Lists and Suggestions for Kids
List: Black History Month Performers and Artists
Firebird : ballerina Misty Copeland shows a young girl how to dance like the firebird
Copeland, Misty.
American Ballet Theatre soloist Misty Copeland encourages a young ballet student, with brown skin li... More
A dance like starlight : one ballerina's dream
Dempsey, Kristy.
A young girl growing up in Harlem in the 1950s, whose mother cleans and stitches costumes for a ball... More
Just a lucky so and so the story of Louis Armstrong
Cline-Ransome, Lesa, author.
This joyful tribute to Louis Armstrong tells the story of the virtuoso musician and buoyant persona... More
Struttin' with some barbecue : Lil Hardin Armstrong becomes the first lady of jazz
Powell, Patricia Hruby, 1951- author.
"This is the true story of Lil Hardin Armstrong: pianist, composer, and bandleader in the earl... More
African American musicians & entertainers
Randolph, Joanne, editor.
Imagine a world in which gospel, the blues, jazz, R & B, and rock 'n' roll didn'... More
Young, gifted and black : meet 52 black heroes from past and present
Wilson, Jamia, 1980- author.
"Join us on a journey across borders, through time and even through space to meet 52 icons of ... More
Nina : a story of Nina Simone
Todd, Traci N., author.
"A biography of Nina Simone, an acclaimed singer whose music gave voice to the struggle for ra... More
Nina : jazz legend and civil-rights activist Nina Simone
Brière-Haquet, Alice, 1979- author.
With evocative black-and-white illustrations and moving prose, readers are introduced to Nina Simon... More
The cosmo-biography of Sun Ra : the sound of joy is enlightening
Raschka, Christopher, author, illustrator.
A one-hundredth birthday tribute to the late jazz artist explores his observations about humanity... More
Beyoncé : shine your light
Warren, Sarah E., author.
Follow the story of Beyoncé as she finds her voice through trials and triumphs, and understand tha... More
Beyoncé : Queen of the spotlight
Wilkins, Ebony, author.
"A highly-designed, highly-illustrated middle-grade biography of Beyonce--exploring her childh... More
Beyoncé : the queen of pop
Schwartz, Heather E., author.
An account of the life of Beyoncé, from her career as a child performer, to the success of Destiny... More
Baby Flo : Florence Mills lights up the stage
Schroeder, Alan.
"A biography of African American entertainer Florence Mills, an internationally renowned dance... More
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Miller, J. P. (Janice P.), author.
Rosetta could sing and play guitar like no one had ever before. From her church's stage to Car... More
R-E-S-P-E-C-T : Aretha Franklin, the queen of soul
Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956- author.
"Aretha Franklin was born to sing. The daughter of a pastor and a gospel singer, her musical t... More
Prince
Sánchez Vegara, Ma Isabel (María Isabel), author.
In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS... More
We are the Supremes
Tucker, Zoë, author.
"Flo, Mary, and Diana are teenage girls from Detroit with big ambitions. They want to be the b... More
Lizzo
London, Martha, author.
"Describes the life and career of singer and rapper Lizzo. Includes an "At-a-Glace" ... More
Lizzo : breakout artist
Wilson, Lakita, author.
"Lizzo started singing and rapping with musical groups in her hometowns of Houston and Minneap... More
The roots of rap : 16 bars on the 4 pillars of hip-hop
Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956- author.
Presents the history of hip-hop including, how it evolved from folktales, spirituals, and poetry, t... More
Chance the Rapper : independent master of hip-hop flow
Hudalla, Jamie, author.
"Chance the Rapper rose to fame in the late 2000s. He collaborates with many other musicians a... More
Lil Nas X : record-breaking musician who blurs the lines
Toth, Henrietta, author.
"Lil Nas X became famous in 2019 for the country rap song "Old Town Road." He collab... More
Little Melba and her big trombone
Russell-Brown, Katheryn, 1961- author.
"A biography of African American musician Melba Doretta Liston, a virtuoso musician who played... More
Sonny Rollins plays the bridge
Golio, Gary, author.
"Jazz icon Sonny Rollins found an inspired spot to practice his saxophone when his neighbors c... More
Piano starts here : the young Art Tatum
Parker, Robert Andrew.
The story of the young Art Tatum, who became one of the all-time greats of jazz piano. ... More
Spirit seeker : John Coltrane's musical journey
Golio, Gary.
Tells the story of the legendary jazz musician, from his deeply religious childhood to his career a... More
How Jelly Roll Morton invented jazz
Winter, Jonah, 1962- author.
"In this unusual ... picture book that riffs on the language and rhythms of old New Orleans, .... More
Trombone Shorty
Andrews, Troy, author.
Hailing from the Tremé neighborhood in New Orleans, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews got h... More
Ella Fitzgerald, the tale of a vocal virtuosa
Pinkney, Andrea Davis.
A brief recounting of the career of this jazz musician in the voice of "Scat Cat Monroe",... More
Birth of the cool : how jazz great Miles Davis found his sound
Berman, Kathleen Cornell, author.
Explores the childhood and early career of the noted jazz trumpeter who gained fame performing at t... More
Sonny's bridge : jazz legend Sonny Rollins finds his groove
Wittenstein, Barry, author.
"Sonny Rollins is one of the most prolific sax players in the history of jazz, but in 1959, at... More
Before John was a jazz giant : a song of John Coltrane
Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956-
This lyrical picture-book biography of John Coltrane focuses on his childhood and how he interprete... More
Stompin' at the Savoy : how Chick Webb became the king of drums
Donohue, Moira Rose, author.
"Though a disability stunted his growth and left him with a hunched back, William Henry "... More
Louis Armstrong : jazz legend
Collins, Terry (Terry Lee)
"Describes the life of Louis Armstrong, focusing on his rise as a pop-culture icon"--Prov... More
Libba : the magnificent musical life of Elizabeth Cotten
Veirs, Laura, author.
Elizabeth Cotten was only a little girl when she picked up a guitar for the first time. It wasn... More
When Marian sang the true recital of Marian Anderson
Ryan, Pam Muñoz.
The inspiring story of Marian Anderson, best known for her historic concert at the Lincoln Memorial... More
A voice named Aretha
Russell-Brown, Katheryn, 1961- author.
In this stirring biography of a true artistic and social icon, young readers learn how Aretha'... More
Mahalia Jackson : walking with kings and queens
Nolan, Nina, author.
A picture-book introduction to the gospel singer's life and career. ... More
The legendary Miss Lena Horne
Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956- author.
Surveys the life of the actress and civil rights activist, describing her childhood, early years in... More
Radiant child the story of young artist Jean-Michel Basquiat
Steptoe, Javaka, 1971- author, artist.
Jean-Michel Basquiat and his unique, collage-style paintings rocketed to fame in the 1980s as a cul... More
Dave the potter : artist, poet, slave
Hill, Laban Carrick.
Chronicles the life of Dave, a nineteenth-century slave who went on to become an influential poet, ... More
Phillis's big test
Clinton, Catherine, 1952-
Story of Phyllis Wheatley of Boston, Mass., a slave, who published a book of poetry in 1773. ... More
Nikki Grimes
Simons, Lisa M. B., 1969- author.
Presents the life and career of the award-winning author. ... More
Kwame Alexander
Cooper, Abby, author.
"Author Kwame Alexander writes books for children of all ages. His book The Crossover won the ... More
Jump back, Paul : the life and poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar
Derby, Sally, author.
"Did you know that Paul Laurence Dunbar originated such famous lines as "I know why the c... More
Langston's train ride
Burleigh, Robert.
Describes how the twentieth-century African American poet Langston Hughes affirms his vocation as a... More
Exquisite : the poetry and life of Gwendolyn Brooks
Slade, Suzanne, author.
A biography of African American poet, Gwendolyn Brooks. ... More
A song for Gwendolyn Brooks
Duncan, Alice Faye, author.
A collection of poems profiles the Chicago author who gave voice to the urban African American expe... More
Rise : from caged bird to poet of the people, Maya Angelou
Hegedus, Bethany, author.
"A biography of African American writer, performer, and activist Maya Angelou, who turned a ch... More
Draw what you see : the life and art of Benny Andrews
Benson, Kathleen, author.
Introduces readers to Benny Andrews, one of the most important African-American painters of the 20t... More
Beautiful shades of brown : the art of Laura Wheeler Waring
Churnin, Nancy, author.
"Growing up in the late 19th century, Laura Wheeler Waring didn't see any artists who loo... More
Kadir Nelson
Simons, Lisa M. B., 1969- author.
Discover how Kadir Nelson becam a best-selling children's book author and illustrator. ... More
Art from her heart : folk artist Clementine Hunter
Whitehead, Kathy, 1957-
Clementine Hunter's paintings went from hanging on her clothesline to hanging in museums, yet ... More
Sewing stories : Harriet Powers' journey from slave to artist
Herkert, Barbara, author.
"Harriet Powers learned to sew and quilt as a young slave girl on a Georgia plantation. She li... More
It jes' happened : when Bill Traylor started to draw
Tate, Don.
"A biography of twentieth-century African American folk artist Bill Traylor, a former slave wh... More
Pigskins to paintbrushes : the story of football-playing artist Ernie Barnes
Tate, Don, author, illustrator.
"From acclaimed author and illustrator Don Tate, the rousing story of Ernie Barnes, an African... More
Infinite hope : a black artist's journey from World War II to peace
Bryan, Ashley, author, illustrator.
This book details artist Ashley Bryan's experiences as a Black soldier in the segregated army ... More
My hands sing the blues : Romare Bearden's childhood journey
Harvey, Jeanne Walker.
In Harlem, New York City, an artist follows the rhythms of blues music as he recalls his North Caro... More
Jake makes a world : Jacob Lawrence, a young artist in Harlem
Rhodes-Pitts, Sharifa, author.
"Jake Makes a World follows the creative adventures of the young Jacob Lawrence as he finds in... More
Gordon Parks : how the photographer captured black and white America
Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956- author.
Gordon Parks is most famous for being the first black director in Hollywood. But before he made mov... More
A splash of red : the life and art of Horace Pippin
Bryant, Jen. 1960-
Presents an illustrated introduction to the life and work of artist Horace Pippin, describing his c... More
Take a picture of me, James Van Der Zee!
Loney, Andrea J., author.
"A biography of James Van Der Zee, innovative and celebrated African American photographer of ... More
In her hands : the story of sculptor Augusta Savage
Schroeder, Alan.
"A biography of African American sculptor Augusta Savage, who overcame many obstacles as a you... More
Fancy party gowns : the story of fashion designer Ann Cole Lowe
Blumenthal, Deborah, author.
"As soon as Ann Cole Lowe could walk, her momma and grandma taught her to sew. When her mom di... More
When the beat was born : DJ Kool Herc and the creation of hip hop
Hill, Laban Carrick, author.
Before there was hip hop, there was DJ Kool Herc. On a hot day at the end of summer in 1973 Cindy C... More
Leontyne Price : voice of a century
Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956- author.
An introduction to the life and career of the African American opera singer. ... More
Before there was Mozart : the story of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-George
Cline-Ransome, Lesa.
Short biography of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-George, a mixed race violinist who would play... More
Odetta, the queen of folk
Alcorn, Stephen.
An introduction to the life and career of the folk singer Odetta, which traces her Alabama childhoo... More
Muddy : the story of blues legend Muddy Waters
Mahin, Michael, author.
Presents the life of blues legend Muddy Waters, describing how he persisted with his interest in mu... More
Jimi : sounds like a rainbow : a story of the young Jimi Hendrix
Golio, Gary.
Before he became one of the greatest guitar players of all time, Jimi Hendrix was a boy who loved t... More
Song for Jimi : the story of guitar legend Jimi Hendrix
Smith, Charles R., Jr., 1969- author.
"The story of guitarist Jimi Hendrix's career told in verse"-- ... More
Harlem's little blackbird
Watson, Renée.
A tribute to lesser-known Harlem Renaissance performer Florence Mills includes coverage of her yout... More
Josephine : the dazzling life of Josephine Baker
Powell, Patricia Hruby, 1951-
A portrait of the passionate performer and civil rights advocate Josephine Baker, the woman who wor... More
Mama Africa! : how Miriam Makeba spread hope with her song
Erskine, Kathryn, author.
A harrowing picture biography of civil-rights activist and Grammy Award-winning South African singe... More
I and I : Bob Marley
Medina, Tony.
"A biography in verse about the Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley, offering an overview of k... More