This Black History Month's theme is 'Honouring Our Communities', and we're celebrating works by our wonderful children's authors and illustrators of Black heritage.
Whether they're fun non-fiction reads, adventurous tales or stories about self-love and confidence, there are books available for young readers of all ages to read this October and all year round.
Read on for our recommendations, or use the buttons below to navigate through them!
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In a world where you're either a Panda or a Badger, Pablo - a Panda-Badger - breaks all the rules. However, being different doesn't make Pablo feel lucky - it just makes him feel sad. One day, there's a glow in the distance - a glow that changes everything - and soon Pablo has a chance to save the day in a way that neither a Badger nor a Panda could...
This debut story from CBeebies presenter Ben Cajee is an affirming and empowering tale about appreciating your own uniqueness and the joy that comes from embracing diversity of all kinds.
Flower Block
When Jeremiah plants a packet of sunflower seeds, the very last thing he expects is for the vines and leaves to grow overnight and burst through the ceiling of his apartment!
As Jeremiah and his brother chase the magical plant up through the floors of their tower block home, they discover an array of curious neighbours who join in the adventure. But what could be waiting for them at the top of the building? And will Jeremiah find his voice to help the neighbours discover the true magic hidden within these sunflower seeds?
Brother and sister Maya & Marley live in Grove Adventure Playground with Mum, Dad and their cheeky pet goats, Lou and Chou.
It's the day of the big community lunch, and the playground is busy with friends and neighbours, all arriving with tasty dishes to share. But among the crowd of excited guests, Maya and Marley spot a new face – one that looks worried and shy. Can Maya and Marley find a way to make this new friend feel welcome?
On Super Goat Girl’s first day, she’s met with a LOT of stares! After all what kind of superhero doesn’t have a fancy costume or a funky cape? While the other children are having fun writing with lasers, doing lightning-fast math, and being super stretchy, Super Goat Girl doubts she can measure up.
As weird events happen throughout the day, will she be able to figure out what her special superpower is and work out how not to feel super strange?
Shane is convinced that nothing beats a big, delicious bowl of rice and peas - it’s the best rice in the world! But when he brings his favourite meal to school, he discovers that his friend Yinka is just as passionate about her jollof rice. What follows is a hilarious and heartfelt showdown to settle the age-old question: which rice reigns supreme?
A laugh-out-loud, heartwarming picture book, My Rice is Best brings the joy of food, friendship, and cultural pride to life.
Little Sheku LOVED music. He loved to hear the beautiful sounds that flowed from his cello as his bow danced across the strings. And he loved finding music in unexpected places...
Little Sheku can't wait to play his cello in a concert with the animal orchestra. But when they discover a dragon has stolen the conductor, Little Sheku and the animals must embark on a music-filled adventure to the dragon's cave. Will they rescue the conductor in time to finish the concert?
Strong Like Me
Discover Strong Like Me, a picture-book story about finding what makes YOU strong.
Kamara loves being super strong - it makes her feel fizzy and zappy! But her classmates and their negative words lead her to question how strong she really is. With Sport's Day and the Big Race looming, does Kamara have what it takes to reach the finish line? And can she discover what being STRONG means to her?
Featuring simple text, gorgeous illustrations and satisfying lift-the-flaps, this book explores Caribbean Carnival culture and helps young children understand the importance of this Caribbean event.
Lift the flaps to reveal the steel pan bands, see the colourful costumes, and have a peek at all the tasty West Indian dishes.
Valle keeps her emotions in a little box. Sometimes she lets them out... When she’s happy, her feelings float like red balloons above her head. When she’s sad her feelings gather like grey rainclouds. And when she’s jealous or angry they blow up like a wild storm.
Valle decides her emotions are out of control! So she buries them in the garden, and that’s where they stay… until Grandma comes to visit.
Look Up!
Meet hilarious, science-mad chatterbox, Rocket - she's going to be the greatest astronaut, star-catcher, space-traveller that has ever lived!
But… can she convince her big brother to stop looking down at his phone and start LOOKING UP at the stars?
Bursting with energy and passion about science and space, this heart-warming, inspirational picture book will have readers turning off their screens and switching on to the outside world.
Clean Up!
Join lovable, passionate Rocket as she sets off on a mission to save a Caribbean island from plastic pollution!
When Rocket goes for a holiday to visit her grandparents, she's shocked by the pollution that is spoiling their island home and putting the local sea life at risk. Can she think of a way to save the day?
6-8s
Sometimes the world feels broken. And problems seem too big to fix. But somehow, we all have the power to make a difference. With a little faith, and maybe the help of a friend, together we can find beauty and create change.
With intimate and inspiring text and powerfully stunning illustrations, Something, Someday reveals how even the smallest gesture can have a lasting impact.
Big
Once there was a girl with a big laugh and a big heart and very big dreams. She grew and grew and grew. And it was good... until it wasn't.
When the girl grows big, the world begins to make her feel small. She feels out of place and invisible, and soon she isn't herself at all. But with the girl's size comes huge inner strength - and this helps her look past the hurtful words to see how perfect she really is.
With beautiful illustrations and a gatefold flap, this quietly reassuring story explores the experience of being big in a world that celebrates small, promoting body positivity and self-acceptance in young readers.
My Family, Your Family is a powerful non-fiction book that discuss what makes a family, explores how different families come together and celebrates the idea that every family is unique.
This accessible non-fiction book has been specifically written producer, educator and consultant, Laura Henry-Allain, to help children and adults have meaningful discussions on family and belonging.
Weirdo Goes Wild
A warm and endearing story about the quiet power of being yourself from Zadie Smith, Nick Laird and Magenta Fox.
Maud - a judo-suit wearing guinea pig and proud weirdo - is off into the wild, as is Kit, her owner. Both are slightly nervous about what they'll find in the great outdoors, but with a pinch of bravery - and a few Signature Moves - they'll make new friends and explore new worlds.
Hey You!
This book addresses - honestly, yet hopefully - the experiences Black children face growing up with systemic racism, as well as providing hope for the future, delivering a powerful message to a new generation of dreamers. It's a message that is both urgent and timeless - and offers a rich and rewarding reading experience for every child.
To mirror the rich variety of the Black diaspora, this book showcases artwork from Dapo and 18 incredible Black illustrators in one beautiful, powerful, and cohesive reading experience.
Hair Love
It's up to Daddy to give his daughter an extra-special hair style in this story of self-confidence and the love between fathers and daughters.
Zuri knows her hair is beautiful, but it has a mind of its own! It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Mum always does Zuri's hair just the way she likes it - so when Daddy steps in to style it for an extra special occasion, he has a lot to learn.
But he LOVES his Zuri, and he'll do anything to make her - and her hair - happy.
Featuring 40 trailblazing black women in the world's history, this book educates and inspires as it relates true stories of women who broke boundaries and exceeded all expectations.
Author/illustrator Vashti Harrison pairs captivating text with stunning illustrations as she tells the stories of both iconic and lesser-known female figures of black history.
Sulwe
From Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o comes a powerful, moving picture book about colourism, self-esteem and learning that true beauty comes from within.
Sulwe's skin is the colour of midnight. She's darker than everyone in her family, and everyone at school. All she wants is to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister.
Then a magical journey through the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything.
Discover FOUR stories in one book. Have no fear, Betsey Biggalow is here! In this collection of stories, Betsey has lots of big ideas for her big adventures! Join her as:
Aisha and Jayden are definitely not fans of Outside. Aisha would rather be home playing on her tablet or messaging her friends. Jayden thinks the worlds inside his books are much more exciting than the real one beyond his window.
But when they are asked to join the Secret Beast Club, a centuries-old secret group that protects mythological creatures, Aisha and Jayden discover that real magic could be closer than they think . . . you just have to know where to look...
Inspired by the real life story of Pablo Fanque - the first Black circus owner - and featuring fun facts about the magical creatures within each story, this series for 6+ readers is not to be missed!
When Ace is wearing his magical yellow wellies, he’s able to talk to animals. So when the weather starts acting up, he knows the farm squad aren’t happy. There’s snow, hail, rain and sun – and that’s just in one day!
Now Ace and his best friend Bear need to come up with a plan to solve the mystery of the wacky weather. But will they be able to fix it in time for the farm’s first festival?
9+
There’s nothing special about Jamaal Target. He’s your average twelve-year-old boy who lives with his foster mum and likes to game with his best friend Myla. Until one day, everything changes...
When Myla is kidnapped in front of his eyes, Jamaal is pulled into a web of secrets and lies and the shadowy organisation known as PHANTOM. There he learns that he has inherited super strength, speed and heightened senses from the parents he never knew. Forced to quickly put his new skills to the test, Jamaal finds himself on high-stakes missions across London, alongside teen PHANTOM Agent Lori Johnson. But does he have what it takes to save his best friend and put the bad guys away?
Hi bestie! My name’s Bím Blake. I've just started high school and here’s my hot take on it: Year Seven is a LOT harder than I thought! I’ve realised my school skirt is way too long, my pencil case is way too uncool, my boobs are way too big and the new boy (who’s the son of popstar parents!!!) is way too cute for my liking...
If that wasn’t bad enough, tell me why my dad has been acting weirder than usual. He’s been making TikToks (cringe!), experimenting in the kitchen (I call it attempted murder!) and he’s even started exercising... It must be tough being over forty! Add into the mix a trio of annoying older brothers (yes, I have three – pray for me!), a duo of feuding aunts, one friend mishap and a huge helping of drama and you have a recipe for chaos. Welcome to my life!
Musical, plain-spoken, playful and powerful, Benjamin Zephaniah’s poetry has been lighting up British cultural life since the early 1980s. Written to be performed, his funny, serious poems sing with a rare energy, with subjects ranging from racism, pollution and revolution to the lottery, vegetables and his cat, Danny.
This new collection brings together Zephaniah’s three Puffin Poetry books, from his first volume of children’s poetry, Talking Turkeys, to Funky Chickens and Wicked World with a previously unpublished poem and a new foreword by the poet and spoken-word artist George the Poet. Full of wisdom and laughter, Benjamin Zephaniah’s poetry is a tonic for our times – a celebration of people, culture and love that will entice readers young and old, whether they’re well versed in poetry or new to the form.
Alright BOOM, Big Manny is here to show you how you can become a real-life scientist and create awesome experiments at home using ordinary ingredients.
You'll learn some basic (and not-so basic) chemistry tings - from combustion to chromatography (chroma-what-now?). You'll meet the amazing elements that each have their own personalities - from fiery hydrogen to the main man oxygen. And you'll create explosive reactions - from fizzing mixtures to dish soap volcanoes!
Alright BOOM, Big Manny is back with more amazing experiments that you can try at home!
This time we're gonna be learning all about physics tings –from sound waves to circuits. We'll meet the awesome forces – from mad magnetism to fantastic friction. And we'll create mind-blowing experiments – from bending water to building an electroscope! (If you want to know what an electroscope is, you're gonna have to read the book fam!)
Let's start experimenting and find out why science is lit, innit.
Last night Wesley and his friends Josephine and Margot threw their neighbour Rachel a surprise birthday party.
This morning, Rachel is dead. And Wesley is the one who finds her body.
Rachel's friends throw a traditional Caribbean Nine Night celebration to help guide her soul to the next world. But Wesley, Margot and Josephine don't have time to mourn Rachel. They are determined to find out who did this - and find out what secrets Rachel was keeping…
Margot, Wesley and Josephine have got an awesome weekend mapped out for the end of the holidays before they start high school – and they don’t want anything to stand in the way of their BIG plans in London. But when they are staying with Margot's mum and her new boyfriend Teddy in Notting Hill, something happens that they just can't ignore…
Join the kids as they follow the case across wild West London, following the trail of a super creative murderer as well as some epic street art. From skate parks, tower blocks and canal towpaths they end up on a float at the colourful Notting Hill carnival - the biggest party of the year! How will they piece together the evidence to solve the mystery at the heart of London's coolest sights?
This was supposed to be the best year ever for eleven-year-old Stevie Morrison. But instead, her life seems determined to turn itself upside down.
First of all, her parents can't stop fighting - and they decide to move the family to a totally new apartment, in a totally new part of town, which means a totally new middle school for Stevie. On top of that, her best friend, Jennifer, is acting weird. She won't return Stevie's phone calls, and apparently her new best friends are a bunch of mean girls. The final straw comes with the arrival of Stevie's teenage cousin Naomi - sent down in disgrace from Boston (though no one will tell Stevie why). But with Naomi comes an exciting glimpse of a world Stevie hasn't paid much attention to before: one of Cleopatra Jones movies, women's liberation and an intriguing-sounding group called the Black Panthers.
It might not be the year Stevie anticipated. But it will be the one that changes her life forever.
How many Black people can you name from our history? Mary Seacole? Ira Aldridge? George Bridgetower? Pablo Fanque? Walter Tull? Have you heard of these people?
From sportspeople to scientists, activists to musicians, politicians to writers, you're going to meet a whole bunch of AWESOME people who have helped shape the world we live in. So, are ready for you a journey Black in time?? Course you are, let's go!
Stocks, shares, taxes, saving, investing, these things all sound confusing (and maybe even a little boring), but understanding more about money can help you to embrace your inner entrepreneur, make the world a better place, and even make some extra money for yourself while doing so.
But financial advisor Emmanuel Asuquo will help you cut through the noise, give you the tools to make decisions that are right for you - and show how YOU could become a millionaire!
A collection of favourite tales gathered from the many different islands of the Caribbean, one of the world's richest sources of traditional storytelling. From the very first Kingfisher to Anansi the Spider Man, these lively retellings full of humour and pathos, are beautifully retold by Trish Cooke.
The book includes endnotes with a glossary, additional information as well as ideas for activities that children can do to explore the stories further.
Hey! My name's Naomie Osei, but my friends call me Mensa, cos I'm supposed to be the clever one among my friends, the Fabulous Four. Normally I'm the one with all the answers, but right now I'm struggling to figure out our future.
I mean, how do I break it to my friends that I might not be going to the same high school as them next term? Is my sax-playing good enough for the big solo at the Midsummer Concert? And can Bramrock's top girl's football team, the Dreamers, save our library from closing?
Since I can't tell the future, I kind of want to press pause and stay in the present a bit longer. But as that's impossible, I suppose I'll have to do what I'm best at and work out the solution . . .
