BOOKS
Aretha Franklin, Fela Kuti to Donna Summer, Elton John to Michael Jackson—38 classic tunes reflect and encap- sulate the key historical moments of the 20th and 21st centuries. Boakye explores the roots and wider impact of these genres, their political and cultural impact and their ongoing legacy today.
Kacen Callender The Infinity Alchemist Faber, 6th February 2024, £8.99, PB, 9780571383832 Swoony romance meets epic fantasy as Ash Wood races to find the legendary Book of Source in Callender’s début YA fantasy.
The Black Issue 2023 Black Authors’ Preview
Poetry prompts from the Waterstones Children’s Laureate Coelho will help readers find their voice and inspire confidence.
Joseph Coelho Ten-Word Tiny Tales Walker, 3rd August, £14.99, HB, 9781529502688 From Coelho comes a compendium featuring 20 illustrated tiny tales, each only 10 words long.
Joseph Coelho; Allison Colpoys (illus) One Little Word Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 3rd August, £12.99, HB, 9780711279094 A touching story about the importance of friend- ship and the power of saying sorry.
Jennie Cashman-Wilson; Tomekah George (illus) Becoming Brave Little Tiger, 3rd August, £12.99, HB, 9781838914646 This picture book explores themes of love, grief and believing in yourself in a gentle and uplifting way.
Dhonielle Clayton The Memory Thieves Bonnier, 28th September, £7.99, PB, 9781800785502 In this fantasy adventure set in a global magic school in the sky, Ella, Jason and Brigit return for their second year at the Arcanum Training Institute for Marvelous and Uncanny Endeavors.
Trish Cooke; Sophie Bass (illus) The Magic Callaloo Walker, 4th April 2024, £12.99, HB, 9781529504880 Based on the fairy tale “Rapunzel”, this title tells the story of a magic callaloo plant that grants wishes.
Leon Diop &
Briana Fitzimons; Jessica Louis (illus) Black and Irish: Legends, Trailblazers and Everyday Heroes Little Island, 1st October, £11.99, PB, 9781915071231 A celebration of Black Irish identity that profiles inspirational public figures from past and present including Ruth Negga, Paul McGrath, author Emma Dabiri and Dami Hope of “Love Island”.
Walker, 2nd November, £12.99, HB,
9781529517811
Based on Giddens’ song “We Could Fly”, this story is inspired by Black folkloric traditions and the myth of “flying away” created by enslaved African Americans.
Marvyn Harrison; Rochelle Falconer (illus) The Best Me Macmillan Children’s Books, 15th June, £7.99, PB, 9781529083897 A book about self-care for preschoolers, written by the founder of Dope Black Dads.
Omar Epps & Clarence A Haynes Nubia: The Awakening PRH USA Children’s, 1st August, £10.99, PB, 9780593428672 From actor and producer Epps and writer Haynes comes a powerful saga of three teens, the children of refugees from a fallen African utopia, who must navigate their newfound powers in a climate-ravaged New York City.
Benjamin Dean How to Die Famous Simon & Schuster Children’s, 20th July, £8.99, PB, 9781398512573 A “deliciously dark and addictive” YA thriller following the lives of Gen Z’s rich and famous through the lens of an undercover teen journalist.
Ellie Clements
The Stupendous Sonny Bloomsbury Children’s, 20th July, £7.99, PB, 9781526638373 A commercial adventure story, for readers aged nine plus, about a boy who discovers he can move objects with his mind.
Joseph Coelho Poetry Prompts Wide Eyed Editions, 12th October, £9.99, PB, 9780711285118
40 26th May 2023
Natalie Denny; Chanté Timothy (illus) Keisha Jones Takes on the World Little Tiger, 3rd August, £6.99, PB, 9781788955980 A timely series with a fearless Black girl at its heart. Keisha is an empowering role model who is itching to stand up to the world.
Virginia W Dike Birds of our Land Cassava Republic, 13th June, £9.99, PB, 9781913175436 A child’s guide to West African birds explains the basic features of birds and key things to note in observing them.
Rachel Faturoti The Boy in the Smoke Hodder Children’s Books, 6th July, £7.99, PB, 9781444963588 About a boy and his dad dealing with the threat of eviction and a boy from the past who might be able to help.
Kereen Getten; Leah Jacobs-Gordon (illus) The Case of the Lighthouse Intruder Pushkin Children’s Books, 1st June, £7.99, PB, 9781782693901 The first in a new mystery series for young readers about a gang of kids who enthusiastically investigate cases on a small island off the coast of Jamaica.
Isi Hendrix Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans Usborne, 28th September, £12.99, HB,
9781803706542 Joining forces with a snarky goddess, a 500-year-old warrior girl and a status-obsessed soldier boy, Adia goes on a mission through hidden realms to save her kingdom.
Lenny Henry; Keenon Ferrell (illus) The Boy With Wings 2 Macmillan Children’s Books, 10th May, £12.99, HB, 9781529067897 An action-packed, middle- grade adventure from the much-loved comedian and actor.
Kim Johnson Invisible Son RH Childrens Books, 27th June, £15.99, HB, 9780593482100 A thriller about a wrongly accused teen desperate to reclaim both his innocence and his first love, for fans of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.
Nina LaCour; Kaylani Juanita (illus) Mama and Mummy and Me in the Middle Walker, 1st June, £7.99, PB, 9781529512519 A relatable story of a young girl who misses an absent parent and feels a pang of uncertainty when the parent returns.
Elnathan John Hassan & Hassana Cassava Republic, 18th July, £9.99, PB, 9781913175405 Hassan and Hassana are twins. For their eighth birthday, Hassan gets a bike and Hassana gets drums. Hassan’s friends tell him that girls can’t ride bikes, leaving him with an important deci- sion to make. Will he decide to share or will he let Hassana feel left out?
look at how science can help save the planet.
Patrice Lawrence; Diane Ewen (illus) Picture & Novelty Scholastic, 6th July, £7.99, PB, 9780702314971 A moving celebration of what it truly means to be family.
Patrice Lawrence, Charlotte Bronte Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre Walker, 4th January 2024, £7.99, PB, 9781529506624 The classic adult novel, abridged and retold for a brand new generation of middle-grade readers.
Stuart Lawrence & Ashley Hickson-Lovence; Simone Douglas (illus) Growing Up Black in Britain: Stories of Courage, Success and Hope Scholastic, 14th September, £12.99, PB, 9780702315855 Lawrence, brother of Stephen Lawrence, talks to seven inspirational Black figures about their childhood experiences.
Lenny Henry; Salomey Doku (illus) You Can Do Anything, Tyrone! Macmillan Children’s Books, 7th June, £12.99, HB, 9781529067798 This big-hearted picture book follows Tyrone, who wants to build a brilliant rocket ship out of building blocks and go on an adventure to the moon.
Rhiannon Giddens; Briana Mukodiri Uchendu (illus) We Could Fly
Lauren James Future Hopes: 8 stories about how today’s science can save tomorrow’s world Walker, 7th March 2024, £7.99, PB, 9781529507997 An anthology for middle- grade filled with stories from climate-change activists taking a positive
Oti Mabuse; Samara Hardy (illus) Dance With Oti: The Lion Samba Walker, 1st June, £7.99, PB, 9781529508765 An empowering story about “finding your inner roar” by dancer Mabuse.
Shade Lapite Goddess Crown Walker, 1st February 2024, £8.99, PB, 9781529503715 A début YA feminist fantasy, full of romance, danger and courtly intrigue.
Patrice Lawrence The Case of the Chaos Monster: An Elemental Detectives Adventure Scholastic, 14th September, £7.99, PB, 9780702315633 The Elemental Detectives are back to solve another mystery on the streets of multi-cultural 18th-century London.
Oti Mabuse; Samara Hardy (illus) Dance with Oti: The Penguin Waltz Walker, 2nd November, £7.99, PB, 9781529511062 This next adventure explores themes of friendship, trying new things and being creative with an underlying message to express and believe in yourself.
Oti Mabuse; Samara Hardy (illus) Dance with Oti: The Turtle Tango Walker, 4th April 2024, £7.99, PB, 9781529511055 It’s time for another
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