Recommended Books

Jamaica Library Service

Caribbean Books All Jamaican Children Should Read: A Select List

Criteria for Selection : The books are arranged according to age groups and were selected based on the following criteria:

• Representative of the Jamaican and Caribbean culture
• Notable children’s favourites
• Reflect the unique experiences of children
• Of intrinsic literary and artistic value
• Appropriate for the intended age levels

0 – 5 Years
1. Bent, Jana…et al. Shaggy Parrot and the Reggae Band. Kingston: KQC Enterprises, 2008.
2. Browne, Diane. Peter’s New Bat. Oxford: Heinemann Educational, 2007
3. Campbell, Al. A is for Ackee: A Jamaican Alphabet. Spanish Town,
   Jamaica: Sunzone, 2003.
4. A Caribbean Counting Book. London: Barefoot Beginners, 1996
5. Gambrill, Linda. Croaking Johnny and Dizzy Lizzy. Kingston: Heinemann Caribbean, 1990
6. Robinson, Kim. Dale’s Mango Tree. Kingston, Jamaica: LMH Publishing 2002.

6 – 8 Years

7. Aardema, Verna. Anansi Does the Impossible: an Ashanti Tale. New York: Dial Books, 1997.
8. Bradshaw, Cheryl. The Cricket Bat. London: Longman, 2003.
9. Binch, Caroline. Gregory Cool. London: Francis Lincoln, 1994.
10. Browne, Diane. Cordelia Finds Fame and Fortune. Jamaica: Heinemann. Caribbean, 1998.
11. Browne, Diane. Debonair the Donkey. Kingston: The Festival Literacy Committee JCDC, 1986.
12. Campbell, Hazel. Miss Bettina’s House. Kingston, Jamaica: Carlong, 2004.
13. Comissiong, Lynette. Mind Me Good Now! New York: Annick Press, 1997.
14. Da’Costa, Jean. Jenny and the General. Kingston: Carlong, 2006
15. Gambrill, Linda. A Boy Named Neville. Kingston: Heinemann, 1990.
16. Gambrill, Linda. Miss Tiny. Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle, 1998
17. Gilroy, Beryl. Carnival of Dreams. London: Macmillan, 1980.
18. Jolly, Dorothy. A Challenger for Sophia. London: Longman, 1997
19. Jolly, Dorothy. Andy’s Sailing Boat. London: Longman, 1996
20. Keene-Douglas, Ricardo. The Nutmeg Princess. New York: Annick Press, 1992.
21. Khan, Nasser. The Cricket Match. Oxford: Heinemann, 2007
22. Kimmel, Eric A. Anansi Goes Fishing. New York: Holiday House, 1992
23. Kimmel, Eric A. Anansi and the Moss-covered Rock. New York: Holiday House, 1988
24. Magnus, Kellie. Little Lion Goes For Gold. Miami: Mediamagic,
    2008
25. Marvin, Isabel. The Beautiful Blue Shirt on Barry Street. LMH
    Publishing, 2000.
26. Mason Jo-Anne. Paddy the Goat that Saved Rainbow Island. Oxford: Macmillan, 2003.
27. Mohamed, Paloma. A Man Called Garvey: The Life and Times of the Great Leader: Marcus Garvey. Daver, Massachusetts : The Majority Press, 2004.
28. Potter-Hall, Melisande. Ptolemy Turtle. Kingston, Jamaica: LMH
    Publishing, 2000.
29. Potter-Hall, Melisande. Soon Come: A Ptolemy Turtle Adventure. Kingston, Jamaica: LMH Publishing, 2000.
30. Rose-Brown, Janice. Brian Lara. Oxford: Heinemann, 2007
31. Seaforth, Sybil. A Boundary for Vimal. London Longman, 1996.
32. Storace, Patricia. Sugar Cane: A Caribbean Rapunzel. New York:
    Hyperion, 2007.
33. Tortello, Rebecca. Nancy and Grandy Nanny. Kingston, Jamaica: Stationery and School Supplies Limited, 2001
34. Vayssieres, Jean-Jacques. The Amazing Adventures of Equiano. Kingston, Jamaica : Ian Randle, 2001.

9 – 11 Years

35. Browne, Diane. Every Little Thing Will be Alright. Kingston:
    Carlong, 2003
36. Browne, Diane. The Ring and the Roaring Water. Kingston, Jamaica : Diane Browne, 2008
37. Browne, Diane. A Tumbling World: A Time of Fire. Kingston: Arawak Publications, 2001
38. Cattell, Bob and Agard, John. Butter-Finger. London : Francis Lincoln, 2006
39. Campbell, Hazel D. Ramgoat Dashalong. Kingston, Jamaica: LMH
    Publishing, 2003
40. Craig, Christine. The Bird Gang. Kingston, Jamaica : Heinemann Caribbean, 1990.
41. Da’Costa, Jean. Sprat Morrison. London: Longman, 1990
42. Da’Costa, Jean. A Voice In the Wind. London : Longman, 1978.
43. Ernest, Kate Elizabeth. Hope Leaves Jamaica. London : Methuen Children’s, 1993.
44. Fraustino, Lisa Rowe. Grass and Sky. New York: Orchard Books, 1994
45. Goulbourne, Jean. Freedom Come. Kingston, Jamaica: Carlong, 2002
46. Jones, Evan. Skylarking Harlow, Essex : Longman, 1994.
47. Kessell, Lee. Tarik and the Island of Adventure. Oxford : Macmillan, 2005.
48. Murray, Millie. Ebony and the Mookatook Bush. London : Longman, 1994.
49. Palmer. C. Everard. Baba and Mr. Big. Oxford , England : Macmillan Education, 1992
50. Palmer, C. Everard. Big Doc Bitteroot. London: Macmillan Education, 1992.
51. Palmer. C. Everard. The Cloud With the Silver Lining. Oxford : Macmillan Education, 1987
52. Palmer, C. Everard. A Cow Called Boy. London: Macmillan, 1985.
53. Reid, Vic. Peter of Mount Ephraim. Kingston, Jamaica : Jamaica Publishing House, 1981.
54. Reid, Vic. Sixty-five. Kingston: Longman Caribbean, 1989.
55. Richmond, Beulah. Anancy and Friends. Kingston, Jamaica: LMH
    Publishing, 2004.
56. Salkey, Andrew. Hurricane. Middlesex, England : Puffin Books, 1977.
57. Shelley-Robinson, Cherrell. Jojo’s Treasure Hunt. Kingston, Carlong, 2003.
58. Sherlock, Philip M. Anansi the Spider Man. London: Macmillan, 1998.
59. Sherlock, Phillip M. Three Finger Jack’s Treasure. Jamaica : Jamaica Publishing House, 1961.
60. Squires, Maria Roberts. Big Island Little Adventure. Kingston: Carlong, 2007.

12 – 14 Years

61. Da’Costa, Jean. Escape to Last Man’s Peak. London : Longman, 1980.
62. Lloyd, Errol. Many Rivers to Cross. London: Methuen , 1995.
63. Kincaid, Jamaica. Annie John. New York : Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1997.
64. O’Dell, Scott. My Name is not Angelica. London : Viking, 1991.
65. Palmer, C. Everard. Full Circle: the Rami Johnson Story. Oxford : Macmillan Education, 2003.
66. Palmer. C. Everard. My Father, Sun-Sun Johnson. Oxford: Macmillan, 1984
67. Palmer, C. Everard. A Time to Say Goodbye: Rami Johnson – The Final Chapter. Oxford : Macmillan Education 2006.
68. Palmer. C. Everard. The Wooing of Beppo Tate. London : Deutsch, 1972
69. Pollard, Velma. Anansesem: A collection of Folk Tales, Legends and Poems for Juniors. Kingston: Carlong, 2002
70. Reid, V.S. The Young Warriors. Kingston, Jamaica: Carlong, 1979.
71. Seaforth, Sybil. Voyage to Sandy Bay. Essex : Longman, 1997.
72. Stuart, Morna. Marassa and Midnight. Oxford : Heinemann, 1966.
73. Taylor, Theodore. The Cay. Great Britain : Heinemann New Windmills, 1973.
74. Taylor, Theodore. Timothy of the Cay. London: Penguin Group, 1993
75. Williams, Sheila. Cloud in My Sky. Kingston, Jamaica: Carlong, 1995.