Today, it’s about having fun on a Friday. Starting with:
Book 1: Water, Water a classic by Eloise Greenfield; illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist
Book 2: Soggy Like Cush Cush by Karly Pierre; illustrated by Kristen Uroda.
Book 3: Black Diamond Kings by Charles R. Smith; illustrated Adrian Brandon
Book 4: Under the Neon Lights by Arriel Vinson
Happy birthday Charles R. Johnson! Born April 23, Charles R. Johnson is an award-winning author, McArthur Fellow, and professor. His novel, Middle Passage, won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1990. Here are a few of his notable novels:
Happy birthday Bryan Washington! Born April 22, Bryan is an award winning author of a few novels. His novels focus on the intersectionality of identity, culture, and relationships.
I attended a booksigning at Detroit Public Library. April C. E. Langley, Associate Professor and Chair of African American studies at the University of South Carolina and Associate Professor emerita of English and Black studies at the University of Missouri–Columbia, wrote a book titled: Depoliticizing the Word Through Poetry and Preaching. She focuses on three women, Phillis Wheatley, Maria W. Stewart, and Jarena Lee, and examines their speeches, poetry, and other written works through the lens of Afrofuturism and Sankofa. I was truly fascinated by her talk: the depth of her research and how she examined these women works through so many different lenses.
Belated birthday wishes Javaka Steptoe! Born April 19, Javaka Steptoe is an award winning children’s book illustrator/artist. Here are just a few of his notable works:
Born April 19, 1931, Etheridge Knight was a powerful poet during the Black Arts movement. He passed away in 1991. Here are a few of his notable works:
The 2025 BCALA BOTB has been published and is now ready to be released.
Book 1: Prek-4: Dream A Dress, Dream a Poem by Nancy Johnson James; illustrated by Diana Ejaita
Book 2: 5-8: The True Story of Vanilla by Ann Richards; illustrated by Arden Taylor
Book 3: 9-12: Nic Blake and The Remarkables: The House of Anansi by Angie Thomas
Blessed heavenly birthday Mariama Ba! Born April 17, 1929, Mariama Ba was a Senegalese author and feminist. She is known for her two novels: So Long a Letter and Scarlet Song. She passed away in 1981.
Happy birthday Tracy K. Smith! Celebrating her birthday April 16, Tracy K. Smith is Pulitzer Award Winner and the 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States. Here are a few of her notable works.
Belated birthday Jericho Brown! Born April 14, Jericho Brown is an award winning poet and author. Some of his award winning works are:
The CamaraIfe Maktaba 