February is Black History Month, a time to learn about and celebrate the rich history and achievements of the Black community in America. Over the years, many wonderful books about the movements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, and many other Black leaders and pioneers have been published. However, there’s always something new to learn and fresh stories are being published each week. Here are some of the best new books to read during Black History Month, and all throughout the year.
For Kids
Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles by Michelle Meadows
Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston by Alicia D. Williams
Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes
Opening the Road: Victor Hugo Green and His Green Book by Keila V. Dawson
Playing to Win: How Althea Gibson Broke Barriers and Changed Tennis Forever by Karen Deans
She Persisted: Harriet Tubman by Andrea Davis Pinkney
The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall’s Life, Leadership, and Legacy by Kekla Magoon
The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. by Johnny Ray Moore
This is Your Time by Ruby Bridges
We are the Supremes by Zoe Tucker
What is the Civil Rights Movement by Sherri L. Smith
For Middle and High School
Baseball’s Leading Lady: Effa Manley and the Rise and Fall of the Negro Leagues by Andrea Williams
Separate No More: The Long Road to Brown v. Board of Education by Lawrence Goldstone
That They Lived: African Americans Who Changed the World by Rochelle Riley
The Awakening of Malcom X: A Novel by Ilyasah Shabazz
The History of Civil Rights Movements in America by Maddie Spalding
The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks by Brandy Colbert
Timelines from Black History: Leaders, Legends, Legacies by DK, Mireille Harper
VIP: Lewis Latimer: Engineering Wizard by Denise Lewis Patrick
VIP: Mr. Mae Jemison: Brave Rocketeer by Heather Alexander
For Adults
A Promised Land by Barack Obama
A Shot in the Moonlight: How a Freed Slave and a Confederate Soldier Fought for Justice in the Jim Crow South by Ben Montgomery
Crossing the Line: A Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport That Changed Their Lives Forever by Kareem Rosser
I Came as a Shadow: An Autobiography by John Thompson
Invisible Men: The Trailblazing Black Artists of Comic Books by Ken Quattro
Just As I Am: A Memoir by Cicely Tyson
Monumental: Oscar Dunn and His Radical Fight in Reconstruction Louisiana by Brian K. Mitchell
Overnight Code: The Life of Raye Montague, the Woman Who Revolutionized Naval Engineering by Paige Bowers
The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcom X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika Tubbs
