This month We Need Diverse Books is celebrating our second round of Educators Making a Difference Grants! WNDB has directly impacted over 21,000 students with this program, which provides up to $2,000 to educators who are eager to share diverse books with their students, but who lack the funding to … [Read more...] about Celebrating the Spring 2023 Educators Making A Difference Grantees!
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The Magic of Black Joy in Kirby Howell-Baptiste & Larry C. Fields III’s Little Black Girl and Little Black Boy
By Sarah Murphy Traylor Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Larry C. Fields III’s debut books, Little Black Girl and Little Black Boy, shine with dazzling images and words of encouragement, Black joy, and hope. Little Black Girl celebrates “shattering the glass ceilings” and the many “magical things you … [Read more...] about The Magic of Black Joy in Kirby Howell-Baptiste & Larry C. Fields III’s Little Black Girl and Little Black Boy
Alexene Farol Follmuth’s My Mechanical Romance Emphasizes There’s No Wrong Way to be A Girl
By Karis Rogerson You may know of Olivie Blake, the author of the New York Times bestselling TikTok sensation The Atlas Six, but I spoke to her as Alexene Farol Follmuth, debut author of the YA My Mechanical Romance, and I am pleased to report that she is lovely and her words resonant no matter … [Read more...] about Alexene Farol Follmuth’s My Mechanical Romance Emphasizes There’s No Wrong Way to be A Girl
Congratulations to the 2022 Creative Writing Awards Winners!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rhalee Hughes Perry rhalee hughes pr + marketing 212.260.2244 |rhughes@rhalee.com We Need Diverse Books and Penguin Random House Congratulate Winners of the 29th Annual Creative Writing Awards including the Inaugural Winner of the Amanda Gorman Award for … [Read more...] about Congratulations to the 2022 Creative Writing Awards Winners!
Introducing World of Stories
By Carol Felicio Popular Folktales Recreated with a Multicultural Twist With common folktales, the animals or settings chosen to demonstrate the lessons in the story hold a different significance for different cultures. In addition to looking at folktales and fairy tales that originated in … [Read more...] about Introducing World of Stories
Jen Ferguson’s Debut The Summer of Bitter and Sweet is a Romance That Refuses Simplification
We previously revealed the cover for The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson here. The book is available now. By Karis Rogerson Jen Ferguson’s debut young adult novel The Summer of Bitter and Sweet delivers exactly what it promises to deliver. It is a delightfully sweet tale of love … [Read more...] about Jen Ferguson’s Debut The Summer of Bitter and Sweet is a Romance That Refuses Simplification
How to Support Diverse Books During a Book Ban
By Adriana White Over the past year, American libraries have been under attack. Coordinated efforts to remove diverse books have spread nationwide, with libraries in at least 38 states reporting some kind of book ban or challenge. There are countless other challenges flying under the radar. The … [Read more...] about How to Support Diverse Books During a Book Ban
How to Run for Your School Board
By Andrea Ruggirello Local school board members play a critical role when it comes to ensuring our children receive the best education. These positions, which are often volunteer roles, can also be stepping stones to other political aspirations or simply a way to give back to your community. But … [Read more...] about How to Run for Your School Board
The Power of Daily Book Talks to Diversify Independent Reading
By Molly Tansey Teacher: *reads Akata Witch prologue* Student: Wait, what’s her magic power? Teacher: I can’t tell you. Student: No, why would you do that to me? Now I have to read. Teacher: *laughs maniacally* Every teacher knows that sometimes it is the simplest ideas that have the biggest … [Read more...] about The Power of Daily Book Talks to Diversify Independent Reading
