For the past few weeks, the need to combat COVID-19 with social-distancing has led to closure of many public institutions, including libraries and public schools. The NYT reports that “with countries across the globe on lockdown and public life at a standstill, more than 1.5 billion children are out of school.” Kids are at home […]
Tag Archives: children’s books
Why Lupita Nyong’o Wrote a Picture Book for Children of Color
Kenyan-Mexican Actress – now author! – Lupita Nyong’o has released a picture book for children. In Sulwe, Lupita Nyong’o addresses something she has long campaigned for, since her stunning win at the Oscars in 2014: the validity of someone’s dreams, irrespective of background – or color. The book introduces us to Sulwe, a dark-skinned girl […]
The Longlist for the 2018 Golden Baobab Prize Announced
The longlist for the 2018 Golden Baobab Prize is out. The prizes provide opportunities for African writers and illustrators to produce more culturally-relevant children’s books. They are organized by Golden Baobab, a Ghana-based arts and culture literary nonprofit that works to increase representation of Africa in the children’s book world. This year, over 300 entries of […]
A Kenyan Tank Engine Joins The Hit Children’s TV Show Thomas & Friends
Thomas the Tank Engine is the fictional character in Reverent Wilbert Awdry’s The Railway Series about steam locomotives. Thomas who is celebrated and well-loved by children the world over is also the lead character in the TV Show titled Thomas and Friends. Mattel, the company who owns the rights to the series, recently announced that […]
Our Favorite Sci-Fi Filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu Publishes a Children’s Book
For those of you who are desperately and constantly in search of African children’s books, Wanuri Kahiu’s recent collaboration with Lantana Publishing is a gift. The book, written by Kenyan writer and filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu, is titled The Wooden Camel. It tells the story of Etabo, a Turkana boy living in the Northwest of Kenya, […]
Nnedi Okorafor’s Chicken in the Kitchen Wins Children’s Africana Book Award
On October 8th, Nnedi Okorafor attended a ceremony at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington, DC where she received recognition her contributions to African children’s books. Okorafor and the Iranian illustrator Mehrdokht Amini were both awarded the Children’s Africana Book Award for Chicken in the Kitchen. The Children’s Africana Book Award is a prize […]
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