On Thursday, Random House Children's Books announced Make Me a World, Christopher Myers' new imprint. Christopher Myers is an award-winning author and artist, and is the son of the late Walter Dean Myers.
Christopher envisions Make Me a World as a platform to tell ignored stories. It's a mission he shared with his late father. Back in 2014, the two men teamed up for a New York Times op-ed that asked, "Where Are the People of Color in Children's Books?" Christopher tells Publishers Weekly:
No one will disagree that there is a need for diversity in children’s literature, and a need to respond to the changing demographics of our country and our world. But at the same time, as we look at the statistics, those books are not being published.
The first three Make Me a World titles include a historical picture book and a young adult memoir. In Child of the Universe by astronomer Ray Jayawardhana, a father shares with his son the billions of years that led up to his existence. Mama Mable's All-Gal Big Band Jazz Extravaganza! is a picture book by Annie Sieg, which tells the story of women like the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, who helped shape jazz music after World War II. Finally, there's Walk Toward the Rising Sun, former child soldier Ger Duany's memoir for young adults.
Christopher Myers' new imprint, Make Me a World, launches in 2018.
Image: Courtesy of Random House Children's Books and Christopher Myers
