Something Very Special

Today, the Brown Bookshelf is thrilled to celebrate the release of Desiree Cooper’s NOTHING SPECIAL, her picture book debut! “Nothing Special is…about a Detroit boy named Jax, who travels to Virginia to spend time with his grandparents. He thinks he’s going to do all the city things he loves, but his PopPop has other ideas,” [ Read the full article… ]

OPAL’S GREENWOOD OASIS: History in Full Color

The upcoming centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre on May 31, 2021 – June 1, 2021 offers us the opportunity to hear from Black creators telling the story of what happened in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1921 through books, television, film, radio and other planned public programs. Three Black creatives in Oklahoma [ Read the full article… ]

The Talk Cover

Torrey Maldonado on: The Talk

In The Talk, out today, thirty diverse, award-winning authors and illustrators engage young people in frank discussions about racism, identity and self-esteem. Featuring stories and images filled with love, acceptance, truth, peace, and an assurance that there can be hope for a better tomorrow, The Talk is an inspiring anthology and must-have resource published in [ Read the full article… ]

KidLit Rally 4 Black Lives: Anti-Racist Resources for Children, Families, and Educators

“We who believe in freedom cannot rest.” -Ella Baker Thank you so much to all who joined us for the KidLit Rally 4 Black Lives, created and coordinated by Kwame Alexander, Jacqueline Woodson, and Jason Reynolds.  Please share your reflections on social media with the hashtag #KidLit4BlackLives. The Rally recording is currently available on our [ Read the full article… ]

Voices of Change: A New Series on the Brown Bookshelf

“As we struggle to bridge the chasm and search for common ground, we must remember our strength, show our resilience and think of the children.” Those were the words of the Brown Bookshelf’s Declaration in Support of Children in November of 2016, and we reaffirm that commitment. In the wake of continued violence, bigotry, and [ Read the full article… ]

Sweet Blackberry: Karyn Parsons Is Sharing Stories We All Need Now

It seems like Karyn Parsons was born to start Sweet Blackberry, the non-profit organization dedicated to bringing little known stories of African American achievement to light. Her mother was a librarian, and “I did grow up in libraries,” says the star of the long-running hit show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. “The advantage of having [ Read the full article… ]