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"The latest at WNDB" on pink background

Celebrate the season with our staff reads, check out our new merch, and get ready to bid during our holiday auction — starting Thursday!

"book picks from the WNDB team" along with book covers / headshots

At WNDB, we love celebrating diverse books — and gifting titles to others. If you are looking for some recs for those on your list ( … or yourself!) here are some suggestions from our staff.

I'm always on the lookout for a picture book that I won't mind reading a hundred times to my kids and Mixed: A World of Color by Arree Chung fits that bill to a T! It has vibrant illustrations and a really poignant plot that demonstrates to readers the importance of tolerance and embracing our differences. — Caroline Richmond, Executive Director

With a perfect blend of humor and heart The Electric Slide and Kai, written by Kelly J. Baptist and illustrated by Darnell Johnson, speaks to readers who sometimes feel out of step, and reminds them that everyone’s got a different groove. This fun celebration of mixed families always makes me wanna get up and bust a move! — Kandace Coston, Internship Grants Committee Chair & Rise Up Program Consultant

Every child deserves to go to magic school — and in the wonderful, whimsical, sensational world of The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton, now they finally have that chance. Filled with high stakes adventures, ride-or-die friendships, laugh-out-loud humor, and plenty of fantastical twists and turns, this always inclusive tale truly has something for everyone! — Ann Marie Wong, Project Director

One of the best books I've read in 2022. Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore is a powerful Great Gatsby retelling for YA readers who thought the original should be much gayer. It explores LGBTQ+ and Latine identity in the 1920s with nuance. — Alaina Lavoie, Program Manager

Everyone who loves to curl up with a fantastical story but would also like a break from world-ending stakes: Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier is for you. Truly character-driven fantasy feels like such a rarity to me, and this gem of a book centers on two teens who get swept up in solving a mystery that's wrapped up in political intrigue, secrets, and emotional intrigue. — JoAnn Yao, Social Media Manager

WNDB uses affiliate links, so if you make a purchase via the above links, we will earn a small commission. Thank you for supporting our efforts to celebrate diverse books!

... MORE NEWS ...
  • Our new Books Save Lives campaign aims to fight the book bans sweeping the country and championing diverse voices to make our world a better, more empathetic, and accepting place.

    Our approach is threefold, including:
    funding the Books Save Lives Grant, which will allocate up to $10,000 for schools to purchase diverse titles; working with grassroots organizations in battleground states to fight local book bans; and supporting diverse authors affected by the bans, via book buys, publicity, and paid school visits.

    So how can you help?

    • Join our social media campaign. Take a photo of yourself with the book that saved your life and share its impact on you. Post your text and image to your social media accounts with the hashtag #BooksSaveLives. Let's show the power of a story and why the book bans must stop.

    • Champion diverse books in your community. Speak up at school board meetings; recommend diverse books at your library; purchase and review books by diverse authors. Every little bit helps!

    • Make a contribution. We hope you’ll consider making a gift to WNDB as we provide support and resources to the teachers, librarians, children, and authors most affected by the book bans.

CHECK OUT OUR MERCH
Diagonal Header that says: SWAG ALERT: Support diverse books in style! BONFIRE: Two exclusive designs; various types of apparel; all proceeds go toward fighting book bans. Only in the WNDB Bonfire shop." Images of sweatshirts, tank tops with BOOKS SAVE LIVES logos

Want to support WNDB and fight against book bans? Check out our new merch!

ICYMI From our Blog & Social Media
  • WNDB and WAAC were proud to sponsor a school visit to Burnt Mills Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland, last week. Award-winning author Leah Henderson talked writing and inspiration to third and fifth graders. All students in attendance got a signed copy of The Magic In Changing Your Stars.

Tweet from Lori Savoy (@BurntMillsMedia) "Thanks again to  @diversebooks  and  @WAACvisits  for bringing the amazing  @LeahsMark  to present to our 3rd and 5th grade scholars! #bmesrocks  @BMESPrincipal"
Author Leah Henderson poses with students from Burnt Mills Elementary School. Kids are holding Leah's book, THE MAGIC IN CHANGING YOUR STARS in front of their faces.
  • We have loved seeing everyone’s #BooksSaveLives posts as we work to fight book bans! Here’s WNDB board member and children’s author Minh Lê sharing the book that changed his life.

Instagram photo from "bottomshelfbks" with a photo of half of author Minh Le's face, and half o a drawing, with the Books Save Lives logo
bottomshelfbks #BooksSaveLives  I read AMERICAN BORN CHINESE by @geneluenyang after college and it was the first time I really saw myself in a book. Reading this was like that Wizard of Oz moment when you step into a whole new world of color and possibility. I always loved reading, but I don’t think I ever REALLY thought being an author was even a possibility until I read this complex and groundbreaking graphic novel. @weneeddiversebooks
INDUSTRY INSIDER
  • Check out and consider supporting these frequently banned audiobooks at Libro.fm.

  • Support learning truth in Virginia K-12 public education! The Hamkae Center is working hard to organize efforts to stop extreme curriculum restrictions in Virginia. Here’s how you can help.

  • Following the One World Books’s #The1619ProjectReadAlong campaign? The next reading is Matthew Desmond's chapter, "Capitalism"—don't miss out on the free chapter download and in-depth discussion. More info about the read along: http://1619books.com

JOB POSTINGS
  • Beacon Press is hiring a Business Operations Assistant; salary is $44,600 (hybrid remote and Boston, MA)

  • Hachette is hiring an Editor for Orbit; salary is $60,000 to $65,000 (New York, NY)

  • Milkweed Editions is hiring an Engagement Coordinator; salary is $40,000 to 45,000 (Minneapolis, MN)

    Do you want your job opening included in our newsletter?
    Please
    email Elissa Petruzzi (elissapetruzzi@diversebooks.org) with the name of the position, the salary range, the location (and/or if the position is in-office / hybrid / temporarily or permanently remote), plus a link to where applicants can apply.

UNTIL NEXT MONTH, HAPPY READING!
The Reading Adventure book cover with the text: Discover Your Next Great Read! Available 10.18.22" with the WNDB and DK logos and a rainbow swoosh in the background

Our latest book, The Reading Adventure, is out now from DK Publishing! Geared toward middle grade readers, it includes 100 book recs organized by theme, 15 exclusive author interviews, bold original artwork, and more.

GET YOUR COPY TODAY!