Librarians have teamed up with Netflix to provide resources connected to the new series Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices.
Bookmarks is a collection of 12 episodes featuring different Black celebrities—including Tiffany Haddish, Common, and Jill Scott—reading children’s books from Black authors. The videos are designed to showcase the Black experience and spark broader conversations about identity, respect, justice, and action.
Featured titles include Coretta Scott King (CSK) Book Award winner Firebird (written by Misty Copeland and illustrated by Christopher Myers), as well as CSK honorees Sulwe (written by Lupita Nyong’o and illustrated by Vashti Harrison) and Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut (written by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Gordon C. James).
To supplement the series, librarians from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association have put together a list of engaging activities for young readers, and members of the Association for Library Service to Children have shared links to resources about how families can connect with children’s library professionals to support their kids’ learning and development. These materials are all available on the Bookmarks website.
You can view the series on Netflix or watch for free on the Netflix Jr. YouTube page. For more book recommendations, check out ALSC’s social justice reading list for families.
