In honor of April is Poetry month, here are just a few poetry books for and by children and young adults. Happy reading!
365 Black Books Samuel R. Delany Thursday
Also born April 1, is Samuel R. Delany, an award winning author. Although he may be known primarily for science fiction and fantasy, Samuel R. Delany writes about many subjects.
365 Black Books Jesmyn Ward Wednesday
Happy birthday Jesmyn Ward! Born April 1, 1977, Jesmyn Ward won the 2011 National Book Award for Fiction for her second novel Salvage the Bones. Other books are:
365 Black Books Michaela Angela Davis Tuesday
Happy birthday Michaela Angela Davis! Michaela Angela Davis is a writer on African-American style, race, gender and hip-hop culture in the United States. She is also a fashion expert and an “image activist.” Her memoir, Tenderheaded, tells how she view the world through the lens of race, gender, and culture.
365 Black Books Maryse Conde Monday
Born February 11, Maryse Conde was an author, scholar, and professor. She studied at Université de Paris III (Sorbonne Nouvelle), where she took her doctorate in Comparative Literature (1975) written under the direction of René Etiemble. Her research was on Black stereotypes in Caribbean literature. Her are just a few of her novels:
365 Black Books Pauline E. Hopkins Sunday
Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins was born in Portland, Maine in 1859. She was a playwright, journalist, novelist, historian, editor, feminist, public intellectual, supporter of the arts, and an outspoken crusader for African American rights. She is considered a pioneer in her use of the romantic novel to explore social and racial themes and is best known for her 1900 novel Contending Forces: A Romance of Negro Life North and South.
365 Black Books Ama Ata Aidoo Saturday
Born March 23, 1942, Ama Ata Aidoo was a Ghanaian author, poet, playwright, and professor who advocated for African women, African literature, and free education and literacy. She passed away in 2023. Some of her famous works:
365 Black Books John Mason Brewer Friday
Born March 24, 1896, John Mason Brewer was an African American folklorist, scholar, teacher, and author. He was a pioneer in the field of folklore and most of his folklore was centered around Texas.
365 Black Books Marlon James Thursday
Marlon James was the featured author at Marygrove’s Conservancy Contemporary American Author Lecture Series (CAALS). Born in Jamaica in 1970, Marlon James has written five novels, two of which have received awards. Black Leopard was the National Book Award finalist; A Brief History of Seven Killings received the Man Booker Award.
365 Black Books Toni Cade Bambara Wednesday
Born March 25, 1939, Toni Cade Bambara was a writer, teacher, and activist. She passed away in 1995. Here are some of her notable works:
The CamaraIfe Maktaba 