The Brown Bookshelf Celebrated 28 Black Children’s Book Creators!

From Day 1's celebration of Siman Nuurali

 through Day 28's celebration of Shauntay Grant,

there are so many Black Children's Book Creators—and their books!—to discover or be reminded of anew.

See the full list (with links) at the launch post of 28 Days Later Honorees here: https://thebrownbookshelf.com/2020/01/24/announcing-the-13th-class-of-28-days-later-honorees/

And don't miss the leap year treat of Day 29, which celebrates the work of the family of people behind The Brown Bookshelf!

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

Ten Inspirational #NY19SCBWI Highlights from the SCBWI Winter 2019 Conference!

So many amazing moments, so much wisdom shared, and so much inspiration...

#10

Jess Townes‏ @JessicaTownes Feb 9

“What a privilege I have to be welcomed into the imagination of kids. What a responsibility I have to give them my best work.” - Jarret Krosoczka #ny19scbwi

#9

Erin Teagan‏ @ErinKTeagan Feb 9

‘Don’t just plot the story. Plot the characters.’ — Varian Johnson #NY19SCBWI

#8

Lindsey Frances‏ @lindsfrances Feb 9

"don't just change the skin color and think you've drawn diverse characters" talking truth around #Diversity in #kidlitart and to draw difference with accuracy and empathy #NY19SCBWI

#7

Write for your audience. "Other people will learn to read it." — Elizabeth Acevedo

#6

Denise Alfeld‏ @SaltboxStudios Feb 9

“...remember that you, that I, are worthy of every poem.” Elizabeth Acevedo @AcevedoWrites #NY19SCBWI

#5

Carrie Kruck‏ @KruckCarrie 21h21 hours ago

I love this distinction by Marla Frazee on picture books: It’s not the author and the illustrator who collaborate. It’s the *words* and the *pictures* that must collaborate. #NY19SCBWI

#4

"The goal is to construct the kind of art that can change outcomes." We children's book creators create opportunities. When kids see it in our books, they can imagine creating opportunities for themselves. — Cornelius Minor

"You can't be what you can't see." — Julia Torres

#3
"You need multiple conflicts." — Alvina Ling

#2
"There needs to be a purpose for every character in the story." And for each character in each scene. — Emma Dryden

#1
"Voice = Word Choice + Rhythm.
 Rhythm  is two things: Punctuation and Sentence Length."
It may be hard to do, but it's not hard to define. — Linda Sue Park

What are your highlights? Share them in comments...

5 Great Middle Grade and YA Novel Tips from #LA15SCBWI

Editor Emma Dryden, on why Ellen Hopkins' books are so popular: "These books are dealing with how kids would really feel in these situations. But if it's not on the page, kids are going to think you're lying to them."

Emma Dryden edited this latest YA novel from best-selling author Ellen Hopkins 

On the 'perfect, magical' minority trope: "Your characters deserve to be three-dimensional." -Varian Johnson

Varian wrote this breakout Middle Grade Novel

"I make my novels as short as they can possibly be." -Newbery-Winning Author Paul Fleischman

Paul's middle grade novel has been chosen as a state- and city-wide read across the U.S.A. And it's only 80 pages long!

"Authenticity equals specificity" -Editor Jordan Brown

Among the authors Jordan edits is Anne Ursu

"What we remember from books isn't plot but character." -Meg Wolitzer

Bestselling Adult author Meg Wolitzer's debut YA novel