Words & Pictures: Marley Dias

From global changemaker Marley Dias comes her picture book debut, I Am the Dream Come True, a resonant look at generational sacrifice and appreciation. Marley is best known for starting the famed #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign as a 6th grader, a collection of children’s books that feature Black girls as protagonists. She saw the issue of a lack of representation in kids lit and sought to make a change. This brought her national recognition and began her journey as a literacy advocate where she has received numerous accolades.

In I Am the Dream Come True, Marley reflects on legacy, family, and gratitude—showing young readers how the hopes, sacrifices, and love of previous generations live on through them. Written in collaboration with her parents, Dr. Janice Johnson Dias and Scott Dias, the book is both an ode to ancestry and an empowering message for children: you are the dream your family believed in. It’s heartfelt, affirming, and ideal for conversations about Black identity, heritage, and family history.

Marley Dias made headlines as a sixth grader when she started the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign to collect children’s books featuring Black protagonists. Her initiative led to national media attention and served as a springboard to Marley’s global literacy advocacy work and social activism. Her book Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You! was hailed in a Kirkus Reviews starred review as “an irresistible call to action for people of all ages.” Marley is currently the Ambassador of National Educational Association (NEA) Read Across America and serves as Host and Executive Producer of Netflix’s Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices. Marley is a graduate of Harvard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. The Dias family lives in New Jersey. To learn more, visit marleydias.com/about.

Dr. Janice Johnson Dias is the mother of Marley Dias and the founder and leader of GrassROOTS Community Foundation (GCF), where she trains girls to become trailblazers. Additionally, she is a renowned sociologist who has devoted her life to bridging the gap among research, theory, and practices. Dr. Johnson Dias is the author of Parent Like it Matters: How to Raise Joyful Change-Making Girls. The Dias family lives in New Jersey. To learn more, visit thedrjanice.com.

Scott Dias is the father of Marley Dias, a real estate analytical geographer, and one of the key inspirations behind I Am the Dream Come True. The Dias family lives in New Jersey.