section for YA Christian fiction, simply because I thought anyone looking for it would like to distinguish it from everything else. I've also included some fiction for anyone making the transition into adult literature.

Authors/Illustrators
Asim, Jabari
Bolden, Tonya
Bryan, Ashley,
Christie, Gregory
Cline-Ransome, Lesa, Ransome, James
Collier, Bryan,
Cummings, Pat
Dillon, Leo, Dillon, Diane
Evans, Shane W.
Feelings, Tom
Gilchrist, Jan Spivey
Greenfield, Eloise
Hamilton, Virginia
Isadora, Rachel
Johnson, Angela,
Kadir, Nelson
Lewis, E. B.
McKissack, Patricia C.
Morrison, Frank
Myers, Christopher A.,
,Nelson, Marilyn
Pinkney, Andrea Davis, Pinkney, Brian
Ringgold, Faith
Smalls-Hector, Irene,
Steptoe, Javaka ,Steptoe, John
Velasquez, Eric
Weatherford, Carole Boston,
Woodson, Jacqueline

Picture Books
The Palm of My Heart: Poetry by African American Children by Adedjouma, Davida
I'm Your Peanut Butter Big Brother by Alko Selina
Brothers of the Knight by Allen, Debbie
Life Doesn't Frighten Me by Angelou, Maya
The Moon Over Star by Aston, Dianna Hutts , Pinkney, Jerry
Not Norman: A Goldfish Story by Bennett, Kelly
Ron's Big Mission by Blue Rose
How Do You Wokka-Wokka? by Bluemle Elizabeth
York's Adventures with Lewis and Clark by Blumberg, Rhoda
Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts
The Other Mozart: The Life of the Famous Chevalier de Saint-George by Brewster, Hugh
Around Our Way on Neighbors' Day by Brown, Tameka Fryer illus by Riley-Webb Charlotte
Our Children Can Soar: A Celebration by Cook Michelle
Seaside Dream by Costa Bates, Janet , Lambert Davis
Who's That Baby?: New-Baby Songs by Creech, Sharon, Diaz, David
Harvey Moon, Museum Boy by Cummings, Pat
For You Are a Kenyan Child by Cunnane, Kelly , Juan, Ana
Jamela's Dress by Daly, Niki
Sweet Music in Harlem by Debbie A. Taylor
14 Cows for America by Deedy Carmen Agra
No Mush Today by Derby, Sally
Olu's Dream by Evans Shane
Yesterday I Had the Blues Frame, Jeron Ashford
George Crum and the Saratoga Chip by Gaylia Taylor,
Hip Hop Speaks to Children by Giovanni, Nikki
Bring Me Some Apples and I'll Make You a Pie: A Story about Edna Lewis by Gourley Robbin
Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope by Grimes, Nikki
Voices of Christmas by Grimes Nikki
The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales by Hamilton, Virginia
The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Harrington, Janice N. , Jackson, Shelley
Summer Jackson All Grown Up by Harris Teresa illus. by Ford AG
Most Loved in All the World by Hegamin, Tonya
John Brown: His Fight for Freedom by Hendrix James
Nappy Hair by Herron, Caroivia
Homemade Love by Hooks, Bell, Evans, Shane W.
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Hoose M. Phillip 2009 National Book Award Winner
Michelle by Hopkinson Deborah
My Friend Maya Loves to Dance by Hudson, Cheryl Willis illus by Velasquez, Eric
The Last Black King of the Kentucky Derby by Hubbard , Crystal
Lies and Other Tall Tales by Hurston, Zora Neale
Lottie Paris Lives Here by Johnson Angela, illus. by Scott Fischer
Seeds of Change by Johnson, Jen Cullerton illus by Sadle, Sonia Lynn
Hot City by Joosse, Barbara M.
Dave the Potter by Laban Carrick Hill, illus by Bryan Collier
Wilma Unlimited by Krull, Kathleen, Diaz, David
Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom by Mandela, Nelson
Kitchen Dance by Manning, Maurie J
Stitchin' and Pullin': A Gee's Bend Quilt by McKissack, Patricia C
DeShawn Days by Medina Tony
I and I Bob Marley Medina Tony
Obama: A Promise of Change by Mendell, David
Who's Got Game?: The Ant or the Grasshopper by Morrison, Toni,
Jazz by Myers, Walter Dean and Myers, Christopher
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir, Nelson
My Feet Are Laughing by Norman, Lissette , Morrison, Frank
Let Freedom Sing by Newton Vanessa
Marching For Freedom: Walk Together Children and Don't You Grow Weary by Partridge E.
These Hands by Price, Hope Lynne
Summer Sun Risin' by Nikola-Lisa, W. Tate, Don
Raising Dragons by Nolen, Jerdine
Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum by Parker, Robert A
My Brother Charlie by Peete Holly Robinson
The Lion & the Mouse by Pinkney Jerry
American Slave, American Hero: York of the Lewis and Clark Expedition by Pringle, Laurence
Long Shot: Never Too Small to Dream Big by Paul Chris
Queen of the Scene Book by Queen Latifah, Morrison, Frank
Sweethearts of Rhythm by Nelson Marilyn
We Troubled the Waters by Ntozake Shange
Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat:Ella Fitzgerald by Orgill Roxane illus Qualls Sean
Ruth and the Green Book by Ramsey Alexander Calvin illus Cooper Floyd
The New Girl... and Me by Robbins Jacqui
Two of a Kind by Robbins Jacqui
Our Enduring Spirit: President Barack Obama's First Words to America illus. by Ruth Greg
In Her Hands: The Story of Sculptor Augusta Savage by Schroeder Alan
I Want to Be Free by Slate, Joseph , Lewis, E. B.
Dance with Me by Smith, Charles R., Jr. Jones, Noah Z
Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali by Smith, Charles R., Jr. , Collier, Bryan
The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom by Stroud, Bettye
I Love My Hair! by Tarpley, Natasha Anastasia
Yes We Can: A Biography of Barack Obama by Thomas, Garen
She Loved Baseball:The Effa Manley Story by Vernick, Audrey illus by Tate, Don
A Place Where Hurricanes Happen by Watson Renee illus by Strickland Shadra
Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan by Williams Mary
Dizzy by Winter, Jonah
Barack by Winter, Jonah,

Early Chapter Books
Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke
Brand New School, Brave New Ruby(Ruby & the Booker Boys, #1) by Barnes, Derrick
Luke on the Loose by Bliss Harry
Gloria's Way by Cameron, Ann
Donavan's Word Jar by Degross, Monalisa
Little Sister Is Not My Name! (Sassy) by Draper Sharon
Nikki and Deja by English Karen
Barack Obama: An American Story by Edwards, Roberta
Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel by Grimes Nikki
From Where I Stand by Hudson, Cheryl W.
A Horn for Louis by Kimmel, Eric
Miami Jackson Gets It Straight by McKissack, Patricia C
Keena Ford and the Second-Grade Mix-Up (Keena Ford) by Thomson Melissa
All Mixed Up!(Amy Hodgepodge, #1) by Wayans, Kim
Willimena Rules! Rule Book #4: by Wesley, Valerie Wilson

Middle Grade and Young Adult Authors
Curtis, Christopher Paul
Draper, Sharon
Flake, Sharon G
Grimes, Nikki
Johnson, Angela
Lester, Julius
Moses, Shelia P.
Myers, Walter Dean
Taylor, Mildred D.
Williams-Garcia, Rita
Woodson, Jacqueline

Middle Grade and Young Adult Titles
Miss Crandall's School for Young Ladies & Little Misses of Color by Alexander, Elizabeth
Aya by Abouet, Marguerite, Oubrerie, Clement
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, by Anderson, M. T.
Home of the Brave by Applegate, Katherine
The Prince of Fenway Park by Baggott Julianna
Shadow Walker by Banks L.A.
The Making of Dr. Truelove by Barnes, Derrick
Bluford High Series
Finding Family by Bolden Tonya
W. E. B Du Bois(Up Close (Viking)) by Bolden, Tonya
Little Divas by Boles, Philana Marie
Black Angels by Brown Linda
A Thousand Never Ever by Burg, Shana
Good Fortune by Carter Noni
So Not the Drama del Rio Bay Clique Novel by Chase, Paula
The Marvelous EffectMarvelous World #1 by Cle, Troy
Tyrell by Booth, Coe
Kendra by Booth, Coe
Whale Talk by Crutcher Chris
Mr. Chickee's Funny Money by Curtis, Christopher Paul
Played by Davidson, Dana
a la Carte by Davis, Tanita S
Mare's War by Davis Tanita S
The Fight(Drama High, #1) by Divine, L.
Dance Jam Productions by Downs Celise
Fire from the Rock by Draper, Sharon
Dog Whisperer: The Rescue by Edwards Nicholas
Bird by Elliott Zetta illus. by Strickland Shadra
A Wish After Midnight by Elliott Zetta
I'm Late: by Evans Mari
Speak to Me: And I Will Listen Between the Lines by English, Karen Bates, Amy June
Touching Snow Felin, Sindy M.
Who Am I Without Him?: Short Stories about Girls and the Boys in Their Lives by Flake, Sharon
Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in It by Frazier, Sundee T.
Sugar Plum Ballerinas: Plum Fantastic by Goldberg, Whoopi
The Ultimate Test (The Lip Gloss Chronicles) by Goss Shelia M
Teenie by Grant Christopher
Catwalk by Gregory, Deborah
Pemba's Song: A Ghost Story by Hegamin, Tonya , Nelson, Marilyn
Dancer by Hewett, Lorri
Harlem Stomp!: A Cultural History of the Harlem Renaissance by Hill, Laban Carrick
The Dream Keeper: And Other Poems by Hughes, Langston
Stacie & Cole by Johnson R.M
My Life as a Rhombus by Johnson, Varian
Standing Against the Wind by Jones, Traci L.
Hot Girl by Jordan Dream
Kimani Tru
Still I Rise: A Graphic History of African Americans by Laird, Roland Owen, Jr.
Liar by Larbalestier Justine
The World Is Mine (Come Up) by LeFlore B. Lyah illus by DL Warfield
Camo Girl by Magoon Kekla
The Rock and the River by Magoon Kekla
Indigo Summer Kimani TRU by McKayhan, Monica
Hotlanta by Millner, Denene
Ruined: A Novel by Morris Paula
Joseph by Moses, Shelia P.
47 by Mosley, Walter
The Door of No Return by Mussi, Sarah
Sunrise Over Fallujah by Myers, Walter Dean
From Somalia with Love by Na'ima B. Robert
Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshal by Nelson Vaunda Micheaux illus. by Christie Gregory
Chess Rumble by Neri, G
Yummy :The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by Neri, G (non fiction)
Zahrah the Windseeker by Okorafor Nnedi
Ninth Ward by Parker - Rhodes Jewell
8th Grade Superzero by Rhuday-Perkovich, Olugbemisola
Shortie Like Mine by Simone, Ni-Ni
The Hoopster by Sitomer, Alan Lawrence
The Way a Door Closes by Smith, Hope Anita
Hoop Kings by Smith, Charles R.
Flygirl by Smith, Sherri L.
Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet by Smith, Sherri L.
Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow by Sturm, James Tommaso, Rich
Celeste's Harlem Renaissance by Tate, Eleanora E.
Taste of Salt: A Story of Modern Haiti by Temple Frances
12 Brown Boys by Tyree, Omar
Bleeding Violet by Reeves Dia
What Momma Left Me by Watson, Renee
One Crazy Summer by Williams-Garcia, Rita
Stingz by Michael Wenberg
Jumped by Williams-Garcia , Rita
It Chicks by Williams, Tia
The Kayla Chronicles by Winston, Sherri
After Tupac and D Foster by Woodson, Jacqueline
Hush by Woodson, Jacqueline

Young Adult Christian Fiction
Nothing But Drama by Billingsley, ReShonda Tate
Unsigned Hype by Booker T Mattison
Prime Choice-Perry Skky Jr., #1 by Moore, Stephanie Perry
Diamond (Divas) by Murray Christopher Victoria
Simply Divine by Thomas, Jacquelin

Fiction
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Angelou, Maya
Baby of the Family Ansa, Tina McElroy
Floating by Bailey-Williams, Nicole
The White Boy Shuffle by Beatty, Paul
Go Tell it on the Mountain by Baldwin, James
Minding Ben by Brown Victoria
Upstate by Buckhanon, Kalisha
Fledgling by Butler, Octavia E.
Joplin's Ghost by Due, Tananarive
The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Durrow W. Heidi
Invisible Man by Ellison, Ralph
Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self by Evans, Danielle
I Am Not Sidney Poitier by Everett Percival
The Selected Poems of Nikki Giovanni by Giovanni, Nikki
Selected Poems of Langston Hughes by Hughes Langston
Silver Sparrow by Jones Tayari
The Broke Diaries: by Nissel, Angela
A Right to Be Hostile: The Boondocks Treasury by McGruder, Aaron
The Bluest Eye by Morrison, Toni
Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by Packer, ZZ
Push by Sapphire
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf by Shange, Ntozake
The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah
The Portable Promised Land by Toure
Where the Line Bleeds by Ward, Jesmyn
Salvage the Bones by Ward Jesmyn
Sag Harbor by Whitehead Colson
The Dead Emcee Scrolls: The Lost Teachings of Hip-Hop by Williams, Saul
Sunday You Learn How to Box by Wright, Bil

Adult Non Fiction
Nigger by Gregory Dick
Autobiography of Malcom X
City Kid: A Writer's Memior of the Ghetto Life and Post - Soul Sucess by Nelson George
I Beat the Odds by Oher Michael