13 Nonfiction Kids’ Books That Celebrate Black Excellence
by Brightly Editors
Ranging from picture books to young adult books, these nonfiction reads center on African American people who embodied excellence in their respective fields and inspired those around them. Dive into their stories to celebrate their extraordinary accomplishments, lives, and legacies with your young readers during Black History Month and throughout the year.
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Barack Obama: A Little Golden Book Biography
Buy from:There’s no question that Barack Obama is the perfect example of Black excellence. Introduce your little one to this influential man who became the 44th President of the United States. Readers will learn about his childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia, his education, and his political career. This inspiring biography will encourage all young readers to reach for the stars!
(Ages 2 - 5)Buy from: -
My Friend LeVar
Buy from:This joyous read celebrates the impact that LeVar Burton has had on an entire generation of young readers. Follow young Ezra who loves watching LeVar on TV. Together they explore all different kinds of stories and discover new worlds. Then one day, Ezra meets LeVar Burton in real life!
(Ages 3 - 7)Buy from: -
Michael Jordan: A Who HQ Illustrated Biography
Buy from:Learn all about the life and career of basketball legend Michael Jordan! Whether he is your favorite player or if you’re discovering Jordan for the first time, you’ll learn new things from this illustrated book. For any young basketball fan, this book is a slam dunk!
(Ages 4 - 7)Buy from: -
Child of the Civil Rights Movement
Buy from:In this autobiographical picture book, Paula Young Shelton shares her childhood memories of being surrounded by Civil Rights leaders of the 1960s. She recalls time spent with her parents and their friends — famous figures like Dorothy Cotton, Ralph Abernathy, and “Uncle Martin” Luther King, Jr. — as they built a strong activist community and planned nonviolent protests. Eventually, Shelton remembers getting to play her own small part in the movement by joining the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, with her whole family. Child of the Civil Rights Movement beautifully tackles complex themes with stunning illustrations and poetic, simple language that young readers can understand.
(Ages 4 - 8)Buy from: -
Maya Angelou: A Little Golden Book Biography
Buy from:Little Golden Book biographies are the perfect introduction for young readers to learn all about influential figures in history. This inspiring book follows Maya Angelou — the acclaimed poet, lecturer, activist, and author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Hearing about her life will inspire the little one in your life to dream big!
(Ages 4 - 8)Buy from: -
Unstoppable John
Buy from:All John Lewis wanted was a library card. After being denied one because he was Black, Lewis became determined to fight against unfair laws. Through his work as a civil rights activist, the laws were eventually changed and Black people could eat at restaurants, vote in elections, and even get a library card! This inspiring book also includes a timeline of John Lewis’s life and a lengthy list of resources so kids can learn even more about the impact Lewis had on the world.
(Ages 4 - 8)Buy from: -
Misty Copeland: A Little Golden Book Biography
Buy from:Dream big with this delightful book all about Misty Copeland! Misty didn’t start dancing until she was almost thirteen-years-old, but with hard work and dedication, she became the American Ballet Theatre’s first Black principal dancer. This read is guaranteed to have your little one twirling around the room before they’ve finished reading the book!
(Ages 4 - 8)Buy from: -
Ron’s Big Mission
Buy from:Well before Ron McNair was a real-life astronaut, he was a 9-year-old boy with a mission to change the rules at his public library in South Carolina, where only white people could check out books. In this story, young Ron dreams of someday becoming a pilot and loves to read books about airplanes at the library — but he wants to be able to take them home with him too! So he unexpectedly stages a peaceful protest, demanding the right to check out books. After much deliberation, the librarian gives him his own library card. Ron’s Big Mission depicts one event in 1959 that exemplified just how courageous and determined Ron McNair was.
(Ages 6 - 8)Buy from: -
She Persisted: Simone Biles
Buy from:The She Persisted series highlights women who spoke out and rose up against the odds. In this inspiring book, we meet Simone Biles! Simone endured many hardships as a child, but when she tried gymnastics for the first time, her life was changed forever. She worked hard, persisted through adversity, and became the most decorated U.S. gymnast of all time!
(Ages 6 - 9)Buy from: -
Mae Makes Way
Buy from:Little fashionistas will love this biography about Mae Reeves, the first Black female business owner in Philadelphia. Mae had a unique sense of style and wanted to share it with the world, but it wasn’t easy. Even though she met many challenges along the road to success, she never gave up.
(Ages 7 - 10)Buy from: -
A Negro League Scrapbook
Buy from:Black baseball players had a separate league before Jackie Robinson played for the Dodgers. Even though most people don’t know their names, they were fantastic ball players who excelled at the game. Carole Boston Weatherford’s verse delivers facts, stories, and photos of exceptional athletes in the Negro Leagues.
(Ages 7 - 10)Buy from: -
Brave. Black. First.
Buy from:Harriet Tubman, Ruby Bridges, Simone Biles, and Oprah Winfrey are just a few names that grace the pages of this informative book. You’ll find biographies of 50 Black women who accomplished extraordinary things, from celebrities like Beyonce to civil rights activists like Rosa Parks.
(Ages 8 - 12)Buy from: -
Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March
Buy from:Lynda Blackmon Lowery began bravely protesting alongside Martin Luther King Jr. when she was just 14 years old. In that year, she was arrested and jailed nine times (once for six days) for advocating for the rights of African Americans. This powerful illustrated memoir offers Lowery’s detailed account of her (often terrifying) experiences leading up to and during the Voting Rights March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965. She turned 15 while marching, making her the youngest person to complete the three-day journey.
(Ages 12+)Buy from:
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2026.