Adoff, Arnold E.
Black Out Loud
. New York: MacMillan, 1970.
This is an illustrated anthology of black poetry.
Adoff, Arnold. Editor.
I am the Darker Brother: An Anthology of Modern Poems by Negro Americans
. New York: MacMillan, 1968.
This is an excellent illustrated anthology.
Armstrong, William H..
Sounder
. New York: Harper & Rowe, 1969.
A Newberry Award winning book that tells of the life of a poor black sharecropper and his family. It is a story of courage about a boy and a dog. The sequel
A Sour Land
, tells about the boy when he reaches manhood.
Bontemps, Anna. Editor.
American Negro Poetry
. New York: Hilland Wang, 1974.
This is an anthology of black poetry.
Brooks, Gwendolyn.
Bronzeville Boys and Girls
. New York: Harper & Row, 1956. This book provides a collection of poetry by the author.
Cullen, Countee.
On Thee I Stand
. New York: Harper & Row, 1947.
This book offers a collection of Cullen’s poetry.
Drescher, Joan.
Your Family, My Family
. New York: Walker, 1980.
The illustrated book describes several kinds of families and cites strengths of family life.
Fox, Paula;
The Slave Dancer
. Boston: Bradbury Press, 1973.
This Newberry Award winning novel describes how a thirteen year old boy was kidnapped to make music on a slave ship. It gives depictions of living on a slave ship.
Hamilton, Virginia.
The House of Dries Drear
and the sequel
The Mystery of the Drear House
. New York: Greenwillow Press, 1987.
A black family living in the house of Dries Drear, long dead abolitionist, must decide what to do with his treasure hidden for one hundred years.
Hamilton, Virginia.
M. C. Higgins. The Great
. New York: MacMillan, 1974.
Mayo Cornelius Higgins must decide whether to do what he wants to do or what is best for his family.
Hamilton, Virginia.
The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales
. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1985.
The book contains a selection of retold African-American folktales of animals, fantasy and the sorrow and hope of the slaves.
Hamilton, Virginia.
The Planet of Junior Brown
. New York: MacMillan, 1971.
A story about Junior Brown, who lives with his mother, and how Junior takes care of a friend who has no family. A 1972 Newberry Honor Book.
Hamilton, Virginia.
Arilla Sun Down
,
The Gathering, Zeely
,
The Time Ago Tales of Jadhu
,
Paul Robeson: The Life and Times of a Free Black Man
,
The Writings of W. E. B. DuBoise
. These titles are excellent suggested books for middle school students who are interested in reading more literature about African-Americans.
Harris, Joel Chandler.
Jump,
Jump Again,, Jump on Over,
. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1986, 1987 and 1989.
A series of three books of the adventures of Brer Rabbit adapted by Van Dyke Parks. Each of the books tells the tales with such beautiful watercolor illustrations.
Hughes, Langston.
The Dream Keeper and Other Poems
. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1932.
This book has a good collection of poetry by Hughes.
Lester, Julius.
To Be a Slave
. New York: Dial, 1968.
The book provides first hand accounts of life as a slave.
Randall, Dudley. Editor.
The Black Poets
. Detroit: The Broadside Press, 1971.
Rodgers, Berta. Editor.
Little Brown Baby
. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1940.
This is a collection of poetry by William Dunbar.
Smiley, Majorie. Editor.
A Family is a Way of Feeling
. New York: MacMillan, 1966.
This book is a collection of short stories and poetry about family life.
Strickland, Dorthy. Editor.
Listen Children
. New York: Bantam, 1982.
The paperback read-a-loud anthology is a collection of various, short African-American writings. It includes folktales, poetry, a play, excerpts from essays and novels by known authors, and gives short biographical sketches of the writers.
Taylor, Milfred D.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
. New York: Dial Press, 1976.
A Newberry Award winning book that tells how Cassie Logan, a black girl, learned about prejudice during the Great Depression. The sequel,
Let the Circle be Unbroken
, tells more about her experiences in later years.
