Another Important Book, by Margaret Wise Brown

It's been a while since I've read or recommended a book for infants, but we stumbled across Another Important Book at the library and picked it up because we adore the author Margaret Wise Brown (her book Little Fur Family was an early favorite of ours).  My 6 year old was, of course, way too old but listened gamely (and I was a huge fan).  The illustrations are of tumbling, crying, dancing, giggling babies of all different colors, and I'm positive the lyrical and repetitive text would have appealed to my son if he had been a few years younger.  I'm sad we stumbled onto this book too late to add it to our bedtime collection, but perhaps it isn't too late for you!

BUY HERE (or, even better, request at your local library!)

Silent Night, by Lara Hawthorne

This book combines the words to Silent Night with beautifully illustrated pictures of the Nativity, a Nativity scene full of people with black and brown skin.  I was thrilled when we came across this book at the library, and given that Silent Night is one of our favorite lullabies to sign at bedtime it's already been read repeatedly.  A simple, lovely Christmas story.

BUY HERE (or, even better, request at your local library!)

Not Norman, by Kelly Bennett

I've been so focused on writing about newer library books that we're into that I neglected a long-time favorite we just came across again!

Not Norman follows the story of a young black boy who desperately wants a pet, but is not so thrilled to receive a goldfish for his birthday.  He has various plans to get rid of Norman, but in the process finds himself enjoying Norman's company.  It's a straightforward well told story that we both enjoyed reading over and over, and one that I would highly recommend to all families.  Absolutely no downsides to this wonderful book!

BUY HERE (or request at your local library!)

Lola at the Library, by Anna McQuinn

We received Lola at the Library recently as a gift.  I'd seen this book around and been a bit resistant to picking it up; honestly - it looked a bit boring.  But my son and I loved it!  Lola's trip to the library mirrors ours in many important ways and nearly every page lead to a discussion about how our trips to the library are either the same or different.  Lola (a young black girl) returns all her library books every week, but my son likes to hold on to his favorite ones for many, many, many weeks (our library has a liberal renewal policy).  Lola and her mom walk to the library, but we usually take the bus.  We also get a snack at the library (though not every week)!  The second we finished reading my son asked to read the book a second, then a third time.  At 4, he's probably at the upper age range of this book - but it's one I expect we'll be reading a lot.

I can't vouch for them, but it looks like the same author/illustrator pairing has come out with several books about Lola and her little brother Leo.

BUY HERE (or request at your local library!)

Please, Baby, Please, by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee

Please, Baby, Please is our family's favorite book.  We read it daily when my son was younger, and even though he's now 4 we frequently return to this book with fondness.  It follows a willful toddler as she generally creates chaos for her parents and they repeatedly beg her to stop - "please, baby, baby, baby."

We also love it because of Kadir Nelson's gorgeous illustrations.  It's our dream to own one of his prints and we always have one of his New Yorker covers on our refrigerator.  His illustrations bring to life the vivacious, curious, and mischievous girl at the center of this story, as well as her loving and exhausted parents.

You without doubt need to own this book.

BUY HERE

The Night Before Christmas, by Rachel Isadora

I searched far and wide for a version of The Night Before Christmas featuring a black Santa.  I don't know why it took me so long to locate this one, illustrated by one of our favorites - Rachel Isadora (I also highly recommend her retellings of classic fairy tales).  The story itself is the traditional one (including the line about Santa's pipe and the smoke encircling "his head like a wreath" - at which point in the reading my son and I always say "Santa, stop smoking!" in mock shock), but the illustrations are of a traditional African village.

BUY HERE

Christmas for 10, by Cathryn Falwell

We were already fans of Cathryn Falwell's Feast for 10, and Christmas for 10 is equally enjoyable.  The book follows a large family as they prepare for the holiday by baking, decorating, and joyously celebrating the holiday together. My son delighted in pointing out the details on the wrapping paper and finding similarities between our family's traditions with those in the book.  A fun read (the book is a bit longer than it may seem, as it counts to 10 twice).

BUY HERE

A Child Is Born, by Margaret Wise Brown

A tentative recommendation for A Child is Born.  We're huge Margaret Wise Brown fans - most widely known as the author of Goodnight Moon, but most famous in our house as the author of the deeply odd yet delightful Little Fur Family (decidedly not a book for everyone, the first few times we read it my husband and I were baffled, but it slowly became one of our absolute favorite books of all time and the song at the end has become a frequent lullaby in our home).  However, while her very brief Christmas poem is lovely and lyrical it isn't that appealing to children.  My 4 year old pronounced this book "too short" and didn't really follow the poem aside from what he already knows of the Christmas story.  However, the black nativity scene inside is beautifully painted and wonderfully representative, and I'm glad we have it our home.

BUY A CHILD IS BORN HERE

Snowflake Kisses and Gingerbread Smiles, by Toni Trent Parker

Immediately upon finding this gem at the public library my son proclaimed this "the REAL Christmas book!"  It's very short, 7 pages of text and 7 accompanying pictures of black children posed in festive outfits with presents or toys, but wonderfully representative and a quick, fun read.

The author, Toni Trent Parker, was apparently a big advocate of black children's literature.  We'll definitely be requesting other books she has authored, which seem to focus on holidays, such as Easter and Halloween.

BUY HERE 

(copyright is 2002, and only used copies are available, but the book isn't at all out of date)

Grandma's Tiny House, by JaNay Brown-Wood

We grabbed Grandma's Tiny House recently at the library and it became an instant hit.  At 4, my son is a bit on the older side for this counting book - but both of us enjoy the pleasing rhymes and he in particular loves that a child comes up with the solution to move the too-large party outside.  I also think he secretly wants to attend Grandma's party - eating sweet potato pie and playing games in the backyard with piles of cousins.

BUY HERE

Peekaboo Morning, by Rachel Isadora

Peekaboo Morning was originally checked out at the library, then renewed, renewed again, and renewed approximately 10 more times before we finally gave up and bought the book.  We proceeded to read this book at least several times a week from the ages of 1 through 3, with me reading the "Peekaboo, I see..." introduction and my son gleefully shouting out the response - "my puppy" or "my friend" being the obvious favorites.  A perfect book.  

BUY HERE