Non-Fiction#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice |
2022 |
Buy |
| Who Got Game? Basketball |
2024 |
Buy |
| Who Got Game?: Basketball |
2024 |
Buy |
Picture Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Just For You! Low-down Bad-day Blues |
2004 |
Buy |
| Just For You!: Stop, Drop, And Chill |
2004 |
Buy |
| The King of Kindergarten |
2019 |
Buy |
| King of the Classroom |
2020 |
Buy |
| The Queen of Kindergarten |
2022 |
Buy |
| Like Lava in My Veins |
2023 |
Buy |
| Santa’s Gotta Go! |
2023 |
Buy |
| I Got You |
2025 |
Buy |
Ruby and the Booker Boys Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Brand New School, Brave New Ruby |
2008 |
Buy |
| Ruby and the Booker boys |
2008 |
N/A |
| Trivia Queen, 3rd Grade Supreme |
2008 |
Buy |
| Slumber Party Payback |
2008 |
Buy |
| Ruby Flips For Attention |
2009 |
Buy |
Standalone Novels#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Making of Dr. Truelove |
2006 |
Buy |
| We Could Be Brothers |
2010 |
Buy |
| Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut |
2017 |
Buy |
| I Am Every Good Thing |
2020 |
Buy |
| The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze |
2025 |
Buy |
Derrick Barnes writes children’s books that center Black joy and everyday family life. He is best known for the Ruby and the Booker Boys series, which follows a spunky third grader and her older brothers through school adventures and family moments. His picture books, including the Caldecott Honor winner Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, celebrate confidence and self-worth in young Black children.
Barnes has been writing since 2004, starting with the Just For You! early reader series. Over the years his work has picked up multiple awards and earned praise for its warmth and humor. Whether he is writing a chapter book about sibling rivalries or a picture book about a child’s first day of kindergarten, his stories feel genuine and full of energy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has Derrick Barnes written?
Derrick Barnes has written 21 books across four series.
What was Derrick Barnes's first book?
Derrick Barnes’s first book is Just For You! Low-down Bad-day Blues, published in 2004.
What age group are Derrick Barnes's books written for?
Most of his books are aimed at early readers and middle grade children, roughly ages 5 to 10. His picture books work well for younger kids, while the Ruby and the Booker Boys chapter books are best for second through fourth graders.