Marley Dias, 11, was tired of reading books about "white boys and their dogs" so she began looking for stories about black girls. Here's a sampling of some of the titles she's found so far.
Marley Dias, 11, was tired of reading books about "white boys and their dogs" so she began looking for stories about black girls. Here's a sampling of some of the titles she's found so far.
Courtesy Janice Johnson Dias
In "A Chair for My Mother" by Vera B. Williams. A child, her waitress mother and her grandmother save dimes to buy a comfortable armchair after losing their furniture in a fire.
In "A Chair for My Mother" by Vera B. Williams. A child, her waitress mother and her grandmother save dimes to buy a comfortable armchair after losing their furniture in a fire.
Greenwillow Books
Jacqueline Woodson's "After Tupac and D Foster" tells the story of two girls trying to make sense of the world after the deaths of another friend and their favorite musician, Tupac Shakur.
Jacqueline Woodson's "After Tupac and D Foster" tells the story of two girls trying to make sense of the world after the deaths of another friend and their favorite musician, Tupac Shakur.
Speak
"Art from Her Heart" by Kathy Whitehead is a picture book biography about folk artist Clementine Hunter, who was unable to see her own work in a museum exhibit.
"Art from Her Heart" by Kathy Whitehead is a picture book biography about folk artist Clementine Hunter, who was unable to see her own work in a museum exhibit.
G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
"Blue Tights" by Rita Williams-Garcia is about 15-year-old Joyce, who finds a way to express herself through dance.
"Blue Tights" by Rita Williams-Garcia is about 15-year-old Joyce, who finds a way to express herself through dance.
Blue Tights
"Almost Zero" is the third book in Nikki Grimes' Dyamond Daniel series, which teaches life lessons through the eyes of a third-grader.
"Almost Zero" is the third book in Nikki Grimes' Dyamond Daniel series, which teaches life lessons through the eyes of a third-grader.
G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
"Ballerina Dreams: From Orphan to Dancer" is the true story of Michaela DePrince's journey from Sierra Leone to a career as a dancer in the United States.
"Ballerina Dreams: From Orphan to Dancer" is the true story of Michaela DePrince's journey from Sierra Leone to a career as a dancer in the United States.
Random House Books for Young Readers
"Amazing Grace" by Mary Hoffman tells the story of a girl who wants to star as Peter Pan in the school play.
"Amazing Grace" by Mary Hoffman tells the story of a girl who wants to star as Peter Pan in the school play.
Dial Books
"Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie tells the story of a young Nigerian woman who emigrates to the United States for school and stays for work.
"Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie tells the story of a young Nigerian woman who emigrates to the United States for school and stays for work.
Anchor
In "Brown Girl Dreaming," author Jacqueline Woodson describes her childhood growing up in the 1960s and 1970s in South Carolina and New York.
In "Brown Girl Dreaming," author Jacqueline Woodson describes her childhood growing up in the 1960s and 1970s in South Carolina and New York.
Nancy Paulsen Books
"Full, Full, Full of Love" by Trish Cooke explores the relationship between Jay Jay and his Grannie.
"Full, Full, Full of Love" by Trish Cooke explores the relationship between Jay Jay and his Grannie.
Candlewick
In Celeste O. Norfleet's "Download Drama," Kenisha Lewis becomes a YouTube sensation after making a promo for the dance studio where she works.
In Celeste O. Norfleet's "Download Drama," Kenisha Lewis becomes a YouTube sensation after making a promo for the dance studio where she works.
Harlequin Kimani
Derrick Barnes' "Ruby and the Booker Boys" series tells of 8-year-old Ruby Booker, the baby sister of the most popular boys on Chill Brook Avenue.
Derrick Barnes' "Ruby and the Booker Boys" series tells of 8-year-old Ruby Booker, the baby sister of the most popular boys on Chill Brook Avenue.
Scholastic Paperbacks
Jewell Parker Rhodes' "Ninth Ward" tells the story of 12-year-old New Orleans resident Lanesha and her caretaker Mama Ya-Ya, who has a vision of a fast approaching hurricane -- Katrina.
Jewell Parker Rhodes' "Ninth Ward" tells the story of 12-year-old New Orleans resident Lanesha and her caretaker Mama Ya-Ya, who has a vision of a fast approaching hurricane -- Katrina.
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
In Jerdine Nolen's "Thunder Rose," a teen with superhuman abilities meets her match in the form of a whirling storm.
In Jerdine Nolen's "Thunder Rose," a teen with superhuman abilities meets her match in the form of a whirling storm.
HMH Books for Young Readers
In "Birthday Blues," the second book in Karen English's "Nikki and Deja" series, two third-graders plan a celebration.
In "Birthday Blues," the second book in Karen English's "Nikki and Deja" series, two third-graders plan a celebration.
Clarion Books
In "Firebird," ballerina Misty Copeland's first picture book, the dancer shows a young girl to follow her footsteps.
In "Firebird," ballerina Misty Copeland's first picture book, the dancer shows a young girl to follow her footsteps.
G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
In "Miami Jackson Sees It Through," by Patricia McKissack, a young boy learns to deal with a tough new teacher.
In "Miami Jackson Sees It Through," by Patricia McKissack, a young boy learns to deal with a tough new teacher.
Random House Books for Young Readers
#1000BlackGirlBooks to look for

Story highlights

Marley Dias, 11, started collecting books with diverse protagonists in November

The sixth-grader was fed up with not seeing herself in the books she was reading

Her goal is to collect 1,000 books to give to schools and libraries by February 11

CNN  — 

By fifth grade, Marley Dias decided she had grown tired of reading books about “white boys and their dogs.”

Nothing against “Where the Red Fern Grows,” she said, but surely there are books about black girls to which she could relate.

“My mom asked me, ‘What are you going to do about it?’ ” the 11-year-old recalled. “I told her I was going to start a book drive.”

After starting sixth grade in the fall of 2015, Marley decided the time had cometo make her idea a reality. Marley launched #1000BlackGirlBooks in November to raise awareness of books featuring black girls and other people of color as protagonists.

“Whenever you see a character you identify with, you carry it with you and it inspires you,” Marley said. “I want to introduce girls like me to books that will inspire them.”

Through word of mouth, the campaign has grown into a global phenomenon. News outlets around the world have covered her effort to collect 1,000 books by February 11 – just in time for Black History Month in the United States. Some books will go to a library in Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica, her mother’s hometown; the rest will go to Marley’s former elementary school in West Orange, New Jersey.

The drive got off to a slow start, finally gaining momentum after an article appeared in PhillyVoice. Now, with one week to go, she is just 100 books short of her deadline but the overwhelming response has led her to continue collecting and donating books to schools and libraries.

“The lesson I’ve learned from this is that you can doubt yourself but don’t let your doubt take over,” she said. “At one point, I was like there’s no way we’re getting 1,000, there’s no way we’re getting 500, but now we’re almost there because we never gave up.”

Marley launched the campaign through GrassROOTS Community Foundation, a nonprofit founded by her mother, Janice Johnson Dias, and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter of the Grammy Award-winning group The Roots.

“The interest and support has been incredible,” Janice Johnson Dias said. “As a parent, it’s been great to watch her step into the spotlight and articulate her goals.”

Before the campaign, Marley’s favorite book featuring a black main character was “Chains” by Laurie Halse Anderson, the story of a slave’s fight for freedom during the American Revolution. Now, she has hundreds of titles from which to choose.

Here’s a selection of some of those titles. Feel free to add your suggestions in the comments.

“A Chair For My Mother” by Vera Williams

“After Tupac and D Foster” by Jacqueline Woodson

“Amazing Grace” by Mary Hoffman and Caroline Binch

“Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

“Art from Her Heart” by Kathy Whitehead

“Ballerina Dreams: From Orphan to Dancer” by Michaela and Elaine DePrince

“Blue Tights” by Rita Williams-Garcia

“Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson

“Dyamonde Daniel” books by Nikki Grimes

“Download Drama (Kimani Tru)” by Celeste O. Norfleet

“Firebird” by Misty Copeland

“Full, Full, Full of Love” by Trish Cooke and Paul Howard

“Miami Jackson” books by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack

“Nikki and Deja” by Karen English

“Ninth Ward” by Jewell Parker Rhodes

“Ruby and the Booker Boys” books by Derrick Barnes and Vanessa Brantley Newton

“Thunder Rose” by Jerdine Nolen and Kadir Nelson