This Native American Heritage Month, we encourage you to learn more about Freedman & Black Natives! Visit IndigenousReadsRisin... for an insightful article on the history of Native Freedman and the legacy of Black Natives as well as related book lists for children, tweens, and teens.

✨ COVER REVEAL ✨ Take a look at the beautiful cover for I AM THE RIVER: SARAH E. RAY AND THE BOB-LO BOAT by Leah Henderson, Patricia Lee Gauch, and Kristle Marshall, a biographical picture book forthcoming from Levine Querido on January 6th, 2026! 🌊 bit.ly/IAmTheRiverBook

With roughly 42 million people across the U.S. losing access to food assistance amid the federal government shutdown, it’s more important than ever to educate ourselves about the realities and impacts of food insecurity in our communities. Here are some resources and reading suggestions ⬇️

🚨 WNDB is committed to providing emergency grants to diverse authors & illustrators, publishing professionals, and educators experiencing dire financial need due to loss of SNAP benefits. We are now open for a new round of emergency grants, between $250 and $1,000 each. 💻 bit.ly/WNDB-emergency

“warmth and beauty” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books @poetnikki.bsky.social @stacyvwells.bsky.social @eblewis.bsky.social @harperkids.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social #BookSky

👻 Want to know what really scares us here at WNDB? Every Halloween, cities and communities set up haunted houses, people dress up as monsters, and we watch spine-tingling movies that make even the bravest grown-ups jump. But here’s what *really* scares us at We Need Diverse Books:

Cover Reveal! AN EXPANSE OF BLUE by Kauakanilehua Mahoe Adams, art by JT Ojerio (Heartdrum, 2026). Powerful, romantic debut novel-in-verse about a Native Hawaiian girl's fight to find belonging in a fracturing family. #BookSky @epicreads.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social

Celebrate the #Halloween season with these diverse books! Whether you’re looking for something cute or creepy, this list has something for readers of any age and scare-level 🎃📚

🧡 COVER REVEAL 🧡 Don’t miss Brian Young’s groundbreaking YA debut, SHARDS OF SILENCE, forthcoming from Heartdrum (HarperCollins) on May 5th, 2026! 🎨 Cover art by Lynnette Haozous 🖼️ Cover design by Laura Mock 📖 bit.ly/ShardsOfSilence

It’s still #FilipinoAmericanHistoryMonth! If you want to add (even more) books written by Filipino American and Filipino authors to your TBR, here are 24 suggestions to get you started!

You’ve heard of book banning, but have you heard of soft censorship? WNDB is collecting information on the soft censorship of diverse books across the US. Have you witnessed soft censorship in your community? Consider sharing your experience with WNDB ⬇️ 📚 bit.ly/SoftCensorship

Think you can spot the lie? 🤔🔎

ON THE BLOCK is now available in paperback! Don’t miss your chance to own this inspiring middle grade anthology that follows the loosely interconnected lives of multigenerational immigrant families living in the same apartment building 🏢 bit.ly/OTBPB

Here’s your first look at IN THE COUNTRY I LOVE by Alaa Al-Barkawi, a heartrending debut about two Iraqi American best friends confront who dark truths about their families in the wake of a devastating crime. Forthcoming from Peachtree Teen on May 26th, 2026! ✨ bit.ly/InTheCountryI...

Are you attending #AASL25 this weekend in Saint Louis? We Need Diverse Books will be hosting a general session on Friday, October 17th, starting at 8 AM! Start your Friday at the AASL conference with a conversation that brings stories to life for learners. 📚 📅 Friday, Oct. 17 ⏰ 8 AM

Celebrate Indigenous storytelling this #IndigenousPeoplesDay — and every day! — with these new and upcoming releases from Heartdrum! Here’s every Heartdrum title that’s been published in 2025 — as well as a look ahead at forthcoming 2026 Heartdrum titles that you can pre-order today!

🛻 COVER REVEAL! 🛻 WNDB is excited to give you all a first look at the cover for WAYS PAPI SAYS I LOVE YOU by Delia Ruiz and Carlos Vélez Aguilera, a heartfelt picture book celebrating the father-daughter bond forthcoming from Charlesbridge on March 24th, 2026! ✨ bit.ly/WaysPapiSays

Our ability to read freely matters this #BannedBooksWeek — and beyond. Show your support for banned books and the freedom to read all year long with our new Bonfire designs! Available as ringer tees, unixsex tees, crewneck sweatshirts, hoodies, and more! 🛍️ bit.ly/WNDB-store

To aid folks in their ongoing education regarding the nature of book bans and censorship this #BannedBooksWeek (and beyond), we’re giving away a bundle of nonfiction and fiction books about the ongoing fight against book bans! Check out our post on Instagram to enter ⬇️ 📷 bit.ly/47dZjvJ

#BannedBooksWeek is the perfect time to add a challenged book (or two) to your shelf. We’re partnering with @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social to offer you 20% off select challenged titles from now until October 19: bookshop.org/info/banned-...

🔔 Apply for a Walter Dean Myers Grant today! The Walter Dean Myers Grant program was established to provide grants of $2,000 each to promising diverse writers and illustrators who are currently unpublished. Follow the 🔗 below (also in our bio) to apply ⬇️ 💻 bit.ly/WalterGrantsApp

🚨 Applications for Penguin Random House's 2026 #CreativeWritingAwards are NOW OPEN! Seniors from U.S. public high schools can apply today to win $10,000 in scholarship funds. Application and scholarship details can be found at the website below ⬇️ 💻 bit.ly/CWA2026#CreativeWritingAwards

Today is the last day to apply for a 2026 WNDB Mentorship! 💻 bit.ly/2026Mentorships

Today is #PreDV, the pitch practice event before #DVpit! Post your pitch drafts with #preDV from 8AM-8PM ET Post as many pitches or revisions as you need feedback on! Provide feedback for other participants on their pitches & make new friends! more info at dvpit.carrd.co #writersky

It’s still #DeafAwarenessMonth, a time for celebrating the d/Deaf community and shining a light on how the world can be more d/Deaf-inclusive! Here are nearly 40 titles with d/Deaf representation for you to check out this September — or any time of year 📚💞

IndigenousReadsRising.com shines a light on Black Native and Freedmen representation in books for young readers! Features include bibliographies for all age markets of young readers. Plus an article offering information and recommendations for further study on Freedmen is available in Resources.

Common Sense Media and We Need Diverse Books are excited to partner up and spotlight some amazing “hidden gem” reads! Find more information about all of these titles along with age-based ratings and expert reviews on the Common Sense Media website ⬇️ 📚 bit.ly/HiddenGemPicks

🎶 COVER REVEAL! 🎶 WNDB is thrilled to help Yamile Saied Méndez reveal the cover for her next YA book, HEAR YE MORTALS, forthcoming from Levine Querido on May 5th, 2026! 🎨 Cover illustration by Victor Bizar Gómez 🎸 bit.ly/HearYeMortals

Educator Guide by Odia Wood-Krueger (Métis) available for LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN (Heartdrum, 2025)--book info & Qs, activities & read-alikes: b0f646cfbd7462424f7a-f9758a43fb7c33cc8adda0fd36101899.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/teaching-gui... @harperstacks.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social

Want a chance to win one of five copies of THE GOLDEN BOY’S GUIDE TO BIPOLAR by @sonorareyes.bsky.social? Check out our Instagram post to enter! #BookGiveaway 📚 bit.ly/46nVsdV

Proud to offer an intro to this important guide from @freedomreadproject.bsky.social - for more information - go here! www.freedomtoreadproject.org/turning_the_...

Need inspiration and actionable advice for fighting back against book bans in your local community? Don’t miss the newly-released BAN THIS!, out now from Lerner Books! 📘 https://bit.ly/Ban-This

Since 2016, we’ve worked with over 100 writers & illustrators to help kickstart their careers through our Mentorship Program! These are just a few names out of so many incredibly accomplished and talented mentees we’ve had the honor of working with over the years. 💻 bit.ly/2026Mentorship

Today marks the first day of #LatineHeritageMonth! We’ve put together a (non-comprehensive) reading guide to help grow your TBR this Latine Heritage Month – and beyond!

It’s Back-to-(Magic)-School Season and we have some ideas for diverse magic school stories you can read! Many of these titles are part of our ongoing fundraising campaign to send care packages with magical books to queer, trans, & nonbinary youth. Learn more below! ⬇️ ✨ bit.ly/MagicCarePack...

I loved being part of this, such a joy to be surrounded by diverse stories and magical authors.

Today, we partnered with @authorsabb.bsky.social @penamerica.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social and @ncacensorship.bsky.social to send Florida’s school leaders a reminder to uphold their oath and respect the constitutional rights of their students.

WNDB and four fellow book advocates have signed onto a joint advocacy letter addressing Florida school boards and demanding that books illegally banned under HB 1069 are returned to shelves. The full letter can be found on our website (also 🔗 in bio) 📝 www.diversebooks.org...

🔔 The third author panel in our “Magic Stories are for Everyone” series is officially available to stream on YouTube starting today! ✨ bit.ly/MagicStories3

✨ General Session Spotlight! ✨ Kick off Friday at #AASL25 with bestselling authors Soman Chainani & Ellen Oh, librarian Lauren Mobley, and moderator Jordan Lloyd Bookey for a powerful convo on representation in lit. 📅 Oct. 17 | ⏰ 8 AM #LiteratureForAll @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social#AASL25

Thanks for all of the support and enthusiasm for last week's launch of LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN (Heartdrum, 2025)! ★ “Superlative.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review ★ “A essential purchase.” —Booklist, starred review Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection Kids’ Indie Next List #BookSky

Thanks to our friends at @fiercereads.bsky.social, we’re excited to give away 10 copies of Angeline Boulley’s newest release, SISTERS IN THE WIND! Check out our Instagram post linked below to enter ⬇️ bit.ly/464DahN

🔔 Now accepting 2026 Mentorship applications! Want to participate in our annual Mentorship Program, where we pair emerging writers & illustrators from diverse backgrounds with experienced professionals in the field? Visit the link below (🔗 also in bio) to apply today! 💻 bit.ly/2026Mentorships

WNDB is immensely excited to congratulate Zarlasht Niaz, one of our 2024 Walter Grantees, on being named the Associates of the Boston Public Library Writer-in-Residence for 2025 - 26!

Everyone can contribute something to the fight, but because certain actions tend to get all the coverage, it can be easy to feel shut out. So here's a thread of ways to help that do NOT include: Going anywhere Calling anyone Writing anything If you want to help, we want your help. Let's go....

Happy #Bookbirthday to the paperback edition of BLACK GIRL YOU ARE ATLAS by Renée Watson and featuring fine art by Ekua Holmes! This Coretta Scott King Honor Book and winner of the Walter Dean Myers Award is a thoughtful celebration of Black girlhood.

Wishing a very happy #PubDay to our latest Heartdrum release, LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN, a collection of interconnected stories featuring the voices of both new and acclaimed Indigenous writers and edited by @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social! 💚 bit.ly/3UPMf90

It’s a new school year at IndigenousReadsRising.com! Check out these terrific titles (and more!) along with educator resources. #KidLit #BookSky

Meet our 2026 Mentors! Through our annual Mentorship Program, we pair aspiring creators with published authors to hone their craft, learn about publishing, and launch their careers. Applications for our 2026 Mentorship Program will open soon in early September, so get ready to apply 📝

@jessicakhoury.bsky.social ‬on why she created a fantasy world where all kids are welcome to contribute their (magical) music to this symphony we call life! 📚💖✨ Support WNDB's Magic Stories are for Everyone care package initiative by donating to our latest fundraiser: 🏳️‍⚧️ bit.ly/MagicCarePackages