The Brown Bookshelf

Highlights Foundation Invests in 55 Storytellers to Support Their Work to Inspire Kids - Highlights Foundation

Congratulations to the @highlightsfound.bsky.social scholarship winners! Especially to Sandra Jackson-Opoku for winning the @thebrownbookshelf.bsky.social scholarship!
More details on all the scholarships here: www.highlightsfoundation.org/2025/04/02/h...

A Cup of Quiet by Nikki Grimes - The Brown Bookshelf Any book by poet and author extraordinaire Nikki Grimes is meant to be savored; her forthcoming title, A Cup of Quiet, is no exception. School Library Journal characterizes this intergenerational pict...

There are people who cross your path and leave you for the better. Our sister Nikki Grimes is that energy and individual.

And to show we're not selfish, we're happy to share her love and latest book, A Cup of Quiet.

@poetnikki.bsky.social chats with us:

thebrownbookshelf.com/2025/04/07/a...

Day 28: Tanisia “Tee” Moore - The Brown Bookshelf Tanisia “Tee” Moore ain’t just your average storyteller—she’s the heartbeat of African American narratives, lovingly dubbed “your family’s favorite author.” Whether she’s crafting tales for the young ...

Today's creative's work comes from a place of nurturing not only the reader, but also women in community.

Her championing that motherhood and womanhood go hand in hand informs her books, helping to positively impact our girls.

Day 28: Tanisha "Tee" Moore

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Day 27: Sarah Warren - The Brown Bookshelf Sarah is a former early childhood educator. Her celebrity picture book, Charlotte and the Nutcracker (Random House, 2021) received a starred review from Kirkus, which called it a “satisfying story of ...

Today's creative does special work with her picture book biographies.

Work that's more important, as we face erasure of our contributions and accomplishments.

Day 27: Sarah Warren

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Day 26: Tony Weaver, Jr. - The Brown Bookshelf Tony Weaver, Jr. is an award-winning writer, educator, and influencer. He founded the social impact organization Weird Enough, whose mission is to use the narrative ability of graphic novels to foster...

Today's creative's graphic novel, Weirdo has a few accolades. Nothing big, just:

Kirkus Best Book of the Year
New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
Chicago PL Book of the Year
People Magazine Best Book of the Year

Wow!

Day 26: Tony Weaver Jr.
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Day 25: Dare Coulter - The Brown Bookshelf You can’t spell heart without art, and Dare Coulter has worked to create a career that focuses around heart-felt presentations of the human experience, life, joy, and resilience. Dare is an award-winn...

Today's creative is an award-winning sculptor, artist, muralist and illustrator.

Ahh a quadruple threat!

Day 25: Dare Coulter

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Day 24: Kern Carter - The Brown Bookshelf “I am writing for my life.” — Kern Carter Born in Trinidad, raised and based in Ontario, Canada, Kern’s writing encompasses creativity, self-expression, emotional awareness, fatherhood, relationships,...

Today's creative built several platforms to nurture emerging writers and still lent his talents to the children's lit world.

Day 24: Kern Carter

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Day 23: Malcolm Newsome - The Brown Bookshelf The Brown Bookshelf 28 Days Later Black History Month feature on traditionally published children's picture book author Malcolm Newsome.

Today's creative shares how community played a part in him becoming published. And you all know how we feel about community! 🤎

There's power in that experience, and he's sharing it.

#BlackBookSky
#28DaysLater

Day 23:
Malcom Newsome
Picture Books

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Day 22: Stephanie Seales - The Brown Bookshelf Stephanie Seales is the California-born daughter of Panamanian immigrants and the author of the Caldecott Honor and CSK Illustrator Medal-winning book My Daddy Is a Cowboy, illustrated by C.G. Esperan...

Today's creative was a publishing insider before blessing us with, My Daddy is a Cowboy.

It's special when those who have spent time on the other side of the publishing experience decide to channel that energy into a book for a child.

Day 22: Stephanie Seales

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Day 21: Bea Jackson - The Brown Bookshelf Bea Jackson is the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Parker Looks Up and From My Head to My Toes. Bea loves telling stories through her art, from dynamic and diverse character design, to delig...

Today's creative is a New York Times best selling illustrator. Which we love.

But the real question...does the art jump off the page and yell at me in the best way? Yes!!

Day 21: Bea Jackson
Author/Illustrator

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Day 20: Allen Wells - The Brown Bookshelf Allen R. Wells is an accomplished author, engineer, and advocate for inclusion and representation in children’s literature. Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Allen discovered his passion for st...

Today's creative is placing light on representation because it's never too early to teach readers about honoring what makes us unique.

#BlackBooksky
#28DaysLater

Day 20: Allen Wells
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Day 19: Sonja Thomas - The Brown Bookshelf Sonja Thomas, a silly introvert ruled by coffee and cats, writes stories for readers of all ages often featuring Black girls doing extraordinary things. Her debut novel, Sir Fig Newton and the Science...

The middle grade debut novel of today's creative is a critical darling.

*Oregon Book Award Finalist
*Bank Street Best Children's Book

Where the praise starts, the librarians follow and our readers benefit.

#BlackBookSky
#28DaysLater

Day 19: Sonja Thomas
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Day 18: Shamar Knight-Justice - The Brown Bookshelf Shamar Knight-Justice is currently the Principal of Ethos Classical, an elementary school focused on the intersection of joy, rigor, and the humanity of its students. He has been an educator for 15 ye...

His illustrations made you want to move your feet when you saw Big Tune - Rise of the Dancehall Prince.

Fun fact: That picture book was a collab between he and another '25 spotlight creative.

#BlackBookSky
#28DaysLater

Day 18: Shemar Knight-Justice

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Day 17: Krystal Marquis - The Brown Bookshelf Cover of The Davenports: More Than This, young adult historical fiction novel written by New York Times bestselling author Krystal Marquis.

Today's creative's YA historical fiction series
reminds the world that Black wealth is neither a new thing nor an anomaly.

#BlackBookSky
#28DaysLater

Day 17: Krystal Marquis

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Day 16: Nadia Salomon - The Brown Bookshelf Nadia Salomon is a #PitMad Success Story and award-winning author of Goodnight Ganesha, which is a Bank Street Best Book, ALSC DIA Selection, and #NCTEWow book. She is also the author of A Voice of Ho...

The Brown Bookshelf hits keep hitting. Today's creative is award winning.

Accolades for Goodnight Ganesha:

* Bank Street Best Book
* ALSC DIA Selection
* NCTE Wow book

Day 16: Nadia Salomon

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#BlackHistoryMonth
#28DaysLater

Day 15: Bernette Ford - The Brown Bookshelf Even with more than a dozen books to her credit, Bernette Ford finds it tough to think of herself as an author. She’s an editor, a mentor, a wife, a mother. But an author? She doesn’t easily claim tha...

Today's creative is a publishing trail blazer that added Black children lit creatives into the Community before adding her own voice.

We're thankful she's shared her gift.

#BlackHistoryMonth
#28DaysLater

Day 15: Bernette Ford

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Day 14: Sarah Raughley - The Brown Bookshelf Sarah Raughley is the Nigerian-Canadian author of The Effigies Series, The Bones of Ruin Trilogy and The Queen’s Spade. A finalist of the Aurora Award, Raughley is also an English professor and public...

Today's spotlight creative is weaving fierce Black girls into the YA tapestry.

And she understands the assignment, summing it up, simply:

"Continuing to tell our stories is what really matters."

#BlackHistoryMonth
#28DaysLater

Day 13: Sarah Raughley

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Day 13: K.E. Lewis - The Brown Bookshelf K.E. Lewis is the author of “Now You See Me,” Never Take Your Rhino on A Plane, Because of Dads, and co-author of Underwater: The Storied-Ballad of Drowned Towns. Learn more about his work in children...

Our spotlight artist has dabbled his pen across Children's literature. The stories will slow drip starting this summer through '27.

His story in The Haunted States of America anthology will whet your appetite until then.

#28DaysLater

Day 13: K.E. Lewis

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Day 12: Jennifer Baker - The Brown Bookshelf Jennifer Baker is an author and editor/project manager with over 20 years’ experience in book publishing. She’s also the creator/host of the Minorities in Publishing podcast, and has been a faculty me...

Today's spotlight's 20+ year publishing career included starting the Minorities in Publishing podcast.

Love for her 2023 YA:
NYPL Best Teen Book

Best of the Best Selection by the ALA Black Caucus.

#BlackHistoryMonth
#28DaysLater

Day 11: Jennifer Baker

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Day 11: Rachelle Baker - The Brown Bookshelf Rachelle Baker is a multi-disciplinary artist from Detroit, MI with a background in Relief Printing (Screenprinting, Lino/Woodcutting), Illustration, Comic Art, Video Art, and Music. She is inspired b...

Before illustrating picture books, today's spotlight creative set the tone for children's book covers - from the vibrant and striking yellows of Grown to the calming blues of Shirley Chisolm is a Verb.

#28DaysLater

Day 11: Rachelle Baker
Illustrator

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Day 10: Liselle Sambury - The Brown Bookshelf “That was the thing about families.  They knew even the things you wanted to keep secret.” — excerpt from Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury   Liselle Sambury is a Trinidadian-Canadian author who writes...

Today's spotlight creative's YA psychological thriller was a B&N YA Pick and Good Reads Choice Award selection.

Holding it down in YA is increasingly competitive and she's making it look easy.

#BlackHistoryMonth
#28DaysLater

Day 10: Liselle Sambury

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Day 9: Tonya Abari - The Brown Bookshelf Tonya Abari is a Nashville-based independent journalist, author, essayist, author collaborator, and reviewer for both children and adults. With a wide range of interests including parenting, Black mat...

Today's spotlight creative is building pride in our culture among young readers when they'll need it most.

With books like
Locs Not Dreads, Let's Celebrate Juneteenth &
The Six Triple Eight

#BlackHistoryMonth
#28DaysLater

Day 9: Tonya Abari

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Day 8: Jerry Pinkney - The Brown Bookshelf Over a career spanning 69 years, Jerry Pinkney became one of the most revered and respected children’s book illustrators in America, if not the world. His evocative drawings and paintings won him inte...

Today's #28DaysLater spotlight is the epitome of, there is no us without them.

Jerry Pinkney was a legendary author/Illustrator and a reminder of the richness and depth to our contributions to children's literature.

#BlackHistoryMonth

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Day 7: Shawn Pryor - The Brown Bookshelf Shawn Pryor’s (he/him) work includes the upcoming middle-grade graphic novel Fast Break (FSG/Macmillan, 2026), Kaiju Unleashed (Quarto/Epic Ink), and Who Is Shaun White? (Penguin Random House), The Gr...

Today's Brown Bookshelf creative has an extensive bibliography of graphic novels, a format that has not only opened the door to readers but kept it open.

#BlackHistoryMonth
#28DaysLater

Day 7: Shawn Pryor

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Day 6: Alliah L. Agostini - The Brown Bookshelf The Brown Bookshelf 28 Days Later Black History Month feature on traditionally published children's author, Alliah L. Agostini.

A Kirkus starred review called the picture book of today's spotlight creative:

"An exuberant celebration of community that leaps off the page."

#BlackHistoryMonth
#28daysLater

Day 6: Alliah L. Agostini

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Day 5: Khadijah VanBrakle - The Brown Bookshelf Khadijah VanBrakle is a Muslim woman of color living in the southwestern US. As someone born and raised in Canada to American parents, she writes to ensure teens who share her Black American & Muslim ...

Today's creative started writing stories about characters, like her three daughters, who are Black American and Muslim.

"It is vital for children and teens from those intersections to see themselves on the printed page."

Day 5: Khadijah VanBrakle
YA Author

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Day 4: Ken Daley - The Brown Bookshelf From as far back as he can remember, Ken Daley was certain of one thing: he would live his life as an artist. As Ken explains, “Art is what I am.” Ken draws inspiration for his work from his African-C...

Today's featured creative is an award winning artist and illustrator.

His vibrant colors jump off the page. Exactly what a child needs to start their journey as a lifelong reader.

Day 4: Ken Daley
Artist/Illustrator

#BlackHistoryMonth
#28DaysLater

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Day 3: Cameron Roberson/Rob Cameron - The Brown Bookshelf Cameron Roberson, who writes under the pen name Rob Cameron, is a teacher, linguist, and writer. He has poetry, stories, and essays in Star*Line, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Foreign Pol...

We shine the light on middle grade author Rob Cameron and his 2024 debut.
#BlackHistoryMonth
#28DaysLater

Praise for Daydreamer:
"Cameron's sentences are laden with magic, stuffed to spilling with the stuff of dreams." Pura Belpré Award winner Carlos Hernandez
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Day 2: Maisha Oso - The Brown Bookshelf MAISHA OSO is the author of Before the Ships: The Birth of Black Excellence, My Hair is a Book, and Buster the Bully. She writes stories to empower, entertain, and encourage emotional intelligence in ...

Today's spotlight creative wrote a love letter to our crowning glory:

My hair is a book
Watch me open it, part it
take a look

Day 2: Maisha Oso Picture book author

#BlackHistoryMonth
#28DaysLater

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Today, we shine the light on the griot that said:

I am so perfect
so divine
so ethereal
so surreal
I cannot be comprehended except by my permission - Ego Tripping

Day 1: Sister Nikki Giovanni

#BlackHistoryMonth
#28DaysLater

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