Planting People Growing Justice Press and Bookstore

08/24/2026

Literacy starts long before children read their first book. When First Educators sing with children, they help develop listening skills, vocabulary, and memory—all essential foundations for reading success.

Sing by Lanell Lightfoot is a beautiful reminder that music can bring families together while supporting learning every day.

08/24/2026

Are you a children’s book author or illustrator passionate about creating meaningful stories?

The PPGJLI Children’s Book Awards celebrate books that educate, empower, and inspire young readers while increasing diversity in children’s literature.

Share your work, amplify your voice, and become part of a growing community committed to literacy and positive social change.

Click on the link to submit or for more information: https://www.ppgjli.org/ppgjli-childrens-book-awards

08/22/2026

Gumbo is more than a delicious meal. It’s a lesson in history, culture, family, and love.

From the shores of West Africa to the bustling streets of New Orleans, gumbo tells a story of the African Diaspora and the many cultures that came together to create something extraordinary.

Family Learning Idea: As you prepare gumbo, invite everyone to learn where different ingredients and cooking traditions originated. Let children find West Africa and Louisiana on a map and talk about how food traditions travel across generations.

With Gumbo Joy, every pot can become a family history lesson and every bowl can be filled with love.

08/21/2026

Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Planting People Growing Justice Children’s Book Awards!

We celebrate these outstanding authors for their remarkable contributions to children’s literature.

The winners of the 2025 edition are:

Sowda Mohamed (The Magic Headscarf)
Anthony Walsh (Hockey Is for Everybody: Anthony’s Goal)
Habiba Mohamed (You Are Not Alone)

Best Illustration: Minnesota

Lena Bee (My Rainbow Days)
Meleck Davis (The Big Leaf Leap)

National Book of the Year

Christiana Smith (Jada’s Dream Girls)

08/20/2026

Shorts at African Film Society- congratulations to the young and emerging filmmakers who are inspiring change one film at a time.

08/20/2026

Reaching for the stars through the transformative power of education 📚: “The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream...It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for. Not failure, but low aim is sin.”

Dr. Benjamin E. Mays

08/20/2026

Arts & Culture: A wonderful evening at National Theatre 🇬🇭

08/19/2026

Learn. Grow. Lead. 📚
A book can spark a conversation.
A conversation can inspire confidence.
And confidence can help a child become a leader.

That’s the heart of PPGJ.

Discover children’s books created to nurture resilience, empathy, wellness, civic engagement, and leadership—and inspire young people to make a positive difference.

🛒 Shop: www.ppgjbooks.com
📚 Available at bookstores nationwide

Planting People. Growing Justice. Building the next generation of leaders: one book at a time.

08/19/2026

Let’s read together- just 10 minutes of reading each day can positively impact our children. It will help to increase their vocabulary and reading comprehension 📚

08/18/2026

A visit to the Bonna Educational Complex in Ghana sparked an international mission to give children access to books that reflect their culture, identity, and limitless potential here in Minnesota.

How to support the movement

Donate new children’s books that celebrate African Diaspora characters.
Make a financial contribution to purchase culturally responsive titles.
Share the campaign with your network, schools, and book clubs.

Community members can visit PPGJLI to make a financial contribution: www.ppgjli.org

https://spokesman-recorder.com/2026/08/14/ppgjli-african-diaspora-childrens-library-book-drive/

St. Paul’s PPGJLI is building a new library filled with African Diaspora children’s books. Learn how you can donate books or funds.