Floyd Cooper (January 8, 1956-July 15, 2021) was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His artistic talents began early. In an interview for Mackin Community, he said, “I began my artistic sojourn by erasing. When I was three years old I plucked a piece of gypsum board from a scrap heap left by my Dad [ Read the full article… ]
Category: News
Cover Reveal–It Doesn’t Take A Genius
Gordon C. James has said of his work: “When people see my art I want them to say, I know that person, I know that feeling.” And I burst into cheers when I saw this NY Times bestselling artist’s cover art for my middle grade novel IT DOESN’T TAKE A GENIUS. He so beautifully captured [ Read the full article… ]
OPAL’S GREENWOOD OASIS: History in Full Color
The upcoming centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre on May 31, 2021 – June 1, 2021 offers us the opportunity to hear from Black creators telling the story of what happened in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1921 through books, television, film, radio and other planned public programs. Three Black creatives in Oklahoma [ 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… ]
KidLit Rally 4 Black Lives: Anti-Racist Resources for Children, Families, and Educators
“We who believe in freedom cannot rest.” -Ella Baker Thank you so much to all who joined us for the KidLit Rally 4 Black Lives, created and coordinated by Kwame Alexander, Jacqueline Woodson, and Jason Reynolds. Please share your reflections on social media with the hashtag #KidLit4BlackLives. The Rally recording is currently available on our [ Read the full article… ]
#NCTE19 We Are Here
Is there any atmosphere more euphoric than the National Council of Teachers of English conference? It gets no better than pairing educators, dedicated to nurturing the love of reading and writing, with authors who…well, are dedicated to nurturing the love of reading and writing. Match made in heaven, we think. And we’re here! Friday, Nov. [ 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… ]