Boston's First Black Owned Book Mobile
Donation protected
Help me Bring The LIT Bookmobile To Life to Transport Today’s Children to Limitless Places
“Access to knowledge is the superb, the supreme act of truly great civilizations.”
"Literature transforms human experience and reflects it back to us, and in that reflection we can see our own lives and experiences as part of the larger human experience."
“Reading, then, becomes a means of self-affirmation, and readers often seek their mirrors in books.”
Our children need books. Physical books. Kids need to feel the weight and remember the fresh smell of their favorite new book. Kids need to turn the pages and feel the different types of paper. Remember your favorite bookmarks or creasing the page where you last left off? What’s the worst thing that can happen by giving a child a book? Probably a paper cut, but it’s a small price to pay for the joy books bring. A child needs to find themselves in books they read, they should see their cousins, brothers, sisters and friends. They should have the opportunity to read books by authors that reflect and share their experience.
Books, not just about skin, hair and racism but about their life each and everyday. Remember how books transported you to another place as a child?
Help me Bring The LIT Bookmobile To Boston
Here are the Logistics
1. Pop Ups and Vending & Permits
-Curated LITeracy events, gatherings with self published authors from boston, -----Read & Paint Events, etc
-Purchasing Black & Diverse Books
-Self Published/Indie Black and Diverse Authors 80%
-Traditionally Published Black and Diverse Authors 20%
-Used booked for BookDrives and LIT Saving Sundays
2. Bookdrives
-Keep our kids reading over the summer with a new book!
-First One (Date TBA in the month of June)
3a. Book Bike Option 1
-Purchase Vehicle
-Customization
-Shipping
3b. Book Mobile Option 2
-Purchase Vehicle
-Registration Fees
-Customization
-Built in bookshelves, wrapping
-Storage fee
-Staff person
3c. The Literacy Lounge Sky is Limit Option
-A physical storefront
Stretch Goals
-An Online Bookstore/Website Book Directory
-Little free libraries in Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan
-Staying ready for anything else
Who am I?
Brianna Perkins, born and raised in Roxbury, MA. I am a second year Boston Public Schools teacher, owner of LITFORBLACKKIDS. First generation in my family. I’ve received my masters in Early Childhood from Boston University and Undergraduate degree from Fairfield University in Creative Writing. I’ve volunteered at Dudley Promise Corps as well as tutor the local children in Boston. I dabble in poetry and am currently writing children’s books.
Mostly I am the little girl from Roxbury who wished I had books that looked like me. I’m just trying to make sure our next generation has what I didn’t. I am one woman show just trying to make a difference.
Why I Care and You Should Too
Once children see themselves represented in books, their existence is affirmed. They feel they are part of the world.
Our kids need books.
But what happens when the libraries are still closed, only curbside pick for a few and money is low. Kids who are remote learning and looking at a book digitally.
Reading a book on the computer or watching a read aloud on Youtube, Storylineonline, etc. is NOT the same thing. It provides access to those who don’t have access but is that really a substitute for the real thing?
They say books are mirrors, but what happens when most of the published books don’t look like them? Even less by authors that look like them. Animals books have a higher percentage than our diverse, black and brown beautiful children.
Around this time last year black bookstores were selling out for kids books and adults too. But these books were mainly about skin, racism, and adversity?
Check out these headlines. Do any ring a bell?
-Talking to Kids About Racism Early and Often
Want to initiate a conversation about racism and inequality with your kids These books are a place to start
-Frugal Bookstore responds after receiving disheartening emails from customers demanding sold out titles
-Several Antiracist Books Are Selling Out Heres What Else Black Booksellers and Publishers Say You Should Read
My response I wish our children can just be. Where were the books about joy, simplicity, space and everything in between? Why didn’t those books make the headlines too?
I started, litforblackkids, an instagram dedicated to shining light on the black children's books, to show them they deserve joy too. That they always mattered. Representation matters from simple books about riding a bike or going to the zoo. Not every book has to be about how the world sees you. Hair books, skin are nice but that doesn't suffice.
I want to bring books to the kids, to parks and gatherings where they actually live. To Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park and all our kids in all the around different neighborhoods in Boston. Reading in School is cool but when’s the last time you read a book about you?
Please help me bring this to life. Representation Matters, Always All ways.
Literacy Love,
Brianna Angelique Perkins
Owner of LITFORBLACKKIDS
Thank you so much!
“Access to knowledge is the superb, the supreme act of truly great civilizations.”
"Literature transforms human experience and reflects it back to us, and in that reflection we can see our own lives and experiences as part of the larger human experience."
“Reading, then, becomes a means of self-affirmation, and readers often seek their mirrors in books.”
Our children need books. Physical books. Kids need to feel the weight and remember the fresh smell of their favorite new book. Kids need to turn the pages and feel the different types of paper. Remember your favorite bookmarks or creasing the page where you last left off? What’s the worst thing that can happen by giving a child a book? Probably a paper cut, but it’s a small price to pay for the joy books bring. A child needs to find themselves in books they read, they should see their cousins, brothers, sisters and friends. They should have the opportunity to read books by authors that reflect and share their experience.
Books, not just about skin, hair and racism but about their life each and everyday. Remember how books transported you to another place as a child?
Help me Bring The LIT Bookmobile To Boston
Here are the Logistics
1. Pop Ups and Vending & Permits
-Curated LITeracy events, gatherings with self published authors from boston, -----Read & Paint Events, etc
-Purchasing Black & Diverse Books
-Self Published/Indie Black and Diverse Authors 80%
-Traditionally Published Black and Diverse Authors 20%
-Used booked for BookDrives and LIT Saving Sundays
2. Bookdrives
-Keep our kids reading over the summer with a new book!
-First One (Date TBA in the month of June)
3a. Book Bike Option 1
-Purchase Vehicle
-Customization
-Shipping
3b. Book Mobile Option 2
-Purchase Vehicle
-Registration Fees
-Customization
-Built in bookshelves, wrapping
-Storage fee
-Staff person
3c. The Literacy Lounge Sky is Limit Option
-A physical storefront
Stretch Goals
-An Online Bookstore/Website Book Directory
-Little free libraries in Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan
-Staying ready for anything else
Who am I?
Brianna Perkins, born and raised in Roxbury, MA. I am a second year Boston Public Schools teacher, owner of LITFORBLACKKIDS. First generation in my family. I’ve received my masters in Early Childhood from Boston University and Undergraduate degree from Fairfield University in Creative Writing. I’ve volunteered at Dudley Promise Corps as well as tutor the local children in Boston. I dabble in poetry and am currently writing children’s books.
Mostly I am the little girl from Roxbury who wished I had books that looked like me. I’m just trying to make sure our next generation has what I didn’t. I am one woman show just trying to make a difference.
Why I Care and You Should Too
Once children see themselves represented in books, their existence is affirmed. They feel they are part of the world.
Our kids need books.
But what happens when the libraries are still closed, only curbside pick for a few and money is low. Kids who are remote learning and looking at a book digitally.
Reading a book on the computer or watching a read aloud on Youtube, Storylineonline, etc. is NOT the same thing. It provides access to those who don’t have access but is that really a substitute for the real thing?
They say books are mirrors, but what happens when most of the published books don’t look like them? Even less by authors that look like them. Animals books have a higher percentage than our diverse, black and brown beautiful children.
Around this time last year black bookstores were selling out for kids books and adults too. But these books were mainly about skin, racism, and adversity?
Check out these headlines. Do any ring a bell?
-Talking to Kids About Racism Early and Often
Want to initiate a conversation about racism and inequality with your kids These books are a place to start
-Frugal Bookstore responds after receiving disheartening emails from customers demanding sold out titles
-Several Antiracist Books Are Selling Out Heres What Else Black Booksellers and Publishers Say You Should Read
My response I wish our children can just be. Where were the books about joy, simplicity, space and everything in between? Why didn’t those books make the headlines too?
I started, litforblackkids, an instagram dedicated to shining light on the black children's books, to show them they deserve joy too. That they always mattered. Representation matters from simple books about riding a bike or going to the zoo. Not every book has to be about how the world sees you. Hair books, skin are nice but that doesn't suffice.
I want to bring books to the kids, to parks and gatherings where they actually live. To Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park and all our kids in all the around different neighborhoods in Boston. Reading in School is cool but when’s the last time you read a book about you?
Please help me bring this to life. Representation Matters, Always All ways.
Literacy Love,
Brianna Angelique Perkins
Owner of LITFORBLACKKIDS
Thank you so much!
Organizer
Brianna Perkins
Organizer
Boston, MA
