Black boys engaged in everyday and extraordinary moments are celebrated in this collection of short stories that also includes a poem and a comic. A three-part framing story invokes magic in the collection of joy, while other entries find joy in a diverse spectrum of moments that range from perfecting one’s first day of school look to skateboarding during the pandemic and competing in an intergalactic race. Families, friends, and neighborhood communities often play important roles in these boys’ lives. A welcome mix of voices and styles offers adventure, humor, and poignant connection to young readers. (Ages 8-12)

THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • FIVE STARRED REVIEWS

Celebrate the joys of Black boyhood with stories from seventeen bestselling, critically acclaimed Black authors—including Jason Reynolds, Jerry Craft, and Kwame Mbalia.

★ "Pick up Black Boy Joy for a heavy dose of happiness." —Booklist, starred review

Black boy joy is…
 
Picking out a fresh first-day-of-school outfit.
Saving the universe in an epic intergalactic race.
Finding your voice—and your rhymes—during tough times.
Flying on your skateboard like nobody’s watching.
 
And more! From seventeen acclaimed Black male and non-binary authors comes a vibrant collection of stories, comics, and poems about the power of joy and the wonders of Black boyhood.

Contributors include: B. B. Alston, Dean Atta, P. Djèlí Clark, Jay Coles, Jerry Craft, Lamar Giles, Don P. Hooper, George M. Johnson, Varian Johnson, Kwame Mbalia, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Tochi Onyebuchi, Julian Randall, Jason Reynolds, Justin Reynolds, DaVaun Sanders, and Julian Winters