Names, descriptors, and titles have power and when used the wrong way, they can help make young Black children feel defeated. But, when framed positively, they can help those same minds imagine a world where they are free to be their truest and best selves.

When our name is mispronounced, it's no longer ours. When words are used as praise for some but slights for others, it can be frustrating and confusing. When certain achievements are said to be unattainable due to the color of our skin, our deepest hopes for our world and selves can feel like a distant star. 

It's never too early to speak life and power into children through carefully chosen words. Using language that inspires and uplifts them, along with images of people who look like them, can nudge them down a path where their value is nourished and apparent to them.

If you're looking for illustrated children's books to help you reinforce positive messaging, here’s a quick list of three picture books written by Black authors with thoughtful and timely stories that your little ones will love.

Your Name is a Song

When naming your child with a word that’s as unique as they are, it's a source of pride to have that name pronounced with the rhythm you intended. In Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrated by Luisa Uribe, a young Black American girl from a Muslim family is disheartened by her name repeatedly being mispronounced. Throughout the story, she and her family begin to dance along to the musicality of African, Asian, African-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names. (There’s a guided pronunciation of each name in the book as well as a link in the back that takes you to a video with the audio pronunciation of each of the names.) This story can help young children confidently replace the response of 'that's okay' with the correct pronunciation of their name when someone has trouble saying it.

Ambitious Girl

For the first time since the U.S. democracy was established 2.5 centuries ago, we witnessed a woman of color sworn into the second-highest position in the nation. Throughout Kamala Harris's life, her mother counteracted the doubts society threw at her with words reaffirming that anything she wanted was reachable. The strength of the women in the Harris family defying racial, patriarchal, and societal barriers inspired the book Ambitious Girl, written by the Vice President's niece Meena Harris (whom Jesse Byrd attended high school with) and illustrated by Marissa Valdez. This work helps reframe girls being 'too ambitious' as something to be encouraged and fueled vs. tamed.

A Message From the Editor: Our team at Jesse B. Creative is committed to creating authentically-diverse children’s books that aim to increase connection, understanding, empathy, and perspective across difference.

Each story we create ensures that members from the group reflected on the page are an essential part of the story’s development (to better avoid appropriation and guarantee equity gets to the communities represented in the narrative). You can add some of our award-winning children’s books to your family, school, or library collection here.

All Because You Matter

The images and messaging children consume (whether consciously or subconsciously) can send the message that the world can not only be a place that's against them but out to get them. All Because You Matter is a lyrical lullaby and love letter to Black children written by Tami Charles and illustrated by award-winning artist Bryan Collier. No matter what's happening around them, each moment of children's lives deserves to be celebrated and this book helps young readers tap into the power and strength of the history, culture, and resilience of the Black community. 

Just like the words at our disposal to inspire children, the possibilities of who they can be, what they can create, and the impact they can have on the world are endless.