HOW WE BEGAN
Brown Book Box began with two mothers and friends who shared the same struggle — finding children’s books where our kids could truly see themselves. We wanted stories filled with joy, culture, and imagination that reflected the world around them.
What started as a simple idea — curating diverse books and hands-on crafts for our children — quickly became a passion project that reached families far beyond our own. As our kids grew, so did our understanding of what it takes to build confident, capable readers.
Today, Brown Book Box has evolved from books and art activities to a holistic model grounded in the science of reading and experience-based learning. Our storytimes, theatre workshops, and book selections are designed not only to nurture a love of stories, but to help every child build the literacy skills and self-belief to write their own.
From the world of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls comes a story based on the life of Madam C.J. Walker: America’s first female self-made millionaire.
Sarah is the first person in her family who wasn’t born into slavery in Delta, Louisiana. But being free doesn’t mean that Sarah doesn’t have to work. She cooks, she cleans, she picks cotton, she does laundry, and she babysits. And when she works, she wraps up her hair.
One day, Sarah’s hair starts to fall out! It’s itchy, crunchy, patchy, and won’t grow. Instead of giving up, Sarah searches for the right products. And then she invents something better than any shampoo or hair oil she’s used before. Her hair grows and grows! That’s when she decides to rebrand herself as “Madam C.J. Walker,” and begins her business empire.
Madam C.J. Walker Builds a Business is the story of a leader in the hair care industry, but it’s also an inspiring tale about the importance of empowering women to become economically independent.
Includes additional text on Madam C.J. Walker’s lasting legacy, as well as educational activities designed to teach entrepreneurship.
