Mychal Denzel Smith, author of Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching: A Young Black Man’s Education (2016), is back with a “Black Boy Literary Survival Kit.” Smith recounts an early mentoring experience and how Black literature continues to shape the “experience one has with racism in America.” Emphasizing the importance of Black women and male writers, Smith challenges us to continue questioning and redefining the literary cannon.

Jason Reynolds has won the Kirkus Prize for young readers’ literature with his latest release As Brave as You (2016). Here’s the Kirkus Review: As Brave As You and the Jason Reynolds, C.E. Morgan And Susan Faludi Win 2016 Kirkus Prize

We can’t get enough of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and apparently neither can anyone else. Described as the “best, most difficult problem” to have, the NMAAHC is experiencing “dwell time” of up to six hours, when the average in most museums is 45 minutes to two hours. Read more about the dwell time at At African-American History Museum, Visitor 'Dwell Time' Is Off The Charts. If you’re lucky enough to get in, make sure you clear your schedule for the day and wear comfortable shoes.

Little Atoms sat down with author Paul Beatty for Paul Beatty on place, race and human psychology right before he won the 2016 Man Booker Prize. Read more about Paul Beatty winning the Booker Prize at Paul Beatty Wins Man Booker Prize With ‘The Sellout’

The New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2016 list is out. Carole Boston Weatherford for Freedom in Congo Square (2016), Jabari Asim for Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis (2016), and The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes (2016), written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh are recognized.