6 picture-book biographies of Black LGBTQ Americans In honor of Black History Month — but best read all year round — here are some of my favorite recent children’s biographies of famous Black LGBTQ Americans.
Brand new is the superb Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin, written by Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Jamiel Law (Harper Collins).
This blank verse biography honors Baldwin’s legacy in the rhythm of its text and offers young readers just enough detail to be informative without overwhelming.
It looks at Baldwin’s life from his childhood in Harlem through his outspoken and fearless work as a writer, and includes his romantic relationship with Swiss painter Lucien Happersberger.