Kwame Alexander
. Renée Watson. Derrick Barnes. Just a few of the outstanding Black children’s book creators we showcased here before they received well-deserved, industry-wide acclaim. Put your thinking caps on. Help us identify under-the-radar and vanguard Black children’s book creators we should consider profiling. Let us know who we should check out so we can give them the praise they’ve earned.
For more than a decade, we have proudly saluted hundreds of authors and illustrators through our signature initiative. But there are so many more who deserve to be featured. We will accept nominations for our 12th annual 28 Days Later campaign, a Black History Month celebration of Black children’s book literature, today through December 15.
Nominate your favorites in the comments section. Anyone can nominate. Publishers may nominate their authors. Authors may self-nominate. Please note that we do not accept nominations of self-published authors. You can check out who we’ve featured here.
After the submissions window closes, we’ll research the names you’ve submitted and our internal nominations. Then, we’ll choose our next class of 28 Days Later honorees. Mark your calendar for February 1 when the magic starts.
Too often, the work of our authors and illustrators goes unsung. With your support, we can make a difference. Thank you for helping us center and celebrate Black children’s book creators.
Marti Dumas
Rachel Isadora
Angela Johnson
Kelly Starling Lyons
Tameka Fryer Brown
Ronald L Smith
Vanessa Brantley Newton
Alice Faye Duncan
Carole Boston Weatherford
Jewell Parker Rhodes
Dhonielle Clayton
Nic Stone
Angie Thomas
Nicola Yoon
Johnny Ray Moore
Claudia May
Gordon James
Sylvia Walker
Denise Lewis Patrick
Brenda Woods — The Unsung Hero of Birdsong USA, coming Jan 2019
Arisa White co-wrote Biddy Mason Speaks Up to come out in February 2018. (https://heydaybooks.com/book/biddy-mason-speaks-up/) and (https://arisawhite.com)
All of these writers are writing debut middle grade in 2019 featuring black girls:
GENESIS BEGINS AGAIN (S&S) by Alicia D. Williams
A GOOD KIND OF TROUBLE (Balzer+Bray/Harper) by Lisa Moore Ramée
FOR BLACK GIRLS LIKE ME (FSG/Macmillan) by Mariama J. Lockington
THE FORGOTTEN GIRL (Scholastic) by India Hill
JUST SOUTH OF HOME (S&S) by Karen Strong
Erica A. Dunbar–ONA JUDGE
Xia Gordon–SONG for GWENDOLYN BROOKS
Charnelle Barlow Pinkney
Milton Davis
Barbara Binns (Courage – HarperCollins)
Nicole Tadgell (Illustrator, new book Ast. Annie will be read by an astronaut on Space Station!)
“Zaynab’s Enchanted Scarf” children’s book
by Robyn Abdusamad
Dina C. Tate
Lizzie & McKenzie’s Fabulous Adventures – Dina C. Tate
http://www.globalgirlssquad.com
Liara Tamani (Calling My Name)
India Hill (The Forgotten Girl)
T.R. Simon/Zora & Me books
The Drum with No Sound: Written by: Katrina Rahman-Stephens
A bi-cultural children’s book that exposes African and Deaf Culture!
Mon Trice author of Changing Seasons
Pageway Publishing