Maya Angelou books in order
American poet, author, and civil rights activist
- Lived
- 1928–2014
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 37
Maya Angelou published 8 novels, 2 novellas, 6 non-fiction books, 3 children's books, 15 poetry collections and 3 other books, beginning with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Maya Angelou
Start here
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Maya Angelou's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969)
Gather Together in My Name (1974)
Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas (1976)
All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes (1986)
Even the Stars Look Lonesome (1997)
A Song Flung Up to Heaven (2002)
Hallelujah! The Welcome Table (2004)
Letter to My Daughter (2009)
Novellas in order
Shaker, Why Don't You Sing? (1983)
Now Sheba Sings the Song (1987)
Non-fiction in order
The Heart of a Woman (1981)
Conversations with Maya Angelou (1989)
Collected Autobiographies of Maya Angelo (2005)
Mom & Me & Mom (2013)
Mom and Me and Mom (2014)
Rainbow in the Cloud (2014)
Children's books in order
Life Doesn’t Frighten Me (1993)
Kofi and His Magic (1996)
My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me (2002)
Poetry in order
Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie (Aug 1971)
Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well (1975)
And Still I Rise (1978)
Maya Angelou (1981)
I Shall Not Be Moved (1990)
On the Pulse of Morning (1993)
Poetry of Maya Angelou (1993)
Soul Looks Back in Wonder (1993)
Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now (1993)
Phenomenal Woman (1994)
Poems (1996)
Still I Rise (2001)
Amazing Peace (2005)
Celebrations (2006)
Complete Collected Poems (2008)
Other books in order
Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'Fore I Die (1973)
Graduation (2000)
Pichón: Race and Revolution in Castro's Cuba (2008)
About Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. Angelou's series of seven autobiographies focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells of her life up to the age of 17 and brought her international recognition and acclaim.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Maya Angelou FAQ
- How many books has Maya Angelou written?
- Maya Angelou published 8 novels, 2 novellas, 6 non-fiction books, 3 children's books, 15 poetry collections and 3 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Maya Angelou's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
- What is Maya Angelou's last book?
- Rainbow in the Cloud (2014).
- What is Maya Angelou's most famous book?
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) is Maya Angelou's most widely read book.
Authors like Maya Angelou
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.