Category: News

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Anansi and the Talking Cloth — FREE Launch Events – August 2026

Join us on Saturday, August 22, Tuesday, August 25, and Thursday, August 27
for Anansi and the Talking Cloth launch events!
NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL, The Library of Congress, DC Convention Center, here we come!
Saturday, August 22 at 10:15 a.m. in Room 145. Signing at 11:15 a.m.
Learn more here: www.loc.gov
Official Book Launch Day — Tuesday, August 25 – Follow Caroline online for news of the launch and giveaways!
People’s Bookstore, Takoma Park, MD – See you Thursday, August 27 at 6 pm! The first 25 households to RSVP will receive
either a handmade kente cloth bookmark by Kwasi or a handmade collage art print bookmark by Caroline.
 
CLICK LINK TO RSVP TO PEOPLE’S BOOKSTORE EVENT  –IT’S FREE!
Join us for the launch of Anansi and the Talking Cloth, with consulting support from Master Weaver Kwasi Asare, illustrated by the talented and award-winning Ekua Holmes. Anansi and the Talking Cloth is an original folktale about a crisis in the Anansi’s city, a city that’s hip, where “weavers weave with their feet, hands, and fingertips. The leaves are always green; children dance and sing; hummingbirds always hum; drummers always drum.
Trains, buses, and planes ride real smooth, and rainbows glow with a sparkly dew.”
But one day disaster strikes and Anansi, the Chief Griot, is stressed because he wants so badly to fix the kente mess. Community, conflict, peace, proverbs, and power play strong roles in how the story unfolds.
Oprah has her favorite things. If this book were a basket, it would be called “The Basket of Beautiful Things” – things such as peace, love, harmony, wisdom, truth, sweet words, singing, dancing and so much more. It’s all in there and it’s perfect for the times we are living in today!
CLICK LINK TO RSVP TO PEOPLE’S BOOKSTORE EVENT  — It’s FREE!
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Caroline’s First Art Exhibition, featuring Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature!

The Art of an Impossible Dream Exhibit by Author-Artist Caroline Brewer

Please join me for my first art exhibition, featuring Newly-Created Original Art in 3D from Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature, inspired by collage art genius Romare Bearden, and the experience of illustrating the book.

The opening reception will be held Friday, ​June 12, 2026 * 6 pm – 8 pm
at the gallery of Signal Financial Federal Credit Union in the City Center district of downtown D.C., 1101 New York Avenue NW​, DC 20015

Click HERE to RSVP

 

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New Book from Anacostia High School Students Debuts, From Anacostia with Love Available for Downloading Here

(Washington, DC) A new book by a group of talented Anacostia High School seniors, “From Anacostia with Love: An Environmental Journey,” brings together essays, poems and photographs reflecting the students’ experiences exploring nature and historic sites across the region.

The collection was created by 12 student authors who documented their observations and personal reflections after traveling to parks, forests, farms, rivers and other landscapes throughout the Washington area.

Students, educators and community partners gathered at Anacostia High School in March to celebrate the book’s release.  The event was coordinated by Xavier Brown, Deputy Director of DAWN, and Nature-Wise Founder and Lead Instructor Caroline Brewer. Students read from selected works in the book.

Download a copy of the book here.

A group poem from the book follows:

Sensing the Anacostia Courtyard

Out the door of our air-conditioned school
The sky is wide and pearly blue
I touch the rail, still cool and black
Taste the hot wind as it swarms my face
See drops of water hugging blades of grass
Green bushes and trees dominate the center and sides of the courtyard
Competing for space
I notice red brick walls stretching high
Framing leaves that kiss the sky
I’m feeling the heat as if there were a thousand suns
And tiny rocks under my feet

– Excerpt of group poem by Anacostia High School students

“From Anacostia with Love” is the product of partnerships between the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and its Developing America’s Workforce Nucleus (DAWN) Initiative, DC Public Schools (DCPS) and Nature-Wise Founder Caroline Brewer, with additional funding support from Pepco.

Download a copy of the book here.

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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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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)