Frog Pond Publishing, a Local Book Publisher Launches a New Line of Children’s Books with a Focus on Diversity
Frog Pond Publishing may be the newest book publisher in the state, having only just formed this summer, but their focus is an old one—adding diversity to the world of literature.
With a mission of exposing all children to the beauty of diversity while instilling in children of color a sense of worth and pride, Frog Pond Publishing accomplishes this through the writing, design and publishing of picture books. States Sharon Jones-Scaife, one of the principals in this family-run, independent company, “This was a dream I’ve had ever since my sons were toddlers, about twenty years ago.” Jones-Scaife, like so many other parents of color, tired quickly of reading colorless stories and resorted to making up tales. “Except with the stories my sons and I made up there was an understanding that the characters were black.”
Twenty years is a long time to nurse a dream, but several occurrences finally pushed Jones-Scaife into “do” mode: the birth of grandchildren and the publishing success of Teen Graffiti magazine, a publication which is owned and published by Jones-Scaife’s other publishing arm, Coffee Creek Media Group. The magazine will turn nineteen-years-old in 2019.
“It was a lack of confidence that stalled me, but one day it just dawned on me that if I can sustain a magazine for almost twenty years, I can do this, publish books too,” states Jones-Scaife. Then there are the grandchildren. “I feel strongly that they need stories and books that reflect back to them, children who look like them and have experiences they can relate to.”
Regardless of the reasons why Frog Pond Publishing—named after the pond in Arkansas that Jones-Scaife’s father crossed everyday on his way to school—is now operating, Jones-Scaife has hit on a growing demand. Even as more and more books are published, thanks in part to Amazon and technological advances, characters of color and cultural stories are still underrepresented in books and in entertainment. This is a gap that many publishers in the literary world are eager to fill given the fact the country is expected to be a minority-majority in a few short years.
For Jones-Scaife, launching Frog Pond Publishing and its children’s book titles, “I Miss You, Papa” and the most recent release, “Mrs. Hughes is Missing!” was not totally about filling a gap, or her grandchildren, or even her prior publishing success. It just made good human sense. “This is not just paper and ink, drawings and words. This is our contribution to helping advance understanding and acceptance – something the world needs more of,” remarks Jones-Scaife.
To mark the rollout of Frog Pond Publishing, a series of literary events are planned. At these events, one may visit with Jones-Scaife and meet others who are involved in the writing, design, and publishing of this impressive line of books.
BOOK SIGNINGS AND EVENTS
December 15, 2018 ~ 1-3pm
Half Price Books – Firewheel (Garland)
3085 N George Bush Fwy
Garland, TX 75040
December 16, 2018 ~ 2-4pm
Pan African Connection
4466 S Marsalis Ave
Dallas, TX 75216
January 6, 2019 ~ 1-3pm
Half Price Books #001
5803 E. NW Highway
Dallas, TX 75231
For more information, please visit https://coffeecreekmediagroup.com/index.php/frog-pond-publishing/ or call 972-442-6000.
