Let me tell you: it was my heart’s joy to present Early Sunday Morning, my new children’s picture book off my new imprint, in the last installment of “Good Night MyBrownBaby.” It was the first time I’d read the words out loud—the first time I experienced the art and the pages in front of an audience.

Of course, you know by now that Early Sunday Morning follows June, Mommy, Daddy, and brother Troy through their weekend routine as June prepares for a special performance leading the children’s choir at church on Sunday morning.

Readers spend the weekend with June as she collects helpful pieces of advice on how to be less nervous about her big solo. Along the way, she visits the barbershop with Mommy and Troy, gets her hair done by Mommy, receives a special dress from her aunt, and shares her family ritual of getting ready for Sunday morning service. As her special moment approaches, June leans on the support of her whole family, as well as advice from her father, to conquer her fear of singing in front of the congregation.

Reading Early Sunday Morning brought up all kinds of fond memories for me, particularly of my mother, who was the architect of our Sunday morning celebrations at St. John’s Baptist Church in Long Island, where I grew up. Just thinking about her made me choke up a little while I was reading; I do miss her so.

If you missed the reading, or you just want to watch it with your babies again, the video is up top—just push play. Every reading we do from here on out will live here on MyBrownBaby and on the MyBrownBaby YouTube page, so you’ll have instant access to these incredible bedtime stories for your babies.

Good Night MyBrownBaby” is a part of the MyBrownBaby mission to help introduce parents to great books for kids, featuring kids that look like ours. I figure if we help our beautiful babies fall in love with good literature early, they’ll love it forever. And if we support Black authors who celebrate our babies’ humanity in literature, we’ll be creating a want and need for more books just like them—a want and need publishing companies like mine will respond to.

As I mentioned in the Good Night MyBrownBaby “Early Sunday Morning” reading, those who shared the video on FB qualified for a giveaway, this time for one of four prize packs comprised of: a copy of “Early Sunday Morning,” and one each of an “Early Sunday Morning” Rise and Shine mug and playing cards.

Congratulations to:

  • Alicia Harper
  • Altamese Thompkins Larkins
  • Laura Velice Gaston
  • Leah Thomas

If you and your babies loved “Early Sunday Morning,” cop a copy here or pick it up at your local bookstore or library.

And don’t forget to check in for our next Good Night MyBrownBaby Facebook Live reading, featuring me, Denene Millner, reading the adorable “Meet Clarabelle Blue,”  by MyBrownBaby contributor Adiba Nelson and illustrated by Elvira Morando.

I’ll be reading live from the MyBrownBaby Facebook Fans page on Tuesday, April  25, at 7:30 p.m. sharp!

See you at the next Good Night MyBrownBaby!

* * *

To enhance your child’s reading experience:

  • Have your child write a story or draw a picture about how she’d make rude monsters keep their distance.
  • Make one of these monster treats with your child.
  • Help your child make a super cute monster doll to cuddle and kiss.
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Denene Millner

Mom. NY Times bestselling author. Pop culture ninja. Unapologetic lover of shoes, bacon and babies. Nice with the verbs. Founder of the top black parenting website, MyBrownBaby.

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