By Alexis LaRueAFRO Internalarue@afro.com The Reginald F. Lewis Museum’s Children’s Book Festival returns April 11, offering children and families a day filled with literary exploration. Attendees will have the chance to peruse children’s literature about-African American children, as well as meet some of the authors during a Book Village. The annual event will offer an […]
Category: Books
Posted inBooks
Must-read historical fiction novels about Black women
A list of must-read historical fiction novels highlights powerful stories of Black women whose lives and legacies shaped history. From Harlem Renaissance literary icon Jessie Redmon Fauset to Caribbean entrepreneur Dorothy Kirwan Thomas and Oscar-winning actress Hattie McDaniel, contemporary authors bring overlooked figures and pivotal moments to life, celebrating the resilience, creativity and influence of Black women across generations.
Posted inBaltimore News
United Way of Central Maryland, Wellpoint Maryland celebrate Read Across America Month with Baltimore scholars
United Way of Central Maryland and Wellpoint Maryland recently partnered for a Read Across America Month event with scholars from Curtis Bay Elementary and Bay-Brook Elementary/Middle Schools in Baltimore City. More than 900 titles were donated, allowing students to choose which books they wanted to take home.
Posted inBaltimore News
Army (Ret.) Col. Edna W. Cummings uplifts Six Triple Eight women in new memoir
Army (Ret.) Col. Edna Cummings held a signing event in Baltimore at The Reginald F. Lewis Museum on March 7 for her book, “A Soldier’s Life: A Black Woman’s Rise from Army Brat to Six Triple Eight Champion.”
Posted inMaryland News
First Lady Moore launches campaign to advance literacy among Maryland students
By Read More Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore, on Mar. 2, launched the #ReadMoreMaryland campaign, a statewide literacy campaign that aims to inspire Maryland students to read. In partnership with the Governor’s Office for Children and the Maryland State Department of Education, the campaign reinforces the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to education and advancing literacy among […]
Posted inBaltimore News
‘A Soldier’s Life’ writer and 6888 champion set to give author’s talk at Lewis Museum
Edna W. Cummings, retired army veteran, is set to host an author talk at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum on March 7 in honor of Women’s History Month.
Posted inBlack History
AFRO Book Corner: Good reads for Black History Month 2026
By Victoria MejicanosAFRO Staff Writervmejicanos@afro.com From picturebooks to powerful nonfiction, Black authors continue to tell stories that educate, inspire and affirm. This Black History Month, take time to turn off the screen and pick up a good book. With offerings for all age groups and walks of life, there is sure to be something special […]
Posted inWord In Black
5 books by Black authors to read during Lent
Lent offers a season of reflection, repentance and renewal, and for Black Christians it also carries deep connections to history, resistance and communal faith. Five books by Black authors explore how ancient Lenten practices intersect with liberation theology, embodied dignity and the lived experiences of Black communities.
Posted inBooks
Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes, R. Gregory Christie win 2026 Coretta Scott King Book Awards
Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes and illustrator R. Gregory Christie are the 2026 winners of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, presented by the American Library Association to honor outstanding African American authors and illustrators of children’s and young adult literature. Arriel Vinson received the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award, while additional Author and Illustrator Honor Books recognized works by Derrick Barnes, Calvin Alexander Ramsey, Marie Arnold, Lamont O’Neal and Alexis Franklin.
Posted inWord In Black
Can Twitch star Kai Cenat inspire Black kids to start reading?
By Alvin BuyinzaWord in Black For the past few years, Kai Cenat has been one of the biggest names on the internet, a Twitch streamer who has evolved from playing video games online into creating outlandish comedy that often goes viral. With more than 20 million followers, Cenat, 24, has rubbed shoulders with fellow internet […]
Posted inEducation
5 free resources for teaching Black history
The Zinn Education Project offers free resources to help educators teach Black history with honesty and depth, connecting past struggles to present-day civil rights issues. From virtual workshops and study groups to lesson plans on systemic racism, the Constitution, and the fight for Black education, the project equips teachers to give students a fuller understanding of African American history and resistance.
Posted inBooks
Enoch Pratt to highlight work of Angela Flournoy at 38th Annual Booklover’s Breakfast
Enoch Pratt Free Library will host its sold-out 38th Annual Booklovers’ Breakfast featuring award-winning novelist Angela Flournoy on Feb. 7 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront.