I’ll be reading these picture books about slavery and freedom aloud to all of my children during our family morning time next school year, right after breakfast. This is their favorite time of the day, and I love to offer up gorgeous stories for them to enjoy. I curated this book list to include variety, beautiful illustrations, unique and lesser-known stories, and a good mix of trial and triumph. Some of the books can easily be read in a single sitting, but you’ll want to enjoy others over several readings.

These books will be part of our lessons as we cover the 1800s: enslavement, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. Normally, I include these picture books about slavery and freedom as part of my larger time period post, but the one covering the 1800s is turning out to be impossibly long, so I’ve broken the picture books apart as their own post. The other books will be coming soon!

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases of these Black history picture books about slavery and freedom using these links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History by Schele Williams – This will be our first read of the new year because it’s a simple and proud introduction to African American history. It’s a quick read but communicates all that I want my children to be bathed in as we begin another year of studying picture books about slavery and freedom. “While your ancestors’ freedom was taken from them, their spirit was not: this book celebrates their accomplishments, acknowledges their sacrifices, and defines how they are remembered – and how their stories should be taught.”

The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones – This is another one that we’ll cover right at the beginning of the school year because it will remind my family of what led up to the period we’ll be diving into. In this book, a young student receives a family tree assignment in school, but she can only trace back three generations. Grandma gathers the whole family, and the student learns that 400 years ago, in 1619, their ancestors were stolen and brought to America by white slave traders. “But before that, they had a home, a land, a language. She learns how the people said to be born on the water survived.”

The Journey of York: The Unsung Hero of the Lewis and Clark Expedition by Hasan Davis – This is the story of York, the only enslaved person in Thomas Jefferson’s Corps of Discovery that included Captains Lewis and Clark and a crew of 28 men to chart a route from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean. “Too few voices have been heard from the many people who helped build this great nation. Too many stories have been ignored. It is time to recognize this man, his voice, and his story, for the contribution and sacrifices he made.”

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill – This is a quick read that covers an important story. It tells the story of David Drake, an American potter and enslaved African American who produced alkaline-glazed stoneware jugs between the 1820s and the 1870s in South Carolina. My older children were really excited to see his actual work at the Atlanta History Center after reading this book, so check your local museums to see if they have anything of his on display.

Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton by Don Tate – This powerful biography tells of the first southern African American man to be published, and it’s5 an inspiring and moving story of talent and determination. Read additional biographical information and some of Horton’s actual poems here: George Moses Horton.

The Old African – This book was written and illustrated by a dynamic duo, superstars within the literary world. Julius Lester passed away in 2018, and we lost Jerry Pinkney just last year, so this book is a treasure. Based on legend but infused with magical realism, this haunting tale gives new language to the horrors of slavery while highlighting the hope and strength that manage to overcome its grip.

The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver – We have several wonderful books about Carver, but I chose this special one for our upcoming study because none of my kids have read it yet. “Gene Barretta’s moving words and Frank Morrison’s beautiful paintings tell the inspiring life and history of George Washington Carver, from a baby born into slavery to celebrated botanist, scientist, and inventor. His passion and determination are the seeds to this lasting story about triumph over hardship—a tale that begins in a secret garden.”

The Listeners by Gloria Whelan – I included this story about a little girl named Ella Mae because it’s a poignant story that brings to life the heartbreaking reality of what life as a slave was like for the youngest members of society. Slaves “had no control over the circumstances of their daily lives or futures. But they could dream. And when the promise of freedom is spoken, the children are the first to hear it.”

Lift Your Light a Little Higher by Heather Henson – This lesser-known story tells of enslaved Mammoth Cave (Kentucky) explorer Stephen Bishop and how he guided people through the world’s largest cave system in a remarkable homage to the resilience of human nature. It is a particularly interesting story for my kids because we visited Mammoth Cave during our last road trip to visit grandparents. “Down here, beneath the earth… he’s a pioneer. He knows the cave’s twists and turns. It taught him to not be afraid of the dark.”

Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story by Janet Halfmann – In this true account of an unsung American hero, our children will learn how in the early hours of May 13, 1862, in the midst of the deadly U.S. Civil War, an enslaved man named Robert Smalls impersonated the captain of a ship as he and his crew passed heavily armed Confederate forts to enter Union territory, where escaped slaves were given shelter.

The Women Who Caught The Babies: A Story of African American Midwives – Written by legendary children’s author and poet Eloise Greenfield (passed away in 2021) and illustrated by one of my favorite illustrators, E.B. Lewis, this book highlights important aspects of the training and work of African American midwives and the ways in which they have helped, and continue to help, so many families by “catching” their babies at birth. The blend of Greenfield’s poetry and Minter’s art evokes heartfelt appreciation of the abilities of Black midwives over the course of time.

Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson –  Not only is this a beautiful story with amazing illustrations woven into “quilted” pages, but it’s written by an award-winning living author that our children need to know. “Soonie’s family makes Show Ways – quilts with secret meanings that are maps to freedom. Her family tells stories of bravery that inspire courage, and each generation passes on to the next the belief that there is a road to a better place.”

Seeking Freedom: The Untold Story of Fortress Monroe and the Ending of Slavery in America by Selene Castrovilla – This suspenseful tale reveals how two men’s brave stand meant eventual freedom to thousands of African Americans and led President Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Includes eight pages of helpful background information at the end of the story. This is a story that I haven’t seen told in a children’s book, so I’m really excited about including this new release in my lesson plans.

Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan – This is another new release that I couldn’t wait to get my hands on because I really enjoy Duncan’s work. Black activist Opal Lee had a vision of Juneteenth as a holiday for everyone. This true story celebrates Black joy and inspires children to see their dreams blossom. Growing up in Texas, Opal knew the history of Juneteenth, but she soon discovered that many Americans had never heard of the holiday. Join Opal on her historic journey to recognize and celebrate “freedom for all.”

The Buffalo Soldier by Sherry Garland – I appreciate this story because it’s difficult to find much on this topic for children. Buffalo soldiers were African American soldiers who mainly served on the Western frontier following the American Civil War. In 1866, six all-Black cavalry and infantry regiments were created after Congress passed the Army Organization Act. Warning: There are parts of this book that seem unrealistic to me, particularly this page. I find it hard to believe that a free man was interested in giving an update on his new life to his former master. However, it’s otherwise a good book and a rare find, so I still recommend it along with plenty of discussion.

Beautiful Shades of Brown: The Art of Laura Wheeler Waring by Nancy Churnin – Laura Wheeler Waring was an American artist and educator, best known for her paintings of prominent African Americans that she made during the Harlem Renaissance. Because she worked in the 1900s, I could have saved this one for the following school year when we focus on that time period, but she was born in 1887 so I choose to include her in our 1800s books. This book uniquely demonstrates some of the differences in life experiences for Black people born in the late 1800s vs. before or just after the Civil War.

Now Let Me Fly: The Story of a Slave Family by Dolores Johnson – A young girl describes how she once heard the sound of warning drums in Africa signaling the coming of horror. Kidnapped, made to march while chained, and taken to America to be sold at an auction, she undergoes the brutalities of slavery in this tale of a strong-willed girl who lives in harsh surroundings.

Sky Sash So Blue by Libby Hathorn – “Susannah has a treasure: a beautiful blue sash all her own. But there’s an even bigger secret. Susannah’s older sister is getting married — married to a free black man.” This story of a wedding gown stitched together from rags and patches and of a family whose love holds them together in slavery and in freedom features exceptional collages by the American artist Benny Andrews.

Ellen’s Broom by Kelly Starling Lyons – This book focuses on a young girl who learns a new meaning for freedom during the time of Reconstruction. “Ellen always knew the broom resting above the hearth was special. Before it was legal for her mother and father to officially be married, the broom was what made them a family anyway. But now all former slaves who had already been married in their hearts could register as lawful husband and wife.”

The People Remember by Ibi Zoboi – We’ll wrap up our study the same way that we started it, with a sumptuously illustrated lyrical story of survival, joy, celebration, and innovation of Black people in America. This book “begins in Africa, where people were taken from their homes and families. They spoke different languages and had different customs. Forced onto ships sailing into an unknown future, these people had to learn one common language and create a culture that combined their memories of home with new traditions.”

There are numerous picture books about slavery and freedom that we can enjoy with our children, and I’ve included many of them in various Heritage Packs that you’ll find in my shop. You can get two Heritage Packs as FREE bonuses when you preorder my book, A Place to Belong by May 17th, 2022.