Kidlit for Kamala, which calls itself “a coalition of people who create, share, read, and value children’s books,” held a virtual rally on August 11 for both capital-D Democrats and lowercase-D democracy.
Organized by authors Martha Brockenbrough and Carrie Firestone, writer and political strategist Celeste Pewter, and editorial consultant Christy Yaros, Kidlit for Kamala has grown to around 900 members in the four weeks since Kamala Harris became 2024’s Democratic presidential candidate. The core group put together a logo and website, planned the strategy session, and established a social media presence, including a Facebook group.
“This is entirely a pantsed effort because all of us have full lives,” Brockenbrough said. “We just wanted to get this powerful community informed, organized, and rallied around some concrete actions,” like volunteering for campaigns, raising awareness of national as well as state races, and teaching the public how to register and how to get to the polls on election day.
Billed as a “strategy session” on social media, the 11-person virtual panel introduced the organizers and seven outspoken compatriots. Among them was poet Nikki Grimes, author of Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice, illustrated by Laura Freeman; Grimes’s picture book biography was published in 2020, before Harris had been elected vice president, and Grimes updated the wording to reflect Harris’s 2024 presidential aspirations. Rajani LaRocca (Red, White, and Whole) shared pages from her 2021 My Little Golden Book About Kamala Harris, illustrated by Ashley Evans.
Four more authors on the call—Elana K. Arnold, Gayle Forman, Marla Frazee, and Natasha Tripplett—have firsthand experience with censorship and stand for democratic values including the freedom to read. Eleni Kavros DeGraw, a state representative in her second term in Connecticut’s 17th district, also joined the session; this November, DeGraw faces Republican opponent Manju Gerber, president of Hartford County’s Moms for Liberty chapter.
Getting Out the Youth Vote
Kidlit for Kamala’s motivating principle is “if young people show up, we will win,” Brockenbrough told PW. “Every vote counts, and young voters are going to make all the difference on November 5.” Recalling that four important swing states including Arizona and Michigan flipped from red to blue in 2020, in large part due to young voters, she emphasized the importance of engaging people ages 18–24. “These are the voters who, if they show up, will ensure we have a Harris/Walz presidency,” she said. “They need to know how to register, and if they need an absentee ballot, they need a reminder to get that ballot in.”
Although freedom to read campaigns and literary associations often must remain nonpartisan as a condition of their funding, the grassroots Kidlit for Kamala proudly stumps for Democrats. “This is directly in our lane” as children’s creators, Brockenbrough said. “[The Heritage Foundation’s conservative platform] Project 2025 wants to not only ban books but punish our teacher and librarian allies. We intend to use our skills with words and images to persuade the wider world that freedom and inclusivity are qualities that make Harris and [VP candidate] Tim Walz best suited to lead the nation.”
Unlike recent Harris benefits like Win with Black Women and White Dudes for Harris, the August 11 virtual event wasn’t an election fundraiser. “Money is not the focus of our efforts,” Brockenbrough said. “The focus is information, communication, and solidarity.”
Kidlit for Kamala members who do want to contribute financially are being steered toward a political action committee, the State Government Citizens Campaign, aimed at supporting the Democratic ticket at the state level. Participating author Forman said during the virtual event that she’d helped found SGCC in 2017 and the organization has since raised $5 million for state races. “It’s often cheaper to flip the balance of power in an entire chamber [in the statehouse] than it is to win a single competitive congressional seat,” Forman said, and state legislatures have the power to determine voting districts and shape policies that can swing a national election.
In addition to educating voters, Kidlit for Kamala will encourage its creative members to make art, tell stories, and have a good time on the campaign trail. “Guard your joy,” Forman reminded listeners. “I want us all to take a moment to kind of marinate in how great it feels to feel good again,” united around Democratic candidates. Connecticut Rep. DeGraw urged audience members to try knocking on doors or phone banking with their community as a way to support candidates. “It really is more fun together,” DeGraw said. “And you know, writing is such a solitary pursuit that if you’re looking for a little social interaction, this is not the least fun way to do it.”
Firestone suggested that voting can be a celebratory occasion, best done with friends. “My idea is to make Election Day fun and social,” Firestone said. “We’re starting the hashtag #ComeVoteWithMe as a way to encourage people to have a breakfast with some people and go vote together, or have a play date and vote with your play group. Go out after work with your colleagues and vote together. We can do that virtually with our readers as well; many of them will be voting for the first time.”
For Pewter, a campaign strategist looking forward to her middle grade nonfiction debut, Infinite Sky (Bloomsbury, 2026), Kidlit for Kamala combined two personal favorites: politics and books for young readers. “I’ve worked in every level of government—I like to call it political bingo,” Pewter said. “I am so glad that we are here today. We know we’re preaching to the choir, and now we need the choir to sing.”
