A forthcoming inclusive program for the youngest readers has been added to Scholastic’s publishing lineup: Bright Brown Baby, which aims to center Black and brown children, families, and joy amid celebrations of “welcoming babies into the world.” The board book and picture book series is the brainchild of Coretta Scott King Book Award-winning husband-and-wife team Andrea Davis Pinkney—bestselling author, Scholastic v-p and executive editor, and 2019 CBC Diversity Award winner—and two-time Caldecott Honor artist Brian Pinkney.
Launching in fall 2021, the line, publishing under the Cartwheel imprint led by Liza Baker, will debut with Bright Brown Baby, a picture book treasury that collects five poems in one hardcover, supplemented by inspirational quotes and recommendations for sharing the book with children. Five board book companions will each encompass one of the treasury’s poems; Count to Love! (A Bright Brown Baby Board Book), a counting affirmation of how much babies and toddlers are treasured, will publish simultaneously, with the subsequent board books to publish successively each spring and fall, concluding with Hey, Baby Girl! in fall 2024. Each book will spotlight the early days between parent and child, featuring rhymes optimized for read-aloud sessions by Andrea Davis Pinkney and watercolor illustrations by Brian Pinkney.
“We’re delighted to celebrate the joy and power of reading from the moment babies are born,” the Pinkneys told PW. “These books are our gifts to everyone who wants to show Black and brown children how truly extraordinary they are. Self-love begins with the images babies see. Bright Brown Baby says to newborns and toddlers of color: ‘Hello, preciousness personified! Your eyes are filled with tomorrow’s promise.’ ”
This article has been updated for clarity.
