Bloomsbury is teaming up with independent bookstores across the country and author Renée Watson for the new Make Sunshine, Share Joy campaign, an effort to support indie bookstores and young readers in underserved schools.
The initiative started on September 12 and will run through October 1 in seven independent bookstores. Participating indies will offer store-specific promotions through which copies of Watson’s middle grade book, Ways to Make Sunshine can be purchased and donated to a local school or organization. Each store has selected individual donation partners and a collective goal of donating 1,300 books to underserved schools.
“It was important for me to share this campaign with indie booksellers because I was confident that they’d know which schools are in need of books,” Watson said. “I trust them to rally their customers and build community through a neighborhood book drive.”
The collaboration comes ahead of Newbery Honor author Renée Watson’s third book in her Ryan Hart Story series. In Ways to Share Joy, Ryan, an optimistic Black girl, navigates middle school challenges such as classroom bullies and arguments with friends, with kindness and positivity. Ways to Share Joy will be released on September 27.
Similar to the way that her series protagonist Ryan Hart manages her struggles through kindness, Watson hopes “this campaign offers an opportunity for community members to practice simple, everyday kindness by supporting local bookstores, schools, and nonprofits.”
Watson will also support the campaign by making appearances at select participating bookstores while on her tour for Ways to Share Joy, which kicks off on September 26.
