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Writer's pictureRachael Nicole Turner

5 AMAZING BLACK CHILDREN'S BOOK BRANDS IN CHICAGO

Updated: Feb 20, 2023






Get to know amazing Black authors and add their books to your child's library!




Author: Kenyatta Scott


The Violet Book Series



About: Meet Violet! Violet is six years old. She is a spunky little girl who is navigating her way through the world with the help of her 3-year-old brother Derek and her family and friends. Violet learns a lot from and really enjoys Daddy-Daughter time. She likes to do lots of fun things and will try almost anything once. She is excited about her life!

Violet Finds a Dollar is the first of The Violet Book Series created by author Kenyatta Scott. This book was featured on WCIU-TV, celebrating diversity in children’s literature. The underlying moral theme focuses on integrity.






Author: Raymond R. Smith


Righteous Ray-Ray Book Series



About: Righteous Ray-Ray is an example of a child that is secure with himself, has a positive mindset, is respectful at all times, and has goals and dreams. Righteous Ray-Ray thinks through and tries to respond to situations the right way. This is a child that many children do not get the opportunity to meet and I want them to have this opportunity so that maybe they’ll begin to think & act righteously.





Author: Victoria Watkins


"Little Valarie and Her Big World of Options"



About: Little Valarie and Her Big World of Options is a story about a little girl who goes to school and starts to dream big. She was always eager and energized to learn, and based on her love for numbers, she inquires with her teacher on what she can be when she grows up, based on this passion. She hears a very cool list of options and is even more excited about her future. She sees the world's many options as hers.







Author: Whit Devereaux


"The Girl with the Crooked Smile"



About: Tela Geoffrey is a 10-year-old girl who has one wish and that's to be beautiful. Tela believes that she would be beautiful if it weren't for her crooked smile. After being teased by her school crush, she later discovers the power behind I Am, self-acceptance, and faith. Infused with diary entries, trips to the nurse's office, recess discoveries, and more - you will be inspired to embrace God's design in your own life!





Author: Pongee Barnes


Little Owners Book Series



About: The Little Owners Book Series helps parents and schools expose children to non-traditional and traditional entrepreneurship is at the cornerstone of our company. Our goal is to enlighten and enrich each child that reads our book with inspiration and an expanded paradigm of what’s possible.




You can find many more black authors in addition to programming and more via Burst Into Books founded by Jurema Gorham!


Burst Into Books


Literacy Resources and Activities




About: Burst Into Books is a nonprofit organization that is focused on rebuilding our village through advocacy, the arts, educational and family programming. Our mission is to empower the community through teaching cultural literacy, financial literacy, digital literacy, reading, and writing.

Burst Into Books is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on helping the youth deepen their love of reading by integrating the arts, providing opportunities for them to engage with literary experts and authors, providing a space for self-expression.

Our staple program is our monthly book club sessions in which we support the entire spectrum of the development of the child, from 6 months of age to 18 years old. Each group has been carefully created with a curriculum that is age-appropriate, culturally relevant, and academic driven. A reading guide/group leader and literacy expert guest are selected by the Founder and Executive Director, Jurema Gorham.


How can you support these amazing entrepreneurs? Click their website to learn more, join their mailing lists, follow them on social media, and (of course) buy some books!




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