Are you a traditionally published author, editor, or illustrator? Do you need some quality time to work on your craft? Are you longing to connect with others in our field? How about an opportunity to engage in safe, open, conversations of your choosing? And what if those conversations were geared around us as individuals, as creators, to [ Read the full article… ]
Category: General
Generations Book Club: Civic Duty
Generations Book Club continues in October with an eye toward the coming election. We felt it was a good time to focus on all the ways a person can be a good citizen, including understanding the candidates, following social causes, understanding our history, and participating in the things we believe in. With that in mind [ Read the full article… ]
On Becoming Muhammad Ali: A Conversation with Kwame Alexander
Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, publisher, and New York Times best-selling author of thirty-five books, including his Newbery Medal–winning novel, The Crossover. Some of his other works include Booked, which was long-listed for the National Book Award, The Playbook, and The Undefeated, which was longlisted for the National Book Award and won the Caldecott [ Read the full article… ]
30 Books for Young Readers that Celebrate Black Joy
“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… ]
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… ]