Marley Dias (Andrea Cipriani Mecchi)
Marley Dias, the girl who launched a successful campaign to increase the availability of children’s books featuring Black girls, just landed a publishing deal with Scholastic.
The company announced the news Friday, Feb. 2, and said Dias will release a book on activism due in spring 2018. A title was not revealed, but it will be a nonfiction effort for children ages 10 and older to show them how Dias used her passion for a “literacy crusade” with 2015’s #1000BlackGirlBooks.
“I am so excited to be doing this book with Scholastic,” Dias said in a statement. “All my friends can probably only name one publishing house and that is Scholastic; they are everywhere. Scholastic is the perfect partner for spreading my message of diversity, inclusion and social action.”
Dias’ “keep-it-real guide” provides suggestions on how other hopeful young activists can rally support from parents and teachers to reach their goals. There also are tips on how youths can use social media for activism, inclusion and justice rather than for just tweeting and watching YouTube videos.
“Marley’s energy and passion are electric!” Scholastic Vice President and Executive Editor Andrea Davis Pinkney said. “Through her smarts and ingenuity, she’s delivered a jolt of inspiration that’s sent an unstoppable shockwave to kids everywhere who’ve stood up with Marley to shout ‘Yes!’ to the power of positive action. In this book, Marley will share her dynamic wisdom with readers everywhere.
“We’re thrilled to welcome her to the Scholastic family.”
Aside from activism, Marley’s book also will discuss the subject that gave the West Orange, N.J., resident great notoriety: literacy and diversity. Dias will provide readers with ideas on how to discuss, choose and share books, as well as a plan on how to become an avid reader for life.
The deal follows Dias’ #1000BlackGirlBooks project, which has collected more than 8,000 books to date.
