What was your favorite children’s book growing up? An often underscored facet of the Black experience is the sheer joy written texts brought us as kids. The beauty of children’s books is that they give kids the permission to dream and imagine as big as they want.

The world may be crumbling now, but it’s nice to know this generation of children has access to wonderful literary works, too. From Ashanti to Kelly Rowland, so many authors ensure that this next generation will be well-read, and it’s a fantastic feeling. Check out our list of eight children’s books that Black children should read today.