Once Upon a Kwanzaa, by Nyasha Williams and Sidney Rose McCall | Awareness Tour

Once Upon a Kwanzaa Awareness Tour is presented in partnership* with Nyasha Williams, Sidney Rose McCall, and The Children’s Book Review.

Step into the rich traditions of Kwanzaa with Nyasha Williams and Sidney Rose McCall’s beautiful new book, Once Upon a Kwanzaa.

Kwanzaa may last just seven days, but its spirit lives far beyond the candles of the Kinara. In Once Upon a Kwanzaa, Nyasha Williams and Sidney Rose McCall invite readers to gather around the table, share stories, and celebrate the beauty and resilience of the African-American community. With Sawyer Cloud’s radiant illustrations bringing seven families to life, this picture book shines a light on traditions old and new—welcoming children and adults alike to honor the past, embrace the present, and imagine the future together.

This age-appropriate primer offers a vibrant perspective on values many all over the world have long held while offering newcomers a refreshingly inviting seat at that kinara-lit table.

—Kirkus Reviews

Join our community (Ujima) for this virtual book celebration and embrace the chance to win one of five hardcover copies of Once Upon a Kwanzaa! In the spirit of Kuumba (creativity) and Ujamaa (cooperative economics), one grand prize winner will receive the book plus a complete Kwanzaa Celebration Kit—featuring a Kwanzaa Advent, Kinara, and ceremonial candles—to honor your family’s heritage and create meaningful traditions.

This is your opportunity to bring home a story that celebrates our collective Nia (purpose) and share in the joy of the season with Imani (faith) and unity. Enter below and let this beautiful tale help illuminate your Kwanzaa celebration with the light of knowledge and community!

Once Upon a Kwanzaa
Virtual Tour Dates

Once Upon a Kwanzaa Book Giveaway

About the Book

Once Upon a Kwanzaa

Written by Nyasha Williams and Sidney Rose McCall

Illustrated by Sawyer Cloud

Ages 4-6 | 32 Pages

Publisher: Running Press Kids (2025) | ISBN-13: 978-0762487356

Publisher’s Book Summary: A celebration of the beauty, power, and faith of the African-American community as reflected in the principles of Kwanzaa, by the author of I Affirm Me: The ABCs of Inspiration for Black Kids.

Kwanzaa is a holiday steeped in ancestral traditions collected over generations of people across the Black Diaspora. Once Upon a Kwanzaa introduces communities of all colors to the interwoven history and lived experiences connected to this time of year when families and loved ones gather to celebrate, share, and reimagine the past, present, and future. Sawyer Cloud’s stunning artwork showcases seven different BIPOC families and highlights how different peoples of the Diaspora can celebrate in their communities, from setting the table and lighting the Kinara to sharing meals and gathering at events. The book includes a glossary and pronunciation guide.

Buy the Book

About the Co-Authors

Nyasha Williams grew up living intermittently between the United States and South Africa. As a kindergarten teacher, she was inspired to continue work as an author, creator, and activist after reading her first book to her class when one of her Black students told her that mermaids could not be Black. Williams kickstarted her first picture book, What’s the Commotion in the Ocean, starring a Black mermaid who spreads a message of marine conservation. She is the author of four picture books with Running Press Kids, including the bestselling I Affirm Me, and is the author of RP Studio’s Black Tarot, as well as a board book series with Harpercollins.

For more information, check out nyashawilliams.online and nyashawilliams.substack.com

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Sidney Rose McCall is an historian and community intellectual who combines her academic work with her activism. Though the pandemic saw her complete her Masters in Applied Social Science far from the classroom, she turned her eyes to the community, building a platform through Patreon where she continues to share decolonized history lessons and virtual discussions. She also joined the Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community, Inc. as a student-docent at the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts and now serves as a member of their Academic Committee for the ZORA! Festival of the Arts and Humanities. Ms. McCall hopes to work alongside community bridge builders to bring integrative stories into our creative spaces of resilience and resistance.

For more information, check out linktr.ee/Rosecolored_Scholar

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About the Illustrator

Sawyer Cloud is a freelance artist from Madagascar. Her passion for kids’ literature pushed her to turn it into a living. Sawyer loves sunny days and music. She dreams of owning a small cottage and traveling the world. She still lives in her native country, Madagascar, with her family and her two pets, Arya the dog and Potter the cat.

For more information, check out sawyer.cloud

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Thanks for following along with us on Nyasha Williams and Sidney Rose McCall’s Once Upon a Kwanzaa awareness tour!