For those who have followed the Liar cover controversy, Bloomsbury has created a new cover, with this statement to PW:
“We regret that our original creative direction for Liar—which was intended to symbolically reflect the narrator’s complex psychological makeup—has been interpreted by some as a calculated decision to mask the character’s ethnicity.”
It’s a start. But we must not let this lull us into complacency. The issues brought to the surface by the Liar cover remain.
The Brown Bookshelf is designed to push awareness of the myriad of African American voices writing for young readers. Our flagship initiative of is 28 Days Later, a month-long showcase of the best in Picture Books, Middle Grade and Young Adult novels written and illustrated by African Americans.
You can read more about the founders of The Brown Bookshelf here.
Flipping the Script by Paula Chase Hyman
Saving Maddie by Varian Johnson
It Jes' Happened by Don
Tate,
Hope's Gift by Kelly Starling Lyons, Don
Tate,
Ellen's Broom, Written by Kelly Starling Lyons
Eighth-Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood by Tameka Fryer Brown
The Pet Wash, Written by Gwendolyn Hooks
How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba Sized Trophy, Written by Crystal Allen
Check out more of our books here.
I like this new cover and am glad to see the publishing company make this change!