5 DAYS until we announce Walter Award winners and honorees! Did you know you can watch past Walter ceremonies? Check them out at their individual pages here.
A non-profit and a
A special Summer Reading Series post in conjunction with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center’s BookDragon: If you liked WHEN MARIAN SANG written by Pam Muñoz Ryan and illustrated by Brian Selznick, try DRUM DREAM GIRL written by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Rafael Lopez because both are inspiring stories of strong women who made amazing music – no matter what. Read the Smithsonian BookDragon review here.
If you liked PENNY FROM HEAVEN by Jennifer L. Holm, try ENCHANTED AIR by Margarita Engle because both are about girls growing up between cultures, and finding a place.
Drum it Up For Reforma
“January 11, 2016 was one of the most thrilling days of my life. At the
ALA Youth Media Awards, when REFORMA announced the winners of
the Pura Belpré Awards, I saw two of my books on the screen:
Enchanted Air for text, and Drum Dream Girl for illustrations. Ever
since Rafael López completed the exquisite artwork for our picture book
about a brave girl who broke Cuba’s taboo against female drummers, his
paintings have been praised, exhibited, and enjoyed by readers of all
ages. Without his brilliant images, my poem about perseverance would
not have the same impact. I am profoundly grateful to López, and also
to REFORMA. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that annual awards are
presented only because committees work hard all year. I hope you’ll
join all of us—librarians, authors, and illustrators—in Orlando on
Sunday, June 26, from 1-4 PM, at the Pura Belpré Award’s 20th
Anniversary Celebración. It will be a celebration just as festive and
meaningful as Rafael López’s radiant portraits of a little girl whose
courage flew as high as the moon.”
-Margarita Engle, author of Drum Dream Girl
We Need Diverse Books Announces The 2016 Winners of the Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature – Young Adult Category
The We Need Diverse Books™ Walter Award Judges Committee has confirmed selections for the inaugural Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature – Young Adult Category. One winner and two honors have been named.
The Walter Dean Myers Award, also known as “The Walter,” is named for prolific children’s and young adult author Walter Dean Myers (1937 – 2014). Myers was a National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature as well as a champion of diversity in children’s and YA books.
The winner of the first annual Walter award (2016) is the young adult novel All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. The judges also selected two Walter honor books: Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings by Margarita Engle and X: A Novel by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!!
We Need Diverse Books Announces The 2016 Winners of the Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature – Young Adult Category
January 20, 2016 (New York) – The We Need Diverse Books(TM) Walter Award Judges Committee has confirmed selections for the inaugural Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literat…
Congrats to Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely for All American Boys as well as honor books by Kekla Magoon & Ilyasah Shabazz and Margarita Engle!
weneeddiversebooks.org
The #DrumItUp Campaign
Dear Book Lover, A little over a year ago, Kate Messner took up the #WeNeedDiverseBooks cause and spurred the handselling phenomenon that was The Great Greene Challenge. This holiday season, the We…
WNDB invites booksellers and readers of all
ages to join us as we celebrate this inspiring story. From November 28
to January 1st, bookstores will be drumming up interest in the book by
striving to sell as many copies as possible. On Indies First Day (Small
Business Saturday, November 28), members and supporters of the We Need
Diverse Books movement will be appearing in bookstores across the
country to handsell this title to patrons as they browse, and a social
media effort centered around the hashtag #DrumItUp will commence the
following week. At the end of the selling period, the top selling
bookstore, as determined on a sliding scale, will receive a prize
package including a WNDB Bookseller of the Year trophy and a large high
quality giclee print signed by Rafael López.
weneeddiversebooks.org
WNDB Mentorship Program
Carolyn Dee Flores was a rock musician first. Then, a computer analyst. Then, a children’s illustrator. She has illustrated five books for children including Daughters of Two Nations and Canta, Rana, Canta / Sing, Froggie, Sing. Carolyn received the 2014 Skipping Stones Award for Excellence in Multicultural Literature, had her books included on the Tejas Star Reading List (2014-2016), and was a finalist for the 2014 Tomas Rivera Award.
One week and counting to get your application in for the WNDB inaugural Mentorship program! You can apply for Picture Book, Middle Grade, Nonfiction, Young Adult, or Illustration! We have AMAZING roster of mentors this year and are so excited to read/see your work!
Deadline is October 31st!