Staff members share their favorite Black authors, illustrators, and titles.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is an award-winning Nigerian author. She made her literary debut in 2003. Since then, she has written both fiction and nonfiction books for adults, as well as made her picture book debut with Mama’s Sleeping Scarf.
Mama's Sleeping Scarf, opens a new window
Dream Count, opens a new window
James Baldwin
James Baldwin was an American writer and civil rights activist. In 1963, he won the George Polk Award for his coverage on the civil rights movement. His book, The Fire Next Time, contains the first essay in history to spend 41 weeks among the top 5 nonfiction books on The New York Times Best Seller list.
The Fire Next Time, opens a new window
Octavia Butler
Octavia Butler was an American speculative fiction author. She was the first Black woman to achieve national recognition for her science fiction works – which is apparent from her multiple Hugo and Nebula Award winning titles.
Amanda Gorman
Amanda Gorman is an American Poet Laureate. At the age of 22, she became the youngest poet in United States history to read at a presidential inauguration. Since then, she has published multiple books for children.
Call Us What We Carry, opens a new window
Something, Someday, opens a new window
N.K. Jemisin
N.K. Jemisin is an American science fiction and fantasy author. Her debut novel, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, shot her to critical acclaim. She has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards for her works.
The World We Make, opens a new window
Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison was an award-winning American author. Some of her awards include the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, the Nobel Prize in Literature, the Coretta Scott King Award for Authors, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Jason Reynolds
Jason Reynolds is an award-winning author of novels and poetry for middle-grade students and teens. He’s won The Coretta Scott King Award, NAACP Image Award, Carnegie Medal, Margaret A. Edwards Award, and a MacArthur Fellowship.
Long Way Down, opens a new window
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