Thanks so much, Brook! 🥰

Not me seeing this after the fact! Giiiirl, wrecked, I am WRECKED 😫

Omg can't wait to watch!!

Good for you! And just an fyi: you can subscribe for free - they're very big on accessibility. Lots of other great info on de-googling your life!

@ykhong.bsky.social has a great series on degoogling you life that includes Gmail. I think most of the info is on substack but maybe on here as well

Thank you!! 💖

👏🏽🎉👏🏽

That gap is so real 😩 hope you get lots of support! the need for hot chocolate is real! ☕

Per BPL Union @bplpsa.bsky.social

"If we let the Library and City decide that Eve's management of her terminal cancer is an "undue burden" [so she] cannot use the sick bank, there will be nothing to stop them from saying the same thing for every member who comes after her."

SIGN:
www.bplpsa.org

Thank you so much and I love hearing that!! 🥰

Big shoutout to Charles for his amazing work for COWBOY, for being an amazing collaborator, for taking the representation of Panamanian culture so seriously, and for being so open to feedback and thoughts. All the recognition your incredible art is getting is well-deserved!!

They can't stop us from telling our stories. And I know how this story we're in end: we win. Love wins. Community wins. Justice wins. Equity wins. JOY WINS. 💖

Did you know that all of the Caldecott winning books this year are by/about people of the Global Majority? Even more wins community! So when you see all the horrible news, remember that even in the midst of all this hate we are still winning.

As we navigate this time when so many marginalized communities are being attacked, I think this book, and this book winning these awards, are important to view as wins for community.

One thing I love about being Black is that we're a people who can create joy even in the very worst of circumstances. Why then is there such an imbalance in the stories about us? The need for more Black Joy stories was heavy on my mind when writing COWBOY.

Too often the only Black books that win awards are those centered on pain and trauma, and while pain and trauma are real, joy, too, is real.

COWBOY is the first traditionally published picture book in the U.S. to feature characters of Panamanian descent. It's one of the few that feature Central Americans. It's one of a handful with Afro-Latinx characters. And it's one of a growing number of picture books that center Black Joy.