Jabari Asim Books in Order

Newly freed in 1865, ten year old Ezra and his father leave their North Carolina plantation to seek a life of their own. Their journey through Reconstruction tests what freedom means when survival, education and work remain uncertain.

A little girl accompanies her father to the office and joins in his working day. Seeing his routines from a child's perspective turns an ordinary workplace visit into a shared experience of helping, learning and spending time together.

A playful guessing rhyme celebrates a brown baby's knees and the joy of affectionate family play. LeUyen Pham's illustrations accompany a read-aloud designed for parents and children to enjoy together, with the child at its center.

Inspired by a familiar toe-counting game, this rhyming board book invites readers to admire a brown baby's feet. Warm illustrations and playful questions turn an everyday parent-child interaction into a celebration of affection and belonging.

Asim traces a racial slur through four centuries of American history, examining its role in culture, institutions, and everyday speech. He considers arguments over who uses it and why its legacy continues to shape racial inequality.

Asim examines the cultural and political changes behind Barack Obama's rise and the significance of his election. Connecting the moment to wider shifts in American society, he considers what it reveals about race, representation and the country's future.

Sixteen linked stories follow residents of Gateway City during the upheavals of 1968. Love, adolescence, parenting, and everyday ambitions unfold alongside police violence and the civil-rights struggle, revealing how national crises enter intimate lives.

A little boy imagines playing among the stars before his mother tucks him into bed. Rhyming language and a luminous night sky carry the story from playful adventure toward a reassuring wish for sweet dreams.

Cradled by her father, a baby girl imagines a moonlit adventure above lush gardens. This rhyming bedtime story combines affectionate family closeness with a dreamlike journey inspired by the rhythm of a familiar lullaby.

Born into slavery and determined to learn, young Booker T. Washington sets out for Hampton Institute after emancipation. His long journey, much of it on foot, leads toward education with only fifty cents left in his pocket.

In a Midwestern Black community during the 1970s, a former enforcer and his crime-boss employer both contemplate quieter lives. Their relationships, along with a young woman's ambitions, unfold amid social change and the continuing threat of violence.

Young John Lewis dreams of becoming a preacher and discovers his first congregation among the chickens on his family's farm. Caring for the flock lets him practice the voice and conviction that later shape his public life.

This illustrated introduction traces African American history from the slave trade through the civil rights movement and beyond. Profiles of political leaders, artists, athletes, and activists connect major events with the people who shaped American life.

Eight essays explore Black survival, creativity, and community against a long history of racism. Combining personal reflection with cultural criticism, Asim considers family, storytelling, the body, and the power of Black people to define their own experience.

A baby discovers the pleasures of Christmas, from bright candy canes and ringing bells to falling snow. Rhyming text and cheerful illustrations invite very young readers to share the sensory excitement of the holiday.

A baby explores the delights of Halloween through autumn air, glowing pumpkins, and sweet treats. Rhythmic verse and colorful pictures introduce familiar seasonal experiences in a gentle celebration intended for babies and toddlers.

Paper hearts, roses, kisses, and cuddles introduce a baby to Valentine's Day. This rhyming board book follows the small discoveries and affectionate rituals that make the celebration meaningful for very young children and their families.

These poems confront racism, police violence, and the repeated denial of injustice in American life. Drawing energy from news and the blues, Asim examines the human costs of entrenched power and the demand for a reckoning.

Young Langston longs to meet Muhammad Ali when the champion visits a local school. Turned away at the door, he draws on the confidence and courage Ali inspires to pursue the encounter he has imagined.

Enslaved people at Placid Hall build love, friendship, and private rituals beneath a brutal owner's control. A visiting minister's talk of freedom forces them to consider whether escape is possible and whom they can trust with their hopes.