On a frigid morning in 1992, literary publicist Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati expected a modest turnout — maybe 10 people — for her first book fair celebrating African American children’s literature. Instead, 250 showed up.
That overwhelming response underscored a gap in access to diverse children’s books. Determined to fill it, Lloyd-Sgambati launched the African American Children’s Book Fair, now in its 33rd year. The free event, returning Saturday to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, drew 3,500 attendees last year and has become a cornerstone for award-winning authors and illustrators. Over the decades, it has helped put thousands of books in young readers’ hands, championing literacy and representation in the process.
The book fair is meant to inspire the next generation of readers by making books accessible to all while serving the need of Black children to see authors and characters who look like them, Lloyd-Sgambati said. (Here’s a listing of Black History Month event for families.)
The book fair opens its doors this weekend as many local political organizations around the country seek to challenge and ban books in schools and libraries. In the 2023-2024 school year, over 10,000 instances of book bans were recorded by free expression nonprofit PEN America — including 20 in Pennsylvania.
Several authors at Saturday’s fair have encountered restrictions on their books. Jamilah Bigelow-Thompson, an award-winning, Philly-based children’s author and educator, writes stories featuring Black and Muslim protagonists. Her work, influenced by her experience in curriculum development for the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, has been recognized by Time, Ebony, and NPR. Among the books that have faced opposition is Mommy’s Khimar, which follows a Black girl who wears a headscarf and enjoys imaginative play.
“[When] a book like that gets banned, what you’re saying is that to know that this girl exists is dangerous,” Bigelow-Thompson said. “And an event like this says, ‘No, we do exist.’ Our books will exist and we will buy them and we will put them in circulation and we will support them … The book bans are rarely about what’s actually written on the books’ pages. It’s not about the content — it’s about power.”
Brittney Shipp, a meteorologist at NBC10 Philadelphia who became an author after visiting the fair herself around a decade ago, said the fair can function as a haven for books that children and families might not be able to find in a school district. She’ll have her first book signing for her latest book, “Drippity Drop: The Rapping Raindrop,” at the fair on Saturday.
“I’m not relying solely on schools for the totality of the education of my children — I don’t think we can do that,” said Shipp, a mother of two young children. “An event like this is great, because you can still go and be exposed to different books that might be important for your family. You are still in control.”
Paralee Knight, the vice president of philanthropy and community impact at Wells Fargo, said she was “glad to know” that the fair provides access to books that may be harder to find.
Jamar Nicholas, the author and illustrator of the “Leon the Extraordinary” graphic novel series, said his favorite moment is the “brain bomb” moment, where the parents and kids realize they are speaking with the author of the book they see before them.
“We think a lot about what portals are open to people,” he said. “And if you’ve never seen someone who looks like you do this thing, you may think it’s cut off from you.”
Lloyd-Scambati emphasizes the importance of the book fair in educating children and ensuring diverse representation in literature. She highlights how outreach efforts have successfully engaged people across Philadelphia, reinforcing the need for books that reflect the Black community.
“The more we know about each other, the better we coexist,” she explains, noting that understanding one another’s history fosters unity. While individual stories may seem different at first, she believes deeper exploration reveals shared experiences.
“We all have a history — some of it’s good and some of it’s bad — but we all have a story to tell and have contributed to this country,” said Lloyd-Scambati.
African American Children’s Book Fair
Saturday, February 1
1 – 4 p.m.
Free event
Call 215-878-Book(2665) or email Read@TheAfricanAmericanChildrensBookProject.com
Enter at 12th and Arch West Entrance across the Street from Home2Suites
