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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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