Shout Mouse Press

Shout Mouse Press is a writing program and publishing house dedicated to amplifying the voices of marginalized youth.

Shout Mouse Press is dedicated to centering and amplifying the voices of marginalized youth (ages 12+) via writing workshops, publication, and public speaking opportunities. The young people we coach are underrepresented--as characters and as creators--within young people’s literature, and their perspectives underheard. Our work provides a platform for them to tell their own stories and, as publis

hed authors, to act as leaders and agents of change. In collaboration with community-based partners, we have produced 45 books by 350+ youth who are incarcerated or formerly incacerated, Black, low-income, Latinx, Muslim, immigrants, from other marginalized communities and all the intersections therein from Greater Washington, D.C. These authors change and reclaim the narrative, adding necessary complexity, empathy, and humanity to the stories of marginalized communities — and prove themselves as powerful thought leaders for all. There are currently over 75,000 Shout Mouse books in circulation across the country and around the world.

05/15/2026

We turn 1️⃣2️⃣ today!!! 🥳🎂🎉

To mark this milestone, we have a goal this week: to add 1️⃣2️⃣ new members to our Shout Squad!

The Shout Squad is our amazing community of monthly donors. This devoted group of supporters powers our work all year long with their generosity.

And, if you make a monthly gift of any size, you’ll get a one-time 25% off discount to our bookstore! Shout Squad members get perks throughout the year, too — including a regular discount on our books and special invites and updates!

➡️ Link in bio to join today

05/11/2026

WOW did we have a blast at the Books in Bloom festival this past Saturday! , youth author and co-editor of Bright Before Us, Like a Flame, spoke on a panel with & , moderated by SMP Programs Director — it was incredible! The audience was packed and there was great energy all day long.

Youth author Celeste Ampah was also on site to sign When You Feel, one of our newest board books for the youngest readers. The book sold out within the first hour!!

Grateful we had the chance to be at this festival — and grateful to everyone we met who came to the panel, bought a book, or just stopped by to learn more about our work supporting the creation and publication of diverse books by young people for young people. ❤️

05/05/2026

This Saturday!! Don’t miss youth author who will speak with two other incredible panelists, Jason Reynolds and Dr. Khadijah Ali-Coleman. Shout Mouse program director will moderate the conversation, and afterward we’ll be selling books from 11 AM - 3 PM with youth author Celeste, author of When You Feel from the Mini-Mirrors series.

This is a fantastic, family-friendly event at Color Burst Park in the . The festival celebrates literature, community, and family fun, with a focus on Teen and Young Adult voices.

04/30/2026

On this very last day of we are shining a light on these titles by youth authors. Some are full collections of poetry (including those from our partners and ) and others are collections that include poetry along with prose, fiction, memoir and more. All are available online in our bookstore — where all orders support diverse youth authors through scholarships, stipends, and paid internships.

Happy Poetry Month 🩵🩵🩵

04/21/2026

So exciting! Bright Before Us is a 2026 TEACHER FAVORITE! Thrilled to be on this list from with so many amazing children’s book titles picked by educators.

See the full list here — cbcbooks.org/cbc-book-lists/2026-teacher-favorites/

04/14/2026

In celebration of We Need Diverse Books Day, we are doing a giveaway of Bright Before Us, Like a Flame – an anthology celebrating 10 years of diverse storytelling by Shout Mouse Press youth authors. 🩵🩵🩵

To enter: Drop a comment (you can even tag a friend!) and make sure you’re following us! We’ll select a winner at random by early next week.

This collection is for EVERYONE! There’s poetry. Memoir. Fiction. Comics. Children’s literature. There’s creative writing prompts (great for teachers, and also young writers!). There’s intergenerational conversations with award-winning guest authors. The book was co-edited by SMP youth author Sasa Aakil and our founder & ED, Kathy Crutcher, and features beautiful cover art by Jamilla Okubo Studio .

Be sure to check out We Need Diverse Books for more ways to celebrate 📚

03/27/2026

Youth author Katie Delcid — who is one of the authors of When You Feel (one of our new Mini Mirrors series books) — spent time at a recent Montessori conference in DC signing books & connecting with educators. 🩵

There was a steady line of teachers excited to bring When You Feel into classrooms — and it’s no surprise, as it is a wonderful book that helps the youngest readers start to build resilience at an early age!

03/26/2026

This summer, Shout Mouse Press (SMP), in partnership with the (NMWA), will coach girls and gender-expansive young people of color (ages 12-16) to write and publish a collaborative graphic novel.

Applications for young writers are open NOW through April 19!

The book these writers will create will be set in a fictional middle school. Each writer will contribute a story that is rooted in the lived experiences, observations, and imaginations of girls and gender-expansive young people of color who are navigating coming of age right now. Through interconnected stories, the book will explore body image, identity, friendship, belonging, and mental health.

We are excited to launch this partnership, and we are seeking writers for this summer workshop!

Who we’re looking for:

✨ Girls and gender-expansive youth of color, ages 12-16, based in Washington, DC and surrounding communities, who are interested in writing about identity, belonging, and growing up.

Program details:
📅 July 27 – August 14
⏰ Monday–Friday, 10:00am–1:00pm
📍 Washington, DC
Weeks 1-2: True Reformer Building
Week 3: Culminating sessions at NMWA

We are seeking 8-12 writers for this workshop. Apply by April 19!

If you work with youth, families, or educators in the DC area – or know someone who does – we’d love your help sharing this opportunity!

🔗 Learn more and apply at the link in bio, or go to shoutmousepress.org/nmwa-program-info

03/25/2026

This is the LAST WEEK to submit to the Bright Before Us writing contest!! Deadline is April 1.

Writers ages 13-24 can submit poetry, stories, memoir, comics, or children’s books — and the contest is FREE to enter.

🥇First prize - $500 + MacBook Pro
🥈Second prize - $250 + commissioned art
🥉Third prize - $100 + signed books

Our guest judge is award-winning poet and author , joined by alumni authors from our program. Because Shout Mouse Press exists to amplify marginalized voices, judges will be especially interested in identity-centered stories from underrepresented communities and perspectives.

All details can be found at the link in our bio, or by going to shoutmousepress.org/bbu-writing-contest.

Questions? Send us a message or leave a comment and we will get back to you!

03/18/2026

Submit by APRIL 1! Two weeks to go…!

See all details for this contest at the link in our bio. Excited that young writers have already been applying and so grateful for our guest judge !

Address

1638 R Street NW, Suite 218
Washington D.C., DC
20009

Telephone

+12407721545

Website

http://www.shoutmousepress.org/

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