Tell Your Story: Essential Conversations

Children’s books that reflect the richness of the human experience through diversity, inclusion, and access are catalysts for change.   

We developed our Essential Conversations programming to amplify the need and call for more diverse, inclusive, and accessible books.

We want to provide craft, education, and community-building for creatives and professionals in and around the children’s book industry.

Join us in these essential conversations, for professional development opportunities and for in-community courses and retreats.

Join Us For Essential Conversations: Craft and Community

PJ Library: Picture Book Summer Camp

PJ Library: Picture Book Summer Camp

Starts: March 31, 2024

Writing About Mental Health for MG and YA Readers: A Two-Night Mini

Writing About Mental Health for MG and YA Readers: A Two-Night Mini

Starts: April 2, 2024

Writing Through Trauma to Empower Readers: A Working In-Community Retreat for Storytellers

Writing Through Trauma to Empower Readers: A Working In-Community Retreat for Storytellers

Starts: April 11, 2024

Asian and Asian American Voices: An In-Community Retreat

Asian and Asian American Voices: An In-Community Retreat

Starts: May 2, 2024

Jewish Symposium: An In-Community Gathering for Jewish Writers and Illustrators

Jewish Symposium: An In-Community Gathering for Jewish Writers and Illustrators

Starts: May 5, 2024

Disability Representation in Picture Book Illustration: A Two-Night Mini

Disability Representation in Picture Book Illustration: A Two-Night Mini

Starts: May 7, 2024

Writing with Pride: A Two-Night Mini for Picture Book Writers

Writing with Pride: A Two-Night Mini for Picture Book Writers

Starts: May 14, 2024

Black Voices: An In-Community Retreat for Storytellers

Black Voices: An In-Community Retreat for Storytellers

Starts: July 7, 2024

Neurodiverse Writers and Illustrators: An In-Community Retreat for Storytellers

Neurodiverse Writers and Illustrators: An In-Community Retreat for Storytellers

Starts: August 8, 2024

Native Creatives: An In-Community Retreat

Native Creatives: An In-Community Retreat

Starts: August 21, 2024

Latinx Voices: An In-Community Retreat for Storytellers

Latinx Voices: An In-Community Retreat for Storytellers

Starts: October 27, 2024

Rainbow Retreat: An In-Community Retreat for Storytellers

Rainbow Retreat: An In-Community Retreat for Storytellers

Starts: October 31, 2024

Inspiring Children Through Story

“My picture book … deals with parents separating. One little boy, who parents recently divorced, went to bed with [it] many nights. This deeply moved me to know this picture book helped this little boy.

“I tutor 2nd grade reluctant readers. My understanding of picture book structure and prose allows me to help them learn more than words. Rather than just read the story, we talk about it.”

“You mean I get to keep this book forever?”

…Spoken by a child in tears who was gifted with one of my books at a school visit and had never owned a book before.

“When I hear kids giggle while I’m reading [my book] I feel like I’ve done the job I intended to do.

Resources for essential conversations

Highlights Foundation Receives a $50K Grant from Hawthornden Foundation to Support In-Community Retreats

Highlights Foundation Receives a $50K Grant from Hawthornden Foundation to Support In-Community Retreats

PJ Library Summer Camp Brings Jewish Creatives to the Highlights Foundation

PJ Library Summer Camp Brings Jewish Creatives to the Highlights Foundation

Podcast: Nikki Grimes

Podcast: Nikki Grimes

Podcast: Intisar Khanani

Podcast: Intisar Khanani

Get Involved at the Highlights Foundation

Stories from Our Highlights Foundation Alumni

Celebrating Ramadan Kareem’s Book Birthday with M.O. Yuksel and Hatem Aly

Celebrating Ramadan Kareem’s Book Birthday with M.O. Yuksel and Hatem Aly

Cover Reveal: Xavier’s Voice by Ashley Franklin

Cover Reveal: Xavier’s Voice by Ashley Franklin

With Scholarship Support, Rachel Werner Grows Her Passion Project: Expanding Inclusion in Narratives

With Scholarship Support, Rachel Werner Grows Her Passion Project: Expanding Inclusion in Narratives

Celebration Station: Fall 2023

Celebration Station: Fall 2023

Our Mission in Action

Share Your Story, Inspire a Child
Scholarships
Equity & Inclusion in Kidlit
Partners & Sponsors

The Highlights Foundation positively impacts children by amplifying the voices of storytellers who inform, educate, and inspire children to become their best selves.  Learn more about our impact.