What James Said by Liz Rosenberg

Shortcut ~ Donald Crews

Count Your Way through Africa ~ Jim Haskins

Irene's Wish by Jerdine Nolen

My Pop Pop and Me ~ Irene Smalls

No Two Snowflakes ~ Sheree Fitch

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Boys

Black Boy Main Character Books for Kids

The collection of books below all have one main thing in common. They all feature black boys as the main characters. I believe it is of great importance for young African American boys to see themselves in the books they read! There are over 30 books below to choose from!

Looking for a different book collection?

Not a problem! You can view all of my book collections on my special “Brown Like Me” Book Collections page!

30+ Picture Books Featuring Black Boys:

Check out all of the books featuring black boys as main characters that I’ve reviewed here on the site. Simply click the image or title to read more about each book! Don’t worry, each book will open in a new tab!

Have You Seen This Book? ~ Angela DiTerlizzi

Have You Seen This Book? ~ Angela DiTerlizzi

A young boy’s favorite book is missing. Throughout the story, ...

Ellray Jakes Rocks the Holidays ~ Sally Warner

Ellray Jakes Rocks the Holidays ~ Sally Warner

Third-grader E.J. is excited about Christmas. But, before he can ...

Ty’s Travels: Winter Wonderland ~ Kelly Starling Lyons

Ty’s Travels: Winter Wonderland ~ Kelly Starling Lyons

Ty wakes up to a winter Wonderland. He and his ...

Jabari Jumps ~ Gaia Cornwall

Jabari Jumps ~ Gaia Cornwall

After completing his swim lessons and passing his swim test, ...

Fish School ~ Nancy Poydar

Fish School ~ Nancy Poydar

Charlie got a goldfish for his birthday and he vowed ...

Max Paints the House ~ Ken Wilson-Max

Max Paints the House ~ Ken Wilson-Max

This book is about Max (a little boy), Little Pink ...

Riki's Birdhouse ~ Monica Wellington

Riki’s Birdhouse ~ Monica Wellington

We used this book when we did our unit on ...

I'm Your Peanut Butter Big Brother ~ Selina Alko

I’m Your Peanut Butter Big Brother ~ Selina Alko

This is a cute little book about a boy who ...

Just Try It ~ Christianne C. Jones

Just Try It ~ Christianne C. Jones

This is a Read It! Reader book about a boy ...

A Wild Cowboy ~ Dana Kessimakis Smith

A Wild Cowboy ~ Dana Kessimakis Smith

This is an adorable book about a little boy who ...

Peter's Chair ~ Ezra Jack Keats

Peter’s Chair ~ Ezra Jack Keats

Little Peter is upset because it seems like his new ...

Six Empty Pockets ~ Matt Curtis

Six Empty Pockets ~ Matt Curtis

This is a cute little rookie reader book about a ...

Be Boy Buzz ~ Bell Hooks

Be Boy Buzz ~ Bell Hooks

This book is about being proud of being "all boy." ...

Cosmo and the Robot ~ Brian Pinkney

Cosmo and the Robot ~ Brian Pinkney

This book is about a boy named Cosmo who lives ...

When I Am Old with You by Angela Johnson

When I Am Old with You ~ Angela Johnson

A young boy imagines being old with his grandfather. He ...

Island Baby by Holly Keller

Island Baby ~ Holly Keller

On the Caribbean island, young Simon loves to help Pops ...

Friends and Pals and Brothers, Too by Sarah Wilson

Friends and Pals and Brothers, Too ~ Sarah Wilson

This cute little rhyming book is about two brothers who ...

Jonathan and His Mommy by Irene Smalls

Jonathan and His Mommy ~ Irene Smalls

Jonathan and his mom like to take walks together, but ...

Sing-Along Song by JoAnn Early Macken

Sing-Along Song ~ JoAnn Early Macken

This book is about a cute little boy who loves ...

Grandfather and I by Helen E. Buckley

Grandfather and I ~ Helen E. Buckley

This is a cute little book about a little boy ...

Fireflies for Nathan ~ Shulamith Levey Oppenheim

Fireflies for Nathan ~ Shulamith Levey Oppenheim

This book is about a six year old boy who ...

Ben's Trumpet by Rachel Isadora

Ben’s Trumpet ~ Rachel Isadora

Ben loves to play his pretend trumpet while listening to ...

Max Goes to the Library ~ Adria F. Klein

Max Goes to the Library ~ Adria F. Klein

Max loves to read books. So, he goes to the ...

White Water by Michael S. Bandy

White Water ~ Michael S. Bandy & Eric Stein

Michael questions why the "Coloreds" water fountain has warm, muddy ...

Whistle for Willie ~ Ezra Jack Keats

Whistle for Willie ~ Ezra Jack Keats

If only Peter could whistle, his dog Willie would run ...

Max Goes to School ~ Adria F. Klein

Max Goes to School ~ Adria F. Klein

This is a great little Read-it! Readers book for beginning ...

The Adventures of Sparrowboy ~ Brian Pinkney

The Adventures of Sparrowboy ~ Brian Pinkney

My boys really enjoyed this book. It is about Henry, ...

Daddy Calls Me Man ~ Angela Johnson

Daddy Calls Me Man ~ Angela Johnson

A collection of short poems, Daddy Calls Me Man, documents ...

Dear Dragon ~ Josh Funk

Dear Dragon ~ Josh Funk

As part of their school assignments, Blaise and George become ...

Max Goes to the Dentist ~ Adria F. Klein

Max Goes to the Dentist ~ Adria F. Klein

This is a cute little Read-It! Readers book about a ...

Since We're Friends: An Autism Picture Book ~ Celeste Shally

Since We’re Friends: An Autism Picture Book ~ Celeste Shally

According to the forward in this book, one in 110 ...

Bigger Than Daddy ~ Harriet Ziefert

Bigger Than Daddy ~ Harriet Ziefert

My boys absolutely loved this book! It is about a ...

Luke Goes to Bat ~ Rachel Isadora

Luke Goes to Bat ~ Rachel Isadora

Luke, is too young to play stickball with the bigger ...

Golden Bear ~ Ruth Young

Golden Bear ~ Ruth Young

This a cute little rhyming book about a little boy ...

Peekaboo Morning ~ Rachel Isadora

Peekaboo Morning ~ Rachel Isadora

Follow along with this cute little toddler as he plays ...

A Trip to the Hospital ~ Kim Watson

A Trip to the Hospital ~ Kim Watson

We are Little Bill fans and of course this book ...

The Talk by Alicia D. Williams

The Talk ~ Alicia D. Williams

This beautifully illustrated book definitely hits home. With four boys ...

Music is a Rainbow by Bryan Collier

Music is a Rainbow ~ Bryan Collier

After his father leaves for work every morning and his ...

Can You Top That? ~ W. Nikola-Lisa

Can You Top That? ~ W. Nikola-Lisa

This is a cute counting book about a boy and ...

Max Goes on the Bus ~ Adria F. Klein

Max Goes on the Bus ~ Adria F. Klein

This is a Read-it! Readers book about Max, a young ...

The Worst Day of My Life by Bill Cosby

The Worst Day of My Life ~ Bill Cosby

Little Bill thought it was going to be the worst ...

Out! by Arree Chung

Out! ~ Arree Chung

This is a fun story about the nighttime adventures of ...

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Denene Millner

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut ~ Denene Millner

There's nothing quite like the feeling you get after you ...

Good Morning, Superman by Michael Dahl

Good Morning, Superman ~ Michael Dahl

This is a fun book about a young boy's morning ...

Goodnight Football by Michael Dahl

Goodnight Football ~ Michael Dahl

This is a great rhyming story for little football fans! ...

If I Were President by Thomas Kingsley Troupe

If I Were President ~ Thomas Kingsley Troupe

A young boy tells of what he would do and ...

My Kicks A Sneaker Story by Susan Verde

My Kicks: A Sneaker Story! ~ Susan Verde

This is a fun story about a boy and his ...

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba & Bryan Mealer

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind ~ William Kamkwamba & Bryan Mealer

This book is based on a true story of a ...

An Angel Just Like Me ~ Mary Hoffman

An Angel Just Like Me ~ Mary Hoffman

My kids really enjoyed this book! It is about a ...

Setting the Turkeys Free ~ W. Nikola-Lisa

Setting the Turkeys Free ~ W. Nikola-Lisa

An imaginative little boy uses his hand print, paint, and ...

All Because You Matter by Tami Charles

All Because You Matter ~ Tami Charles

With beautiful petal-shaped collage artwork, this is an open letter ...

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands ~ Kadir Nelson

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands ~ Kadir Nelson

Featuring a boy and his family, the lyrics of the ...

Racing Around by Stuart J. Murphy

Racing Around ~ Stuart J. Murphy

This is a living math book about perimeter. Mike wants ...

Max Goes to the Zoo by Adria F. Klein

Max Goes to the Zoo ~ Adria F. Klein

This is a purple level, Read-It Readers easy reader book ...

Kevin and His Dad by Irene Smalls

Kevin and His Dad ~ Irene Smalls

What's more fun for a boy than to spend the ...

Elevator Magic by Stuart J. Murphy

Elevator Magic ~ Stuart J. Murphy

Who knew elevators could help with math? This book is ...

Jack's Room by Julia Woolf

Jack’s Room ~ Julia Woolf

This is a Rookie Reader book about a little boy ...

David's Drawings by Cathryn Falwell

David’s Drawings ~ Cathryn Falwell

David decided to draw the beautiful tree that he saw ...

A Letter to Amy by Ezra Jack Keats

A Letter to Amy ~ Ezra Jack Keats

Peter is having a birthday party. Among all his neighborhood ...

Max Found Two Sticks by Brian Pinkney

Max Found Two Sticks ~ Brian Pinkney

Max found two heavy twigs and would tap his two ...

Yo, Jo! ~ Rachel Isadora

Yo, Jo! ~ Rachel Isadora

This book is about Jomar and his brother and the ...

Sam and the Tigers by Julius Lester

Sam and the Tigers ~ Julius Lester

A retelling of one of the most controversial books in ...

I Got Next by Daria Peoples-Riley

I Got Next ~ Daria Peoples-Riley

It’s game day and it’s time to put your game ...

I Am Perfectly Designed by Karamo Brown

I Am Perfectly Designed ~ Karamo Brown

Through a conversation between father and son, this book encourages ...

Look for Ladybugs by Dana Meachen Rau

Look for Ladybugs ~ Dana Meachen Rau

This is a wonderful Rookie Reader book that focuses on ...

The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read by Curtis Manley

The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read ~ Curtis Manley

Nick wants to share his love of reading with his ...

A Beginner's Guide to Bear Spotting by Michelle Robinson

A Beginner’s Guide to Bear Spotting ~ Michelle Robinson

This is a cute little story about a boy trying ...

Twins by Mike Ciccotello

Twins ~ Mike Ciccotello

This is a fun book about an unlikely set of ...

Water, Water by Eloise Greenfield

Water, Water ~ Eloise Greenfield

A young boy interacts with water throughout this cute, rhyming ...

Have You Seen Elephant by David Barrow

Have You Seen Elephant? ~ David Barrow

This is about a cute little boys and his imaginary ...

Thinker by Eloise Greenfield

Thinker ~ Eloise Greenfield

This is a fun collection of poems written by a ...

The Soccer Fence by Phil Bildner

The Soccer Fence ~ Phil Bildner

Hector watched from outside the fence as the white boys ...

Galimoto by Karen Lynn Williams

Galimoto ~ Karen Lynn Williams

Galimoto, which means "car" in the language of Malawi, is ...

Ron's Big Mission by Rose Blue and Corinne Naden

Ron’s Big Mission ~ Rose Blue and Corinne Naden

A fictionalized account of a real incident one summer day ...

Amadi's Snowman by Katia Novet Saint-Lot

Amadi’s Snowman ~ Katia Novet Saint-Lot

Amadi does not understand why his mother insists on him ...

Poppa's Itchy Christmas by Angela Shelf Medearis

Poppa’s Itchy Christmas ~ Angela Shelf Medearis

George is disappointed when he and his Poppa both receive ...

The Day I Saw My Father Cry by Bill Cosby

The Day I Saw My Father Cry ~ Bill Cosby

Little Bill's new neighbor, Mr. Mills, teaches everyone an ingenious ...

Every Little Thing by Cedella Marley

Every Little Thing ~ Cedella Marley

Based on Bob Marley's song "Three Little Birds," this adaption ...

Yesterday I Had the Blues by Jeron Ashford Frame

Yesterday I Had the Blues ~ Jeron Ashford Frame

In this bold, vivid story, a young boy expresses the ...

The Snowy Day ~ Ezra Jack Keats

The Snowy Day ~ Ezra Jack Keats

My kids LOVED this story! It is about a little ...

The First Day of Winter ~ Denise Fleming

The First Day of Winter ~ Denise Fleming

This book is about a young boy and the first ...

Goggles! ~ Ezra Jack Keats

Goggles! ~ Ezra Jack Keats

Peter and Archie were playing in the alley when they ...

Hi, Cat! by Ezra Jack Keats

Hi, Cat! ~ Ezra Jack Keats

On his way to put on a show for the ...

Bippity Bop Barbershop ~ Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

Bippity Bop Barbershop ~ Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

This is a great story about a little boy named ...

The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds

The Word Collector ~ Peter H. Reynolds

People collect all kinds of things. Jerome collected words, words ...

The Seeds of Friendship by Michael Foreman

The Seeds of Friendship ~ Michael Foreman

While Adam loved his new home in the tall tower ...

More Picture Books Featuring Black Boys:

To purchase or read more about each book, click on the book image or title to view the book information on Amazon. Affiliate links are used.

Dad, Who Will I Be?

Riley Can Be Anything

I Am…Positive Affirmations for Brown Boys

Leo Love Baby Time

I’m a Brilliant Little Black Boy

I Am Every Good Thing

A Boy, A Budget, and a Dream

LeBron James: The Boy Who Became King

Baby Boy, What Will You Be?

For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World

Black Boy Shinning ABCs of Character and Spirit

What Will I Be?

Stephen Curry: The Boy Who Never Gave Up

Son, You Are a King

I Am Smart, I Am Blessed, I Can Do Anything!

I Know my Rights: Bill of Rights

Brown Boy Brown Boy What Can You Be?