Nearly two decades ago, 250 people braved the cold to attend the first African American Children’s Book Fair at John Wanamaker Department Store in Philadelphia. Year after year, word spread and enthusiasm for the celebration grew. Today, the book fair, held in the gymnasium of the Community College of Philadelphia, attracts thousands. In fact, not only is it one of the oldest single-day events [ Read the full article… ]

The celebration officially kicks off on Monday, February 1. But you can get a sneak peek of the campaign now. Click here to download the 28 Days Later, 2010 poster. Upon completing the layout, I felt encouraged. Sure, the number of African American children’s literature creators is small, relative to the industry as a whole. [ Read the full article… ]

Over at Color Online (this year’s recipient of 28 Days Later spotlight books) Doret has posted about Fuse 8’s call for people’s favorite Fictional Chapter books. Do go over and check out her post, as she’s saying exactly what I would for this call of action. Then, head over to Fuse 8 and submit a [ Read the full article… ]

Well, you know it’s award season (CSK, what say you?) so that also means it’s 28 Days Later announcement time. This year, I find myself in a position of having to stay in my rabbit hole. In other words, I’m knee deep in my latest work in progress. Between that and pondering 28 Days Later [ Read the full article… ]

Yesterday, unimaginable devastation struck Haiti. Homes collapsed. Schools crumbled. Dreams exploded into dust. According to a CNN.com article, the powerful earthquake affected about three million people — one third of Haiti’s population. The Prime Minister said thousands, maybe even 100,000 or more, are feared to be dead. That’s mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, uncles, aunts, sisters, brothers, grandparents, friends. Here’s [ Read the full article… ]

Feel that excitement in the air. It’s that time again. Get ready for the children’s literature awards. The NAACP Image Award nominees were just announced. Congratulations to everyone who made the list!  Here are the children’s and teen literature nominees: Outstanding Literary Work – Children “Child of the Civil Rights Movement” – Paula Young Shelton (Random House Children’s Books) “Negro Speaks [ Read the full article… ]

Happy New Year! Thank you for supporting our site. Today is a special day for one of our own, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich. Today, her novel, 8th Grade Superzero (Arthur A. Levine, 2010), debuts. Yeah! Woohoo!  Already, it’s winning accolades. Check out the starred review in Publisher’s Weekly: “Rhuday-Perkovich delivers a masterful debut, telling a layered middle-school tale filled [ Read the full article… ]