Today’s the last day of February, the last day of Black History Month and as Kwame Alexander reminds us, it’s not the last day of Black history. What?? You didn’t hear him say that last night? Oh, you missed a real treat! Jerry Craft, Van G. Garrett, Lamar Giles, Breanna J. McDaniel, Kwame Mbalia, Oge Mora, KarynParsons and Alicia D. Williams battled it out as team “Undefeated” took on “We Got This”. The event was sponsored by SCBWI, Versify and The Brown Bookshelf. Each contestant represented a school or library and the team with the fewest points has to visit the other team’s chosen location. Who won? Who were some of the Black women who were well known for their work during the Civil Rights Movement? Here’s the link!  https://fb.watch/3W86Il5xCK/

Surely you know the Brown Bookshelf (BBS) for their 28 Days Later Initiative, the work they do to highlight Black authors and illustrators of books for youth? Download a mini-poster of the 2021 honorees here. Or perhaps you know them through their Generations Book Club. Whether you’re already familiar with their work or not, take the time to get to know their Amplify Black Stories program which exists “to amplify Black stories, with a focus on supporting Black storytellers while confronting industry challenges and fostering change.” MORE

You do have time until tomorrow to participate in the Kidlit Agains Anit-AAPI Racism auction. Funds raised will be donated to organizations that are anti-racist. Unless you’re living under a rock, you know that hate crimes against Asian Americans increase over the past four years, and even more so over the past 12 months. Read more so you can know. I’m not telling what I’m bidding on, but I will tell you there are author visits, queries, swag and even the opportunity to name a character in several authors’ books. Don’t wait because the auction ends tomorrow at midnight pacific time.

March means a posting a new list of IPOC releases and celebrating women’s history. It still means little online time for me! My work on the representation of simians in picture books deepens as I’ve found a researcher to work with to do some really meaningful work. March is getting closer to finalizing the We Are Kidlit Summer reading list. And, it means starting my garden and finally working on my youngest grand girl’s quilt. All that means much less time on the socials.

Be well and do good.