“Joy is an act of resistance.” Poet Toi Derricotte Children’s books showcasing Black joy remind us of the beauty of family, friendship and community. They are touchstones that surround us with the blessing of who we are. In a world that tries to set us back, divide us and push us down at every turn, [ Read the full article… ]
Category: General
COVER REVEAL – Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre
The Tulsa Race Massacre. Maybe you learned about it on the series opener of Watchmen or read about it over the years. But did you learn it in school? Award-winners Carole Boston Weatherford and Floyd Cooper want to change that and make sure this horrific act of terror is not forgotten. In 1921, white mobs launched [ Read the full article… ]
Call to Action
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… ]
PRESS RELEASE: The United State of The BrownBook Shelf
Amplification and Advocacy Group To Galvanize Black Kid Lit (August 24, 2020) – The Brown Bookshelf is calling on the children’s literature community to assess and change traditional practices that marginalize the work of Black children’s literature creatives. The organization has amplified the voices of nearly 400 children’s book authors and illustrators since its inception [ Read the full article… ]
Generations Book Club: Life Lessons
This marks the end of our Summer Generations Book Club. We thank all of you for participating with us! I certainly found books that I wouldn’t have otherwise. My favorite was Questlove’s CREATIVE QUEST. I read it twice. Once as an audiobook and once in paperback because I wanted to take notes on the page. [ Read the full article… ]
Torrey Maldonado on: The Talk
In The Talk, out today, thirty diverse, award-winning authors and illustrators engage young people in frank discussions about racism, identity and self-esteem. Featuring stories and images filled with love, acceptance, truth, peace, and an assurance that there can be hope for a better tomorrow, The Talk is an inspiring anthology and must-have resource published in [ Read the full article… ]
Generations Book Club: Voice and Vision
“It was my mother who gave me my voice. She did this, I know now, by clearing a space where my words could fall, grow, then find their way to others.” ― Paula Giddings “The world is before you and you need not to take it or leave it as it was when you [ Read the full article… ]
Congressman and Children’s Book Author John Lewis
Last night as I listened to my bedtime YouTube music the letters J O H N L E W I S scrolled across the screen. There was no need to click on them. I knew what it meant. We had lost another soldier of the Civil Rights Movement and an award-winning children’s book author. Four [ Read the full article… ]