Best Authors for Black Kids: Closing the Achievement Gap

Finding authors for Black kids is hard! Only about 3% of children’s books feature black characters, and Black authors are even rarer. Relatability increases motivation, and we are here to help you find books your children or students can relate to.

This is a problem. Why? Let’s start right here. If we want to have any chance closing the achievement gap between Black children and their peers, we’ve got to find books they can relate to.

Download your free copy of Matt Maxx’s book here.

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We’ve chosen the best Black kids’ book authors to help you get started.

Marti Dumas

Marti Dumas is a mom, teacher, and writer from New Orleans. She knows, not thinks, that all kids are smart and does her best to show it in the stories she writes. So far she has written 9 books for children including the Jaden Toussaint, the Greatest series, but her goal is to write 49 or 50. (She can't decide which. 50 is such a nice, round number, but 49 is a perfect square...) And, not that you asked, but she also makes a killer bean pie and shares the recipe freely.

Derrick D. Barnes

Derrick D. Barnes is a native of Kansas City, MO. He is a graduate of Jackson State University with a degree in Marketing. He is the author of the ultra popular series entitled RUBY AND THE BOOKER BOYS, published by Scholastic. The highly acclaimed novel WE COULD BE BROTHERS (Just Us Books) was his first middle grade release. He has two forthcoming picture books--CROWN: AN ODE TO THE FRESH CUT published by Denene Millner Books/Agate Bolden. For his work in CROWN, Derrick received the 2018 EZRA JACK KEATS award/New Writer, a 2018 John Newbery Honor and a 2018 Coretta Scott King Award Author Honor. His next picture book,THE KING OF KINDERGARTEN, will be published by Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin.

Tonya Duncan Ellis

Tonya Duncan Ellis is the author of the Amazon bestselling, Readers' Favorite "Five Star" rated, Sophie Washington children's book series, geared toward readers ages 8 to 12, and is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She has received awards for literary excellence, worked as a journalist and freelance magazine writer, and is a graduate of Centre College of Kentucky and Washington University in St. Louis.

Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers is a New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed author who has garnered much respect and admiration for his fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for young people. Winner of the first Michael L. Printz Award, he is considered one of the preeminent writers for children. He lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, with his family.

Rashad Jennings

Rashad Jennings is the author of the autobiography, The IF in Life: How to Get Off Life's Sidelines and Become Your Best Self (May 2018). The recently retired NFL star got his start with the Jacksonville Jaguars before retiring in 2017 with the New York Giants. On the field, Rashad excelled, having rushed over 3,770 yards with a career-high of 23 rushed touchdowns and 191 receptions at the conclusion of his NFL career. Upon his departure from the NFL, Rashad took his competitive streak to the dance floor and won season 24 of Dancing with The Stars with ballroom professional, Emma Slater. He continues to shine off the field by investing his time in refining skills such as music, dancing, poetry, acting and writing.

Jacqueline Woodson

Jacqueline Woodson's memoir BROWN GIRL DREAMING won the 2014 National Book Award and was a NY Times Bestseller. Her novel, ANOTHER BROOKLYN, was a National Book Award finalist and an Indie Pick in 2016. Among her many awards, she the recipient of the Kurt Vonnegut Award, four Newbery Honors, two Coretta Scott King Award, and the Langston Hughes Medal. Jacqueline is the author of nearly thirty books for young people and adults including EACH KINDNESS, IF YOU COME SOFTLY, LOCOMOTION and I HADN'T MEANT TO TELL YOU THIS. She served as Young People's Poet Laureate from 2014-2016, was a fellow at The American Library in Paris, occasionally writes for the New York Times, is currently working on more books and like so many writers - lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York.