In a powerfully personal essay, author Rachel Werner shares her journey growing up with severe insecurities over her appearance and how that led to a distorted and negative body image. At the time, she hadn’t yet heard the words sizeism and colorism. But the value of thinness and the concept of people with lighter skin being favored over those with darker skin were realities she already understood. Rachel's experiences fueled her to write The Glam World Tour, so that children of color have a story that affirms their beauty is inside each one of them and embraces traditional beauty across cultures.

"As adults, we need to do our part to ensure we create safe spaces in our homes, schools, and neighborhoods that foster physical, mental, and emotional health for all children. That starts by affirming their inherent beauty, as well as our own, and modeling healthier behaviors through actions and words. We want the next generation to not only grow up, but GLOW UP."

For Dr. Artika R. Tyner, a passionate educator, author, and advocate for justice, Black History Month serves as an invitation to build an inclusive classroom by engaging all learners. In her post, she poses 5 questions for educators to think about when teaching Black History Month.

“Through my writings, I seek to inspire Black children to find the role models that motivate them to learn, grow, and lead. It follows the notion that you cannot be what you cannot see. For Black children, these leaders are not always featured in mainstream texts. Even if they are, they are celebrated only during Black History Month. My goal is to celebrate the accomplishments of Black leaders year-round and to incorporate their accomplishments into the lessons taught about American history.”

Capstone presents the late award-winning author-illustrator Floyd Cooper’s Juneteenth for Mazie as a free read-aloud video. We hope students enjoy the story of Mazie as she learns about the struggles and triumphs of her enslaved ancestors' full emancipation. 

Buckle up and board the Quantum Train with genius inventor Quianna and her pals as they jump through space and time, introducing readers to diverse thinkers of the past. Author-illustrator Jared Sams shares his vibrant vision behind these truly original graphic novels that burst with modern, hip-hop flair.

When author Nikki Shannon Smith began writing Lena and the Burning of Greenwood, she had an eerie sense of déjà vu as current events seemed to mirror those of 100 years earlier. In her essay, Nikki shares the raw and emotional journey of writing about one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history and how she poured all her love into telling the truth about the past.

We Need Diverse Books Mentee Dorothy H. Price brings authentic voice and experience to her debut early chapter book series, Jalen’s Big City Life. Perfect for early reader fans of Yasmin, Katie Woo, and Pedro, the stories in Jalen’s Big City Life center on realistic adventures in a city setting and teach important lessons including kindness, responsibility, sharing, and respect. Hear from Dorothy about her exciting new series.