I enjoyed reading picture books to my boys when they were little, but I love reading middle grade novels to them now that they’re a little older.
As I mentioned in an Instagram reel yesterday, Black History Month is an invitation into Black joy - and one of the ways our family celebrates this joy year-round is by reading books written by Black authors and/or starring Black or mixed-race characters of color.
As such, today’s “read this” is a little different from previous weeks: instead of highlighting one book, I’ve got nine tried-and-true middle grade novels we’ve read aloud that celebrate Black joy.
In no particular order:
Gone Crazy in Alabama (Rita Williams-Garcia): be sure to check out all three books in the series.
Marcus Makes a Movie (Kevin Hart): it’s like Kevin Hart is funny or something.
New Kid and Class Act (Jerry Craft): my boys fell in love with graphic novels after reading Craft’s books.
It’s the End of the World and I’m in my Bathing Suit (Justin A. Reynolds): it’s just as apocalyptic as it sounds.
Locomotion (Jacqueline Woodson): please, read everything she’s ever written.
Becoming Muhammad Ali (James Patterson & Kwame Alexander): even non-boxing fans like myself will love this mix of poetry & prose.
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street (Karina Yan Glaser): our boys have loved seeing themselves in this series featuring a mixed-race Black and White family.
Miles Morales: Spider-man (Jason Reynolds): Black Spiderman forever, baby.
What other middle grade novels help you celebrate Black joy?