Background In November 2016, The Brown Bookshelf’s Declaration in Support of Children was signed by 691 children’s book authors, illustrators and industry professionals on our site with many more signing onto the living document on our FaceBook page. The signers publicly affirmed their commitment to using their talents and varied forms of artistic expression to [ Read the full article… ]
Author: Kelly Starling Lyons
Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival Honors Ashley Bryan
Today, on Ashley Bryan‘s birthday, we’re thrilled to share a guest post about an incredible children’s book festival created in his honor. Award-winning artist Daniel Minter and his executive creative director wife Marcia are the founders of the hosting organization, Indigo Arts Alliance. The festival is named in honor of Bryan’s Coretta Scott King Award-winning [ Read the full article… ]
Kidlit Rally for Black Lives
Around the nation, people are hurting. Award-winning authors Kwame Alexander, Jacqueline Woodson and Jason Reynolds have organized a Kidlit Rally for Black Lives. We’re honored to host it on our FaceBook Live on Thursday, June 4. This is a time to come together and stand up. Our kids need us. Please join us and spread [ Read the full article… ]
Generations Book Club: Black Music Month
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… ]
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… ]