10 CHILDREN’S BOOKS FEATURING GIRLS OF COLOR

These days my daughter’s favorite news to share is “I can read!” It tickles me to see her little 5-year-old self reading stories to her baby bro, that I once read to her. But what really warms my soul is seeing both of their eyes light up when they see characters that look like them.

As a kid, finding books that featured young black girls like me, was a treat. There were certain neighborhood bookstores, that you could always count on to be stocked with black books. (Thanks Eso Won!) But having them ingrained into our daily rotation and curriculum wasn’t a reality at the time. Thank goodness for the now! I try to rack up as many diverse stories as I can to share with our littles— both online and in-stores.

Representation certainly matters, and learning that you are valuable, knowledgeable, beautiful, and worthy starts early. Buying my children books that instill a sense of pride in their identity now, honors their heritage and is also an early form of self-care for them. Here’s 10 books we are currently digging—that feature girls of color. (My list of books featuring boys of color is coming soon.) Disclosure: My business earns a small commission when you purchase the books below. Enjoy!

“JoJo’s Flying Side Kick” by Brian Pinkney: In order to get her yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do, JoJo is tasked with the challenge of doing a flying side kick. This gem gets to the heart of confronting fear, the importance of family support, and most of all— the thrill of self reliance.

JoJo’s Flying Side Kick

“Ada Twist, Scientist” by Andrea Beaty, Illustrated by David Roberts: Ada Twist is my kinda girl! Named after Ada Lovelace, she asks question, after question, after question and is still not satisfied. Although she drives her parents and brother bonkers with all of her thoughts and experiments, her curious mind and determined spirit undoubtedly will make her a brilliant scientist one day.

Ada Twist, Scientist

“Time for Bed, Miyuki” by Roxane Marie Galliez, Illustrated by Seng Soun Ratanavanh: Much like my daughter, Miyuki is a master of avoiding bedtime-ha. In this beautifully illustrated tale, Miyuki convinces her grandfather to let her water her vegetable garden, create a canopy for the Queen, take a luxurious bath, dance and collect snails, all before she lays down for her nightly rest.

Time for Bed, Miyuki

I love this book’s illustrations.

“The Day You Begin” by Jacqueline Woodson, Illustrated by Rafael Lopez: From her hair and skin, to her accent and what she did in the summer— Angelina is not quite like her other classmates. But that doesn’t stop her from sharing her own experiences, even though she feels like an outsider. The results are amazing.

The Day You Begin

“Princess Hair” by Sharee Miller: “All princesses wear crowns, but underneath their crowns, not all princess have the same hair.” From braids to afros and twists, this bright book celebrates beauty and self-esteem by showing black girls rocking their natural hair in many different styles.

Princess Hair

“Listening With My Heart” by Gabi Garcia, Illustrated by Ying Hui Tan: A flub at a school play reminds Esperanza that it’s not only great to be a friend to others, but it’s also important to show empathy towards oneself. A great lesson on forgiveness and self-compassion.

“The Library Book” by Tom Chapin and Michael Mark, Illustrated by Chuck Groenink: A little girl spices up a dreary, rainy day by sparking adventure in the library. She turns the otherwise quiet place upside down when the characters of popular books come alive to play in this lyrical tale.

The Library Book

“Dear Malala: We Stand With You” by Rosemary McCarney: Malala Yousafzai first stood up for girls’ education and social justice after surviving a brutal attack by the Taliban on a school bus. This book salutes her bravery in the form of a letter written from girls globally, who are also confronting challenges like poverty and inequality.

“Little Leaders: Bold Women In Black History” by Vashti Harrison: From Sojourner Truth to Shirley Chisholm, Octavia Butler and Lorna Simpson, this popular book celebrates 40 different trailblazing African-American women history makers in varied genres. Each page spotlights one famous woman, which helps break down their monumental accomplishments into small, kid-friendly bites.

Little Leaders: Bold Women In Black History

“Girl Power: 5 Minute Stories” by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Perfect for bedtime, this fabulous, thick storybook comes with 10 different stories under one cover. It includes three tales that feature girls of color: “I Like Myself” by Karen Beaumont, “Chavela and the Magic Bubble” by Monica Brown and “Wow! It Sure Is Good to Be You” by Cynthia Jabar.

Reading at the Louisville Public Library

A few additional books that we are digging into include: Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea, Hair Love, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, Dolores Huerta: A Hero To Migrant Workers, Buffalo Bird Girl, Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed The World, Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx, and Are You An Echo?

Got any other good ones? Would love to hear them! Share them with me on Instagram @getmommafied. Happy Reading!