Happy Publication Day to author Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow! Her latest picture book, Your Name is a Song, releases today. This phenomenal picture book (illustrated by Luisa Uribe and published by Innovation Press) is the story of a young girl who doesn’t want to go back to school after the first day because no one is able [ Read the full article… ]
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… ]
At this time of year, people search for inspiring holiday books to share with children. Finding one that celebrates the beauty of the season and showcases our world’s diversity is a treasure. We are proud to feature a stunning addition to this collection. Award-winning author, scholar and activist Zetta Elliott’s new picture book, Let the Faithful Come, is a lyrical nativity story with [ Read the full article… ]
Considering the “source material”–parents Arnold Adoff and Virginia Hamilton–many readers and educators had high expectation when Jaime Adoff hit the literary scene with his first work, The Song Shoots Out of My Mouth: A Celebration of Music (Dutton, 2002). Adoff did not disappoint–the collection of poetry was praised by critics and named a Lee Bennett [ Read the full article… ]
It feels surreal to have a day during 28 Days Later. My focus as part of The Brown Bookshelf is to uplift Black children’s book creators who fall under the radar, who have paved the way, who are making a difference. I’m blessed to call many of them friends. I stand on the shoulders of [ Read the full article… ]
If you know me, you know how I feel about Vanessa Brantley Newton. If you don’t know, read this. In summary, she is my sister and she is brilliant. She is a generous friend of The Brown Bookshelf, and has gifted us permission to use her gorgeous illustrations on more than one occasion. She is [ Read the full article… ]
On day 3 is my fellow mermaid and fellow Trini, Lynn Joseph. The post below is from way back in 2011! Since this post, Lynn has also published Flowers in the Sky (2013), and Dancing in the Rain (2015). Lynn Joseph was born in Trinidad and was raised in a family of three children by [ Read the full article… ]
“Books are meat and medicine and flame and flight and flower, steel, stitch, and cloud and clout, and drumbeats in the air.” – Gwendolyn Brooks “I am…a children’s book author who aspires to be a griot.” – Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow These quotes reveal much about today’s honoree, her motivation as an author, and the soulful, healing [ Read the full article… ]
