Celebrate Black Excellence

By Kat La Mantia | January 12 2023 | AdultsChildren'sGeneralAllPop CultureGiftBlog

February marks Black History Month: a time to commemorate the lives and work of Black trailblazers, from artists and scientists to freedom fighters and politicians. Learn their stories, listen to contemporary voices advocating for the work that’s still left to be done, and celebrate Black excellence and culture through food, fashion, music, art, and more.

See some of our favorites below, and check out more from our title lists!

 

Black History Month – Children’s

Black History Month – History and Justice

Black History Month – The Arts

Black History Month – Gift

Black History Month – Food and Drink

The Light We Carry
The Light We Carry
Overcoming in Uncertain Times
Michelle Obama
9780593237465
Practical wisdom and powerful strategies for staying hopeful and balanced in today’s highly uncertain world—from the #1 bestselling author of Becoming and former First Lady Michelle Obama
$32.50 US
Nov 15, 2022
6-1/8 x 9-1/4
Hardcover
336 Pages
Crown
Shine Bright
Shine Bright
A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop
Danyel Smith
9780593132739
American pop music is arguably this country’s greatest cultural contribution to the world, and its singular voice and virtuosity were created by a shining thread of Black women geniuses stretching back to the country’s founding. This is their surprising, heartbreaking, soaring story—from “one of the generation’s greatest, most insightful, most nuanced writers in pop culture” (Shea Serrano)
$18.00 US
Feb 14, 2023
5-3/16 x 8
Paperback
336 Pages
Roc Lit 101
Black Food
Black Food
Stories, Art, and Recipes from Across the African Diaspora [A Cookbook]
9781984859723
A beautiful, rich, and groundbreaking book exploring Black foodways within America and around the world, curated by food activist and author of Vegetable Kingdom Bryant Terry.
$40.00 US
Oct 19, 2021
7-1/2 x 9-1/2
Hardcover
320 Pages
4 Color Books
The Green Piano
The Green Piano
How Little Me Found Music
Tonya Bolden, Roberta Flack, Hayden Goodman
9780593479872
This autobiographical picture book by the multiple Grammy Award-winning singer Roberta Flack recounts her childhood in a home surrounded by music and love: it all started with a beat-up piano that her father found in a junkyard, repaired, and painted green.
$18.99 US
Jan 10, 2023
10 x 10
Hardcover
40 Pages
Anne Schwartz Books
Age 4-8 years
Black Archives
Black Archives
A Photographic Celebration of Black Life
Renata Cherlise
9781984859297
A photographic celebration and exploration of Black identity and experience through the twentieth century from the founder and curator of the hit multimedia platform Black Archives.
$35.00 US
Feb 14, 2023
8-1/2 x 10
Hardcover
288 Pages
Ten Speed Press
Black Futures
Black Futures
Jenna Wortham, Kimberly Drew
9780399181153
NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS' CHOICEAn archive of collective memory and exuberant testimonyA luminous map to navigate an opaque and disorienting presentAn infinite geography of possible futures
$25.00 US
Oct 26, 2021
7-3/8 x 9-1/8
Paperback
544 Pages
One World
Trap Kitchen: Mac N' All Over The World: Bangin' Mac N' Cheese Recipes from Arou nd the World
Trap Kitchen: Mac N' All Over The World: Bangin' Mac N' Cheese Recipes from Arou nd the World
(Global Mac and Cheese Recipes, Easy Comfort Food, College Student Cooking, Quic k Meal Ideas, International Cuisine Fusion,Gourmet Home Cooking, Simple Recipe)
Malachi Jenkins, Roberto Smith
9781954220263
50 unique, globally-inspired mac n' cheese recipes, ideal for college students, culinary enthusiasts, and those seeking quick, affordable, gourmet comfort food. Crafted by seasoned chefs, this cookbook blends traditional cheese-rich dishes with international flair, making it a kitchen staple. A perfect gift for food lovers and adventurous cooks, it transforms classic mac n' cheese into a global gastronomic journey, accessible to all skill levels. Whether you're a fan of pasta or  pizza, this cookbook has something for everyone.
$24.95 US
Jul 19, 2022
7-3/8 x 9-1/8
Hardcover
128 Pages
Kingston Imperial
March (Trilogy Slipcase Set)
March (Trilogy Slipcase Set)
Nate Powell, Andrew Aydin, John Lewis
9781603093958
The award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling trilogy is complete! Celebrate with this commemorative set containing all three volumes of March in a stunning new slipcase designed by Nate Powell and Chris Ross and colored by José Villarrubia.
$49.99 US
Sep 06, 2016
6-7/10 x 10-1/10
Boxed Set
576 Pages
Top Shelf Productions
Brave. Black. First.
Brave. Black. First.
50+ African American Women Who Changed the World
Cheryl Willis Hudson, Erin K. Robinson
9780525645849
Published in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, discover over 50 remarkable Black women whose unique skills and contributions paved the way for the next generation of young people.
$12.99 US
Jan 10, 2023
7-1/2 x 10
Paperback
128 Pages
Yearling
Age 8-12 years
The Hip-Hop Queens Oracle Deck
The Hip-Hop Queens Oracle Deck
A 52-Card Deck and Guidebook: Oracle Cards
Kathy Iandoli, Monica Ahanonu
9780593233221
A stunningly illustrated oracle deck featuring 52 of hip-hop’s most influential queens (from Lauryn Hill to Megan Thee Stallion) serving as compass points for spiritual growth and portals to guidance and meditation—from the author of God Save the Queens: The Essential History of Women in Hip-Hop. 
$23.00 US
Nov 23, 2021
4-7/8 x 6-3/8
Cards
52 Pages
Clarkson Potter
Letters to a Young Athlete
Letters to a Young Athlete
Chris Bosh
9781984881809
A legendary NBA player and beloved teammate shares his hard-earned wisdom about finding your true purpose and mastering your inner game, whatever that game might be.
$18.00 US
Jun 14, 2022
5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Paperback
256 Pages
Penguin Books
Jubilee
Jubilee
Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking: A Cookbook
Toni Tipton-Martin
9781524761738
Adapted from historical texts and rare African-American cookbooks, the 125 recipes of Jubilee paint a rich, varied picture of the true history of African-American cooking: a cuisine far beyond soul food.
$35.00 US
Nov 05, 2019
8 x 10
Hardcover
320 Pages
Clarkson Potter
An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States
An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States
Kyle T. Mays
9780807006993
The first intersectional history of the Black and Native American struggle for freedom in our country that also reframes our understanding of who was Indigenous in early America
$18.95 US
Nov 15, 2022
6 x 9
Paperback
272 Pages
Beacon Press
Recognize!
Recognize!
An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life
9780593381625
In the stunning follow-up to The Talk: Conversations About Race, Love & Truth, award-winning Black authors and artists come together to create a moving anthology collection celebrating Black love, Black creativity, Black resistance, and Black life.
$8.99 US
Oct 04, 2022
5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Paperback
208 Pages
Yearling
Age 10 and up
AphroChic
AphroChic
Celebrating the Legacy of the Black Family Home
Jeanine Hays, Bryan Mason
9780593234006
A powerful, visually stunning celebration of Black homeownership, featuring inspiring homes and family histories of notable Black Americans—including chef Alexander Smalls and actor Danielle Brooks.
$35.00 US
Nov 15, 2022
8 x 10
Hardcover
256 Pages
Clarkson Potter
Marvel Studios' Black Panther: Dreams of Wakanda
Marvel Studios' Black Panther: Dreams of Wakanda
Creators, Writers, and Comics Legends on the Impact of Marvel Studios' Black Panther
Mateus Manhanini
9781984826176
Join creators, writers, and comics legends as they discuss the impact of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther in this gorgeously illustrated collection of essays.
$25.00 US
Sep 06, 2022
6 x 8
Hardcover
160 Pages
Random House Worlds
Life Is What You Bake It
Life Is What You Bake It
Recipes, Stories, and Inspiration to Bake Your Way to the Top: A Baking Book
Vallery Lomas
9780593137680
The winner of The Great American Baking Show shares her story of personal growth and more than 100 delicious recipes.
$29.99 US
Sep 07, 2021
7-7/16 x 10
Hardcover
288 Pages
Clarkson Potter
Who Sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott?: Rosa Parks
Who Sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott?: Rosa Parks
A Who HQ Graphic Novel
Who HQ, Insha Fitzpatrick, Abelle Hayford
9780593224472
Discover the story behind Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott in this compelling graphic novel -- written by Oh My Gods! author Insha Fitzpatrick and illustrated by #DrawingWhileBlack organizer Abelle Hayford.
$12.99 US
Jan 11, 2022
5-5/16 x 7-5/8
Hardcover
64 Pages
Penguin Workshop
Age 8-12 years
Queer Love in Color
Queer Love in Color
Jamal Jordan
9781984857644
A photographic celebration of the love and relationships of queer people of color by a New York Times multimedia journalist.
$28.00 US
May 04, 2021
8 x 9
Hardcover
224 Pages
Ten Speed Press
A Little Devil in America
A Little Devil in America
In Praise of Black Performance
Hanif Abdurraqib
9781984801203
A stirring meditation on Black performance in America from the New York Times bestselling author of Go Ahead in the Rain   “Whether heralding unsung entertainers or reexamining legends, Hanif Abdurraqib weaves together gorgeous essays that reveal the resilience, heartbreak, and joy within Black performance. I read this book breathlessly.”—Brit Bennett, author of The Vanishing Half
$18.00 US
Mar 08, 2022
5-3/16 x 8
Paperback
320 Pages
Random House Trade Paperbacks
Sweet Potato Soul
Sweet Potato Soul
100 Easy Vegan Recipes for the Southern Flavors of Smoke, Sugar, Spice, and Soul : A Cookbook
Jenné Claiborne
9780451498892
Chef and charismatic blogger with 217,000 followers across social media, Jenné Claiborne grew up in Atlanta eating classic soul food--but thought she had to give all that up when she went vegan. She now celebrates the plant-based roots of the cuisine and reenvisions 100 classic dishes with a focus on healthy, whole ingredients--and a fresh and vibrant flair for flavor.
$19.99 US
Feb 06, 2018
7-3/8 x 9-1/8
Paperback
224 Pages
Harmony
The 1619 Project
The 1619 Project
A New Origin Story
9780593230572
A dramatic expansion of one of the definitive journalistic events ofrecent years: The 1619 Project, The New York Times Magazine'saward-winning reframing of the American founding and itscontemporary echoes, placing slavery and resistance at the center of the American story.
$38.00 US
Nov 16, 2021
6-1/8 x 9-1/8
Hardcover
624 Pages
One World
Rebel Girls of Black History: A Sticker-by-Number Book
Rebel Girls of Black History: A Sticker-by-Number Book
Rebel Girls
9780593407417
Color with stickers to create gorgeous keepsakes of exceptional Black women. These twelve heroes will encourage any Rebel Girl to pursue her dreams without limits.  It’s the perfect gift for young dreamers!
$14.99 US
Nov 02, 2021
8 x 10-3/4
Paperback
64 Pages
Dial Books
Age 5-8 years
Living While Black
Living While Black
Using Joy, Beauty, and Connection to Heal Racial Trauma
Guilaine Kinouani
9780807008102
A Guardian “Best Book of 2021” Selection A powerful look at the impacts of anti-Black racism and a practical guide for overcoming racial trauma through radical self-care as a form of resistance
$17.00 US
Jan 24, 2023
5-1/2 x 8-1/2
Paperback
264 Pages
Beacon Press
Feeling Seen
Feeling Seen
The Photographs of Campbell Addy
Campbell Addy
9783791388465
Candid and personal, dazzling with color and immediacy, this first and only monograph of a rising star of the photography scene features work from major labels and magazines, outtakes from shoots, and newly commissioned texts by Edward Enninful and Ekow Eshun on the importance of authentic diversity behind and in front of the camera.  
$55.00 US
Jun 07, 2022
9-1/2 x 12
Hardcover
208 Pages
Prestel
In Bibi's Kitchen
In Bibi's Kitchen
The Recipes and Stories of Grandmothers from the Eight African Countries that Touch the Indian Ocean [A Cookbook]
Hawa Hassan
9781984856739
Grandmothers from eight eastern African countries welcome you into their kitchens to share flavorful recipes and stories of family, love, and tradition in this transporting cookbook-meets-travelogue.
$35.00 US
Oct 13, 2020
8 x 10
Hardcover
288 Pages
Ten Speed Press
The Black History Book
The Black History Book
Big Ideas Simply Explained
DK
9780744042146
Discover the rich and complex history of the peoples of Africa, and the struggles and triumphs of Black cultures and communities around the world.
$27.99 US
Nov 23, 2021
7-11/16 x 9-3/16
Hardcover
336 Pages
DK
Black Boy Joy
Black Boy Joy
17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood
9780593379936
Celebrate the joys of Black boyhood with stories from seventeen bestselling, critically acclaimed Black authors--including Jason Reynolds, Jerry Craft, and Kwame Mbalia! "Pick up Black Boy Joy for a heavy dose of happiness."—Booklist, starred review
$17.99 US
Aug 03, 2021
5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Hardcover
320 Pages
Delacorte Press
Age 9-12 years
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