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31st Annual African American Children's Book Fair
African American Children's Book Fair 2023
31st Annual African American Children's Book Fair Details

Support The African American Children's Book Project

Click the button to purchase books from our various programs. Proceed of your purchase supports the activities of The African American Children’s Book Project. Our bookseller is the Literary Cafe – Books & Events who specializes in Black children’s books – preschool to young adult, hosting and producing literary events.

PRESERVE A LEGACY, BUY A BOOK

THE 31ST ANNUAL AFRICAN AMERICAN
CHILDREN’S BOOK FAIR
PARTICIPANTS 

Below are the literary creators who will be featured live-in person at the 31st Annual African American Children’s Book Fair.  To find out more information on each participant please click on their photo.   To purchase their featured book click on The Liteary Cafe Books & Events link on our bookstore link.

Past Participants Black Books Are 2021

PRESERVE A LEGACY BUY A BOOK

JUDY ALLEN DODSON

TRACEY BAPTISTE

WINSOME BINGHAM

PAULA CHASE

TRICIA ELAM WALKER

TONYA ENGEL

C.J. FARLEY

R. GREGORY CHRISTIE

THEANNE GRIFFITH

NIKKI GRIMES

EKUA HOLMES

WADE HUDSON

KAIJA LANGLEY

VARIAN JOHNSON

JANAE MARKS

GREG NERI

JEWELL PARKER RHODES

CHARLES R. SMITH, JR.

NATASHA TARPLEY

DON TATE

TRACI N. TODD

SCHELE WILLIAMS

IBI ZOBOI

ELIZABETH ZUNON

Moderators

SUSAN BROWNE

DR. JACQUELINE DOUGE

DINAH JOHNSON

VANESSE LLOYD-SGAMBATI

KELLY STARLING LYONS

OLUGBEMISOLA RHUDAY-PERKOVICH

CAROLE BOSTON WEATHERFORD

THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN’S BOOK PROJECT BEST PICTURE BOOKS OF 2021

The titles in The African American Children’s Book Project Best Picture Books of 2021 run the gamut from fiction to non-fiction. The list has books that will make you smile, books that will enlightened you and books that will enrich your life. All of the books have one thing in common they are written and illustrated by Black literary creators. To order copies of the books listed go to: bookshop.org/shop/theliterarycafe.

A Day for Rememberin: Inspired by the True Events of the First
Memorial Day
– Leah Henderson (author), Floyd Cooper (Illustrator) – Harry N. Abrams

The Electric Slide and Kai 
– by Kelly J. Baptist (author), Darnell Johnson (Illustrator) – Lee and Low

Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History 
– by Schele Williams (author), Tonya Engel (Illustrator) – Harry N. Abrams 

Alaina and the Great Play
– by Eloise Greenfield  (author), Colin Bootman (Illustrator) – Alazar Press

DREAM STREET
–  by Tricia Elam Walker (author), Ekua Holmes (Illustrator) – Anne Schwartz Books

Nina: A Story of Nina Simone
– by Traci N. Todd (author), Christian Robinson (Illustrator) – G.P. Putnam’s Sons

The Me I Choose To Be Hardcover
– by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley (author), Regis and Kahran Bethencourt (artist) – Little Brown and Company

When Langston Dances 
– by Kaija Langley  (Author), Keith Mallett (Illustrator) – Denene Milner Books

Soul Food Sunday Hardcover
– Winsome Bingham (author), C. G. Esperanza (Illustrator) – Harry N. Abrams

The People Remember
– by Ibi Zoboi (Author), Loveis Wise (Illustrator)
–  Balzer + Bray

Bright Brown Baby 
– by Andrea Davis Pinkney  (Author), Brian Pinkney (Illustrator)
– Orchard Books

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre Hardcover
– by Carole Boston Weatherford  (Author), Floyd Cooper (Illustrator)
– Carolrhoda

Pigskins to Paintbrushes: The Story of Football-Playing Artist Ernie Barnes 
– by Don Tate  (Author and Illustrator)

Remember to Dream, Ebere 
– by Cynthia Erivo  (Author), Charnelle Pinkney Barlow (Illustrator)
– Little Brown Books

C Is for Country Hardcover
– by Lil Nas X  (Author), Theodore Taylor III (Illustrator)
– Random House Books

We Shall Overcome 
– by Bryan Collier (Illustrator) – Orchard Books

Shirley Chisholm Is a Verb
– by Veronica Chambers (Author), Rachelle Baker (Illustrator) – Dial

Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston 
– by Alicia D. Williams  (Author), Jacqueline Alcántara (Illustrator)
– 
Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books 

Saving the Day: Garrett Morgan’s Life-Changing Invention of the Traffic Signal (A Sweet Blackberry Book)
by Karyn Parsons (author) ,R. Gregory Christi (Illustrator)
– Little Brown Books

THE 30TH ANNUAL AFRICAN AMERICAN
CHILDREN’S BOOK FAIR
PARTICIPANTS 

Below are the creators of the best children’s books of our generation.
To purchase their books click on our bookstore link.

If you would like to host one of the participants featured below virtually or live-in person please email us at read@theafricanamericanchildrensbookproject.org  

ERIC BATTLE

PAULA CHASE

NANCY DEVARD

JUDY ALLEN DODSON

C.J. FARLEY

SUNDEE T. FRAZIER

LEAH HENDERSON

EKUA HOLMES

CHERYL WILLIS HUDSON

WADE HUDSON

GORDON C. JAMES

CHRISTINE KENDALL

KAIJA LANGLEY

E B LEWIS

KELLY STARLING LYONS

KEKLA MAGOON

TORREY MALDONADO

DAVID MILLER

KARYN PARSONS

BAPTISTE PAUL

JASON REYNOLDS

OLUGBEMISOLA RHUDAY-PERKOVICH

NATASHA TARPLEY

ADREA THEODORE

BRITTANY J. THURMAN

TINA WELLS

SCHELE WILLIAMS

IBI ZOBOI

Past Participants Black Books Are 2021

PRESERVE A LEGACY BUY A BOOK

JUDY ALLEN DODSON

TRACEY BAPTISTE

WINSOME BINGHAM

PAULA CHASE

TRICIA ELAM WALKER

TONYA ENGEL

C.J. FARLEY

R. GREGORY CHRISTIE

THEANNE GRIFFITH

NIKKI GRIMES

EKUA HOLMES

WADE HUDSON

KAIJA LANGLEY

VARIAN JOHNSON

JANAE MARKS

GREG NERI

JEWELL PARKER RHODES

CHARLES R. SMITH, JR.

NATASHA TARPLEY

DON TATE

TRACI N. TODD

SCHELE WILLIAMS

IBI ZOBOI

ELIZABETH ZUNON

Moderators

SUSAN BROWNE

DR. JACQUELINE DOUGE

DINAH JOHNSON

VANESSE LLOYD-SGAMBATI

KELLY STARLING LYONS

OLUGBEMISOLA RHUDAY-PERKOVICH

CAROLE BOSTON WEATHERFORD

Support The African American Children's Book Project

Click the button to purchase books of all of the book fair authors and illustrators. Proceed of your purchase supports the activities of The African American Children's Book Project. Our bookseller is the Literary Cafe - Books & Events who specializes in Black children's books - preschool to young adult, hosting and producing literary events.

PRESERVE A LEGACY - BUY A BOOK

SPONSORS

To learn more about our celebrated sponsors and their activities, click on the logo. If you would like to be a sponsor for our upcoming events contact:
The Literary Media and Publishing Consultants – info@theliterarycafe.org or call (215) 878-BOOK.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The African American Children’s Book Project was created in 1992 to promote and preserve children’s literature written by or about African Americans.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The African American Children’s Book Project was created in 1992 to promote and preserve children’s literature written by or about African Americans.

Support Us Today
Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati

Founder, The African American Children’s Book Project

Dear Friends,

 

For over thirty one years, The African American Children’s Book Project (AACBP) has worked to promote and preserve children’s literature written by or about African Americans. We believe a book opens up a world of opportunities for children, and it is our mission to make high-quality, engaging, and representative books accessible to our community.

At AACBP, we know that early access to and choice of books plays an important role in building lifelong readers. Since the organization’s inception, we have promoted reading as a lifestyle—giving all a chance to see the possibilities ahead. We understand the importance of young readers having books that reflect their images—books that they can see themselves as the hero. Books can change lives.

Through our engaging programs and advocacy initiatives to promote Black literature, AACBP reaches thousands of children, educators, and caregivers each year. We collaborate with authors, illustrators, publishers, booksellers, educators, consumers, libraries, nonprofits, and corporations to provide literacy programs not only in Philadelphia, but now also across the country. See our current program highlights below.

Annual African American Children’s Book Fair

Over its 31-year history, this event has helped bring more than a million African American books into our community’s homes. You’ll find the best of the best here—it is truly the “Super Bowl” of Black children’s books. Learn more about the literary creators from this year’s live, in-person event including nine newly minted American Library Association winners.

31st Annual African American Children's Book Fair

The Season of Black Boy Books, Best of 2022

Finally, the publishing industry got the message that the market place was hungry for books that centered on Black male lead characters.See our compiled listof recommendations. We hope that these books will empower, enrich, enlighten, and educate ALL readers about the depth of the Black experience. The list features some authors from this year’s Book Fair.

I Read to See Me

Featuring presentations by Black authors and illustrators,this program always selects presenters who know how to engage young readers.It not only engage students by giving them insight on the process of writing and illustrating a book, but also an opportunity to share their stories. Each student receives a copy of the book prior to the event to enhance their literary experience. 

The COVID-19 pandemic created new challenges for many students, and forced them to adapt to new ways of learning. AACBP pivoted to serve the evolving literary needs of our community by offering this program both virtually and in-person. Learn more about I Read to See Me and our other stellar programs.

Support Us Today

2023 Books
AACBF Guests
I read to see me

We don’t just give books away. We carefully curate books that inspire and excite young readers, and titles that are not readily available online or in book stores. Then, we create a memorable experience—the opportunity to meet and hear from the books’ authors and illustrators. These encounters make a lasting impact. We have heard from program participates that if we didn’t host our book programs, many children would never get to meet someone who has written or illustrated a book. This personal experience takes the reading experience to another level.

While our impact is great—and growing—we are a small nonprofit that relies on the support of friends like you to make it happen.

I hope you will consider making a donation today. Your tax-deductible gift in any amount will directly support all the wonderful work we are doing to promote and preserve children’s literature written by or about African Americans. Your generosity is greatly appreciated and will truly make a difference.

Check out our website for more information on all of our programs at: theafricanamericanchildrensbookproject.org or email: read@theafricanamericanchildrensbookproject.org

With sincere gratitude for your support,

Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

P.S. You can also mail a check payable to the “African American Children’s Book Project” to:

African American Children’s Book Project
1835 Wynnewood Road
Philadelphia, PA 19151

Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati

Founder, The African American Children’s Book Project

The African American Children’s Book Project (AACBP) has supported the literary needs of children since 1992. The non-profit was created to promote and preserve children’s literature written by or about African Americans. The AACBP believes A BOOK OPENS UP A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES.

At AACBP, we know that early access to books plays an important role in building lifelong readers. We collaborate with authors, illustrators, publishers, booksellers, educators, consumers, libraries, non-profits and corporations to promote literacy programs across the country.

Our stellar programs include:

  • Book fairs
  • Book signings
  • Workshops
  • I Read To See Me program (author/illustrator virtual/in-school visits)
  • Educating consumers on trends/resources in youth literature
  • Guidance on establishing home libraries
  • Advocacy initiatives to promote Black literature around the world

On Saturday February 5 , 2022, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., we will host the 30th Annual African American Children’s Book Fair — one of the oldest and largest single-day events for diverse children’s books in the country. The featured authors and illustrators have produced some of the best books of our generation that celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Americans in this country.

Parents who attended the book fair as youth now bring their children because they know the power of reading books that reflect their culture and heritage.

During 2020, many parents called the African American Children’s Book Fair “a lifesaver” for their children who turned to home libraries, curated over the years from attending the African American Children’s Book Fair, to get a reprieve from electronics — while still learning. Parents and teachers also reached out to the AACBP for recommendations on age-appropriate books to teach children about race and social justice issues.

ON OUR RADAR

THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN'S BOOK PROJECT

THE SEASON OF BLACK BOY BOOKS

THE BEST OF 2022

 
In 2022 books that featured  Black boys and young men rose to the top of the shelf. In the words of Lizzo,“It’s About Time!” 
 
For the past several years, books with Black female lead characters dominated the children’s diverse book industry. Finally, the publishing industry got the message that the market place was hungry for books that centered on Black male lead characters. 
 
The books covered all the bases— humor, joy, history, sports, music, family, romance, fantasy, adventure, mystery, drama, and conflict. The books are responsible, instructional, nurturing, purposeful, poetic, creative, and resilient. They also showed the many facets of what it means to be a Black boy in the United States.
 
There is something for everyone on our list: board books, easy readers, fiction, nonfiction, picture, series, middle-grade, and young adult.
 
Our list is also compiled of titles that appear on our radar through projects I’ve worked on, research from my trusted network, recommendations sent to me by readers, booksellers and industry professionals. It is hoped that these books will empower, enrich, enlighten, and educate ALL readers about the depth of the Black experience. 
 
The list features some of the authors and illustrators who will participate in the 31st Annual African American Children’s Book Fair at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia on Saturday, February 11, 2023. This is the perfect place to get a signed copy of your favorite title(s).

A BOOK OPENS UP A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES -  PRESERVE A LEGACY AND BUY A BOOK!

To purchase books from The Season of Black Boy Books – Best Of 2022 go to https://bookshop.org/shop/theliterarycafe – scroll to The Season Of Black Boy Books. Aportion of the proceeds from the sales of the books will support the African American Children’s Book Fair. 
 
For more information about our programs email – read@theafricanamericanchildrensbookproject.org or vlsliterary@gmail.com
  
Vanesse J. Lloyd-Sgambati – Founder, The African American Children’s Book Project

THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN’S BOOK PROJECT BEST PICTURE BOOKS OF 2021

A Day for Rememberin: Inspired by the True Events of the First
Memorial Day
– Leah Henderson (author), Floyd Cooper (Illustrator) – Harry N. Abrams

The Electric Slide and Kai 
– by Kelly J. Baptist (author), Darnell Johnson (Illustrator) – Lee and Low

Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History 
– by Schele Williams (author), Tonya Engel (Illustrator) – Harry N. Abrams 

Alaina and the Great Play
– by Eloise Greenfield  (author), Colin Bootman (Illustrator) – Alazar Press

DREAM STREET
–  by Tricia Elam Walker (author), Ekua Holmes (Illustrator) – Anne Schwartz Books

Nina: A Story of Nina Simone
– by Traci N. Todd (author), Christian Robinson (Illustrator) – G.P. Putnam’s Sons

The Me I Choose To Be Hardcover
– by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley (author), Regis and Kahran Bethencourt (artist) – Little Brown and Company

When Langston Dances 
– by Kaija Langley  (Author), Keith Mallett (Illustrator) – Denene Milner Books

Soul Food Sunday Hardcover
– Winsome Bingham (author), C. G. Esperanza (Illustrator) – Harry N. Abrams

The People Remember
– by Ibi Zoboi (Author), Loveis Wise (Illustrator)
–  Balzer + Bray

Bright Brown Baby 
– by Andrea Davis Pinkney  (Author), Brian Pinkney (Illustrator)
– Orchard Books

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre Hardcover
– by Carole Boston Weatherford  (Author), Floyd Cooper (Illustrator)
– Carolrhoda

Pigskins to Paintbrushes: The Story of Football-Playing Artist Ernie Barnes 
– by Don Tate  (Author and Illustrator)

We Shall Overcome 
– by Bryan Collier (Illustrator) – Orchard Books

Shirley Chisholm Is a Verb
– by Veronica Chambers (Author), Rachelle Baker (Illustrator) – Dial

Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston 
– by Alicia D. Williams  (Author), Jacqueline Alcántara (Illustrator)
– 
Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books 

Saving the Day: Garrett Morgan’s Life-Changing Invention of the Traffic Signal (A Sweet Blackberry Book)
by Karyn Parsons (author) ,R. Gregory Christi (Illustrator)
– Little Brown Books

Let's Talk

(215) 878-2665

Sponsorship

For more information, contact:

The Literary Media & Publishing Consultants

(215) 878-2665

Write to us







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    The Annual African American Children's Book Project. All rights reserved.

    The 31st Annual African American Children’s Book Fair
    Pennsylvania Convention Center – February 2023

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