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Five Faves: Books Illustrated by African Americans

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Happy Black History Month! Here are five amazing African American illustrators, and one of the books they have each illustrated. You can find more books illustrated by each person by simply searching their name in the library's catalog. These illustrations are beautiful, heartfelt, and depict incredible characters. Check out one of these books today!


A Boy and His Mirror
Written by Marchánt Davis
Illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo
New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2023. Picture Book.

In this rhyming picture book, a boy named Chris seeks acceptance and a sense of identity when his long, curly hair is mocked by other kids. When he looks in the mirror, he sees a woman who tells him he looks like a king. As Chris learns what it means to be himself, readers will enjoy the incredible and detailed illustrations that complement the story well.


By Nina Crews
New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2024. Biography.

In this picture book biography, readers learn more about Virginia Hamilton, a children's book author. She was the first African American to win the Newbery Medal, and this book shows her journey in becoming a master of storytelling. The illustrations add to the text by using the look of cut-paper collage and acting as a visual metaphor.


Do You Know Them?
Written by Shana Keller
Illustrated by Laura Freeman
New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2024. Picture Book.

In this historical fiction picture book, a young girl named Lettie seeks to reunite families separated due to slavery, including her own. Set in 1865 after the events of the Civil War, this picture book is based on real advertisements seeking loved ones that the author found in her research. The digital art illustrations act as a wonderful companion to the text, and the color palette helps set the appropriate tone.


Brave Ballerina: the Story of Janet Collins
Written by Michelle Meadows
Illustrated by Ebony Glenn
New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2019. Biography. 

Janet Collins was the first African American prima ballerina in the Metropolitan Opera, despite the rampant segregation that was happening in the United States. This picture book biography explores her remarkable life and her journey to becoming a ballerina. The beautiful illustrations are accompanied by rhyming four-line stanzas that make the book feel like a lyrical accompaniment to a ballet.


Brown Baby Lullaby
Written by Tameka Fryer Brown
Illustrated by AG Ford
New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2020. Picture Book.

Depicting the nighttime routine of a family; a family eats dinner, has bath time, and gets ready for bed. The rhyming and lyrical tone make this book a beautiful lullaby with illustrations that highlight the love of parents for their child. 
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