COZBI A. CABRERA
COZBI A. CABRERA is a multimedia artist who has won multiple awards including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, and Robert F. Sibert Honor. Trained as an art director, this Parsons School of Design grad left her dream job creating music packaging in NY to make handmade collectible cloth dolls (Muñecas) in honor of her Honduran heritage. Her dolls were featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Martha Stewart Living, and Land Of Nod catalogue, among others, and are collected by Oprah, Mariska Hargitay, Maria Shriver, and Julie Belafonte.
Cozbi’s illustrated titles include: Beauty, Her Basket (Greenwillow Books), which Publishers Weekly called “a quiet treasure” in a starred review, Thanks A Million (Greenwillow Books), Stitchin’ and Pullin’ A Gees Bend Quilt (Random House), Most Loved in All the World (Houghton Mifflin) for which she won a Christopher Award, Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks (Abrams Books) which was a Coretta Scott King and a Robert F. Sibert Honor book, and was also the Association of Library Service to Children Notable Book. Her book, Me and Mama is a Caldecott and Corretta Scott King Honor book.
Winner of the 2024 Prairie State Award for Excellence in Writing for Children
To learn more about Cozbi A. Cabrera, please visit her at Cozbi.com.
BROWN GIRL, BROWN GIRL
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers — November 19, 2024
This powerful and hopeful picture book—inspired by the historic election of Vice President Kamala Harris—celebrates brown and Black girls and is magnificently illustrated by a Caldecott Honor-winning artist.
Brown girl, brown girl, what did you see?
A world that sees my skin before it sees me.
Based on a viral poem by Blaxican poet and activist Leslé Honoré, and illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Cozbi A. Cabrera, this moving journey through the past, present, and future of brown and Black girls is a celebration of community, creativity, and joy—and offers a reminder of the history that inspires hope, and the hope that inspires activism.
Praise for Brown Girl, Brown Girl
An Amazon Best Book of the Month for Ages 3-5
A Southern Independent Booksellers Association for November/December 2024
"In scene after scene, striking painterly acrylics by Caldecott Honoree Cabrera picture brown girls of myriad hair textures and skin tones joining together to dance, play, and stand tall."―Publishers Weekly, starred review
“The illustrations intertwine softness and boldness with page after page of brown girls belonging, a visual togetherness that both honors and bridges individual and generational difference.... Warmly, brilliantly welcoming—and not to be missed."―Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“…vibrant, moving illustrations from Cabrera that celebrate Black and brown girls in moments of strength and joy. Images of young women of color sharing dreams and wins and building community provide an inspiring backdrop for this powerful rhyming poem.” —Booklist
“This gorgeously illustrated poem celebrating and elevating brown girls is a solid choice for picture book collections.” —School Library Journal
“Cabrera’s painterly acrylic illustrations match the text’s pride in its subject, featuring vibrant images of girls playing, laughing, and finding strength in community. One especially arresting image is a wall mural of influential Black and Brown women, including Amanda Gorman, Toni Morrison, Kamala Harris, and Ketanji Brown Jackson.” —By Horn Book
ME & MAMA
Denene Millner Books — August 25, 2020
Mama’s love is brighter than the sun, even on the rainiest of days. This celebration of a mother-daughter relationship is perfect for sharing with little ones!
On a rainy day when the house smells like cinnamon and Papa and Luca are still asleep, when the clouds are wearing shadows and the wind paints the window with beads of water, I want to be everywhere Mama is.
With lyrical prose and a tender touch, Me & Mama is an ode to the strength of the bond between a mother and a daughter as they spend a rainy day together.
PRAISE FOR ME & MAMA
“A beautifully illustrated, slice-of-life ode of adoration for doting daughters and marvelous mamas.”—Kirkus
“The intimate, poetic text makes each moment feel authentic, and the painterly artwork balances poignancy and playfulness.” —New York Times
“A beautifully celebratory mirror of Black life and family. Gentle and soft, Me & Mama is a loving bedtime story or a soothing read-aloud.”—Shelf Awareness
“Cabrera’s striking acrylic visuals recall painters such as Jordan Casteel and Maira Kalman… an elegant testament to the love-filled bonds between child and parent.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Me & Mama is a picture book love letter that captures the extraordinary bond between a mother and daughter on a completely ordinary day.”—BookPage