Congratulations to Derrick Barnes, whose forthcoming middle grade novel, The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze, has made the longlist for the 2025 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature! It was one of ten books chosen from the over 300 titles that were submitted for consideration. This is just the latest accolade for this highly-anticipated novel, which…
SIMBA KUNDIZEZAAuthor Photo Download | Bio Download Simba Kundizeza is a Zimbabwean writer based in Harare. His debut novel manuscript, Freelance, won the 2024 Island Prize for Debut African Fiction. A finalist in the 2018 Africa Book Club Short Story Competition, Kundizeza’s short fiction has appeared in Transition Magazine (Indiana University Press), The Shallow Tales…
By Derrick Barnes In the small town of Great Mountain, Mississippi, all eyes are on Henson Blayze, a thirteen-year-old football phenom whose talents seem almost superhuman. The predominately white townsfolk have been waiting for Henson to play high-school ball, and now they’re overjoyed to finally possess an elite Black athlete of their own. Until a…
Written by Jen Hayes Lee Illustrated by Mokshini Golden hoops are magic. That’s what Mommy says. And Janey has always wanted her own pair of glowing golden hoops, just like the ones her mother wears. Finally, the day comes when Janey gets her own. With her hoops, Janey can do anything. She feels like a million bucks!…
Congratulations to jessica Care moore, Detroit Poet Laureate, for being selected as a 2025 Poet Laureate Fellow by the Academy of American Poets! This fellowship awards $50,000 to 23 poet laureates currently serving across the country and provides over $95,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations that have been collaborating with the fellows on their work. Since…
Written by Vera Ahiyya Illustrated by Debby Rahmalia Halloween is here, and the whole class is getting ready for fun! With the help of their teacher, they play games, make arts and crafts, and even march in a costume parade. But will the day hold more tricks or treats? This engaging read-aloud will help your child…
Congratulations to acclaimed artist April Harrison, who was awarded a 2025 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor for Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller, written by Breanna J. McDaniel. This highly celebrated picture book tells the story of Augusta Braxton Baker, who used her advocacy and passion for stories…
CEALLAIGH MACCATH-MORAN, Ph.D.Author www.csmaccath.com Photo Download | Bio Download Dr. Ceallaigh S. MacCath-Moran holds a B.A. in Celtic Studies from the University of Toronto, an M.A. in English and Creative Writing from the University of Maine, and a PhD in Folklore from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. She is also an author, poet, and…
CARMIA MARSHALLAuthor www.carmiamarshall.com Photo Download | Bio Download Stylist, educator, upcyclist, sustainable fashion savant, TV/film costumer, and storyteller Carmia Marshall has worked on some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, such as “Ocean’s 8,” where she star dressed Rihanna; George C. Wolfe’s movie adaption of August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” for Netflix, star dressing Viola Davis;…
By Sandra Jackson-Opoku A sparkling debut mystery set on the South Side of Chicago, featuring the quick-witted, unforgettable Savvy Summers, proprietor of a soul food café. When Savvy Summers first opened Essie’s soul food café, she never expected her customer-favorite sweet potato pie to become the center of a murder investigation. But when Grandy Jaspers,…
