We were honored to have Joanna Ho join us at the American Library Association Annual Conference this past June. Read on to see what she shared about the importance of names and the inspiration behind her upcoming picture book, Say...
Today is Indigenous Peoples' Day and November is Native American Heritage month! We think the best way to celebrate is with authentic and heartfelt Indigenous stories reflecting the diversity of the Indigenous experience in the United States and Canada. The...
Hispanic Heritage Month, which began on September 15 and extends through October 15, is a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions Latinx individuals have made to American life. We at HarperStacks understand the importance of amplifying Latinx voices all...
When I set out to write a book about a (not the!) Jewish American experience, I knew I’d have a few half-forgotten lessons to relearn. I needed to brush up on history, like the timeline of German-occupied Europe and Jewish...
There’s a popular phrase in Judaism: L’Dor Vador. Translated from Hebrew, it’s "from generation to generation." It means that it’s up to us to pass down the history, traditions and love of our faith onto the next generation. It’s an...
Banning books creates barriers that prevent underrepresented voices from sharing their stories and feeling seen in the pages. We at HarperCollins uplift these stories and stand against censorship. Books harness the power of literature to develop empathy and understanding and...
I’m a Muslim American immigrant, and my children are Americans who were born in the U.S. and raised through the lens of the worst terrorist attack on the U.S. Yet for the longest time, it never occurred to me that...
The Accursed Vampire is on sale 7/27/21 When I write and draw comics intended for a middle grade reader, I can’t help but think about my experiences as a book-loving kid. I think about what I would’ve found fun and...
This piece was originally published on SLJ Teen Librarian Toolbox on May 27, 2021. I get asked a lot what I’d like to see more of in the YA space, and my answer is always, “More frankness around the topic...
Brian Pinkney's newest picture book, Time for Kenny, is on sale now! Time for Kenny is the story of a busy kid whose days are filled with things that bring him joy. He loves dressing in Granddaddy’s hat, learning to...
“If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.” - Carter G. Woodson, historian and founder of the Association...
National Book Award winner Kacen Callender reflects on why it is so important to build inclusive literary curriculum for children and teens. Their latest YA book, FELIX EVER AFTER, is on sale now. Hello, teachers, librarians, and booksellers! It’s Kacen...
We know that children learn a lot about the world through the books that they read. When the stories they hear do not reflect the reality of the world we live in, young people develop a warped view of society,...
Download Your Free Poster! Now more than ever, it's important to celebrate and uplift Black voices. Artist Anjola Coker created this gorgeous free downloadable poster featuring some of our most essential books for all ages by Black authors and illustrators....
Download Your Free Poster! Whether your teaching and librarianship is virtual or in person, your workspace could surely use some book-themed decoration. Lucky for you, we have just the thing! Artist Anjola Coker created this gorgeous free downloadable poster...
No matter the time of year, it's always a good time to celebrate the Black Americans who have made - and continue to make - their mark on this country. We've put together a list of picture book and middle...
The Right Time: Being Ready to Be an Allyby Lisa Jenn Bigelow Metaphors for adolescence practically write themselves. Case in point: school hallways. If you’re lucky, you’ve got friends to walk with. Unlucky, and bullies attack. And then there are...
Important Books for Inclusive Values by Megan Dowd Lambert I was debating what to write for this post when I received an email from Alli Harper, founder of OurShelves, a book-box subscription service and advocacy effort to leverage consumer power...
Showing Our Pride Through Storytelling and Action by Abdi Nazemian I’ve always described my novel Like a Love Story as a love letter as well as a love story. It’s a love letter to all the people who created a...
Fluffy shows off some of his (and Rob's) top Pride pics Pride Isn't Just About Peacockingby Rob Bittner, PhD Photo assistance by Fluffy the Turtle When I was first asked to write a post for this series, I was thrilled....