Black History made Fun by Authors at Wiggles Press with New Storybooks.

8. Magnolia Walker, Can I Still Be President?
9. Kimberly Wallace, Grandma’s Chocolate Cake
10. Resha Washington, The Mis-Adventures of DW and The Peach

Most publishers’ first approached African American storytelling by creating picture books for children with historical figures or non-fictional stories that reflected on past achievements; thus leaving a gap to fill with fictional and imaginative stories that reflect the contemporary life and imaginations of African American writers.

There is still a tendency for publishers to invest more dollars in exploiting the harsh realities of urban life than to engage in childhood and fantasy for children of color, especially for preteen readers – many still think only sex sales and that urban families don't share a softer-side within family life. Which just isn't true and abandons our children to stereotypes of what their teachers, librarians, and others expect them to be interest in reading.

Although some progress has been made by Disney, Nickelodeon, Scholastic and a few other publishing houses most build stories based on television programming model or books that expand a brand rather than build stories authentic to children of color; it bridges children back to entertainment and consumerism rather than enhancing literacy or expanding authorship for writers in the African Diasporas.

Wiggles Press Publisher Rochelle O’Neal Thorpe hoped to begin filling this void when she launched her collaborative publishing enterprise in 2009 by focusing on the innocence of childhood and family-lifestyle told through fictional and imaginative storybooks written by authors of colors and when possible illustrated by an artist of color as well. In fact, she embraces any author who is willing to tell stories that children relate to as long as there is a multicultural experience illustrated and valuable lesson taught.

With the success of a few authors I hope to build into a company that can offer advances and distribute through wider channels because I know there are many more voices and creative writers needing this opportunity – Wiggles Press

“While raising my children I wanted to find adorable stories about everyday life or picture books that would inspire my children to stretch their imaginations with main characters that mirrored them or friends and family, and it was a challenge. Lucky for me, the authors at Wiggles have cherished this same desire and they have delivered on this mission.” says Publisher Rochelle O’Neal Thorpe, “Not that I didn’t find a few gems like books by writer Ezra Jack Keats, publishing books for children of color is more than a marketing decision it’s an ethical one for Wiggles Press and giving new voices an audience is our mission.”

This year’s multicultural stories include stories about an Astronaut named Lisa Zaker in Bill Young’s book A Brave New World. Kimberly Wallace takes readers on a visit with Grandma and provides a teachable lesson about respect and thoughtfulness in her story Grandma’s Chocolate Cake. Cynthia K. Davis book Flowers uses award winning roses and wild flowers to illustrate how to overcome bullying.

The next book in a series by Resha Washington, The Mis-Adventures of DW and The Peach/ - will show children playing a clue game much like Charades called “Who Am I?”

Even the publisher has grown from writing non-fictional stories about her children to releasing new books that include new fictional characters in her books Dolly’s Winter Surprises and A Dragon Valentine released this January 2012.

These books offers an opportunity for parents and educators to discuss topics like; baking, cultures, gardening, knitting, becoming an Astronaut, a Detective, or just spending the day with a grandmother; all topics that affirm experiences children have at home or opens them to possibilities.

Wiggles Press has also published many of her authors in storybooks for iTunes as Apple Apps created by StoryChimes and she has also delivered them as eBooks for Nook and Kindle .

To make African American History Month fun for your children, be sure to purchase a book or download a book by Wiggles Press… you are sure to be placing something special in the Hands of Little Readers.

wigglespressbooks.com Today!

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