Beautiful Black Stories for Kids

 




This Is Hip-Hop: And Other Street Dances 

I grabbed This Is Hip-Hop: And Other Street Dances board book for my little ones and we enjoyed flipping through it together. The book introduces hip-hop and other street dances in a simple, joyful way,  from breaking to K-pop and even some unexpected global street-dance styles, showing that anyone can dance, however they like.What really made it a hit was the energy and inclusivity: the illustrations are bright and playful, and each page felt like an invitation for us to get up and move, barefoot, in socks, or shoes, it didn’t matter. My kids started bouncing, swaying, and trying out silly dance moves right there in the living room. 


Devin's Gift
I read Devin’s Gift with my kids this week, and we all immediately fell in love with Devin’s mission to find the perfect birthday present for his best friend Luka. I loved how the story gently shows that the best gifts come from paying attention to the people we care about, and my kids really connected with the warm, expressive illustrations, they kept pointing out little details and guessing what Devin might choose next. By the end, we were talking about what makes our friends feel valued, and it turned into such a sweet conversation about kindness and thoughtfulness.


I read I Can Make a Movie! with my kids, and it instantly became one of those books that sparks a whole evening of creativity. Following Norah Rose as she uses her imagination, her mom’s phone, and a whole lot of heart to make a movie for her grandpa was so uplifting, and my kids were completely absorbed by every step,  from writing the script to casting cousins to overcoming a rainy-day setback. The bright, energetic illustrations made them feel like they were part of the action, and by the end we were all brainstorming ideas for our own little family film. It’s such an inspiring, joy-filled read, and we loved it.



Top Chef #6 (Miles Lewis)

I picked up Top Chef #6 (Miles Lewis) for my kids and we dove into it together, and it turned out to be a fun, feel-good read that mixed cooking, friendship, and a little science in just the right way. The story follows Miles and his friend RJ as they team up for a school bake sale, with big hopes that their family’s famous tea-cakes will win. As things go a little sideways with measurements, kitchen chaos, and a lot of nerves, the book gently shows them how honesty, teamwork, and creativity are more important than just winning. The two-color illustrations added so much energy, and my kids started asking if we could try making tea cakes together. It’s educational but not preachy, and I loved how it encouraged kids to try cooking, make mistakes, and learn something new together.



Salon Saturday

I read Salon Saturday with my kids the other afternoon, and it turned into such a heartwarming storytime. The main character is a little girl going to the salon for the very first time and watching her worry, then get excited as she considers bobs, buns, coils, fros, braids and more was so real and sweet. My kids were fascinated by the bright-colored, joyful illustrations and kept pointing out all the different hairstyles, giggling, and asking what they would pick if it were them. What struck me most is how the book celebrates self-expression, family, and community, it doesn’t treat hair as just hair, but as identity, heritage, and joy. 

I read Family Feast! with my kids the other evening, and we all felt the warmth and joy of coming together with family and food. As the story unfolds, Big Ma, Pops, aunts, uncles, cousins gather to cook, chop, laugh, swap recipes, and catch up, building toward a big, delicious meal.  The illustrations are rich and cozy, full of action and personality: I loved watching my kids point out the buzzing kitchen, the kids sneaking treats, the dog hoping for scraps, it felt alive, welcoming, and real. By the end we closed the book smiling, talking about what our family feasts look like and how cooking together brings us closer. It’s a heartfelt, beautiful celebration of family, food, and love, definitely one we’ll want to read again and again.