Author: Caroline Brewer

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Harriet Tubman’s Remarkable Journeys Through Darkness and Starry Skies

A Black History Month First-Time Presentation

Harriet Tubman owned the night, and she was at one with the stars. She had to be to take more than 13 remarkable trips on the Underground Railroad to lead herself and others to freedom.

Join Award-winning Author-Illustrator Caroline Brewer  and Prince George’s County Public Schools Planetarium Director Patty Seaton on a journey into the night, under the stars, to get a better sense of the dangers Harriet and her passengers faced — and conquered — and learn more about the constellations that helped make her extraordinary success possible !Caroline will lead a rhythmic reading of her new award-winning book, Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature, as part of the program.

Order copies in advance at this link.  It accepts all credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Cash App.

Friday, February 13, 7 p.m. at the Howard B. Owens Science Center (Planetarium), 9601 Greenbelt Road, Lanham, MD 20706.
Email: howardb.owens@pgcps.org or call 301-918-8750 with questions.

RSVP at this link. 
Pay IN CASH at the door.
$8 | Adults  
$5 | Students/Teachers/Seniors/Military Families/First Responders

Caroline Brewer takes audiences on journeys with her books. It is a communal affair – much like gatherings in villages of old and the most modern concerts on stages today. When Caroline hosts a journey with her books, she and audiences sing, chant, clap, toe-tap, and, if the spirit moves, dance across the pages of whatever story she and they have agreed to tell.

Join us!  RSVP at this link.

Order copies in advance at this link.  It accepts all credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Cash App.

 

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Caroline Brewer & Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature – A Musical Book Journey

Go on a rhythmic journey of singing, chanting, clapping & more with Caroline Brewer & her new book, Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature

Join us for a unique presentation by
Fort Wayne native and Children’s Book Author and Artist, Caroline Brewer.

Caroline Brewer takes audiences on journeys with her books. It is a communal affair – much like gatherings in villages of old and the most modern concerts on stages today. When Caroline hosts a journey with her books, she and audiences sing, chant, clap, toe-tap, and, if the spirit moves, dance across the pages of whatever story she and they have agreed to tell.

On Saturday, February 21, 2026 with the Fort Wayne Urban League at the Chief Condra Ridley Library, the Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature journey will be as moving, meaningful, and magical as any author presentation one might imagine.

Register at this link TODAY.

It’s FREE.

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Walking and Talking with Harriet Tubman – Saturday, September 13!

Walking and Talking with Harriet Tubman Features Three Fabulous Events!

First UP! – Walking and Talking with Harriet Tubman will feature a hip hop-style book reading and book-sigining for Caroline Brewer’s new book, Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature. It will take place at 11 a.m. at the HARRIET TUBMAN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD VISITORS CENTER INC, 4068 Golden Hill Road Church Creek, MD 21622. Phone: 410-221-2290.

Light refreshments will be provided.

NEXT! In the spirit of Harriet’s many walks for freedom, the book signing will be followed by a walk through Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, led by the amazing Linda Harris and David Cole, who will provide musical storytelling, 12 noon-1 p.m.  Harris is Director of Events and Programming at The Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center in Cambridge, MD.

Pick up lunch on your own at restaurants in and around U.S. 50 Ocean Gateway Highway.

FINAL! Plant your feet on sacred ground. We’ll close the day with a reception, from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., at Mount Pleasant Acres Farms, hosted by The Aunties, located at 22239 Marsh Creek Road, Preston, MD 21655. The Aunties will provide a tour of organic farms`on the land Harriet’s parents last resided on and where freedom-seekers met with Harriet to plot their moves on the Underground Railroad. The Aunties provide a brief lecture, along with planting and harvesting opportunities. Because of their remarkable and creative stewardship of the land, The Aunties were recently featured on Good Morning America.

All activities are family-friendly and we require an RSVP for the day at the Eventbrite link below.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/walking-and-talking-with-harriet-tickets-1611689218839?aff=oddtdtcreator
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The Harriet Tubman Nobody Knew! Pre-order Now!

The Harriet Tubman Nobody Knew
Available to Pre-Order Today!

When Harriet Tubman was born enslaved in Dorchester County, Maryland, in 1822, nobody knew this tiny Black girl-child would grow up to be a leader. Nobody knew she would learn to find her way by following the stars. Nobody knew she’d move through the woods as silently as an owl or work as a spy during the Civil War. Nobody knew the power she would draw from prayer. Nobody knew she would escape enslavement, rescue hundreds, and find the joys of freedom.
Nobody knew she would become a force of nature, and that her journey would one day be chronicled in a 48-page picture book written and illustrated by Caroline Brewer.
With compelling poetry perfect for reading aloud and luminous collage illustrations, Brewer brings readers of all ages into Harriet Tubman’s nature-fueled life and deep spirituality.

Early reviewers are LOVING the story and the art, and are saying they’ve never seen or read a children’s book about Tubman like this. We believe it’s the first of its kind. Pre-Order Today at Bookshop or bookstores anywhere and find out soon what all the buzz is about!

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Help us celebrate “Young Voices of the Anacostia River” with Anacostia High School students!

For immediate release: March 6, 2025
Contacts: Rachel Perrone, 202-274-6759 or rachel.perrone@udc.edu 

‘Young Voices of the Anacostia River’ Celebrated by University of the District of Columbia 

(Washington, D.C.) An event hosted today by the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) celebrated the release of Young Voices of the Anacostia River: Exploring Black Roots to the Eastern Shore and Back, a new collection of essays, poems and photographs by student authors from Anacostia High School. The book showcases their reflections on Black contributions to the environment and their personal experiences with nature in and around the D.C. region.

Young Voices of the Anacostia River is the product of partnerships between UDC, D.C. Public Schools, Conservation Nation, Editor and Nature-Wise Founder Caroline Brewer, and the U.S. Department of the Interior, with additional support from the Justice40 Initiative and Pepco as part of UDC’s Developing America’s Workforce Nucleus (DAWN) Initiative. Through immersive experiences in local parks, forests, and waterways over the summer of 2024, students documented their observations and connections to nature. 

When I think about nature and what makes it beautiful, it’s
the greenery, and the scent of the leaves on trees as the wind blows.

When I think about nature and what makes it beautiful, I know
that I am nature. I am the sun. I am water. I am the wind blowing, pushing,
and prodding new seeds deeper in the ground so that they can
grow more plants, just like me.  — “Natural beauty – A reflection” by Keon Hopkins  

“This project is an incredible example of how education can empower young people to become stewards of their communities and voices for change,” said UDC President Maurice D. Edington. “We are proud to partner with D.C. Public Schools in providing impactful opportunities that inspire and tap into students’ creativity to explore their communities and career pathways.”

Over the summer, students strengthened their writing skills, gained confidence in public speaking and found their voices as storytellers. “Our Anacostia students have demonstrated the power of storytelling and their ability to reflect deeply on both personal and environmental histories,” said Anacostia High School Principal Kenneth Walker. “Their words give voice to the relationship between our communities and the world around us, and we are extraordinarily proud of them all.” 

In a pond where lilies bloom
Fish swim softly in murky liquid rooms
Water whispers tales of old,
Stories in its ripples told
Green fronds sway in gentle flow
While the moon casts its silver glow
Peaceful, quiet, calm, and free
Now imagine more of this, for you, for me.

This is the life of the Aquatic Gardens.  — “Where Lilies Bloom” by Kaishon Champ 

Download a FREE digital copy of Young Voices here at the Conservation Nation website.

“In my work with Anacostia students, I’ve seen firsthand how connecting with nature can be a transformative experience,” said UDC Anacostia Ambassador & Justice40 Summer Internship Coordinator Xavier Brown. “Whether they’re writing about the river, tending plants in the greenhouse or reflecting on their place in the environment, they’re building confidence and discovering new possibilities for their futures.”

“At Conservation Nation, we believe that every student should have access to nature and the ability to see themselves as conservation leaders,” said Conservation Nation CEO Lynn Mento. “The creativity and passion displayed in this book are a testament to the bright future these young voices are helping to shape.”

Young Voices of the Anacostia River Editor and Nature-Wise Founder Caroline Brewer emphasized the impact of writing and exploration on young people. “These young people have taken flight with their words, becoming bigger thinkers, better writers and speakers,” she said. “This book is a testament that their voices matter and that they now know how to carry Mother Earth’s tunes.” 

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Have we got a celebration for you!

Say Their Names National Award Celebration and Community Art Event
with Author Caroline Brewer and The Capitol Hill United Methodist Church
Saturday, October 12, 2024 * 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Capitol Hill United Methodist Church
421 Seward Square SE
Washington, DC 20003

FREE Event! Free Books! (Limited Supply)
Meet an award-winning author!
Get your book autographed!
Make –and take home –art!

Click HERE to RSVP

We will celebrate the Anna Dewdney National Read Together Honor Book Award
by reading together, performance-style, with Author Caroline Brewer

This means come prepared to sing, clap, dance, and celebrate
the uplifting story of the Say Their Names picture book, illustrated by Adrian Brandon.
The performance will be followed by a reception and community art event – the making of a butterfly memorial. Registration is required and deeply appreciated. Feel free to spread the word!

Click HERE to RSVP

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Don’t Believe the Hype – Since George Floyd’s Murder, Some Things Have Changed

Don’t believe the hype. In the four years since George Floyd was murdered, things have changed. Not nearly as much as we want, but people and communities all over the world are different now because of what we witnessed and challenged and vowed to fight even harder against. You can’t always measure change with statistics, laws, proposals, or studies. You can, however, always measure change through the stories of people.

In the four years since George Floyd was murdered, SAY THEIR NAMES was born (as were many other books that have explored themes of peace, justice, and protest in response).

Countless numbers of people, including children pre-school to college, have read SAY THEIR NAMES or have had it read to them, and have listened to my talks and performances.

They have learned about George Floyd’s life, and legacy.

They have said his name and the names of so many other Black men, women, and trans who have lost their lives to police brutality, and understood that we say their names.

We say their names to,
As Curtis Mayfield encourage,  “keep on pushin’
And move up a little higher…”
We say their names to paraphrase John Lennon in his lyrics, “Imagine, if you can,
A simple brotherhood of man.”

Through SAY THEIR NAMES (and other works), countless numbers of people have been encouraged to imagine and work toward a better world.

They have been invited to tap into the more than 30 gifts that Aliya brings to us in this story.

They have confessed to understanding that if they walk into a room or situation and there is no peace, they will bring and embody the peace. If there is no justice, they will bring and embody the justice. If there is no community, they will bring and embody the community. If there is no joy, they will bring and embody the joy. If there is no love…you get the picture… (WE bring and embody the love. We can predict the future by being the future…)

SAY THEIR NAMES is now a 2024 Anna Dewdney Read Together Award Honor Book. It is a 2024 selection of the Teaching for Change social justice literature curriculum. Countless lives are being touched. So, don’t believe the hype. Four years is a blip on the landscape of time, on the thrust of history. Some things have changed because many of us changed. And we have vowed to keep fighting for a world where Black lives matter.

(Pictured: Father of three young children sharing his excitement about SAY THEIR NAMES with local artist at The Well at Oxon Run in August 2022. Photo by Caroline Brewer)

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WASHINGTON POST features new book, Through My Anacostia Eyes by students

The Washington Post is featuring in today’s Sunday newspaper and online edition Through My Anacostia Eyes: Environmental Problems and Possibilities!

What say you friends about the new, profound, and uplifting book of #poetry and essays on the #environment written by DC’s Anacostia High School teens, edited by me and published by Conservation Nation , in partnership with the University of the District of Columbia’s Xavier Brown and Patrick Gusman, and the U.S. Department of the Interior? Share your thoughts with The Washington Post in the comments section and on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn posts. With deep appreciation to Conservation Nation Education Director Diane Lill for her passionate support and leadership on this writing and book-making project.

The students are having their say. What do you think?

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Back to school — and everyday life — with SAY THEIR NAMES. Join us!

Every day in America someone is killed by police. Many of those killed are unarmed. A disproportionate number, of course, are Black, Latino, and Native American. Children are among the many victims. In the fall of 2022, it was announced that three Philadelphia police officers would stand trial for a shooting that killed 8-year-old Fanta Bility as she was riding in a car they mistakenly thought carried a criminal suspect.

An NPR investigative report in 2021 by Cheryl Thompson suggests that lack of accountability, and fear-driven policies by police departments, are key reasons the number of killings remains steady.

Even with, and perhaps because of, this depressing trend, authors are producing works for children and people of all ages to help us imagine news ways forward.  And we’re doing it with faith, hope, love, peace, power, and positive Identities, or as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called it, “somebodiness.”

As a children’s book author, I’ve spent the past year sharing SAY THEIR NAMES with more than a thousand children, parents, teachers, librarians, and adults from many walks of life and diverse racial and ethnic heritages.

They’ve read with me, sang with me, cried with me, and been willing to enthusiastically spread the word about the importance of saying their names. I hope, as the magnificent Illustrator Adrian Brandon, Reycraft Books, and I celebrate the first book birthday of SAY THEIR NAMES, that you will support us. You can support us by buying books, posting about your experience with it, and inviting us to read, speak, and sing this country, this world, into a new day where we no longer, prematurely, have to say their names.