Today kicks off Black Music Month. In our first list for Generations Book Club, we include books that salute our Black National Anthem, explore a middle grader finding his voice and purpose, show an 18-year-old violinist navigating complicated choices about life and love and offer wisdom and experiences on discovering the creativity inside. Please check [ Read the full article… ]
Author: Kelly Starling Lyons
Kick off Summer Reading with Generations
We’re thrilled to introduce The Brown Bookshelf’s latest project, Generations Book Club. A summer initiative designed to inspire and empower readers of all ages, we’re excited to kick it off on June 1. Aligned with our group’s mission to raise awareness of books by Black creators, Generations also resolves to boost sales, help families nurture [ Read the full article… ]
Making Our Own Market: Wade & Cheryl Hudson
For the last post in the Making Our Own Market series, we hear from trailblazers Wade and Cheryl Hudson. Award-winning children’s book creators and founders of Just Us Books, they share important history and perspective. What progress have we made? How can we keep pushing for sustained change? We’re honored to feature the wisdom of [ Read the full article… ]
Making Our Own Market: Marti Dumas
Long before I saw Marti Dumas face to face, I met her through her characters – Jaden Toussaint, the big-brained kindergartner with the fly Afro, Jupiter Storm, the tween leader who loves science and becomes the caretaker of a special creature. Something about her story sensibility struck me. Black young heroes and magic. Her stories [ Read the full article… ]
Making Our Own Market: Black Children’s Books & Authors
Looking for new releases by Black children’s book creators? Black Children’s Books & Authors (BCBA) has you covered. Each month, they share a list of books that have debuted. BCBA has become a go-to source for keeping in the know. The many ways BCBA supports Black authors and illustrators include hosting cover reveals, providing an [ Read the full article… ]
Making Our Own Market: Tonya Duncan Ellis
We are delighted to welcome Tonya Duncan Ellis to The Brown Bookshelf. Author of the independently-published Sophie Washington chapter book series, she has worked hard to build her audience and stand out in the market. Grit, consistency and innovation are just a few of the qualities she brings to promoting her work. Here, she shares [ Read the full article… ]
Making Our Own Market: Troy Johnson On Partnerships & Indie Booksellers
Happy Children’s Book Week! Today, we’re reviving our occasional series, Making Our Own Market. All week, we’ll showcase guest posts by children’s book bloggers, independently-published authors and more with inspiring testimonies and tips to raise awareness of work by Black children’s book creators. Our series will explore questions like these: How can we do a [ Read the full article… ]
Mother’s Day Reads
Mother’s Day is around the corner. It’s a great time to share picture books by Black children’s book creators that celebrate moms, grandmas, mother figures and family bonds. Here’s a list to get you started. Click each cover to learn more. Please share your favorite books saluting moms in the comments. Mommy’s Khimar by Jamilah [ Read the full article… ]