“As people of color, we can turn what the dominant culture deems our weaknesses into sources of strength for our art. We know different kinds of fear than they do, which gives us a different understanding of true courage. Write that. We’ve been hated on more than they have, so we have a different understanding [ Read the full article… ]
Author: Kelly Starling Lyons
Brave. Black. First: Guest Post by Cheryl Willis Hudson
Co-founder of Just Us Books, Diversity Jedi, artist, quilter and award-winning author, Cheryl Willis Hudson brings intention, meaning and magic to everything she touches. Her latest book, Brave. Black. First.: 50+ African American Women Who Changed the World (Crown, 2020), is her latest outstanding project. Beautifully illustrated by Erin K. Robinson and published in collaboration [ Read the full article… ]
Announcing the 13th Class of 28 Days Later Honorees
We have a list! Our signature campaign, 28 Days Later, is designed to celebrate Black children’s book creators and raise awareness of those who may be under the radar of librarians, educators and families. The list is created through considering nominations posted on our site and internal research. Each day of Black History Month, we [ Read the full article… ]
Stop and Think Reading List and Resources
Thank you to everyone who attended Stop and Think: The Brown Bookshelf Examines Representation in Children Literature. Your support meant so much. Our mission is to center and celebrate Black children’s book creators. Here are resources from our NCTE program: Book evaluation questions: In what ways does Black joy shine in the story and art? [ Read the full article… ]
Anansesem’s Caribbean Children’s/YA Online Bookstore Launched
Volumes of Pleasure By Summer Edward, M.Ed., RYT 200 *For the purposes of this article, the phrase ‘children’s and young adult books’ has been abbreviated to ‘CYA books.’ I’m pleased to share a project I’ve been working on for the past couple of months: Anansesem, the online magazine covering Caribbean children’s and young adult literature, [ Read the full article… ]
Family Reunions: Coming Together & Going Home
As a child, my grandma would take my brother and me to land in Gibsonia, PA where she grew up. Relatives would come together at Woods Grove, named for her family, for reunions and fun. I heard stories of drinking water from the spring, cooking feasts and dancing into the night. As her words spun [ Read the full article… ]
The Brown Bookshelf at ALA 2019
ALA is always special. But this year, the 50th anniversary of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, makes it even more meaningful. Get ready to celebrate and reflect. Check out the programs saluting this milestone – sessions honoring CSK books, an invitation-only evening gala, a reception honoring Dr. Pauletta Bracy, the CSK-Virginia Hamilton Award for [ Read the full article… ]
What’s New in Our World
Thank you for celebrating our 28 Days Later campaign. It’s our 12th year honoring outstanding Black children’s book creators. We’re filled with pride at the amazing work they do and are inspired by their stories of grit, perseverance and creativity. Ten Black children’s book authors and illustrators make up our Brown Bookshelf family. Our mission [ Read the full article… ]