BHM Books for Classroom Discussion: A K–12 List

Looking for the best Black History Month books for your school or classroom? Black History Month is the perfect time to celebrate Black stories, voices, and history through books students actually want to read. Whether you’re building a Black History Month classroom reading list, planning a school-wide read, or looking for Black History Month books for kids and teens, this guide makes it easy.

This Black History Month reading guide features an age-by-age book list for students, from picture books and elementary books to middle school books, high school books, and advanced reading for older teens. Whether you need diverse books for kids, books with Black main characters, biographies of influential leaders, or classroom-ready fiction and nonfiction, these titles are ideal for school libraries, classroom read-alouds, independent reading, and student book clubs.

Use this Black History Month classroom book list to support curriculum, inspire discussion, and celebrate Black excellence all year long.

What Are the Best New Black History Month Picture Books for Kids?

Perfect for read-aloud time, library story hours, and early learner classrooms, these Black History Month picture books celebrate Black heroes, joy, culture, and everyday life in ways kids can connect to. If you’re a teacher or librarian searching for Black History Month books for kids near me or titles for a school library display, start here.

1. André: André Leon Talley—A Fabulously Fashionable Fairy Tale by Carole Boston Weatherford and Rob Sanders
2. Remember Her Name!: Debbie Allen's Rise to Fame by Tami Charles
3. Lucy Sings on Lucy Street by Lawrence Roberts and Sally-Ann Roberts
4. Be the Light: How She Became Angela Davis by Daria Peoples
5. Troubled Waters: A River's Journey Toward Justice by Carole Boston Weatherford

Which New Black History Month Chapter Books and Graphic Novels Are Best for Elementary Classrooms?

These Black History Month books for elementary students include engaging chapter books and graphic novels that build empathy, confidence, and curiosity, without feeling like homework. Ideal for classroom reading lists, independent reading, and classroom sets in local schools, these picks work especially well for guided reading groups and book talks.

1. The Mighty Macy by Kwame Alexander
2. Basket Ball: The Story of the All-American Game by Kadir Nelson
3. A Surprise for Willow by Bea Jackson
4. Fros, Fades, and Braids: A Brief History of Black Hair in America by Sean Qualls
5. One Crazy Summer: The Graphic Novel by Rita Williams-Garcia

Which New Black History Month Books for Middle School Readers Are Best for Class Discussion?

Middle schoolers want stories with momentum and themes worth discussing. This section features Black History Month books for middle school that spark conversation through biography, contemporary fiction, and graphic novels. Great for student book clubs and discussions that connect history to students’ lives today.

1. Malcolm Lives!: The Official Biography of Malcolm X for Young Readers by Ibram X. Kendi
2. Hattie Mae Begins Again by Sharon G. Flake
3. Coach by Jason Reynolds
4. Kid X by Tracey Baptiste
5. Amari and the Metalwork Menace by B. B. Alston

What New Black History Month Nonfiction and Fiction Books Should High Schools Be Reading?

For deeper analysis and stronger themes, these Black History Month books for high school students include powerful fiction and nonfiction perfect for essays, seminars, and classroom discussion. If you’re building a Black History Month reading list for teens in your school or district, these titles support curriculum while keeping students engaged.

1. Oathbound by Tracy Deonn 
2. Black History is Your History by Taylor Cassidy
3. The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay by Ryan Douglass
4. Lovely One (Adapted for Young Adults) by Ketanji Brown Jackson
5. They Call Her Regret by Channelle Desamours

Which New Black Authors and Black History Books Are Best for Deeper Reading and Discussion for Advanced Readers?

These picks are ideal for educators, upper-level students, and community readers looking for new Black history books and acclaimed works by Black authors that invite deeper reflection. Perfect for community reads, staff book clubs, and higher-education discussions, this section is designed for longer conversations, not just a quick lesson.

1. Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson
2. Kin by Tayari Jones
3. The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams
4. If I Ruled the World by Amy DuBois Barnett
5. The Johnson Four by Christina Hammonds Reed

This BHM, there’s no better time to celebrate Black voices, history, joy, and excellence through books students will remember long after they turn the last page. Stories have a way of making history feel personal, building empathy, and sparking the kind of curiosity that carries into every subject and every season. 

Whether you’re planning read-alouds, refreshing a school library display, or building a classroom reading list for the month, we hope these picks help you create meaningful moments and powerful conversations with your students. And if you’re ready to bring these titles to your classroom, school, or district, BookPal’s book experts are here to help you choose the right books by grade level, put together classroom sets, and get a quote started today.