"Brown Like Me" Books

Books for Kids Featuring Black Characters

All Because You Matter by Tami Charles
Peekaboo Bedtime ~ Rachel Isadora
The Little Red Hen ~ Jerry Pinkney
Lola at the Library ~ Anna McQuinn
Flower Garden ~ Eve Bunting
The Lending Zoo by Frank Asch

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Girls

Black Girl Main Character Books for Kids
The books below all have one main thing in common. They all feature black girls as the main characters. I believe it is of great importance for young African American girls to see themselves in the books they read! There are well over 25 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!


 

25+ Picture Books Featuring Black Girls:

Check out all of the books featuring black girls 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!

Dream Dancer ~ Jill Newsome

Dream Dancer ~ Jill Newsome

This book is about a girl and her love of ...
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Red Dancing Shoes ~ Denise Lewis Patrick

Red Dancing Shoes ~ Denise Lewis Patrick

My daughter really enjoyed this book. It is about a ...
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Flower Garden ~ Eve Bunting

Flower Garden ~ Eve Bunting

A little girl makes a birthday surprise for her mother ...
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Hank's Big Day by Evan Kuhlman

Hank’s Big Day ~ Evan Kuhlman

Hank, the pill bug, has a big day. He shimmies ...
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Holly Celebrates Valentine's Day by Kimberly Kendall-Drucker

Holly Celebrates Valentine’s Day ~ Kimberly Kendall-Drucker

Curious about the history of Valentine’s Day? Follow along as ...
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Here and Now by Julia Denos

Here and Now ~ Julia Denos

This book is a celebration of all the little and ...
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How to Make a Mountain by Amy Huntington

How to Make a Mountain ~ Amy Huntington

This is a fun science, themed book where a young ...
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Ada Twist, Scientist: Exploring Flight! by Andrea Beaty & Theanne Griffith

Ada Twist, Scientist: Exploring Flight! ~ Andrea Beaty

This book is a must-read for young minds curious about ...
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What If... by Samantha Berger

What If… ~ Samantha Berger

This is a fun, rhyming, mixed-media story about a girl's ...
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Bye-Bye Binky by Maria van Lieshout

Bye-Bye Binky ~ Maria van Lieshout

A little girl celebrates being a big kid. And, big ...
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Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty

Ada Twist, Scientist ~ Andrea Beaty

A young budding scientist, the curious Ada Marie asks lots ...
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I Am Famous by Tara Luebbe & Becky Cattie

I Am Famous ~ Tara Luebbe & Becky Cattie

A young girl likens being the center of her parent's ...
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The Water Princess by Susan Verde & Georgie Badiel

The Water Princess ~ Susan Verde

A young African girl dreams of bringing cool, crystal-clear water ...
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The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

The Day You Begin ~ Jacqueline Woodson

While this book is beautifully illustrated, it's message is equally ...
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Messy Bessey's Holidays ~ Patricia & Fredrick McKissack

Messy Bessey’s Holidays ~ Patricia & Fredrick McKissack

This is a rookie reader book about a girl named ...
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The Nutcracker in Harlem by T. E. McMorrow

The Nutcracker in Harlem ~ T. E. McMorrow

A retelling of the Christmas story, McMorrow's rendition of "The ...
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Don't Touch My Hair by Sharee Miller

Don’t Touch My Hair ~ Sharee Miller

This is a whimsical book about a girl who loves ...
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Early Sunday Morning by Denene Millner

Early Sunday Morning ~ Denene Millner

This beautifully illustrated book celebrates the love of a family ...
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Like a Girl by Lori Degman

Like a Girl ~ Lori Degman

This is a wonderful book that empowers girls through the ...
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Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper

Juneteenth for Mazie ~ Floyd Cooper

Juneteenth is the day we remember and celebrate June 19, ...
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Messy Bessey and the Birthday Overnight by Patricia C. McKissack

Messy Bessey and the Birthday Overnight ~ Patricia C. McKissack

Bessey gets invited to a slumber party. The girls all ...
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My Friend Maya Loves to Dance by Cheryl Willis Hudson

My Friend Maya Loves to Dance ~ Cheryl Willis Hudson

Maya is a young girl who loves to dance. Whenever ...
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Say Hello! by Rachel Isadora

Say Hello! ~ Rachel Isadora

Carmelita and her mom visit Abuela Rosa. As they make ...
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Elizabeti's School by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen

Elizabeti’s School ~ Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen

Elizabeti experiences her first day of school. However, soon after ...
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Brianna Breathes Easy by Virginia Kroll

Brianna Breathes Easy ~ Virginia L. Kroll

Brianna is excited to perform as a hen in the ...
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The Hat That Wore Clara B. by Melanie Turner-Denstaedt

The Hat That Wore Clara B. ~ Melanie Turner-Denstaedt

My daughter LOVED this book, especially since we handmade her ...
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Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard

Virgie Goes to School With Us Boys ~ Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard

Virgie was always begging to go to school with the ...
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My Pal Al by Marcia Leonard

My Pal Al ~ Marcia Leonard

This is an easy reader book about a girl and ...
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Honey, I Love by Eloise Greenfield

Honey, I Love ~ Eloise Greenfield

This book is about a little girl and many of ...
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Corduroy by Don Freeman

Corduroy ~ Don Freeman

I can remember reading Corduroy as a little girl. However, ...
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The Penny Pot by Stuart J. Murphy

The Penny Pot ~ Stuart J. Murphy

This book is part of the Math Start Collection. It ...
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Two Problems for Sophia by Jim Averbeck

Two Problems for Sophia ~ Jim Averbeck

This is a fun story about a girl and her ...
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Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex T. Smith

Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion ~ Alex T. Smith

This is a fun, whimsical book about a lever girl ...
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I Had a Favorite Hat by Boni Ashburn

I Had a Favorite Hat ~ Boni Ashburn

With "a little of this and a little of that," ...
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Melena's Jubilee by Zetta Elliot

Melena’s Jubilee ~ Zetta Elliot

This is a wonderful story of how each day presents ...
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I Got a New Friend by Karl Newsom Edwards

I Got a New Friend ~ Karl Newsom Edwards

This is an adorable book about a little girl and ...
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Lottie Paris Lives Here by Angela Johnson

Lottie Paris Lives Here ~ Angela Johnson

This book provides a look into a day in the ...
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Soccer Song by Patricia Reilly Gift

Soccer Song ~ Patricia Reilly Gift

Jill has long arms and strong hands. But, when it ...
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Lola Gets a Cat by Anna McQuinn

Lola Gets a Cat ~ Anna McQuinn

Lola loves cats and has lots of stuffed ones. But, ...
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Ladybug Girl and the Best Ever Playdate by Jacky Davis

Ladybug Girl and the Best Ever Playdate ~ Jacky Davis

This is a story about the value of friendship. Lulu ...
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Twenty Yawns by Jane Smiley

Twenty Yawns ~ Jane Smiley

Lucy and her parents sent a long day at the ...
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Daisy and the Doll by Michael Medearis and Angela Shelf Medearis

Daisy and the Doll ~ Michael Medearis and Angela Shelf Medearis

Growing up on a farm in Vermont in the late ...
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I Am Enough by Grace Byers

I Am Enough ~ Grace Byers

This is a beautiful, rhyming book about self-worth. It features ...
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I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison

I Got the Rhythm ~ Connie Schofield-Morrison

A young girl senses the rhythm in the world around ...
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Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth

Something Beautiful ~ Sharon Dennis Wyeth

A young girl on a quest to find something beautiful ...
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Ballerina Girl by Kirsten Hall

Ballerina Girl by Kirsten Hall

This rhyming, My First Reader book is about a girl ...
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Ruby's School Walk by Kathryn White

Ruby’s School Walk ~ Kathryn White

"I must be brave, I must be strong," Ruby repeats ...
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Rhyme Time Valentine ~ Nancy Poydar

Rhyme Time Valentine ~ Nancy Poydar

Ruby loves Valentine's Day and her favorite color is red! ...
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Snow Globe Wishes by Erin Dealey

Snow Globe Wishes ~ Erin Dealey

A snow globe filled with a beautiful winter wonderland captivates ...
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In the Snow by Elizabeth Spurr

In the Snow ~ Elizabeth Spurr

Playing in the snow is fun! Follow along as a ...
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Christmas in the Time of Billy Lee by Jerdine Nolen

Christmas in the Time of Billy Lee ~ Jerdine Nolen

Ellie makes three Christmas wishes; 1) that her parents would ...
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Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio

Grace for President ~ Kelly DiPucchio

Appalled that there has never been a female president, Grace ...
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Lily's Cat Mask by Julie Fortenberry

Lily’s Cat Mask ~ Julie Fortenberry

Lily's dad bought her a cat mask and she wore ...
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Please, Baby, Please ~ Spike Lee & Tonya Lewis Lee

Please, Baby, Please ~ Spike Lee & Tonya Lewis Lee

The baby girl in this book is just too cute! ...
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A Night Out with Mama by Quvenzhané Wallis

A Night Out with Mama ~ Quvenzhané Wallis

A young girl enjoys getting dressed up to attend a ...
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I Just Want to Say Good Night by Rachel Isadora

I Just Want to Say Good Night ~ Rachel Isadora

In an African village young girl tries to avoid bedtime ...
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Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen

Dancing in the Wings ~ Debbie Allen

I liked this book because I could identify with it ...
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I Like Myself! ~ Karen Beaumont

I Like Myself! ~ Karen Beaumont

This book is VERY cute! I really reminds me of ...
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If Your Monster Won't Go To Bed by Denise Vega

If Your Monster Won’t Go To Bed ~ Denise Vega

This is a fun story for monster lovers! A young ...
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Wow! It Sure Is Good To Be You! ~ Cynthia Jabar

Wow! It Sure Is Good To Be You! ~ Cynthia Jabar

This is a cute, rhythmic book that encourage self-esteem! It ...
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Polly Diamond and the Magic Book by Alice Kuipers

Polly Diamond and the Magic Book ~ Alice Kuipers

This chapter book is about a young girl and her ...
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I Can Do It Too! ~ Karen Baicker

I Can Do It Too! ~ Karen Baicker

This is an adorable book about a little girl who ...
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Sleeping Cutie by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Sleeping Cutie ~ Andrea Davis Pinkney

Cutie LaRue always cleaned her plate. She brushed her teeth ...
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Lola Loves Stories by Anna McQuinn

Lola Loves Stories ~ Anna McQuinn

Lola is a cute little girl who loves books. She ...
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Meet Addy by Connie Porter

Meet Addy ~ Connie Porter

This is an American Girl chapter book that I used ...
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Little Leaders by Vashti Harrison

Little Leaders ~ Vashti Harrison

I absolutely love this book! It features 40+ African American ...
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Me & Neesie ~ Eloise Greenfield

Me & Neesie ~ Eloise Greenfield

This book is about a girl named Janell and her ...
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Elizabeti's Doll ~ Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen

Elizabeti’s Doll ~ Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen

This was a beautiful story about a young girl with ...
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Black, White, Just Right! ~ Marguerite W. Davol

Black, White, Just Right! ~ Marguerite W. Davol

This story features a little girl whose mother is black ...
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Being Friends ~ Karen Beaumont

Being Friends ~ Karen Beaumont

This is a cute rhyming book about two friends. Despite ...
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I Love My Hair! by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

I Love My Hair! ~ Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

Being completely honest, I really don't like doing my daughter's ...
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Girls Hold Up This World ~ Jada Pinkett Smith

Girls Hold Up This World ~ Jada Pinkett Smith

My daughter loved this book. While we were reading it, ...
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Keisha Ann Can! ~ Daniel Kirk

Keisha Ann Can! ~ Daniel Kirk

My kids really enjoyed this book! It's about a little ...
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Lola at the Library ~ Anna McQuinn

Lola at the Library ~ Anna McQuinn

This is a cute story about how a little girl ...
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City Green by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan

City Green ~ DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan

This book is about a girl named Marcy who develops ...
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Amanda Bean's Amazing Dream by Cindy Neuschwander

Amanda Bean’s Amazing Dream ~ Cindy Neuschwander

Amanda Bean loves math. In fact, she is great at ...
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Grandma's Purple Flowers by Adjoa J. Burrowes

Grandma’s Purple Flowers ~ Adjoa J. Burrowes

This book is about a little girl and the love ...
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Can You Dance, Dalila? by Virginia Kroll

Can You Dance, Dalila? ~ Virginia Kroll

This is a fun little story about a girl and ...
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My Best Friend by Mary Ann Rodman

My Best Friend ~ Mary Ann Rodman

This story is about Lily (a 6 year old) girl ...
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JoJo's Flying Side Kick by Brian Pinkney

JoJo’s Flying Side Kick ~ Brian Pinkney

My kids enjoyed this book. In fact, my daughter expressed ...
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It's B! by Katherine Hengel

It’s B! ~ Katherine Hengel

This book begins with some instruction about the letter B ...
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Catching the Wild Waiyuuzee by Rita Williams-Garcia

Catching the Wild Waiyuuzee ~ Rita Williams-Garcia

Surprisingly, this book is about the "adventures" of a young ...
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I Slightly Want to Go Home ~ Lauren Child

I Slightly Want to Go Home ~ Lauren Child

This cute book is based on the Disney Playhouse show ...
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Happy to Be Nappy ~ Bell Hooks

Happy to Be Nappy ~ Bell Hooks

This book celebrates the hair styles and hair textures of ...
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Just Like Josh Gibson ~ Angela Johnson

Just Like Josh Gibson ~ Angela Johnson

This is the story of a young girl listening to ...
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Lily Brown's Paintings ~ Angela Johnson

Lily Brown’s Paintings ~ Angela Johnson

This book is about the imagination of a child and ...
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Violet's Music ~ Angela Johnson

Violet’s Music ~ Angela Johnson

Violet absolutely loved music. Even when she was a few ...
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A Sweet Smell of Roses ~ Angela Johnson

A Sweet Smell of Roses ~ Angela Johnson

A Sweet Smell of Roses Written by Angela Johnson Illustrated ...
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Little Seeds ~ Charles Ghigna

Little Seeds ~ Charles Ghigna

This is a rhyming story about the process of planting ...
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City Shapes ~ Diana Murray

City Shapes ~ Diana Murray

his is a rhyming book about the many shapes found ...
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Who Will I Be, Lord? ~ Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

Who Will I Be, Lord? ~ Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

We really enjoyed this book. It is a lyrical story ...
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Cats Add Up! ~ Dianne Ochiltree

Cats Add Up! ~ Dianne Ochiltree

This book is part of the Hello Math Reader Books ...
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More Picture Books Featuring Black Girls:

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.

Amazing Grace

Curlilocks and the Big Bad Hairbrush

I’m A Pretty Little Black Girl!

Ada Twist, Scientist

I AM… Positive Affirmations for Brown Girls

Emi’s Curly Coily, Cotton Candy Hair

I’m a Pretty Princess

Black Girl Magic