Dear Friends and Supporters of Children’s Literature,
In a few months, The Brown Bookshelf Collective will celebrate 18 years of amplifying Black Children’s Literature creatives. Over the years, we have:
- Stood in the gap between creatives and the daunting task of getting exposure for their works
- Educated publishing executives on promotional best practices for their emerging and mid-list Black authors and illustrators
And, as important as anything we’ve done, through our 28 Days Later initiative and our summer reading program – Generations Book club, we’ve worked tirelessly to ensure that children’s books depicting Black life are seen, heard and considered by educators, librarians, and parents.
Because we are also creatives, our mission to increase awareness to the myriad of Black voices writing for young readers is a personal one.
How You Can Help
This is the first time we have publicly appealed to readers and those who nurture readers, seeking your support. It’s more important than ever to let your dollars speak louder than the efforts to silence Black voices in literature.
With your help, The Brown Bookshelf will enter its 19th cycle of our flagship initiative, 28 Days Later, strong. Since 2008, 28 Days Later has amplified more than 400 Black children’s lit creatives. The initiative’s features serve as both a digital archive, as well as a bibliographic resource of the last 18 years of Black kid lit vanguards and under-the-radar authors and illustrators.
Our Community
We’re grateful to still be in community with individuals and organizations who are equally dedicated to the literacy of young people including our fiscal sponsor, The Highlights Foundation.
That community support, in part, allowed us to launch our inaugural The Brown Bookshelf Presents…Tour, an innovative partnership program designed to pair Black kid lit creatives with nonprofits specializing in literacy. Through the tour, free signed books were given to more than 1,000 students at school, library and museum visits sponsored by:
- Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools
- WakeEd Partnership
- An Open Book Foundation
- Planet Word Museum
- DC Public Library and DC Public Library Foundation
- Sister’s Uptown Bookstore
- Eat and Read at Melba’s
- African American Children’s Book Project
We’re on track to grow this initiative in 2026, building on our efforts to provide opportunities that bring attention to the Black diaspora’s stories. The first 2026 tour stop will be the African American Children’s Book Fair in Philadelphia, PA on February 7.
Your Donation
A donation to The Brown Bookshelf Fund, at the Highlights Foundation, ensures that we continue our programming and initiatives focused on amplifying Black voices at a time when they are being actively silenced.
Your contribution allows:
- Maintenance of our website and the 28 Days later archive
- Building on The Brown Bookshelf Presents Tour initiative
- Offering scholarship opportunities to Black children’s lit creatives seeking to attend a Highlights Foundation retreat or workshop
