For Black History Month 2024, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is celebrating the Black experience in art, centering both Black artists and subjects. Historically, Black artists have and continue to create, shape, inspire, and pioneer visual arts, music, cultural movements and more. Join us as we honor the Black experience through book displays, resources, library programs and community events happening this February and throughout the year! Celebrate Black History Month with these book picks!

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If you need help using our Digital Media tools to access these selections, visit our Online Resources Support page.

If you’re looking for more book suggestions, we’re happy to recommend them to you! Use this Book Recommendation form to send us some information about what you like to read and we’ll curate a list just for you.

If you have any additional questions, you can call us at 412-622-3114 or email us at info@carnegielibrary.org. You can find additional ways to contact us on the Need Help? page.

In the Catalog

Cookies & Milk

Cookies & Milk

Shawn Amos

Eleven-year-old Ellis discovers family secrets, makes new friends, and adjusts to his parents’ recent divorce during a hijinks-filled summer helping his father open the world’s first chocolate chip cookie store in 1976 Hollywood.

From the Catalog
From Libby
New in Town

New in Town

Sharee Miller

Eager to make a good first impression at her new middle school, thirteen-year-old Charlie does her best to fit in until she meets a group of diverse Black girls who show her the importance of authenticity.

From the Catalog
From Libby
Hands

Hands

Torrey Maldonado

Twelve-year-old Trevor has an adult problem to deal with: how to protect himself, his sisters, and his mother from his abusive stepfather (currently in prison) and he thinks the way to do that is to take up boxing–although he would really rather draw.

From the Catalog
Indigo and Ida

Indigo and Ida

Heather Murphy Capps

Indigo, an eighth-grade investigative reporter, is torn between fighting a racist school policy and keeping her friends–until she discovers a series of letters written by Black journalist and activist Ida B. Wells.

From the Catalog
From Libby
From Hoopla
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day

Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day

Kelly J. Baptist

Now in middle school, Isaiah Dunn participates in a mentoring program, but he has a hunch that his mentee–a troublemaking third-grader name Kobe–has a secret and Isaiah is determined to get to the bottom of it.

From the Catalog
It's Not Bragging If It's True

It’s Not Bragging If It’s True

Zaila Avant-garde

Kids will be inspired to embrace their inner weirdness and persevere through obstacles after reading this empowering collection of true stories from teenage Scripps National Spelling Bee champ and Guinness World Record holder Zaila Avant-garde.

From the Catalog
From Libby
The Many Fortunes of Maya

The Many Fortunes of Maya

Nicole D. Collier

Always turning to a cardboard circle covered with wisdom she’s collected from fortune cookies, 12-year-old Maya must find the courage to write her own fortune to answer her deep-down questions.

From the Catalog
From Hoopla
The Order of Things

The Order of Things

Kaija Langley

Eleven-year-old April must come to terms with the sudden death of her best friend, Zee.

From the Catalog
The Rhythm of Time

The Rhythm of Time

Questlove

After accidentally traveling back in time and rewriting the future, twelve-year-old best friends Rahim and Kasia must work together to restore their timeline.

From the Catalog
Rosa Parks & Claudette Colvin

Rosa Parks & Claudette Colvin

Civil Rights Heroes

Tracey Baptiste

Introduces readers to two brave Black women who stood up against segregation, setting in motion the Montgomery Bus Boycott and showing the nation how positive change can start with a single defiant act. Presented in comic book format.

From the Catalog
A Year of Black Joy

A Year of Black Joy

52 Black Voices Share Their Life Passions

An uplifting and empowering illustrated anthology of joyful contributions from 52 contemporary Black voices, including chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley, scientist Dr. Raven the Science Maven, and award-winning author Patrice Lawrence.

From the Catalog
From Hoopla
Young, Gifted and Black, Too

Young, Gifted and Black, Too

Jamia Wilson

Celebrates the lives of 52 more leaders, heroes, sportspeople, and artists of color from around the world.

From the Catalog