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Picture Books in Order
Below you'll find the complete list of Picture books in publication order. This is generally the recommended reading order for the series.
Reading order verified: March 2026
Quick Answer
What order should I read the Picture series? Start with "The Knee-High Man and Other Tales" (1972) and follow publication order through all 22 books.
The complete Picture reading order is listed below in publication sequence.
Publication Order

The Knee-High Man and Other Tales
1972

John Henry (With: Jerry Pinkney)
1994

Man Who Knew Too Much
1994

Sam and the Tigers (With: Jerry Pinkney)
1996

From Slave Ship to Freedom Road
1998

Black Cowboy, Wild Horses (With: Jerry Pinkney)
1998

What a Truly Cool World
1999

Albidaro and the Mischievous Dream (With: Jerry Pinkney)
2000

Ackamarackus
2001

The Blues Singers
2001

Why Heaven Is Far Away
2002

Let's Talk about Race
2005

The Old African (With: Jerry Pinkney)
2005

The Hungry Ghosts
2009

The Girl Who Saved Yesterday
2016

Black Folktales
1970

Two Love Stories
1972

Long Journey Home
1972

Who I Am
1974

This Strange New Feeling
1982

How Many Spots Does A Leopard Have?
1989

When the Beginning Began
1999
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