Tonya Abari is a Nashville-based independent journalist, author, essayist, author collaborator, and reviewer for both children and adults. With a wide range of interests including parenting, Black maternal health, food, travel, lifestyle, environment, personal wellness, and culture, her words have been published in the Nashville Scene, Essence, AllRecipes, AARP, Ambrook, The Kitchn, USA Today, Publishers [ Read the full article… ]
28 Days
Day 8: Jerry Pinkney
Over a career spanning 69 years, Jerry Pinkney became one of the most revered and respected children’s book illustrators in America, if not the world. His evocative drawings and paintings won him international acclaim and brought more than 100 children’s books to life. As one of America’s pre-eminent Black illustrators, many of Jerry’s books prominently [ Read the full article… ]
Day 7: Shawn Pryor
Shawn Pryor’s (he/him) work includes the upcoming middle-grade graphic novel Fast Break (FSG/Macmillan, 2026), Kaiju Unleashed (Quarto/Epic Ink), and Who Is Shaun White? (Penguin Random House), The Great Explorer of Mammoth Cave: A Graphic Novel Biography of Stephen Bishop (Capstone), the hi/lo reader series The Gamer (Capstone), Cash and Carrie (Action Lab Entertainment), and several [ Read the full article… ]
Day 6: Alliah L. Agostini
Alliah L. Agostini has marketed everything from iconic brands to scrappy start-ups, but motherhood helped this Harvard AB and MBA school graduate return to her first love: children’s literature. She writes to spread joy, truth, and to help more children see themselves reflected on the page. Alliah is the 28 Days Later Day 6 honoree. [ Read the full article… ]
Day 5: Khadijah VanBrakle
Khadijah VanBrakle is a Muslim woman of color living in the southwestern US. As someone born and raised in Canada to American parents, she writes to ensure teens who share her Black American & Muslim dual marginalization see themselves on the printed page. She was chosen as one of the recipients of a two-year, 2021 [ Read the full article… ]
Day 4: Ken Daley
From as far back as he can remember, Ken Daley was certain of one thing: he would live his life as an artist. As Ken explains, “Art is what I am.” Ken Daley is an award-winning Black Canadian artist/illustrator who was born to parents who emigrated from Dominica. His art and illustrations are inspired by [ Read the full article… ]
Day 3: Cameron Roberson/Rob Cameron
Cameron Roberson, who writes under the pen name Rob Cameron, is a teacher, linguist, and writer. He has poetry, stories, and essays in Star*Line, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Foreign Policy Magazine, Tor.com, New Modality, Solarpunk Magazine, Clockwork Phoenix Five, Lightspeed, and others. Daydreamer is his debut middle grade novel. Rob is also [ Read the full article… ]
Day 2: Maisha Oso
MAISHA OSO is the author of Before the Ships: The Birth of Black Excellence, My Hair is a Book, and Buster the Bully. She writes stories to empower, entertain, and encourage emotional intelligence in young children. Her books have received multiple starred reviews, been named as best books of the year, and even been nominated for [ Read the full article… ]