September-October 2026: Beginnings is the theme of our bi-monthly issue! You are invited to share: If you have an article, photo, illustration, podcast or video to share on this topic — let us know!

Inkandescent Kids Story of the Day

Bestelling novelist Christopher Chambers brings us the stories of Marvel

The new Captain America has a big shield to carry. Is he up to the task? Find out in these subversive, exciting and uplifting short stories inspired by the Marvel comic book universe, written by celebrated Black authors. The new Captain America has a heavy shield to hold. As a Black man in America, Sam Wilson knows he has to be twice as good to get half as much credit. He must be a paragon of virtue for a nation that has mixed feelings towards him. In these thirteen brand-new stories, the all-new Captain America must thwart an insurrectionist plot, travel back in time, foil a racist conspiracy, and save the world over and over again.

As the Falcon, Sam Wilson was the first African American super hero in mainstream comic books. Sam’s trials and tribulations reflect the struggles many Black Americans go through today, as Sam balances fighting supervillains and saving the world with the difficulties of being the first Black Captain America. This action-packed anthology inspired by the Marvel comic book universe, will see Sam team up with familiar friends like Steve Rogers, Redwing and Nomad, while fighting Hydra, Sabretooth, Kingpin, and other infamous villains.

These are stories of death-defying courage, Black love and self-discovery. These are the stories of a super hero learning what it means to be a symbol.

These are the stories of Captain America: The Shield of Sam Wilson • Click here to buy the book.

Black Panther

Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda

A ground-breaking anthology celebrating Marvel’s beloved Black Panther and his home of Wakanda. Eighteen short stories penned by an all-star cast of authors such as Sheree Renée Thomas and Nikki Giovanni.

T’Challa faces the gods of his parents. Vampires stalk Shuri and a Dora Milaje in voodoo-laced New Orleans. Erik Killmonger grapples with racism, Russian spies, and his own origins. Eighteen brand-new tales of Wakanda, its people, and its legacy.

The first mainstream superhero of African descent, the Black Panther has attracted readers of all races and colors who see in the King of Wakanda reflections of themselves.

Storytellers from across the African Diaspora—some already literary legends, others who are rising stars—have created for this collection original works inspired by the world of the Panther and its inhabitants.

With guest stars including Storm, Monica Rambeau, Namor, and Jericho Drumm, these are stories of yesterday and today, of science and magic, of faith and love.

These are the tales of a king and his country. These are the legends whispered in the jungle, myths of the unconquered men and women and the land they love.

These are the Tales of Wakanda.

Click here to buy the book!

Author Christopher Chambers

Meet the author: Christopher Chambers is a Washington, D.C. native, a lecturer at Georgetown University, Chair of the International Conflict Resolution Center, and General Counsel to a not-for-profit benefiting small colleges and HBCUs: Student Housing of America.

He’s currently President of Mystery Writers of America-Middle Atlantic Chapter, a board of directors member for Bouchercon: World Mystery Convention, and Private Eye Writers of America.

In addition to winning awards for his hard-boiled noir books, he is the author of two Marvel books. See those below, and meet Chris in person at the August 8 InkandescentKids Book Fair and Birthday Party!

Hey all you military kids: Check out “The Fortunate Son,” by proud Army brat Timothy Trainer

About the Book — The Fortunate Son recounts the parallel lives of an army brat and a group of Vietnam veterans who intersect decades after the war. “The veterans open up to me, the army brat, perhaps in a way they never have with their own families,” explains author Timothy Trainer. “Through my father, Top, their First Sergeant, we have a common link. Over the years, we’ve gotten to know each other. They begin to understand the sacrifices of an army family. But, more importantly, they want me to understand how our family’s sacrifice and my father’s tour of duty …

The best birthday gift: Seeing Hamilton on Broadway, an essay by Nathaniel and Harper

Inkandescent Kids magazine: You had the opportunity to go to the Broadway performance of Hamilton to celebrate your 13th birthday. Congratulations! What made you want to choose this gift as a way to usher in your teen years?

“Let’s Get Gameful,” By Valary Oleinik, Inkandescent Kids gamification columnist

One of my favorite activities for the past few years has been judging games for the Serious Play Conference. I have had the chance to play games used to protect workplaces from cyber-attacks, video games for K-12 students to learn just about every subject imaginable, board games for nurses and scientists, card games for mental health, and more. The possibilities for helping people to learn in engaging ways are only limited by our imaginations.

“Your Child’s Made-Up Words Might Be Great Language Arts,” by Sarah Collins, Homeschool OT

One child once told me his brain felt “noodley.” Noodley isn’t exactly a word you’ll find on a traditional vocabulary list. But I didn’t want to correct him. I wanted to know more. What does a noodley brain feel like? As we talked, his description started to make sense. He was connecting the overlapping strands of spaghetti he had recently eaten with the jumbled, confusing feeling he was experiencing in his brain. That’s a pretty sophisticated use of language.

Who was Nancy Grace Roman? NASA shares details about this historic scientist

NASA tells us: Known as the “mother of the Hubble Space Telescope,” Nancy Grace Roman was born May 16, 1925 in Nashville, Tennessee, and died December 25, 2018. From a young age, Roman showed an interest in astronomy, and when she was 11 years old she organized a club with her classmates in Reno, Nevada. In this club they learned about constellations and celestial objects from a book. By high school, Roman realized that she had a passion for astronomy and wanted to pursue it. Her academic prowess was highlighted when she participated in an accelerated program and graduated in …

Thank you all for joining Inkandescent Kids magazine to celebrate our birthday bash and first annual Children’s Book Fair!

A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, publisher, InkandescentKids.com magazine — Hello, friends! The InkandescentKids.com team is overwhelmed with gratitude at the amazing turnout for our birthday bash and first annual children’s book fair! We filled the upstairs with more than 30 children’s book authors and sponsors and families of all ages. Student art was on display, including the work of Leanna Grimes and Jovanny Felix Luna. Plus, students from Rock of Ages Music (ROAM), the amazing music school in Del Ray, VA, brought us two student musicians who performed for the crowd, Elizabeth Lane and Gia Attiken. …

September-October 2026: Beginnings • A tribute from the Inkandescent Kids team to a star who inspired a generation of kids to read: Dolly Parton, creator of the Imagination Library (January 1946-August 2026)

What can we say about Dolly Parton other than — WOW! And THANK YOU! Born on January 19, 1946, in Sevier County, Tennessee, Dolly Rebecca Parton grew up in a humble family as one of twelve children in a small one-bedroom home nestled in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. She consistently drew inspiration throughout her career from her immense appreciation and love for the place and people that raised her. In 2022, Dolly was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Dolly earned 29 RIAA-certified gold, platinum, and multi-platinum awards across her career, selling over 100 million …

August 30, 2026 — NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Launches (Official NASA Recap)

Today, NASA launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Named after NASA’s first chief astronomer, the ‘mother of the Hubble Space Telescope,’ the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will have a field of view at least 100 times larger than Hubble’s, potentially measuring light from a billion galaxies in its lifetime.

Before You Ask, “How Do You Feel?” by Sarah Collins, Homeschool OT

“How do you feel?” It sounds like a simple question. But for some children, it’s actually a very complicated one. To answer, a child has to notice what is happening inside their body, make sense of those signals, connect them with an emotion, and then find the words to tell us about it. That’s a lot happening behind one little question.

Remembering Dolly: The Buddy Program

Dolly Parton once helped slash the dropout rate in her home county by offering students money to finish school. In 1991, she launched something called the Buddy Program in Sevier County, Tennessee. At the time, the dropout rate for the participating classes was around 35%. So Dolly made students a deal.

“What Does Being Ready for the Real World Actually Look Like?,” asks HomeschoolOT founder Sarah Collins

A Note from the InkandescentKids editors: If it’s Friday, it’s time for our weekly spotlight on HomeschoolOT founder Sarah Collins, who will be sharing her insights with us. Be sure to follow Sarah at homeschoolot.com.

Light the Way foundation: Janice Murphy is on a mission to ensure all youth are afforded the opportunity to participate in enrichment activities

Entrepreneur and activist Janice Murphy founded Light the Way Foundation (LTW) in 2016 because, as a child, she shares that she was unable to participate in activities due to limited resources. “My mission is to ensure all youth are afforded the opportunity to participate in enrichment activities, as they are critical to development,” shares Janice, who received a Master of Business Administration degree from UMUC and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Strayer University. “I have always had a passion to help youth reach their goals. LTW has enabled me to watch community youth develop into confident and …

Art Matters: Meet Jovanny Felix Luna, a rising senior at West Potomac High School and an award-winning filmmaker and artist

The InkandescentKids.com team was thrilled to celebrate artwork by Jovanny Felix Luna at our 1st Birthday Bash on August 8. We look forward to watching this young artist grow! Find his work on YouTube at @JovannyFelixLuna.

“How Do You Know Your Homeschool Is Working?,” asks HomeschoolOT founder Sarah Collins

A Note from the InkandescentKids editors: If it’s Friday, it’s time for our weekly spotlight on HomeschoolOT founder Sarah Collins, homeschoolot.com. Today she’s shining a light on one of the biggest questions homeschool families ask themselves. Scroll down to read all about it!

The Zebra newspaper: “They Built an ‘AI-Free Zone’ for Kids—And It All Started at a Neighborhood Restaurant”

August 9, 2026 — The Zebra reporter Lisa-Helene Lawson attended our August 8 InkandescentKids.com Children’s Book Fair and 1st Birthday Bash at Elaine’s restaurant in Old Town, Alexandria. In the article, she explains: How three women behind Inkandescent Kids are getting children off TikTok, out of AI, and into the reporter’s notebook as their magazine turns one. Scroll down to read the article, and click here to check it out in TheZebra.com.

Greet Del Ray magazine: “InkandescentKids is Inspiring Youth Voices Through Journalism and Creativity”

August 2026 — Founded by award-winning journalist Hope Katz Gibbs and educator Ellen Smith, Inkandescent Kids magazine empowers children to share their ideas, develop their talents and explore the world through reporting, art, and storytelling. It is an honor and privilege to welcome you to Inkandescent Kids magazine: A project inspired by my two children, both of whom were born in Del Ray when we lived in a magical Sears house at 7 W. Braddock Road.

Connection Newspapers: “InkandescentKids Book Fair Celebrates Writers of All Ages”

August 5, 2026 — In today’s article, reporter Shirley Ruhe shared information about InkandescentKids.com and our August 8 Children’s Book Fair and 1st Birthday party. Scroll down to read the article. And stay tuned for exciting details about the smashing event that drew a large crowd at Elaine’s in Old Town, Alexandria: ElainesLiterarySalon.com.

Author Vicki Gasperini writes books with her granddaughters! You will love them all!

InkandescentKids welcomes children’s book author and grandma extraordinaire Vicki Gasperini. A retired high school English, speech, and Resource teacher from 1976-2019, Vicki decided during the pandemic that the best way to stay connected to her grandkids was to write books with them.

Young adults are going to love Chanthal Harris’ new gothic-inspired bookstore in Old Town, Alexandria — Long Dark House: Where Stories Follow You Home

If you love stories that make you feel a little (or a lot) scared, shocked, and totally curious about things that go bump in the night — you are going to love Chanthal Harris’ new bookstore, Long Dark House at 1510 King Street in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia — just a short walk from the King Street Metro stop.

Meet two student musicans on Saturday, Aug. 8 who will be performing at our InkandescentKids Book Fair and Birthday Bash

Meet Elizabeth Lane: An award-winning 21-year-old Singer-Songwriter born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia — at 15, Elizabeth started writing songs after her vocal coach from Rock of Ages Music, Taisha Estrada, encouraged her to do so. She has recorded and released 18 original songs since then, including a full-length album, and has garnered over 300,000 streams worldwide.

Meet Del Ray, VA native — college senior Elizabeth Lane, who is performing at our August 8, 2026 book fair and 1st Birthday Bash, noon to 4pm: Elaine’s, 208 Queen Street in Old Town Alexandria

Meet the musician: Elizabeth Lane is an award-winning 21-year-old Singer-Songwriter born & raised in Alexandria, Virginia. At 15, she started writing songs after her vocal coach from Rock of Ages Music, Taisha Estrada, encouraged her to do so. She has recorded and released 18 original songs since then, including a full-length album, and has garnered over 300,000 streams worldwide.

Rev. Dr. Robert Flanagan gives us Courage2Thrive

About Bob’s books: Courage to Thrive: Finding Joy and Hope in the Midst of Mental Health Struggles. In his first-person spiritual journal, published in June 2020, Father Bob takes the reader with him as he traverses the dark and scary landscape of his mind and then the paths of faith that lead him to the Source of light and hope. Through a vulnerable look at the realities of a priest battling mental illness and still thriving, readers–whether dealing with similar mental health challenges or the stressors of everyday life–are left with a quiet confidence that assures them they, too, can …

What inspired our sponsor Rachel Turula to create “Things to Do, Del Ray VA”? When you find out, you are going to want to sign up for her free email newsletter!

About Things to do: Del Ray, VA — A hyperlocal media company and the #1 newsletter in Del Ray, Alexandria, the organization was founded in 2024 by Rachel Turula.

Veteran, mom, and storyteller She’Meka Wilson is on a mission with her popular Jade the Hippo books

About the Author: She’Meka Wilson is a passionate children’s book author and creative storyteller, best known for her uplifting series featuring Jade the Hippo. Inspired by her own experiences as a mother and veteran, She’Meka creates heartfelt stories that empower young readers to face their fears, express themselves, and believe in their unique strengths. Through her publishing brand Life in Pink, she’s on a mission to bring joy, representation, and confidence to children everywhere, one colorful, rhyming story at a time. When she’s not writing, She’Meka enjoys spending quality time with her family in Maryland.Learn more: lifein-pink.com

September-October 2026: Beginnings is the theme of our bi-monthly issue! You are invited to share: If you have an article, photo, illustration, podcast or video to share on this topic — let us know!

Read more articles in the September-October 2026 issue of Inkandescent Kids magazine