We Need Diverse Books

?? Don’t forget to #HitSubmit! As a reminder, Penguin Random House is partnering with We Need Diverse Books for the 2025 Creative Writing Awards—with a new James Baldwin Award for Fiction, in honor of the 100th birthday of the literary legend and civil rights champion. Applications are open NOW! Seniors at U.S. public high schools can apply today to win $10,000 in scholarship funds. Application and scholarship details can be found at the website below ?? ?? bit.ly/CWA2025 ?? Applications close January 15th, 2025 But be sure to #HitSubmit! Applications will AUTOMATICALLY CLOSE when we reach 1,000 submissions. Don't be left behind! If you’ve started an application, be sure to finish it, and once your application is done, HIT SUBMIT. Learn more about this amazing scholarship opportunity at the PRH website above. Tags: #Scholarships #WritingScholarships #WritingAwards #WritingContest #PRH #PenguinRandomHouse #RandomHouse #CWAs #CreativeWritingAwards #CreativeWritingAwards2024 #CWAs2024 #CollegeScholarships #ScholarshipPrograms #WritingContest #WNDB #WeNeedDiverseBooks

?? NOW ACCEPTING INTERESTED APPLICANTS! Last week, WNDB announced our latest initiative to send specially curated mental health care packages to queer teens all across the nation. Originally, we shared that The Trevor Project reported a 200% spike in crisis calls from LGBTIQIA+ teens preceding the presidential election. But now, Them reports that the number of crisis calls went up even further — culminating in a 700% increase post-election. Queer and trans youth need our support, comfort, care, and resources now more than ever, and WNDB is preparing to send out curated care packages for queer teens that will contain: ?? queer & trans books exploring mental health or sharing queer & trans joy ?? WNDB bookmarks ?? WNDB stickers and swag ?? information about mental health resources If you run an LGBTQIA+ support service/program for teens, please fill out our interest form to be considered for a care package shipment. (?? below and in bio) ?? bit.ly/MH-CarePackages You can also support this initiative by donating directly on our website, so that we can expand this initiative even further. Thank you all so much for sharing, supporting, and continuing to do this work with us! ???? Tags: #CarePackages #BookCarePackage #MentalHealth #QueerYouth #MentalHealthSupport #MentalHealthAcceptance #MentalHealthForTeens #LGBTQIABooks #LGBTQIAYouth #KidLit #YoungAdultBooks #YAFiction #YANonfiction #Fiction #Nonfiction #QueerJoy #BookInitiative #WNDB #WeNeedDiverseBooks

Announcing WNDB’s newest care package initiative ???? As seen on Teen Vogue, The Trevor Project reported receiving 200% more calls from queer youth struggling with anxiety and fear regarding the 2024 Presidential Election and its consequences. In response, WNDB is committing to send care packages to LGBTQIA+ youth programs and resource centers across the country, with care package items curated to support mental health. Our care packages will contain: ?? queer books exploring mental health or sharing queer joy ?? WNDB bookmarks ?? WNDB stickers and swag ?? information about mental health resources The WNDB team has curated a list of queer YA fiction and nonfiction titles that explore mental health in queer youth or share queer joy, including but not limited to: ???? “Darius the Great is Not Okay” by Adib Khorram ???? “Anger is a Gift” by Mark Oshiro ???? “Home Home” by Lisa Allen-Agostini ???? “The Cartographers” by Amy Zhang ???? “Hold Still” by Nina LaCour ???? “The Mirror Season” by Anna-Marie McLemore ???? “Forever is Now” by Marima J. Lockington ???? “If I Can Give You That” by Michael Gray Bulla ???? “Beating Heart Baby” by Lio Min ???? “Just Another Epic Love Poem” by Parisa Akhbari ???? “The Luis Ortega Survival Club” by Sonora Reyes ?????“Prince of the Palisades” by Julian Winters ???? “The Henna Wars” by Adiba Jaigirdar ???? “Imogen, Obviously” by Becky Albertalli ???? “Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball” by Jason June ???? “Tell Me How You Really Feel” by Aminah Mae Safi ???? “Come Out, Come Out” by Natalie C. Parker ???? “The Lilies” by Quinn Diacon-Furtado ???? “The Racial Trauma Handbook for Teens” by Támara Hill ???? “This Book is a Safe Space” by Amy Tran? ???? “Life Isn’t Binary” by Meg-John Barker & Alex Iantaffi ???? “Trans Teen Survival Guide” by Fox Fisher & Owl Fisher ???? “We Are Not Broken” by George M. Johnson ???? “I Have Something to Tell You” by Chasten Buttigieg ???? “Where to Start” from Mental Health America ???? “The Fire Never Goes Out” by ND Stevenson ???? “Ordinary Girls” by Jaquira Díaz If you’d like to support this initiative, share this post to spread the word! You can also donate directly to WNDB on our website! (diversebooks.org) Tags: #CarePackages #BookCarePackage #MentalHealth #QueerYouth #MentalHealthSupport #MentalHealthAcceptance #MentalHealthForTeens #LGBTQIABooks #LGBTQIAYouth #KidLit #YoungAdultBooks #YAFiction #YANonfiction #Fiction #Nonfiction #QueerJoy #BookInitiative #WNDB #WeNeedDiverseBooks

Our work continues — because we need diverse books now more than ever. We’ll keep supporting diverse stories and the incredible people who create them. We’ll keep ensuring that readers everywhere have access to diverse books. We’ll keep defending our right to read. The WNDB community is powerful and resilient — and where there is community, there is hope. Thank you for being a part of our community and for all you do to protect and celebrate diverse voices — not just today, but everyday. - The WNDB Team ????

"Aunt Georgia wiped the veil of sweat from her forehead and blew out a long, tired breath. 'I just don't know,' she said slowly. 'But you'll find a way. I'm sure of it. I believe in you, hon." —from RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME by Cynthia Leitich Smith, cover by Natasha M. Donovan (Heartdrum), background illustration by Mark G. Mitchell HarperCollins Publishers We Need Diverse Books

This November, there’s more on the ballot than just presidential candidates! In addition to the presidential election and important state measures, many people across the United States will be running to become members of their local school board. Here’s why it’s important to know the prospective board members running for office in your community: The school board acts as the direct link between the classroom and the community. The board decides how and what students are learning by setting policies, curriculums, and budgets for the entire school district. Voting for local school board members directly affects funding for school programming, including arts, music, sports, and the school calendar as a whole. Increasingly, over the past few years, school boards have also played an active role in either enacting or preventing book bans across the country. Whether certain literature or learning materials are deemed “appropriate” and disseminated in schools and libraries is more and more often decided by school board members. When it comes to the kinds of materials subject to banning, censorship, or special consideration, stories by LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, disabled, and otherwise marginalized authors are disproportionately impacted the most. According to Unite Against Book Bans, of the over 4,000 unique book titles targeted for censorship in 2023, 47 percent of those books were titles “representing the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals.” That’s exactly why it’s important to elect school board members who have the appropriate experience and expertise in approving high quality, inclusive curricular materials and who can provide meaningful input on the curriculum adoption process. When voting this year, be sure to research the school board candidates on your ballot! Take time to read their platforms. Check which organizations they’re affiliated with (if any), which organizations or community members are supporting/endorsing their campaign, what kind of community work they’ve done in the past, which policies they stand for, and whether their professional experience qualifies them to sit on a school board. They’ll make long-lasting educational decisions that will impact your local community for years to come. To research who’s running for your school board, reference your sample ballot or utilize online resources such as Ballotpedia.org to look up prospective board members. ?? bit.ly/ballotpedia-sb Voting in local elections matters just as much as the big-ticket ballot items this year. WNDB encourages everyone to exercise their right to vote and to be an informed voter! Tags: #Voting #NovemberElection #PresidentialElection #LocalElections #VotingDownBallot #DownBallotVoting #VotingResources #SchoolBoardElections #SchoolBoards #SchoolBoardMembers #BookBanning #BookCensorship #VoteResponsibly #RockTheVote #Diversity #Inclusion #WNDB #WeNeedDiverseBooks

It’s time for another #GoodNewsMinute! There’s been some exciting things happening in the WNDB community this past month, and we wanted to take some time to highlight some of those incredible accomplishments. If you need a pick-me-up today, here are six pieces of good publishing news to get excited about! ?? FEATURED: ?? ?? Madhu Messenger, one of our former WNDB mentees, has published her debut picture book, THE WEDDING SHOE SNATCH, illustrated by Darshika Varma and published by Albert Whitman & Company! This fun and vibrant picture book takes place at a family wedding, where main character Shilpa hopes to win the joota chupai: an action-packed Indian wedding tradition where the two sides of the family face off in a contest to snatch the groom’s shoes! ?? WNDB was recognized as the Angel honoree by The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art at a ceremony held at New-York Historical Society! WNDB Founding Member, Ellen Oh, spoke on behalf of WNDB at the ceremony. Thank you to the Carle Honors Committee for this tremendous honor! (?? Photo credit: Johnny Wolf) ?? Hello Sunshine held their #ShineAway Convention, with some incredible WNDB alumnx and Reese’s Book Club authors (like Yamile Saied Méndez) in attendance! The event consisted of panels, workshops, performances, culinary experiences, wellness moments, a celebration of female-founded brands, and of course a spotlight on Reese’s Book Club selections! ?? LOOKING FOR SMOKE by K.A. Cobell (Heartdrum / HarperCollins Publishers 2024) was selected as the Fall YA pick for Reese's Book Club! Congratulations to K.A. Cobell for this recognition! ?? WNDB’s newest anthology, ON THE BLOCK, has received three starred reviews! Thank you to Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist for the amazing reviews! ?? TO WALK THE SKY by Patricia Morris Buckley and E.B. Lewis (Heartdrum / HarperCollins Publishers 2025) received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews! The review says, in part, “Buckley’s elegant text will leave young people keenly aware of the historical and present-day significance of these groundbreaking workers, as well as their strength and resilience.” We can’t wait for you all to enjoy this title when it comes out January 28, 2025! Thank you all for another wonderful month. We deeply appreciate your continued support and enthusiasm for the work we do here at WNDB! We’re also especially grateful for all the amazing people in our WNDB community who are doing such incredible work every day! Tags: #GoodNews #PublishingNews #OctoberNews #OctoberRoundUp #OctoberGoodNews #BookPublication #BookReleases #BookReviews #PictureBooks #KidLit #ChildrensBooks #ChildrensLit #TheWeddingShoeSnatch #AlbertWhitman #CarleHonors #TheEricCarleMuseumOfPictureBookArt #ReesesBookClub #RBC #LookingForSmoke #KACobell #OnTheBlock #OnTheBlockStoriesOfHome #RandomHouseKids #StarredReviews #ToWalkTheSky #Heartdrum #HarperKids #WNDB #WeNeedDiverseBooks

?? Attention all National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) attendees! WNDB will be hosting a special 10th Anniversary panel at this year’s NCTE conference called “An Activation of Hope”! Moderator Cornelius Minor will be in conversation with authors Ellen Oh, Dhonielle Clayton, Phil Bildner, Samira Ahmed, and Tracey Baptiste to discuss the impact of book bans and how authors, educators, and community activists can unite to fight against them. Join us for an exciting and empowering discussion. And be sure to stick around after the panel has concluded to enjoy a light reception including drinks, snacks, and WNDB swag! ?? Check out the session listing on the NCTE website! ?? bit.ly/WNDB-NCTE ??? Saturday, November 23rd ?? 4:15 - 5:30 PM EST ?? Room 051, Exhibit Level ?? OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION: ?? For the last several years, far too many communities have experienced and endured unprecedented calls for book bans. But in recent months, the pendulum has started to swing in the other direction. When authors, educators, and community activists unite to preserve the right to access information and the truth, and to protect the rights of all children to read widely and diversely, we win. Tags: #NCTE #NCTE2024 #NCTE24 #NationalCouncilOfTeachersOfEnglish #AuthorPanel #BookConvention #ConventionPanel #EllenOh #DhonielleClayton #PhilBildner #SamiraAhmed #TraceyBaptiste #CorneliusMinor #AuthorDiscussion #AuthorChat #BookBans #FightingAgainstBookBans #UniteAgainstBookBans #WNDB #WeNeedDiverseBooks

ON THE BLOCK: STORIES OF HOME is here. Congratulations to We Need Diverse Books, Ellen Oh, and all the author contributors to the the next WNDB anthology. Happy book birthday and welcome to the world!

WNDB’s newest anthology, ON THE BLOCK: STORIES OF HOME, is out from Penguin Random House / Random House Books today! ? STARRED REVIEWS: “A superbly rendered love letter to identity and heritage” – Kirkus Reviews “Memorably realized and intersectionally diverse characters each lead upbeat stories in this rollicking collection.” – Publishers Weekly ?? ABOUT THE ANTHOLOGY: From We Need Diverse Books comes an uplifting middle-grade anthology that follows the loosely interconnected lives of multigenerational immigrant families residing within the Entrada apartment building. Edited by Ellen Oh, a founding member of WNDB. 12 Families. 12 Cultures. 1 Building. Welcome to the Entrada, home to these everyday Americans, including: - the new kid on the block, who is both homesick and curious - a Popsicle-bridge builder, a ghost hunter, and a lion dancer - their families, friends, and neighbors from all around the world! ON THE BLOCK contains stories from Tracey Baptiste, David Bowles, Adrianna Cuevas, Sayantani DasGupta, Debbi Michiko Florence, Adam Gidwitz, Erin Entrada Kelly, Minh Lê, Ellen Oh, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, Andrea Wang, and Jasmine Warga ????? Learn more and order your copy at the link below! ?? https://lnkd.in/gePupinr Tags: #OnTheBlock #OnTheBlockStoriesOfHome #PRH #PenguinRandomHouse #RandomHouseKids #MiddleGrade #Anthology #MiddleGradeAnthology #ShortStories #Books #BookNews #PublishingNews #BookRelease ##EllenOh #TraceyBaptiste #DavidBowles #AdriannaCuevas #SayantaniDasGupta #DebbiMichikoFlorence #AdamGidwitz #ErinEntradaKelly #MinhLê #OlugbemisolaRhudayPerkovich #AndreaWang #JasmineWarga