As I studied my craft, I continuously looked to find ways to get my work out there. I started finding art events where I could read my poems aloud to strangers. I started listening to feedback and learning how to edit.
28 Days
Day 1: Tricia Elam Walker
The Brown Bookshelf believes in promoting the work of Black children’s book creators year-round. At the same time, we shine a special spotlight on select authors and illustrators during the month of February, in honor of the traditional Black History Month observance inspired by the efforts of historian Carter G. Woodson, who strove to illuminate [ Read the full article… ]
Celebration Time
Get ready to cheer. We are proud to introduce the honorees for the 14th class of our annual 28 Days Later campaign. A Black History Month celebration of Black children’s book creators, we will showcase an outstanding author or illustrator each day. We invite you to come along on our journey and spread the news [ Read the full article… ]
28 Days Later Becomes 29 – Our family’s work
It’s hard to believe that The Brown Bookshelf has been around for 13 years. That’s nearly 400 creatives that we’ve actively worked to keep on the radar of book lovers and put on the radar of those still finding their way to book love. It was a high honor to be recognized with the Children’s [ Read the full article… ]
Day 28: Shauntay Grant
Drawing from her African Nova Scotian heritage, Shauntay Grant pays homage to the past and celebrates kids today through her many award-winning children’s books. Community, lyricism and authenticity are hallmarks of her work. From picture books Africville (Groundwood) and Up Home (Nimbus) to board book My Hair is Beautiful (Nimbus), Shauntay Grant’s work is a [ Read the full article… ]
Day 27: Dapo Adeola
Dapo Adeola is an illustrator and designer who creates characters and images that challenge gender norms in a fun and upbeat way. He is the co-creator and illustrator of the Penguin Random House picture book series Look Up! (June 2019) — the number 1 picture book from a debut author and illustrator in 2019 — [ Read the full article… ]
Day 26 — Pat Cummings
At 18, I had my first job as an advocate for Black children’s books. I was working in Harlem and Washington Heights as a summer literacy intern for my college, knocking on doors and offering to read to children and families in their homes. It was a new program, which ended up meaning that we [ Read the full article… ]
Day 25: Morgan Parker
From Parker’s official bio: “Morgan Parker is a poet, essayist, and novelist. She is the author of the poetry collections Magical Negro (Tin House 2019), There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé (Tin House 2017), and Other People’s Comfort Keeps Me Up At Night (Switchback Books 2015); and a young adult novel, Who Put This [ Read the full article… ]