Derrick Barnes Books in Order

In this early reader, a boy has one irritating problem after another at school and feels his temper rising. Rhyming text guides him toward a calmer, smarter way to handle his anger.

One gloomy day seems to go wrong from the start, and a young boy sinks deeper into his bad mood. This early reader follows how a rough day feels, and how a change in outlook can help.

After his own insecurity wrecks things with his girlfriend, Diego reinvents himself as an anonymous online advice expert. His plan to win Roxy back gets messier and funnier as his secret persona starts taking over his real life.

Ruby Booker starts third grade at the same school as her three famously popular older brothers. She is determined to make her own mark, even if that means finding courage before the first bell rings.

Ruby plans the perfect pink sleepover, with one extra goal, getting even with her prank-loving brother Roosevelt. Her revenge mission sounds simple, but family chaos has a way of changing the plan.

Ruby is sure she can win her school's animal trivia contest and earn zoo passes for her whole grade. To pull it off, she will need confidence, focus, and maybe a little help from her very competitive family.

Ruby Booker decides a drill team might be her ticket to attention and applause. But as she chases flips, fame, and a little cousin-inspired glamour, she starts learning there are better reasons to stand out.

Robeson Battlefield and Pacino Clapton come from very different homes, but a stretch in after-school suspension pushes them together. As they deal with school trouble, pride, and pressure, they begin to build an unexpected friendship.

A fresh haircut transforms an ordinary barbershop visit into a celebration of confidence, style, and Black boy joy. Written like a poem, this picture book captures that extra swagger that comes from feeling good in your own skin.

A little boy heads into his first day of kindergarten feeling like royalty. With support from home and excitement for every new moment, he turns a big milestone into a joyful, confidence-building adventure.

This lyrical picture book celebrates Black boyhood through a chorus of bold, loving affirmations. Its young narrator is playful, creative, brave, and sometimes vulnerable too, reminding readers to see him, and others like him, clearly and fully.

This edition follows a confident little boy through his first day at school, from breakfast at home to new friends in class. His royal imagination turns nerves into excitement and makes the whole day feel like an adventure.

MJ heads to her first day of kindergarten wearing fresh braids, a sparkly tiara, and plenty of confidence. As she meets her class and helps out all day, she shows that being a queen means kindness, courage, and joy.

In this graphic memoir, Tommie Smith looks back on his journey from rural Texas to Olympic gold in 1968. Derrick Barnes helps tell the story behind Smith's raised-fist protest, and the cost of standing up for justice.

Bobby Beacon arrives at a new school with fiery powers and an even hotter temper. When the adults around him respond in very different ways, he learns that understanding, care, and self-control can be powerful forms of strength.

Monte and Mabel think having Santa stay at their house sounds like the best Christmas surprise ever. Then the coolest man at the North Pole proves to be a truly terrible houseguest.

This lively nonfiction collection digs into legends, records, and overlooked pioneers who helped shape the game. Barnes mixes humor, quick facts, and sharp storytelling to make sports history feel fresh and fun.

Rasheed adores his big brother Anthony, who teaches him everything from puddle play to bike riding. When growing up starts changing their bond, Rasheed learns that love can stay steady even when brothers need space.

Henson Blayze is a gifted Black boy trying to move through a world that keeps reducing him to what it wants from him. Blending present-day story, folklore, and social commentary, the novel asks what it really means to be seen as fully human.