- Gabby Bunnell
- Feb 26
- 2 min read
Big Ideas with Veronica N. Chapman, Founder of Black Children’s Book Week
The mission of Black Children’s Book Week is simple yet vital: “To celebrate Black children and the creators who make sure they are represented in their books and other children’s media.”
Each year, beginning on the last Sunday in February, Black Children’s Book Week inspires bookstores, libraries, literacy organizations, and readers of all ages to amplify children’s stories with Black representation. At Book Harvest, celebrating Black Children’s Book Week comes second-nature; every day, we witness firsthand how books provide windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors for young readers to grow into the world around them, learning to embrace and celebrate their own lived experiences as well as those that may be unfamiliar.
This year, friend of Book Harvest Safia sat down with Veronica N. Chapman, founder of Black Children’s Book Week, to learn more about how she came up with this big idea. The conversation naturally includes many of their favorite Black children’s books – both enthusiastically endorsed Big by Vashti Harrison – and favorite Black children’s book characters (Angelica from The Day You Begin and Faith from I Know I Can!).
“I’m grateful that people saw the vision and have really held it tight,” Veronica reflected, “Every year it continues to grow, and I’m really excited about that.”
You can watch the full interview here for more book recommendations, Black book joy, and a sneak peek into Veronica’s next big idea! (hint: it may involve an animated series)
We are so grateful to Veronica and to all of the incredible creators that fuel holistic, inclusive children’s literacy across the country. Happy Black History Month and Black Children’s Book Week from Book Harvest!
Interested in celebrating Black Children’s Book Week? You can follow @blackchildrensbookweek on Instagram and Facebook to learn more about events and activities near you. See their checklist below to guide you through your own celebration!
If you’re looking to build your home library of Black children’s books and other culturally inclusive titles, visit https://www.bookharvest.org/get-books to learn more about the Book Harvest Family Space and other book hubs near you.
