I'm Your Neighbor Books

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I'm Your Neighbor Books I’m Your Neighbor Books strives to build a stronger nation—one where immigrants are welcomed and http://www.welcominglibrary.org/

I'M YOUR NEIGHBOR BOOKS strives to build a stronger America, one where immigrants are welcomed and where first-through-third-generation Americans truly belong. We facilitate deep engagement with the children’s books that represent our New Arrival and New American communities. By curating, loaning, and gifting these diverse titles with educational materials, we:

* Start conversations on modern immigration
* Refute false narratives about communities of color
* Create emotional connections to a vast diversity of voices
* Share the joy and strength of immigrant kids and families
* Build the cultural competency of all readers
* Lay the groundwork for cross-cultural communication

OUR CULTURAL BOOK DATABASE sorts and features books by the culture represented allowing for schools, libraries, and organizations to best select and share books that represent their neighborhoods and the diversity of the nation. This site also offers lesson plans and event kits to facilitate engagement between neighbors. https://www.imyourneighborbooks.org

THE WELCOMING LIBRARY is a pop-up community conversation on immigration. That conversation is driven by a collection of acclaimed picture books featuring New Arrival and New American families. Readers of all ages “meet” these families on the page and explore the commonalities of all families with embedded discussion questions. The collection — with its pop-up display unit — packs into a crate and travels between schools, libraries, and community centers in a given region building an environment of Welcoming and Belonging.

Friends, we are hiring a Chief Operating Officer (COO). Know someone (perhaps you?) who is a match? Please share!
10/12/2026

Friends, we are hiring a Chief Operating Officer (COO). Know someone (perhaps you?) who is a match? Please share!

Chief Operating Officer Why This Work Matters I’m Your Neighbor Books (IYNB) is a nonprofit founded on the evidence that literature can transform a reader’s perception of themselves and others and inspire them to build more inclusive communities. Centering children’s books representing Immigra...

I’m Your Neighbor Books will never tire of how our book case allows picture book characters to look out windows search...
09/24/2026

I’m Your Neighbor Books will never tire of how our book case allows picture book characters to look out windows searching for their readers.

Thank you (always) Nomak Design and Orion Woodshop.

Peek at covers of A PLACE IN THE WORLD and MY PAPI’s HANDS.

Let's soar!🐦‍⬛🧡 This fall, the Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival is taking flight across Maine with LIVE even...
09/22/2026

Let's soar!🐦‍⬛🧡 This fall, the Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival is taking flight across Maine with LIVE events inspired by this year’s featured books! As the blackbird flies, find us at events from August to Waterville and Portland this weekend!🌟

Augusta | Sept. 30 | 5–7 PM ✨
will host an art reception for its month-long exhibition featuring the illustrations from “Hairstory” by Sope Martins and Briana Mukodiri Uchendu; “The Night Has Ears” by Ashley Bryan; and “Sail Away” by Langston Hughes and by Ashley Bryan.

Waterville | Oct. 2 | 5–7 PM ✨
will celebrate the joy of books, art, and community with a special reading of “Saturday” by Oge Mora and art activity inspired by the book. This free event is presented with , , , and the Colby Arts Office as a part of .

Portland | Oct. 3 | 10 AM–2 PM✨
Presented in collaboration with ’ , this book fair will bring together 20+ authors and illustrators to share their books and meet with children and families. The event will also feature readings, characters, activities, and book sales.
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Visit www.BeautifulBlackbird.com to register, learn more about upcoming events and explore all of this year's featured books!
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The 2026 BBCBF is presented by The 2026 BBCBF is presented by Indigo Arts Alliance, I’m Your Neighbor Books, and Diverse BookFinder with partners: Auburn Public Library, the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Colby College Museum of Art, Farnsworth Art Museum, Hello Hello Books, L/A Arts, Lewiston Public Library, Maine Arts Academy, Maine Maritime Museum, Maine MILL, Maine Lit Fest, Portland Housing Authority, Portland Ovations, Portland Parks, Recreation & Facilities, Saccarappa School, Strand Theatre, The Third Place, Waterville Creates, and Waterville Public Library.
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The 2026 BBCBF is sponsored by , , , and individual donors.

Celebrate with us! 🌈 The Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival is bringing LIVE events to partner institutions a...
09/14/2026

Celebrate with us! 🌈 The Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival is bringing LIVE events to partner institutions across Maine, all inspired by this year’s featured books! Make your way down the coast with events in Boothbay this weekend, Saturday September 19 and Lewiston to Portland next weekend, Saturday September 26 - 27.🌟

Boothbay Harbor | Sept. 19 | 10 AM–1 PM ✨
will host a Beautiful Blackbird-inspired craft activity, with free copies of “Beautiful Blackbird” by Ashley Bryan and “The Deepest Blue” by Shauntay Grant and Daniel Minter, available to take home.

Lewiston | Sept. 25 | 5–8 PM ✨
’s September Art Walk will be centered around the Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival.

Lewiston | Sept. 26 | 10 AM–4 PM ✨
, in collaboration with , will host a day of free, hands-on activities inspired by this year’s featured books, with free copies of this year’s featured books while supplies last.

Portland | Sept. 27 | 9 AM–4 PM ✨
will bring the festival to life with read-alouds featuring local community members, art-making, and interactive literary activities for the whole family. Admission to the festival is FREE, part of CMTM’s ongoing commitment to removing barriers that families may face in accessing the Museum & Theatre.
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Visit www.BeautifulBlackbird.com to register, learn more about upcoming events and explore all of this year's featured books!
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The 2026 BBCBF is presented by Indigo Arts Alliance, I’m Your Neighbor Books, and Diverse BookFinder with partners: Auburn Public Library, the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Colby College Museum of Art, Farnsworth Art Museum, Hello Hello Books, L/A Arts, Lewiston Public Library, Maine Arts Academy, Maine Maritime Museum, Maine MILL, Maine Lit Fest, Portland Housing Authority, Portland Ovations, Portland Parks, Recreation & Facilities, Saccarappa School, Strand Theatre, The Third Place, Waterville Creates, and Waterville Public Library.
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The 2026 BBCBF is sponsored by , , , and individual donors.

Mark your Calendars! 🌟 This year’s Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival will feature in person events at partner...
09/09/2026

Mark your Calendars! 🌟 This year’s Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival will feature in person events at partner institutions across the state of Maine, centered on our featured festival books.

Join Indigo Arts Alliance, Hello Hello Books, and the Waterville Public library on Saturday September 12 for in-person festival fun in Portland, Rockland and Waterville!🌟

Rockland | 10–11:30 AM ✨
hello books will present read-alouds of “Beautiful Blackbird” by Ashley Bryan and “The Deepest Blue” by Shauntay Grant and Daniel Minter. Both books will also be available in-store as giveaways throughout September and October.

Portland | 10 AM–1 PM ✨
will host an artist talk with Gabrielle Miller, Marine Archaeologist and co-coordinator of the Slave Wrecks Project, and Daniel Minter, IAA Co-Founder, Artistic Director, and illustrator of “The Deepest Blue”. The conversation will explore the histories and lost stories that inspired the book, followed by an introspective zine workshop exploring the past, present, and future.

Waterville | 10–11:30 AM ✨
will offer in person, family-friendly activities, including a read-aloud of Saturday by Oge Mora.
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Visit www.BeautifulBlackbird.com to register, learn more about upcoming events and explore all of this year's featured books!
•
The 2026 BBCBF is presented by Indigo Arts Alliance, I’m Your Neighbor Books, and Diverse BookFinder with partners: Auburn Public Library, the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Colby College Museum of Art, Farnsworth Art Museum, Hello Hello Books, L/A Arts, Lewiston Public Library, Maine Arts Academy, Maine Maritime Museum, Maine MILL, Maine Lit Fest, Portland Housing Authority, Portland Ovations, Portland Parks, Recreation & Facilities, Saccarappa School, Strand Theatre, The Third Place, Waterville Creates, and Waterville Public Library.
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The 2026 BBCBF is sponsored by , , , and individual donors.

09/03/2026

✨Everybody Get Ready, Uh Huh! ✨
The 7th annual Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival ( ) is right around the corner!

Beginning September 12 and continuing throughout November 2026, BBCBF will celebrate roots, identity, and resiliency throughout the African Diaspora with a new selection of featured children’s books, in-person events, and our annual giveaway of 3,000 free books across Maine. 📚

This year’s featured books include:
📖 “Beautiful Blackbird” by Ashley Bryan
📖 “Sail Away” by Langston Hughes and Ashley Bryan
📖 “The Night Has Ears: African Proverbs” by Ashley Bryan.
📖 “Fibbed” by Elizabeth Agyemang
📖 “Hairstory” by Sope Martins and Briana Mukodiri Uchendu
📖 “Korobá: The Case of the Missing Kolo” by Àlàbá Ònájìn
📖 “Saturday” by Oge Mora
📖 “The Deepest Blue” by Shauntay Grant and Daniel Minter
📖 “The Girl and The Robot” by Oz Rodriguez and Claribel A. Ortega

Together, these nine books offer children mirrors to see themselves and windows into the lives of others, nurturing community, imagination, cultural pride, and a lifelong love of literature.

And this year, we’re going even further! 🎉 BBCBF will bring programming to Auburn, Augusta, Bath, Boothbay, Camden, Lewiston, Portland, Rockland, Waterville, and Westbrook, including our first-ever festival events in Kennebec County and interior Midcoast.

Visit www.BeautifulBlackbird.com to explore the featured books and find a festival event near you. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
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The 2026 BBCBF is presented by Indigo Arts Alliance, I’m Your Neighbor Books, and Diverse BookFinder with partners: Auburn Public Library, the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Colby College Museum of Art, Farnsworth Art Museum, Hello Hello Books, L/A Arts, Lewiston Public Library, Maine Arts Academy, Maine Maritime Museum, Maine MILL, Maine Lit Fest, Portland Housing Authority, Portland Ovations, Portland Parks, Recreation & Facilities, Saccarappa School, Strand Theatre, The Third Place, Waterville Creates, and Waterville Public Library.
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The 2026 BBCBF is sponsored by , , , and individual donors.

KIMCHI + KIDLITJoin picture book creator Jill Lee & I'm Your Neighbor Books for a book reading, making demo & book sig...
08/22/2026

KIMCHI + KIDLIT

Join picture book creator Jill Lee & I'm Your Neighbor Books for a book reading, making demo & book signing all to celebrate—

LITTLE SUNNY MAKES KIMCHI WITH HALMI

**Saturday, 8/22/26**
MAINE NIGHT MARKET
Maine Tasting Center
Wisscassett, Maine

5:30-6:30 PM Reading + Kimchi
6:30-7:30 PM Book Signing
5:00-9:00 PM Night Market

Visit I’m Your Neighbor Books tent for 100+ books celebrating our Asian communities —all at 35% OFF!

Note: LITTLE SUNNY MAKES KIMCHI WITH HALMI will be full price to support the artist!

07/18/2026

In its 7th year! takes flight in September—in memory of Ashley Bryan!!

We laid a book about a strong and loving Papi on the memorial for —a strong and loving Papi building a new and beautif...
07/18/2026

We laid a book about a strong and loving Papi on the memorial for —a strong and loving Papi building a new and beautiful life in

What happened on this corner broke a family, a city, a state and may it break this nation into collective action.

Thank you author Melissa Seron Richardson & illustrator Edel Rodriguez for a book that shows a daughter’s love set against the unfathomable cruelty of country’s anti-immigrant racism.

Need a copy of this book? DM us if you need a free copy.

Can afford it? Buy link in the comments.

The book takes a frightening, but well executed turn. Be ready for it and the discussion that follows.



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80 Bell Street, Suite 7
Portland, ME
04103

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