I Am the Dream Come True

From family roots to big dreams, global change makers Marley Dias, Dr. Janice Johnson Dias and Scott Dias show how change starts with one brave step...

In this bold affirmation of empowerment, strength, and purpose, activists and global change makers Marley Dias, Dr. Janice Johnson Dias, and Scott Dias introduce their family's legacy of blazing new trails, rising to meet opportunities, and choosing to seek new lands of promise. When Marley launched the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign, she showed the world that young people can make a difference through action. Now, in this deeply personal narrative, Marley and her parents share the ancestral histories that have forged new opportunities for future generations by reaching for their dreams.

Author: Marley Dias,Janice Johnson Dias,Scott Dias
Publisher: Orchard Books
Published: 06/02/2026
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.23lbs
Size: 11.11h x 9.22w x 0.33d
ISBN: 9781338815863
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 05/01/2026
Publishers Weekly 05/04/2026

About the Author

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.

Islenia Mil is an Afro-Latina illustrator specializing in conceptual problem-solving and thoughtful storytelling. Her work is easily recognized by her use of engaging composition, detailed line-work, texture, and vibrant color. Mil's upbringing is a tale of two isles. She spent her childhood between the bustling environment of New York City and the tropical landscape of Santo Domingo, where she was born. When she's not illustrating, Islenia can be found at the gym, reading manga, in a theater, designing, gaming, learning about niche topics, or sleeping.