(Black PR Wire) Two books authored by Spelman College student Rayven Bryant, C’2025, and alumna Mayah Johnson, C’2024, have been included in Scholastic’s Our Stories Decodables collection designed for young readers. Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, released the collection in September to support children in grades K-5.

The Scholastic Kids and Family Reading Report™ found that nearly half of children who are Black or Hispanic have a difficult time finding books with characters who are like them. The Our Stories Decodables collection includes titles written by authors representing various backgrounds, including first-time writers from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), like Johnson and Bryant.

As part of the collection, Johnson, who now holds a degree in elementary education, authored Meera and the Mermaid, a fantasy book that follows a young girl named Meera who struggles to make friends. When Meera finds a magical shell on the beach that is home to a friendly mermaid named Shelly, she learns what it means to be a friend and soon makes a few of her own.

Bryant, an elementary education major, authored Bring It On, Gran! about an eight-year-old girl who embarks on a lively adventure with her grandmother on a rainy day in Louisiana. Originally from Louisiana herself, Bryant wrote the book in memory of her late grandmother.

“I want students to celebrate the experiences they have with their grandparents or their non-traditional caregivers,” said Bryant. “I want them to be inspired by having a book that has characters that look like them, with storylines that are similar to theirs, and to feel comfortable celebrating those experiences.”

The Our Stories Decodables collection includes 24 student books written by students and alumni from Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, Howard University, Texas A&M University and the University of Oregon, alongside Scholastic editors. Through these texts and resources, students are able to practice sounds and spellings, recognize themselves in the stories and increase confidence in their reading capabilities. 

Learn more about Our Stories Decodables here: www.scholastic.com/ourstories.

Source: Spelman College