6 Black Panther Books to Read Even If You Haven't Seen The Movie
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“But we were supposed to be exceptional.”
”Wakanda is exceptional, Baba. And now, more than ever, we need someone to remind us.”
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So you saw the movie, right? It's been one of the most anticipated movies of the past few years and it was released this past weekend. My girls are way too young to see it, but that doesn't mean they can't enjoy the story of a kingdom populated with Black people. Everyone should get a chance to get to know T'Challa and his story. Here are six books or series for the young or young at heart to get to know the Black Panther and Wakanda even of you can't or haven't seen the movie.
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Stand Alone Books
Marvel's Black Panther: The Little Golden Book
Ages 2-5
The Little Golden books are geared to children under seven. It's illustrated in classic animation style and a great way to introduce the story and history to your little ones.
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Black Panther: The Young Prince by Ronald L. Smith
Middle Grades
Before he is king of Wakanda, 12-year-old T'Challa is a real rule-breaker. So his father, the king, sends him to school in Chicago. But things aren't as easy as T'Challa tried to navigate his new surroundings in America, holding on to his secrets, and solving a mystery of all the strange things that start to happen around him.
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Mavel's Black Panther: The Junior Novel by Jim McCann
Middle Grades
Unlike the Little Golden book or The Young Prince, this book is based on the plot of the 2018 movie. T'Challa, with the help of the Dora Milaje and the C.I.A., must defend his kingdom from a new threat.
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Series
Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Graphic Novel
T'Challa comes back to his kingdom to find that it's under siege. Can he stop the group that wants to turn Wakanda upside down? Written by Ta-Nehisi Coates (Between the World and Me), the art is beautiful and the language is towering. But if you're not familiar with the character, it might take a reading or two to settle into the plot.
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Black Panther: World of Wakanda by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Roxane Gay, Yona Harvey
Graphic Novel
This comic series focuses instead on the two women joining the Dora Milaje, the women trained to protect royalty of Wakanda. In addition to be recruited to the tasks force, Ayo and Aneka must navigate their love for each other. This stand alone series explores LGBT+ themes and is written by Roxane Gay (Hunger, Bad Feminist).
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Black Panther: Long Live the King by Nnedi Okorafor
Graphic Novel
T'Challa is the Black Panther and an Avenger. But he is still the king of Wakanda and must help his people as they face a monster destroying their country. Their is already turmoil from a recent revolution and the king may have more on his plate than he can handle. Written by Nnedi Okorafor (Binti, Akata Witch).
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About the Author
Black & Bookish is the brainchild of Antoinette Scully, educator and lover of all things bookish. She is on a quest to fill your bookshelves with beloved authors of the African Diaspora. When she's not hanging out on line, she's living it up as the mother of two rambunctious girls and wife of a local filmmaker.