In honor of African American History Month, I decided to showcase some fantastic new releases from African American authors. Books by these authors don’t always get the recognition they deserve so let’s hear it for some great authors out there!! Hooray!! 

Mommy’s Khimar

(Picture Book)

(Side note: the author refers to herself as Muslim-American, not African American, but I added this one anyway) This is such a sweet book. It looks at the head covering that some Muslim women wear and it shows the happiness within the family. The little girl uses her imagination to pretend she’s a shooting star, or a bird, or a regal queen, all wearing her Mommy’s yellow Khimar. So enchanting! It’s great to see her pride of wearing it as well as all the pretty colors. 

Sulwe

(Picture Book)

An adorable book right here. Lupita N’yongo gives a depiction of an issue that she had growing up with a different color skin than some of her family. The title character (whose name means star) goes on a magical journey to discover that it doesn’t matter how dark or light your skin is. All beauty is on the inside and shines outward. Fantastically positive!

The Undefeated

(Picture Book)

This poem, written by Kwame Alexander as a tribute to both his second daughter, Samayah, and to Barack Obama, the first African American President of the United State, is deeply moving. You cannot have a heart and not be moved during first reading of this one. The illustrations of course add to its poignancy. It shows respect to African Americans throughout the age of America and gives insight into their contributions.

Just… 

Children of Virtue and Vengeance

(YA Fiction)

This book is so heavy but sooo well written! I couldn’t put it down, needing to know what happened next. It’s the second in a trilogy and boy does it deliver. The maji are fighting against the monarchy for their very lives even though they managed to bring magic back to the land at the end of the first book, at great personal cost to their leader. She’s fighting herself as well, whether or not she can trust a hand of peace from a former flame. He’s burned her before and she can’t let it happen again. Plotting to overthrow the literally power hungry Queen, they have their work cut out for them.

Other Books!

A River of Royal Blood

(YA Fiction)

The Season of Styx Malone

(Juv Fiction)