TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE WALTER GRANTS, CLICK HERE.

We Need Diverse Books is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2020 Walter Dean Myers Grants. The following 8 unpublished writers, 1 graphic novelist, and 1 illustrator have been selected for the grants:

Kat Boyd
Victoria E. Chen
Pamela Courtney
Angela Dahle
Desiree Evans
Tiffany Ezuma
Adam Karlin
Libbie Temple
Arriel Vinson
Brian Wasson

The Walter Grant program was initiated in 2015 to provide financial support to promising writers and illustrators from diverse communities. Since the program’s launch, WNDB has awarded 26 Walter Grants of $2000 each. Previous recipients include Jennifer de Leon, author of Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From (August 2020); Yamile Saied Méndez, author of Where Are You From? and winner of Lee & Low’s New Voices Award; Jacqueline Alcantara, author of The Field; and Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give, a #1 New York Times Bestseller that has also been adapted into a movie produced by Fox 2000 Pictures. The Walter Grant program was on hiatus in 2017 and 2019.

The 2021 Walter Grant cycle will open to applications next year in the late spring.

About We Need Diverse Books. We Need Diverse Books is a grassroots organization of children’s book lovers that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people. It is our mission to put more books featuring diverse characters in the hands of all children. You can learn more about WNDB programs at www.diversebooks.org.

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Press Contact: Alaina Lavoie, alainalavoie@diversebooks.org