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Civil Rights Books

The civil rights era comes alive in these excellent, informative books for kids of all ages. From beautifully illustrated picture books to memoirs that depict the Jim Crow South to biographies of heroes of the civil rights movement, these books show what life was like before civil rights, why individuals put their lives on the line for equal justice and opportunity, and how there's still more work to be done. Find other inspiring stories on our lists Books About Racism and Social Justice and Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners.

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Rosa Book Poster Image

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Rosa

age 4+

Spectacular illustrations spotlight Parks' historic protest.

By Nikki Giovanni

(2006)

(2006)

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I Have a Dream Book Poster Image

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I Have a Dream

age 6+

Stunning art amplifies meaning of King's words for kids.

By Kadir Nelson

(2013)

(2012)

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Let the Children March Book Poster Image

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Let the Children March

age 6+

Powerful art amplifies inspiring civil rights protest tale.

By Monica Clark-Robinson

(2019)

(2018)

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My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Book Poster Image

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My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

age 6+

Powerful, personal view of cvil rights leader, issues.

By Martin Luther King III

(2013)

(2013)

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The Youngest Marcher: The True Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Right Activist Book Poster Image

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The Youngest Marcher: The True Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Right Activist

age 6+

Charming, inspiring tale of 9-year-old protester.

By Cynthia Levinson

(2017)

(2017)

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The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth, and Harlem's Greatest Bookstore Book Poster Image

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The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth, and Harlem's Greatest Bookstore

age 7+

Lively tale of store that aided civil rights struggle.

By Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

(2016)

(2015)

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Frederick Douglass: The Lion Who Wrote History Book Poster Image

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Frederick Douglass: The Lion Who Wrote History

age 7+

Beautifully illustrated bio of abolition's greatest hero.

By Walter Dean Myers

(2017)

(2017)

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I Am Martin Luther King, Jr.: Ordinary People Change the World Book Poster Image

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I Am Martin Luther King, Jr.: Ordinary People Change the World

age 7+

Kid-friendly bio a strong, accessible intro to King's life.

By Brad Meltzer

(2016)

(2016)

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The Legendary Miss Lena Horne Book Poster Image

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The Legendary Miss Lena Horne

age 7+

Solid intro to singer, movie star, civil rights activist.

By Carole Boston Weatherford

(2017)

(2017)

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Hidden Figures Young Readers' Edition Book Poster Image

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Hidden Figures Young Readers' Edition

age 8+

Powerful true story of African American women at NASA.

By Margot Lee Shetterly

(2017)

(2016)

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Love Will See You Through: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Six Guiding Beliefs (As Told by His Niece) Book Poster Image

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Love Will See You Through: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Six Guiding Beliefs (As Told by His Niece)

age 8+

A heartfelt intro to King's peaceful protest movement.

By Angela Farris Watkins

(2015)

(2014)

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Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly Book Poster Image

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Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly

age 8+

Complex issues make this best for older kids.

By Walter Dean Myers

(2003)

(2000)

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My Name Is Truth: The Life of Sojourner Truth Book Poster Image

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My Name Is Truth: The Life of Sojourner Truth

age 8+

Inspirational and informative intro to an American hero.

By Ann Turner

(2015)

(2015)

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Women Who Broke The Rules: Coretta Scott King Book Poster Image

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Women Who Broke The Rules: Coretta Scott King

age 8+

A detailed, accessible biography of a civil rights icon.

By Kathleen Krull

(2016)

(2016)

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Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America Book Poster Image

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Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America

age 9+

Captivating storytelling makes these heroes relatable.

By Andrea Davis Pinkney

(2013)

(2012)

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Martin Rising: Requiem for a King Book Poster Image

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Martin Rising: Requiem for a King

age 9+

Powerful poems examine the final months of MLK's life.

By Andrea Davis Pinkney

(2017)

(2018)

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Stella by Starlight Book Poster Image

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Stella by Starlight

age 9+

Compelling, nuanced tale of loving family under segregation.

By Sharon M. Draper

(2014)

(2015)

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Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement Book Poster Image

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Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement

age 9+

Frank, poetic picture book bio has dazzling art.

By Carole Boston Weatherford

(2016)

(2015)

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The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 Book Poster Image

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The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963

age 9+

A funny novel with a devastating emotional punch.

By Christopher Paul Curtis

(2004)

(1995)

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Betty Before X Book Poster Image

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Betty Before X

age 10+

Inspiring, intimate story of activist's early years.

By Ilyasah Shabazz, Renée Watson

(2018)

(2018)

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Becoming Kareem: Growing Up On and Off the Court Book Poster Image

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Becoming Kareem: Growing Up On and Off the Court

age 10+

Thoughtful memoir by basketball star and civil rights icon.

By Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Raymond Obstfeld

(2018)

(2017)

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Brown Girl Dreaming Book Poster Image

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Brown Girl Dreaming

age 10+

Captivating poems depict coming-of-age in tumultuous 1960s.

By Jacqueline Woodson

(2014)

(2014)

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The Lions of Little Rock Book Poster Image

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The Lions of Little Rock

age 10+

Poignant story of a shy girl who speaks for social justice.

By Kristin Levine

(2012)

(2012)

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Midnight Without a Moon Book Poster Image

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Midnight Without a Moon

age 10+

Exciting, must-read story of black teen in 1955 Mississippi.

By Linda Williams Jackson

(2017)

(2017)

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This Promise of Change: One Girl's Story in the Fight for School Equality Book Poster Image

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This Promise of Change: One Girl's Story in the Fight for School Equality

age 10+

Compelling, inspiring memoir of integrating Southern school.

By Jo Ann Allen Boyce, Debbie Levy

(2019)

(2019)

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Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the Selma Voting Rights March Book Poster Image

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Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the Selma Voting Rights March

age 10+

Vivid recollections of a teen girl in the Selma march.

By Lynda Blackmon Lowery, Elspeth Leacock, Susan Buckley

(2015)

(2015)

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Streetcar to Justice: How Elizabeth Jennings Won the Right to Ride in New York Book Poster Image

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Streetcar to Justice: How Elizabeth Jennings Won the Right to Ride in New York

age 10+

Inspiring story of resisting segregation in 1850s New York.

By Amy Hill Hearth

(2018)

(2018)

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Twelve Days in May: Freedom Ride 1961 Book Poster Image

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Twelve Days in May: Freedom Ride 1961

age 10+

Vivid photos, clear text bring heroic protest to life.

By Larry Dane Brimner

(2018)

(2018)

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I Have a Dream Book Poster Image

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I Have a Dream

age 11+

A treasured speech seen in a vibrant new light.

By Martin Luther King

(2003)

(1997)

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March Forward Girl: From Young Warrior to Little Rock Nine Book Poster Image

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March Forward Girl: From Young Warrior to Little Rock Nine

age 11+

Must-read memoir of a childhood in the segregated South.

By Melba Pattillo Beals

(2018)

(2018)

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One Crazy Summer Book Poster Image

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One Crazy Summer

age 11+

A gem, with strong girl characters, '60s black history.

By Rita Williams-Garcia

(2010)

(2010)

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The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights Book Poster Image

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The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights

age 11+

Little-known disaster gets overdue, in-depth treatment.

By Steve Sheinkin

(2014)

(2014)

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Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Book Poster Image

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Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

age 11+

Compelling tale of family facing racism in '30s Mississippi.

By Mildred D. Taylor

(2004)

(1976)

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Loving vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case Book Poster Image

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Loving vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case

age 12+

Powerful true tale of mixed-race couple's fight for justice.

By Patricia Hruby Powell

(2017)

(2017)

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March: Book One Book Poster Image

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March: Book One

age 12+

Powerful graphic novel captures spirit of desegregation.

By John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell

(2013)

(2013)

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Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice Book Poster Image

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Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

age 13+

Dramatic story of forgotten teen civil rights hero.

By Phillip M. Hoose

(2009)

(2009)

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