Congratulations to our very own, Varian Johnson. Per Publisher’s Weekly: Children’s Young Adult: Varian Johnson’s UNTITLED companion novel to the forthcoming SAVING MADDIE, again to Stephanie Elliott at Delacorte, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger, NA That calls for a Woo and a Hoo! Despite rumors of publishing’s imminent demise, books continue to be acquired. [ Read the full article… ]

When you think about Mount Everest, what do you see? Some may envision the splendor of the world’s highest mountain. Others may picture climbers or snow-capped peaks. Christine Taylor-Butler gives us a new and important view. Her acclaimed book, Sacred Mountain: Everest (Lee & Low, 2009), puts the Sherpa — unsung heroes of the majestic mountain — center stage. Author of more than [ Read the full article… ]

Series like NEATE and Kid Caramel published by Just Us Books and Hyperion’s Willimena Rules! by Valerie Wilson Wesley helped open the door for more chapter book diversity. Today, more publishers are responding to the need. The offerings include series created by celebrities — Whoopi Goldberg’s Sugarplum Ballerinas and Amy Hodgepodge by Kim Wayans & Kevin Knotts — and [ Read the full article… ]

If you haven’t been following Amy Bowllan’s Writers Against Racism series, catch up. I’m behind and shame on me because I missed Varian’s day. But it’s never too late. Check him out.

Here’s my sure-fire way to test if a new picture book sings. I read it to my daughter. She’s a tell-it-like-it-is sort of girl. If it’s boring, she’ll let me know flat out before moving on to other things. When Olu’s Dream (HarperCollins, 2009) arrived, she excitedly checked out the cover. She flipped through the pages. “Can [ Read the full article… ]

The Brown Bookshelf will once again be accepting submissions for our flagship initiative, 28 Days Later, starting September 28th through November 1st. We are looking for submissions of African American children’s authors who are flying under the radar of teachers, librarians, parents and anyone who considers themselves a gatekeeper to a child’s reading choices. Submissions [ Read the full article… ]

Sharon G. Flake tweeted that people should run out and get Black Angels (Putnam Juvenile, 2009) when it debuts. She said: “U won’t want 2 put it down.” Sheila P. Moses said: “This novel and the character Luke will move readers like Huckleberry Finn moved us on the Mississippi River 100 years ago.” Nikki Giovanni described it this way: [ Read the full article… ]

Some people wring their hands over an issue, more worried about how things may never change versus how they can be part of the solution. Others, like Publisher Weekly’s Elizabeth Bluemle, dive in head first ready to arm wrestle the problem to the floor. Two weeks ago, Bluemle, a children’s author herself and the incoming [ Read the full article… ]