30 Chapter Books Featuring Black Protagonists
I started this just as a middle grade list, but didn’t want to ignore the littles who are just starting out in the chapter books world, so I featured books for kids from about 1st/2nd grade to 8th grade. Of course, you don’t have to be in elementary or middle school to enjoy these books! I also included some books featuring biracial characters and characters from the Caribbean – specifically trying to promote as many different types of books as possible. If I’ve offended anyone, this is not my intent!
Some of these books deal with being different, because of the character’s skin color, while others are realistic fiction about everyday life and still others are historical fiction or fantasy. Also, if you have other books that I missed (because 30 just isn’t enough) please let me know!
I’ve created a new post with 30 More Chapter & Middle Grade Books Featuring Black Protagonists, written by Black authors. You don’t want to miss it!
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30 Chapter Books Featuring Black Protagonists
- EllRay Jakes Is Not a Chicken by Sally Warner
- Lulu and the Duck In the Park by Hilary McKay
- Nikki and Deja by Karen English
- Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel by Nikki Grimes
- Keena Ford and the Second Grade Mix-Up by Melissa Thomson
- The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron
- The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods
- Crossover by Kwame Alexander
- Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton
- The Family Fletcher Takes Rock Island by Dana Alison Levy
- The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson
- The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby by Dav Pilkey
- The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
- Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes
- Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes
- As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds
- Kickoff! by Tiki and Ronde Barber
- Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith
- Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
- Serafina’s Promise by Ann E. Burg
- Ghost by Jason Reynolds
- One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
- The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney
- The Great Cake Mystery by Alexander McCall Smith
- The Buried Bones Mystery by Sharon M. Draper
- Brand New School, Brave New Ruby by Derrick Barnes
- Miami Jackson Gets It Straight by Patricia C. McKissack
- Unstoppable Octobia May by Sharon G. Flake
- Hold Fast by Blue Balliett
- Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke
I’ve updated this list with 30 More Chapter & Middle Grade Books Featuring Black Protagonists, written by Black authors. You don’t want to miss it!
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Anonymous
My daughter loves Mia Mayhem is a super hero
AJ
This is a great selection! So glad to have found it.
Cole
I’m a 3rd grade teacher looking for a chapter book to teach comprehension skills from. Although I love Charlotte’s Web, I wanted a book my students could relate to. Thank you!
Laura Arnhold
I’d take a look at The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (now a movie on Disney+), The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, or Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo! Happy reading!
Lori
Is the graphic of the 30 titles available as a poster? I would buy it! I need more representation in the art we hang in our library.
Laura Arnhold
I haven’t thought about that, but let me do a little research and get back to you!
Anonymous
Both the author and the illustrator of the Mia Mayhem books are white. It’s great that white authors have broader representation in characters too, but if author identity matters, I thought I would note this.
Laura Arnhold
Thanks for the comment, after going back through this old post I realized the same thing! So I’ve actually created a new list last year with 30 more titles all written by authors of color. Take a look: https://www.literacious.com/2020/11/18/30-more-chapter-middle-grade-books-featuring-black-protagonists/