The Brown Bookshelf

The Brown Bookshelf is designed to push awareness of the myriad Black voices writing for young readers. Our flagship initiative is 28 Days Later, a month-long showcase of the best in Picture Books, Middle Grade, and Young Adult novels written and illustrated by Black creators.

Brown Bookshelf Members:

Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich is a mom, wife, sister, friend, and library-lover. She's also the author of 8th Grade Superzero and Two Naomis with Audrey Vernick. She believes in the power of a good book, a long walk, and a nice cup of tea (snacks optional but strongly recommended). Olugbemisola lives in NYC where she loves to teach writing, cook, do crafts in many forms, and needs to get more sleep. Find her online at olugbemisolabooks.com and @olugbemisola on Twitter.

Tracey Baptiste, M. Ed. is the author of several fiction and nonfiction books for children including The Jumbies and The Totally Gross History of Ancient Egypt. Her books have been listed among the 100 best books for reading and sharing, Bank Street’s Best Children’s Books, and selected by the Junior Library Guild. She is a frequent speaker at national conferences, and works as a freelance editor with various publishing houses and private clients via her editorial company Fairy Godauthor. The sequel The Rise of The Jumbies is forthcoming in Fall 2017. Learn more about Tracey at traceybaptiste.com.

Kelly Starling Lyons is a children's book author whose mission is to transform moments, memories, and history into stories of discovery. Her books include chapter book, NEATE: Eddie's Ordeal; CCBC Choices-honored picture book, One Million Men and Me; Ellen's Broom, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor book, Junior Library Guild, and Bank Street Best selection and Tea Cakes for Tosh and Hope's Gift, Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. Her latest picture book is One More Dino on the Floor. Learn more about Kelly at kellystarlinglyons.com.

Crystal Allen is the author of middle grade novels, How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy, The Laura Line, and The Magnificent Mya Tibbs series. She lives in Sugar Land, Texas with her husband, Reggie, two sons, Phillip and Joshua, and spoiled dog, Angel. Learn more about Crystal at crystalallenbooks.com.

Tameka Fryer Brown is an award-winning picture book author. Her published titles include Around Our Way on Neighbors’ Day, My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood, and the forthcoming Brown Baby Lullaby. Learn more about Tameka at tamekafryerbrown.com.