diverse books Tag

Social Justice Children’s Bk Fair-Dec 7th 2024

Folks, the time has come for the 8th annual Social Justice Children’s Book Fair! We have been working and planning on this one for a whole year! Peep this video.

📣 Some of y’all still might not know this but I’m one of many organizers of this little but powerful book fair for kids. We rep Bipoc, Queer, Social Justice Minded, traditionally published and self published creators trying get their work to kids. We started this in 2017 right after the first Trump Election. All volunteers, all gas for 8 yrs now. This year we finally got some funding via The Akonadi Foundation and fiscal sponsorship from The Social Good Fund w/the help of “Jill Kunishima”.

We’ve hosted hella authors, illustrators, publishers, organizations, and community. People in red states, shit even counties just outside of the town hate on it, but if you’re feeling some type of way-don’t forget the power of a small dedicated group of homies. Take a break, but keep going. Stay principled and curious. #socialjusticechildrensbookholidayfair

Go to our website: www.SocialJusticeChildrensBooks.org or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

Saturday, Dec 7th, 12-3pm, Emerson Elementary School in Oakland

Dig this? Check out this Oaklandside article about last year’s fair

COVER REVEAL for my new book “Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco” !!!!

 

Yoooo! I can finally share it. Here is the cover for my newest picture book “FRESH JUICE” which debuts on July 25th through “Lee and Low Books”. You can preorder it today in English or Spanish. https://www.leeandlow.com/books/fresh-juice Juuuuuuiicccced!!!

This is a father and son story about fruits, veggies, ginger, health, and community. Please share!

From “Lee and Low Books”: Today we’re celebrating the gorgeous cover for our upcoming picture book, Fresh Juice by Robert Liu-Trujillo—available in English and Spanish (as Jugo Fresco) on 7.25.23! Both editions are available for pre-order now (bit.ly/3RMiy6A).✨
About Fresh Juice:
What makes a great juice that keeps everyone healthy? Art and his dad discover it takes carrots…collards…cayenne…and community!
When Art’s father can’t get over a cold, Art knows exactly what his daddy needs: some delicious sick-fighting juice! After looking through the fridge and cupboards, they discover they’re missing a key ingredient–ginger. But finding some ginger will take them downtown, to the farmers’ market, to the food co-op, to the West African grocery … to an unexpected encounter that brings everyone together, and results in a tasty celebration.
Author-illustrator Rob Liu-Trujillo’s warm and vibrant watercolor illustrations are a celebration of mixed families and the many individuals who help make a neighborhood feel like a community. Fresh Juice is a delightful, kid- and community-centered picture book that will leave you thirsty for more!
Dig this? Check out the announcement from 2019!
Shout out to editors Cheryl Klein and Kandace Coston, Art director Chad Beckerman, the whole Lee and Low Books team, and my agent Marietta Zacker!

Video: Interviews @ the “Social Justice Children’s Book Holiday Fair”

 

This is some video footage featuring interviews from book creators, organizations, the organizers of the event, and the owner of Teance. Can we give it up for Peter Limata and Lydia Yamaguchi though? They just bring SO MUCH vibrancy, love, and care to what they capture and who they spoke to at the event!  Please watch and enjoy. If you did not get a chance to attend the fair in person you can still get books from the creators who were there and many others using our website 
Here is more interviews Peter did leading up to the fair that morning. In this he speaks to Jill Guerra (We are Yoga/Somos Yoga), Christina Newhard of Sari Sari Books (KaliPay, Melo the Umang Boy), Breanna McDaniels (Hands Up), and John Casselberry (Konscious Kids).
Dig this? Check out the virtual 2020 Social Justice Children’s Book Fair

Photos from Richmond’s “Multicultural Bookstore”

 

Photo by Brianna Casanares
This past week I read at the Multicultural Children’s Bookstore in Richmond California. I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating. This store has the most diverse selection of picture books in the Bay Area. There are many other stores that do a great job as well. 
Photo by Daniel Zarazua
They currently carry “Furqan’s First Flat Top” and “Alejandria Fights Back”. Please stop by their store though if youre in the North Bay as a destination for gifts, a place that can order books for you, or as a wealth of knowledge. The owner’s name is Tamara Shiloh.
Photo by Brianna Casanares
One more of me rocking my Bridges Not Walls shirt by Kiwi :). I’ve been reading in classrooms and libraries for a decade now as a kids book author and illustrator!
If you dig these photos check out this reading at Bella Vista Elementary and this post w/ Melissa Reyes

Read Banned Books

 

Here’s a new print for all the lovers of banned books! I wanna shout out all the queer authors and illustrators. All the Black folks and people of color who’ve had the books banned for no more than telling their story. Oh and shout out to all those teachers bringing ethnic studies and critical race theory into their classrooms so students can actually learn how we got here as a country and as a world. Yes, please read banned books and when you do make up your own mind if its useful information or not.
Cop a print HERE
Dig this? Check out this print “Ethnic Studies In Every School”

Kickstarter- 13 Ways of Looking at a Black Boy


Hey, please check out this kickstarter to help publisher Penny Candy Books reprint this wonderful book written by Afro Latinx poet Tony Medina from NYC and illustrated by 13 Black illustrators from all over the country including yours truly.

If this campaign is successful this book will go into its 5th printing. That means hella people have loved it and purchased it. But, there are plenty of kids who have never seen it. Check out the video, campaign, and throw down if you got a few bucks. Kickstarter LINK

Thanks in advance!

Jambo Books Box

Hey, so I got a chance to collaborate with Jambo Books Club, a new company that has created a diverse kids books box for anyone looking to find new books. The founders have two daughters who inspired them and you can read more about their company HERE.
Check it out, some of my story time illustrations on their book boxes and a peak inside. 
If you are interested in licensing any of my artwork for your products or company please contact me at info@robdontstop.com

Booklandia Coloring sheets

Big shout out to bilingual book box “Booklandia” for including some of my artwork as a coloring sheet for kids in their recent book boxes. Booklandia was founded by Maceo Cabrera-Estevez in Oakland California to send picture books, middle grade, and young adult kids books to parents and educators across the world. This company is very special because it seeks to share books that feature children of all colors in English and Spanish. Check them out. Here is some more artwork.

And the original image from my bookplate!
Bookplates here

Multicultural Children’s Book Fair – DEC 9th Richmond, CA

If you are in the Bay Area and live near the Richmond area or are in Contra Costa County I invite you to bring your family to this event. Authors will be there reading their books, selling them, and signing them for folks who come. 
The Bay Area Black Authors Network is a newly formed group aimed at sharing resources and information about publishing stories by Black authors, illustrators, editors, etc.  We meet regularly at Hilltop mall the last tuesday of each month.
The event is also supported by the West County Reads new Multicultural Children’s Book Store at hilltop mall where you can find many children’s books about Latinx, Black, Asian, Native American, and queer stories. The bookstore has been open just under a year and is thriving getting visits from teachers, librarians, parents, and kids
Write up in the Richmond Standard