Today’s expert is Jason Wells, Publicity and Marketing Director for Abrams Books for Young Readers and Amulet Books. Wells began his career in publishing at age sixteen at a small publisher on Long Island. Before joining Abrams in 2002, he held positions at Penguin, DK, Hyperion, and Simon & Schuster. In 2007 he received his MLS [ Read the full article… ]
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… ]
I first met Vanesse J. Lloyd-Sgambati at BookExpo America. She congratulated me on the debut of One Million Men and Me and said she’d be in touch about having me sign at her book fair, The African American Children’s Book Fair in Philadelphia. I was thrilled, but had no idea about the event’s important history and what it would [ Read the full article… ]
Poetry called to him in his youth. Fresh from college, Jabari Asim sold TVs at a Sears in St. Louis and dreamed big dreams. When his first poem was published in Black American Literature Forum, that was all he needed to set him on his path. He left his job at Sears and took the leap of faith that led him [ Read the full article… ]
The Brown Bookshelf Announces Spotlight Authors (Severna Park, MD) The Brown Bookshelf, today, announced the twenty-eight authors to be spotlighted in the groups’ 28 Days Later initiative, a month-long celebration of vanguard and emerging children’s authors of color starting February first. In addition, the campaign will spotlight four illustrators on the rise. “Since our launch, [ Read the full article… ]
If busy people only get busier, the Brown Bookshelf members are in trouble. You submitted names. We did the literary background checks. And after sixty days of intense research, we’re proud to present the 28 authors and four illustrators we’re highlighting for 28 Days Later. Did your favorite jewel or best kept secret make the [ Read the full article… ]