Daydreamers Press is a small, Black woman owned business with a focus on curating books, media, and related programming, especially for children. Its existence is a part of the legacy of Black storytelling, art, and advocacy for representation and justice. We publish content that highlights perspectives and knowledges of multicultural communities. We honor the work of those Black writers and creators who have come before Daydreamers Press and that of our extraordinary contemporaries.
Photographed by Rachel Joy Barehl
Founder
Dr. Carlotta Penn
I am Carlotta Penn, founder and author at Daydreamers Press. I am a Daydreamer who believes in justice and in the power of arts and literature to activate change in the world. Daydreamers Press is the public vehicle for my personal passions, and commitments. I bring my experience creating as a songwriter, poet, and writer, and in teaching and developing community programs nationally and internationally, to my work as lead curator of content and programming at Daydreamers Press.
I live in Columbus, Ohio with my husband and Rainbow Babies, Jember Dove, Zemen Phoenix, and Lulia Sparrow. My dream is for my children to live a life filled with love, adventure, personal enrichment, and service to others--in a free and compassionate world. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication, a Master’s degree in Comparative Studies, and a doctorate in Education. I’m the author of several books for children, including Dream A Rainbow, The Turtle With An Afro series, and Bright Boy ABCs. I co-edited Race, Justice, and Activism in Literacy Instruction (Teachers College Press).
Daydreaming is my beloved pastime.
* A Rainbow Baby is a baby born after pregnancy or infant loss. Read here for more on my experience with pregnancy loss.