Announcing the 2022 Walter Award Winners and Honorees!
The WNDB Walter Awards Judging Committee has selected the Winners and Honorees for the seventh annual Walter Dean Myers Awards for Outstanding Children’s Literature.
2022 Walter Award, Teen Category
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley (Henry Holt and Co.)
2022 Walter Honors, Teen Category
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo (Dutton Books for Young Readers)
Revolution in Our Time by Kekla Magoon (Candlewick)
2022 Walter Award, Younger Readers Category
Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca (Quill Tree Books)
2022 Walter Honors, Younger Readers Category
Borders by Thomas King and illustrated by Natasha Donovan (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
Root Magic by Eden Royce (Walden Pond Press)
WNDB warmly thanks our 2022 Walter Awards Judging Committee: Alicia K. Long (Committee Chair), Lindsay Hall, Gregory Lum, Jennifer Bonilla, J. Tyler Chadwell-English, Ariana Hussain, Rachel L. Rickard Rebellino.
Be sure to check back soon about details concerning the 2022 symposium and ceremony!
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February is the FINAL Month to Partner with the Internship Grant Program
**Last call!** to all publishing companies and literary agencies.
Are you interested in moving the needle on diversity? Please consider partnering with the WNDB Internship Grant program for our Children’s Internship program, Adult Internship program, or both.
The Internship Grant Program launches on March 1, 2022—so this is the final month to become a partner!
We are asking both interested and returning partners to fill out the form for our 2022 season. You can find the form here.
To learn more about the Internship Grant Program and partnering with WNDB to help diversify the industry, please contact:
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Congratulations to Black Creatives Fund Marketing Symposium Member Nancy Johnson James!
Black: The Many Wonders of My World by Nancy Johnson James, illustrated by Constance Moore, is out on February 15, 2022.
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Seventeen Talented Creative Voices Named 2022 We Need Diverse Books Mentees
After combing through hundreds of manuscripts and portfolios for the 2022 We Need Diverse Books Mentorship Program, the committee and mentors have made their winning selections. This is the largest cohort since the inception of the Mentorship Program. To learn more about this year's cohort of mentees and the selection process, visit our website.
The reader teams also noted many remarkable applications, naming over sixty finalists across the categories. The seventeen creators selected to receive a year-long mentorship include: Alana Ladson, Ariana Padron, and Gabriela Vega (Illustration); Remi Kathawa, Ashley Murray, Jane Palmer, and Melanie Singer (Picture Book); Kris Fields, Madhuri Mukhtyar Messenger, Crystal Roget, Rita D. Russell, and Maureen Tai (Middle Grade); and Alexandra Bazrafshan, Marianna Leal, Meg Rao, Silvia Rodriguez Kembel, and Elle Zhang (Young Adult). Photos and bios of the mentees and their mentors are available online.
The WNDB Mentorship Program has now awarded over 85 twelve-month mentorships since 2016.
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We’re especially proud to have worked with and honored many of these authors and illustrators, including:
Angeline Boulley, Walter Award winner & WNDB mentee
Traci Chee, Walter Award honoree
Jason Chin, WNDB mentor
Floyd Cooper, WNDB mentor
Christine Day, Heartdrum author
Nikki Grimes, WNDB mentor
Veera Hiranandani, Walter Award honoree
Hena Khan, HERO NEXT DOOR contributor
Rajani LaRocca, Walter Award winner
Grace Lin, Advisory Board member & FLYING LESSONS contributor
Malinda Lo, Walter Award honoree, WNDB mentor, & FRESH INK contributor
Kyle Lukoff, WNDB mentor
Kekla Magoon, two-time Walter Award honoree
Ellen Oh, co-founder & CEO of WNDB
Dawn Quigley, Native Intensive faculty member & Heartdrum author
Jason Reynolds, two-time Walter Award winner & FRESH INK contributor
Traci Sorell, Native Intensive faculty member & WNDB mentor
Angie Thomas, Walter Grant winner
Carole Boston Weatherford, Walter Award winner
Jane Yolen, WNDB mentor
Brian Young, Heartdrum author
Ibi Zoboi, Walter Award winner
Congratulations to all, including the many creators we’ve also featured on our blog and social media!
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Support WNDB with our exclusive merch!
Want to support us and sport some cool swag? Check out everything that we have on sale at our Bonfire store! You can find exclusive WNDB merch, including T-shirts, tote bags, mugs, sweatshirts, and more, all while supporting our mission and highlighting the importance of diverse books.
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Job Opportunities
Publishing Coordinator, Random House Children’s Books (NYC)
Assistant Editor, Literary Hub (NYC or Remote)
Executive Editorial Director, IDW (LA)
Senior Editor, Originals, IDW (San Diego, CA)
Group Editor, IDW (LA)
Director of Finance (FP&A), IDW (LA)
Sales Associate to Manager, Erewhon Books (NYC)
Assistant Editor - Crown, Currency, Ten Speed Press (NYC)
Associate Marketing Manager, Pantheon (NYC)
Marketing Director, Algonquin and Algonquin Young Readers (NYC)
Editorial Assistant, Children's Books, Union Square & Co. (NYC)
Publicity/Marketing Director, Entrepreneur Books (Remote)
Several Job Openings, BookEnds Literary Agency (Remote)
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Looking for a diverse book to give this holiday season? Check out the Independent Book Publishers Association's winter catalogue, and help spread the word about indie publishers supporting diversity in our industry. The catalog is designed to spotlight diverse titles and help those titles gain traction with booksellers and shoppers.
Well-Read Black Girl is launching a podcast starting on February 1! Glory Edim, founder of the popular literary group and event series Well-Read Black Girl, will host intimate, in-depth conversations with the most impactful thinkers, makers, and authors of color today. Guests will include Anita Hill, Gabrielle Union, Tarana Burke, Blair Imani, and more.
Listen to the 2022 Walter Awards Winners and Honorees on Libro.fm!
These 24 challenges will help you read more, diversify your audiobook-listening, and share what you’re loving with your community—all while supporting your local, independent bookstore with Libro.fm!
In honor of Black History Month, readers can browse Libro.fm's collection of audiobooks by Black authors, featuring new releases and bestsellers.
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Do you want your job opening included in our email newsletter?
Please send an email to Program Manager Alaina Lavoie at alainalavoie@diversebooks.org with the name of the position, the salary range, and if applicable, the location, plus a link to where applicants can apply. Please include whether the position is remote (for now), in office, hybrid, or permanently remote.
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Do you have something that We Need Diverse Books can help promote on social media?
We often share news, resources, programs, giveaways, events, job openings, articles, workshops, and more. Contact us by filling out this Google form.
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Keep up with us on social media for updates, giveaways, program announcements, book suggestions, and more!
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