12 Christmas Books for Black Families
I am never ready for Christmas, like NEVER. Every single December sneaks up on me. But this year we were able to compile a list of 12 great books to read to your Black children, or really any child. This list includes some books we own and others that we get from the library each December. In our house we don’t do Santa Claus, but that doesn’t keep us from reading books about him, the kids know he isn’t real, which allows for lots of laughter as we see different Santas in many of these stories. As always please leave a comment below if you think we need to add a title to our list! We hope you enjoy this time of year, and remember the TRUE reason for the season.
Affiliate disclaimer. There may be affiliate links in this post, that allow me to get a small portion of commission, but you are not charged an additional amount.
1. Carla and the Christmas Cornbread by Carla Hall Illustrations by Cherise Harris
Carla and her younger sister travel to their grandparents house for Christmas Eve. After special dinner with her grandpa Doc and Granny, Carla eats a cookie for dessert, not realizing it was the cookie for Santa. Before Carla can get too down on herself, Granny gets out the ingredients for cornbread. They make a small pan of cornbread for Santa and set it by his glass of milk. Do you think Santa enjoys cornbread as much as cookies? Read and find out.
2. The Biggest Little Boy A Christmas Story written by Poppy Harlow and illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki. Luca likes everything to be BIG. He decides he needs the biggest Christmas tree around to spark some Christmas magic. But maybe the size of the tree isn’t important…
3. The Wishing Tree by Meika Hashimoto and Illustrated by Xindi Yan
It’s almost Christmas and Theo doesn’t see any Christmas cheer coming near. After writing a letter to Santa he finds a special tree at the edge of the forest that delivers messages to him on little notecards. The notes inspire him to stir up some Christmas cheer for his family and neighbors and sparks a new tradition for them all.
4. The All-I’ll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll by Patricia C. McKissack, Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney.
I can remember my mom reading us books as children that were illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, and I love his life like illustrations. I don’t think this was one of the books she read to us, but it is a great one and for the past two years my children have heard this story. This is for every child that thought that all they need was that one special toy and they would NEVER want another toy again. 3 sisters growing up in the Depression Era are gifted one beautiful doll for Christmas, but when one sister claims that the doll is only for her, watch how this toy doesn’t bring true joy. She finds the joy somewhere else…
5. Jackie’s Gift: A true story of Christmas, Hanukkah and Jackie Robinson written by Sharon Robinson illustrated by E. B. Lewis
E. B. Lewis is one of the most talented children’s illustrators that I’ve come across, I decided to learn more about him since we enjoyed to many of his books. I encourage you to go to his website and browse the list of books he’s illustrated, it’s astounding. Jackie’s Gift was inspired by a true story which the author notes on the final page. A young Jewish boy, Steve, is a baseball fanatic and becomes neighbors with the famed Jackie Robinson. Steve grows closer with the family and helps them decorate a Christmas tree, when Steve makes a comment that he doesn’t have a tree, Jackie fixes that problem. Not realizing that Steve’s family in Jewish, a tree is delivered to their home compliment of Mr. Robinson. This book gently approaches topics a racism, Christianity and Judaism all wrapped with a Christmas bow.
6. Chita’s Christmas Tree written by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard and illustrated by Floyd Cooper. This story is based on the author’s recounting of the real Chita, her own cousin. Chita is the young daughter of a doctor and the weekend before Christmas she and her father ride into the woods to find their Christmas tree. Set in an affluent neighborhood of Baltimore, this heartwarming story shows scenes of horse drawn carriages, sugar cookies and a grand Christmas Eve family feast. Each time I read this book, my heart soars, because it portrays African Americans in the early 1900s living happily in a urban setting.
7. Mim’s Christmas Jam by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
If you’ve never heard of “belly-hum” jam join the club, it was a secret recipe passed down by slaves according to Mim. This story is set in 1915, during the construction of the New York Subway system. The father in our story is away digging the tunnel for the subway and will not be home for Christmas. The family sends their father a jar of “belly-hum” jam for Christmas and boy does he need it because it looks like he will be digging in that tunnel even on Christmas Day. Read how a simple jar a jam saves Christmas for this sweet family and try your hand at the recipe in the back of the book.
8. The Nutcracker in Harlem by T.E. McMorrow, Illustrated by James Ransome
This retelling of the classic “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King “tale is really a treat to share with my kids, because while they have seen nutcrackers around Christmas, they do not know the story outside of the one told here. With a black angel on the tree and sweet potato pie I hope my children can see themselves dancing with the sugar plum fairies all throughout the night.
9. Under the Christmas Tree by Nikki Grimes and Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
In case you didn’t know, Nikki Grimes in a poet, artist, singer, dancer, teacher and more accurately a “jane of all trades”*. This book looks at all the different elements of our Christmas traditions that make the day beautiful. Whether it’s ice skating or decorating the tree, attending a candlelight service or eating a turkey dinner. The pages can be read as individual poems or you can string them together like the Christmas lights.
*”Jane of all trades” is a quote from https://www.nikkigrimes.com/bio.html
10. The Real Santa by Nancy Redd, Illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
What does the real Santa look like? This young boy sees pictures of Santa everywhere he goes, on sweaters, on cars and on ornaments. On Christmas Eve he and his sister open one gift to find a Black Santa Claus to add to the fireplace mantle. But with all these Santas, how can he know what the real Santa looks like? Read more to find out…
11. Christmas Makes Me Think by Tony Medina Illustrated by Chandra Cox
Great for children who are in the rhyming stage of reading. Your young readers will relate to this child’s colorful thoughts as he thinks about Christmas. Watching more TV, helping make desserts and bright presents that’s what Christmas is about, right? But wait, what if we didn’t chop down so many pine trees or prepare so much food for our Christmas meal, could we do a better job at Christmas of conserving and helping others? This book leaves us with lots to think about and ways we can help others at Christmas time.
12. An Angel Just Like Me by Mary Hoffman Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
The scene opens with a familiar setting, a family decorating a Christmas tree. The young boy Tyler wants to know if there is a black angel for him to put on his Christmas tree. He goes on a search for an angel that looks like him, but cannot find one in any of the shops. He discusses his dilemma with a Black Santa Claus, who agrees, that there should be Black angels. Tyler settles for a gold star to put atop of his tree…but on Christmas day he gets a special delivery from Santa…can you guess what it is?