At United Through Reading, we celebrate the achievements, resilience, and cultural contributions of African Americans all year long. During Black History Month, we’re especially proud to highlight some of our most cherished stories—books that honor the historic and cultural influence African Americans have had on our nation and continue to have today.
If you haven’t already, download the United Through Reading App to explore these powerful titles. Each story offers a chance to learn, reflect, and connect through the experiences, sacrifices, triumphs, and rich heritage of some of our country’s most inspiring heroes.
You will find a variety of great titles below for different ages. Happy reading!
Chasing Space
By Leland Melvin
(Recommended Ages: 8-12 years)
Features: Leland Melvin’s inspirational story of being drafted by the Detroit Lions and his journey to orbiting the planet in the International Space Station
Escape North!: The Story of Harriet Tubman
By Monica Kulling
(Recommended Ages: 7-9 years)
Features: An account of Harriet Tubman’s life–from her childhood in slavery to her years as a conductor on the Underground Railroad to her later work as a suffragette and as a spy in the Civil War.
Follow Your Dreams, Little One
By Vashti Harrison
(Recommended Ages: 0 months – 4 years)
Features: Stories of Aaron Douglas, John Lewis, Alvin Ailey, Bass Reeves, Arthur Ashe, and James Baldwin
Hidden Figures (Young Reader’s Edition)
By Margot Lee Shetterly
(Recommended Ages: 8-12 years)
Features: The story of four African-American female mathematicians at NASA who helped achieve some of the greatest moments in our space program. This book showcases the lives of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden.
I Am Jackie Robinson
By Brad Meltzer
(Recommended Ages: 4-8 years)
Features: Robinson’s story as he became the first Black player in Major League Baseball, and how his bravery changed American history and led the way to equality in all sports in America.
I Am Martin Luther King, Jr.
By Brad Meltzer
(Recommended Ages: 4-8 years)
Features: King’s ideals for helping gather people together for nonviolent protests and marches and his love for other human beings and doing what’s right.
I Am Rosa Parks
By Brad Meltzer
(Recommended Ages: 4-8 years)
Features: Rosa Parks’ bravery to help end public bus segregation and launch the country’s Civil Rights Movement.
Jackie Robinson: He Led the Way
By April Jones Prince and Robert Casilla
(Recommended Ages: 6-8 years)
Features: Jackie Robinson’s childhood through his career as an MVP-award winning baseball player and a hero of the civil rights movement.
Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School
By Janet Halfmann
(Recommended Ages: 4-9)
Features: The powerful story of Lilly Ann Granderson, an enslaved woman who started a secret school to teach others how to read and write. Set in Mississippi in the 1800s, when it was illegal to educate enslaved people.
Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson
By Katherine Johnson
(Recommended Ages: 10-14+ years)
Features: The story of Katherine as an African American girl growing up in an era of brutal racism and sexism, who lived her life with her father’s words in mind: “You are no better than anyone else, and nobody else is better than you.”
Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream
By Deloris Jordan and Roslyn M. Jordan
(Recommended Ages: 5-10 years)
Features: Michael Jordan’s invaluable lesson of what really goes into the making of a champion—patience, determination, and hard work.
VIP: Dr. Mae Jemison, Brave Rocketeer
By Heather Alexander
(Recommended Ages: 8-12 years)
Features: Mae Jemison as the first African American woman to travel to space. She is also a medical doctor who once joined the Peace Corps.
Who Were the Tuskegee Airmen?
By Sherri L. Smith
(Recommended Ages: 8-12 years)
Features: Details of the thrilling flight missions and the grueling training sessions the Tuskegee Airmen underwent. This story shines a light on the lives of these brave men who helped pave the way for the integration of the US armed forces.
You Should Meet Mae Jemison
By Laurie Calkhoven
(Recommended Ages: 6-9 years)
Features: The story of Mae Jemison, the first African-American female astronaut and the themes of making history and following your dreams.