Today we feature Lisa D. Brathwaite and her new picture book, Miles of Style: Eunice Johnson and the Ebony Fashion Fair, illustrations by Lynn Gaines. KLiC: What was your inspiration for Miles of Style: Eunice Johnson and the Ebony Fashion Fair? LB: My Ebony magazine-impressed childhood, an enchanting museum exhibition about the Ebony Fashion Fair and a first grade fashionista named Kellie who was looking for a Black history book to captivate her inspired me to research and chronicle the stylish life and legacy of Eunice W. Johnson. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. What kind of research did you do for your book? How long did it take you to write and sell this book? LB: I started broad research in January 2015. Google Books was a helpful online resource. I gathered a goldmine of information by searching its scanned Ebony magazine issues from the era of my focus. I love research and the more I did, the more deeply I got enamored. That September I learned about the call for submissions from Lee and Low Books for their New Voices Award and decided to get serious about writing. I asked my director for a week off from my job to buckle down and write the original manuscript that evolved into Miles of Style. In that week, bookended by two weekends and three additional nights of prep and polishing, it was done and off to the post office. After receiving word that December I’d won the award and publishing deal, I leaned into more focused research with the refining that comes in the revision process. That led me to inquiries, connections, personal interviews and travel for which I’ll forever be grateful. KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? LB: Whew! That’s a tough question, as I love Lynn’s work throughout. The spread with the models majestically coming down the runway depicting the start of the Ebony Fashion Fair “Americana” tour is one of them. I also love Mrs. Johnson at the Parisian fashion house entrance, meeting the resistance of a gatekeeper with resilience and an “Admit One” ticket. She knew as a Black woman once she gained entry, she’d make room and space for others. Finally, I adore the spread with the little girls and their mothers, grandmothers and aunties at the last stop of the tour. There’s a girl in a lilac shirt dress posing with her hand on her hip like an Ebony Fashion Fair model. Lynn had no way of knowing, but this is how I posed and pretended when I was a girl thumbing through the pages of Ebony magazine, so I see Little Lisa in this illustration. I hope children see themselves represented in her beaming beauty too as they go through the book. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? LB: Join a writers community specific to the genre of your current project and if you’re able, another without a direct correlation, for a slightly different craft influence. Related, go to the movies. Go see live theatre. Go to an art gallery opening. Put yourself in position to absorb storytelling through varying disciplines. Surprising ideas or inspiration may emerge to augment your writing approach. Lastly, ask yourself, “If I had to yield 10 years of my life to bringing this writing project to fruition, would I do it?” If the answer is “No”, choose another subject/topic. You have to love it. Mine took nine years from ideation to publication. It was a road with a lot of curves. I’d still say “Yes”. KLIC: Is there anything you want readers to know about you or your book? LB: Time and again I’ve heard adults say “I was familiar with Ebony magazine, but I had no idea about the Ebony Fashion Fair or Eunice Johnson.” I welcome anyone to learn alongside young readers, and let the discovery spark a self-styled, intergenerational conversation. It’s my humble honor to provide Miles of Style as the vehicle. Lisa D. Brathwaite is a purveyor of creative self-expression. She loves playing dress-up
(still!), her family, finding herself in art spaces, and writing whatever suits her in a given moment. Miles of Style: Eunice W. Johnson and the EBONY Fashion Fair is her debut children's book. Lisa studied family and community development at the University of Maryland at College Park, graduating with a degree in Community Studies and a concentration in public policy and the Black community. She is a New Jersey native and has been designing her adult life in Atlanta, GA. Find out more at lisadbrathwaite.com To learn more about Lisa, please visit: Website: https://www.lisadbrathwaite.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisa_d_brat/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/lisabrathwaite Winner of Lee & Low’s New Voices award, Miles of Style: Eunice W. Johnson and the EBONY Fashion Fair celebrates a visionary who used her influence to showcase the strength and beauty of Black culture. Eunice W. Johnson believed in the power of fashion and beauty to inspire people. After she and her husband, John H. Johnson, founded EBONY magazine, Eunice launched a project in 1958 that would change fashion forever--the EBONY Fashion Fair. In towns and cities across the United States, Black models walked the runway in the freshest trends of the season to the delight of Black audiences. To make the Fashion Fair happen every year, Eunice negotiated with snobby fashion houses in Europe and navigated racism back home in the US, to acquire and feature the most show-stopping styles for the show. Decades later, her name remains a watchword for glamor, elegance and philanthropy in the Black community. Miles of Style: Eunice W. Johnson and the Ebony Fashion Fair was published by Lee and Low Books, February 6, 2024
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We are proud to feature member Valerie Bolling on the blog today! Valerie shares her latest early reader book, RAINBOW DAYS: THE ORANGE WALL, illustrated by Kai Robinson. KLiC: What was your inspiration for RAINBOW DAYS: THE ORANGE WALL? VB: I wanted to write a Scholastic Acorn series and needed to come up with an idea that would interest young readers – a book that they’d be excited to read on their own. Since most children enjoy being creative and adore animals, I decided to write about a girl and her pup who enjoy making art together. Once I decided on my characters I had to choose their names. Zoya’s name is a combination of my nieces’ names, Zorah and Anyah. My younger niece, Anyah, loves art, so she’s part of the inspiration for art-loving Zoya. I pictured a brown dog, so Coco seemed like a good name for a pet-friend. (There’s no “a” at the end of Coco’s name because it needs to be spelled in an accessible way for early-readers, which is also why there’s no “h” at the end of Zoya’s name, even though my nieces’ names end with an “h.”) KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? VB: I want children to make art! Perhaps, if they’re fortunate enough to have their own bedroom, like Zoya, they may choose to give it a makeover, or do something on a smaller scale, such as decorate a notebook, t-shirt, or dessert. All children should see themselves as artists, knowing that with their imagination and some paint, markers, frosting, or whatever they’d like, they can make something fabulous! KLiC: What’s next for you? VB: On June 4, my co-author, Kailei Pew, and I are excited to welcome I SEE COLOR, into the book world. This book is illustrated by Laylie Frazier, edited by Luana Horry, and published by Harper Kids. We’re honored that it has been selected as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and has received a starred review from Kirkus. If you subscribe to the KidLit in Color blog, you’ll have the opportunity to read an upcoming post about our book. In the meantime, feel free to find out more about this book here. Valerie Bolling is passionate about creating stories in which all children can see themselves and feel seen and heard, valued and validated. She is the author of six picture books: LET’S DANCE! (SCBWI Crystal Kite Award winner), TOGETHER WE RIDE, TOGETHER WE SWIM (2023 Kirkus Prize Finalist), RIDE, ROLL, RUN: TIME FOR FUN!, BING, BOP, BAM: TIME TO JAM!, and I SEE COLOR (a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection). She also wrote RAINBOW DAYS, a Scholastic Acorn early reader series.
A graduate of Tufts University and Teachers College, Columbia University, Valerie has been an educator for 30 years and is an active member of the kidlit community – teaching picture book classes (independently and for the Highlights Foundation), serving as a mentor, and presenting at conferences. Valerie lives in Connecticut with her husband where they enjoy traveling, hiking, reading, going to the theater, and dancing. Learn more about Valerie: Website: valeriebolling.com Twitter: twitter.com/valerie_bolling Instagram: instagram.com/valeriebollingauthor Facebook: facebook.com/ValerieBollingAuthor Author Visit Information We're excited to welcome Brentom Jackson to the KLiC blog just in time for Easter. KLiC: What was your inspiration for Elijah’s Easter Suit? BJ: I wanted a character name that represented the human capacity for boldness, innovation, and inventiveness. Elijah McCoy, the engineer and inventor for whom the term “the real McCoy” was coined, came to mind. Applying that attitude to fashion design spurred the idea of “Elijah’s Easter Suit.” KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations by Emmanuel Boateng? BJ: I love the illustration spread on pages 15-16. Elijah connects with his ancestors after discovering a box of old clothing in the closet. This is such a powerful depiction of “Sankofa,” looking at our past so that we may move forward. KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? BJ: If you don’t see the things you want in the world (e.g., clothing, shoes, books, movies, games) go out and make them. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? BJ: Focus on deepening your connections in the writing community and developing craft. The rest will come in time. KLiC: What’s next for you? BJ: Deepening my connections in the writing community and continuing to develop my craft. Brentom Jackson is an award-winning spoken-word artist, classically trained actor, and licensed psychotherapist practicing in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX. With poetic voice, theatrical flair, and socio-emotional expertise Brentom writes stories that explore the universal lessons within Black-American history and heritage. With the hope of inspiring readers from all communities to celebrate their culture and cultivate their creativity.
Elijah’s Easter Suit is published by Random House Children's Books/January 23, 2024 We're thrilled to welcome Paola Santos on the blog to discuss her upcoming book, How to Eat a Mango with illustrations by Juliana Perdomo. What was your inspiration for How to Eat a Mango? My inspiration for How to Eat a Mango was my abuelita, my grandmother, and everything it means to return to my roots in Venezuela, the country I was born and raised in. I remember my Abuelita, sitting in the backyard of our house, completely immersed in the experience of eating a mango. Every time she offered me one, I would refuse, but I also remember watching her and wishing I liked them as much as she did. In Venezuela, the matriarchal presence is crucial. Mothers and grandmothers are the center of the home. My Abuelita lived with us. She had a strong character and was always bustling around the house. Abuelita wasn't as sweet as Carmencita's grandmother, the protagonist of my book. Still, every time she ate a mango, it was like watching a poem in motion: her delight, eyes closed enjoying every bite, hands bathed in pulp, her fingers and teeth opening the mango skin. I love that memory! In those days, however, mangoes meant work for me, picking them up when they fell heavily from the tree, breaking and scattering across our yard. The rancid smell of the sun-drenched rotten mangoes was a sensory assault. The ripest ones were squashed, becoming a feast for the bugs waiting for something to eat. But it wasn't all unpleasant. There were moments when I enjoyed watching the come and go of our neighbors, acquaintances, or even some occasional passersby who would take away bags of mangoes. That act of sharing and community has been a memory that has also been imprinted in my mind. Today, mangoes have taken on a different meaning for me. The memories of work or foul smells have been replaced by nostalgias, nostalgia for knowing I won't enjoy those moments with my abuelita again, and the nostalgia for knowing that perhaps I won't be able to return to my country and see it prosperous and full of dreams like in the memories of my childhood. Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? I had never thought about this! First, I daydream and search through the nooks of my memory and emotions for what filled me and made me reflect when I was a child. After that, I crawl under my sheets and write in my notebook. I let the words come to me in an endless mix of Spanglish without looking at grammar or spelling rules. I let out, first, what I remember and then loose ideas that could serve as the foundation of a story. This part is very intuitive. When I finally have a picture of the structure and the beginning/end of the story, it's time to go to my computer. There, I shake off my ideas, remove the excess, and write them down. Ready to subject them to a long rewriting process that varies with each story. In this process, I evaluate the technical aspects, the rhythm, and the musicality (which I love to apply to my manuscripts) and the layers that can add depth. After that, I rely on the help of my fabulous critique partners, who help me see things that have gone unnoticed. Then comes the best part, working with my agent in a back-and-forth of ideas that bring out the best in each of my words. Phew, it's a long process, which tires me out just writing about it. "How to Eat a Mango" was four years in the making, from the initial idea to its publication, which is slowly approaching! The moment that helped me find this memory was in 2021, during Tara Lazar's Storystorm, which I'm sure most of you are familiar with. That specific exercise was about exploring How-to's. Immediately, the image of my abuelita eating a mango came to mind, and I couldn't let it go. Right away, I started working on it, dedicating approximately a year to the process I described above until my agent and I considered it ready and started the submission process. The waiting period after that varies from one manuscript to another. With "How to Eat a Mango," I consider myself lucky. In 2022, a month after starting the submission process, Neal Porter Books made me an offer. The book will finally be released on July 16, 2024. This year! I cannot wait to see it out in the world and connect with readers. I hope you enjoy reading it! What are your favorite illustrations in the book? All of them are my favorites! Now, if I had to choose, I would choose the moment when Abuelita speaks to Carmencita about the sensation of tasting a mango. The first time I saw this illustration by the talented Juliana Perdomo, I cried. Seeing the joropo, the national dance of Venezuela, I felt the same as Carmencita. My heart seemed to beat with the stomping, the movements of the skirts, the sounds of the cuatro and maracas. It was an indescribable experience. But what moved me the most was how well the emotions of my words were conveyed in it. The music, the sweetness, and the culture are palpable in this spread. What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? I hope they take away a deep sense of respect toward nature and family and how they connect with every aspect of our lives. With this story, I wish young readers would slow down, pay attention to their surroundings, and treasure the moments that make their lives unique and fantastic. My goal with this book is to build a bridge between these moments and the present so they can create future memories. Paola Santos is a children's book author born and raised in Venezuela. After moving to Canada, she found the courage to share the words and stories that had long been enclosed in her imagination. Her stories are now woven with her culture, experience in a new country, hope, happiness, and diversity. Paola holds a bachelor's and a master's degree in Literature and Children's Literature and Reading Promotion. Her debut picture book, How to Eat a Mango (Holiday House), illustrated by Juliana Perdomo, will be released on July 16, 2024.
You can learn more about Paola here. Twitter & Instagram: @pgsantosb. To preorder How to Eat a Mango visit here. Interior from How to Eat a Mango. Text copyright © 2024 by Paola Santos. Illustrations copyright © 2024 by Juliana Perdomo. Reproduced with permission from Holiday House Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. What was your inspiration for Dear Muslim Child? Sometime in 2018 or 2019, I wrote a manuscript titled "Dear Black Child," and shortly after, I wrote the first iteration of "Dear Muslim Child." Both of these manuscripts were love letters I wrote watching my children. It came from a deep need to affirm their identity as Black Muslim children. Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? My publishing journey began as a self-published author, and I thought I would self-publish Dear Muslim Child one day, so I kept working on the manuscript for years. This book took so long to get right because I was so afraid to write something that would fall short of the goal of motivating and affirming Muslim children. It was also intimidating because I wanted to write about Islam and faith in the most precious and loving way. And so I kept returning to this manuscript repeatedly, never feeling it was ready. Then, in 2020, I signed a two-book deal with HarperCollins, and I was grateful to finally bring both these books to life with the help of my amazing editors. What are your favorite illustrations in the book? Ahh, it's such a hard question! Aya did a phenomenal job, and each page is stunning. But if I had to pick one, I would say the spread about the hijab. I was in awe of how Aya decided to draw all the different ways women observe the hijab. I was also glad it included a niqabi woman because this is seldom represented. What's the one thing you want children to take away from your book? I hope each child who reads Dear Muslim Child feels the warm embrace tucked inside each of the lines of the book. I want them to be proud of who they are, even when it's hard sometimes. Dear Muslim Child is a call to practice your faith out loud and with pride. And to the adults reading this to their children, I pray these words heal parts of your inner child who needed to hear these words. Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? Believe in your story and keep writing even when it's been months and years. It's ok to come to put some manuscripts aside while you continue to grow and learn. My biggest takeaway is that it takes time, and it's hard to wait for your moment, but if you keep walking towards that dream one day, it will be yours. Keep investing in your craft and immerse yourself in the writing community wherever you are. What's next for you? I am working on more picture books and dabbling in the world of novels in verse, which I have fallen in love with recently. I hope to be back with more book news and book celebration! *****************************************************************************************Dear Muslim Child By Rahma Rodaah, illustrated by Aya Ghanameh 9780063091993 / $19.99 hardcover On sale: February 6, 2024 Ages 4-8 / Grades pre-3 Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins DESCRIPTION:“A heartfelt love letter urging Muslim children everywhere to courageously embrace the tenets of their faith. . . . Nurturing, encouraging, and necessary.”--Kirkus Reviews From the author of Dear Black Child, this is a love letter to Muslim children that celebrates their faith and encourages them to take their rightful space in the world. Dear Muslim child, Do you know the meaning of Nur? Nur means light. Allah is light upon light. Keep walking toward that light. Gentle lyrical text and engaging illustrations depicting children and adults from a wide variety of ethnicities grace this joyful testament to the tenets of Islam and to each child’s worth and value. BIO:Rahma Rodaah was born and raised in Hargeisa, Somaliland. At the age of eight, her family immigrated to Canada where she still resides today. She is a mother of four children and enjoys reading and coming up with silly bedtime stories. She is also the author of two self-published picture books and firmly believes that children need to be able to identify themselves in the books they read. You can visit her online at rahmarodaah.com. SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: Balzer + Bray/Harper: @harperids Rahma Rodaah: @rahmarodaah Facebook: Balzer + Bray/Harper: HarperKidsBooks Rahma Rodaah: Rahma Rodaah Twitter/X: Balzer + Bray/Harper: HarperKids Rahma Rodaah: @RahmaRodaah Threads: Balzer + Bray/Harper: @harperkids Rahma Roddaah: @rahmarodaah We're so excited to feature an interview with Margaret Greanias on her latest book, How This Book Got Red, illustrations by Melissa Iwai. KLiC: What was your inspiration for How This Book Got Red? MG: When I was growing up, I had the sense that my family didn’t quite belong–even though my brothers and I were born and raised in the US. I finally realized the reason why I felt this way, and it was such a big aha moment for me. I wanted to share this aha moment with readers in How This Book Got Red–the realization of the far-reaching impact that positive representation in books/media can have on those who were formerly absent or negatively represented in the books and media everyone consumes. KLiC: Red’s struggle with writing is reminiscent of human writer struggles LOL. Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? MG: I will generally get a story idea and will open a Notes document and capture any thoughts I have related to the story–plot, character, jokes, etc.,–including a story pitch. Once I feel like I have a good handle on the story, I will turn it into a first draft using my notes to help get over that first draft hump. For “How This Book Got Red,” it took about 16 months between when I first wrote this story to when we sold it. This included writing the story in two completely different ways–one meta which was widely subbed and rejected and the traditional narrative which was published. KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? MG: My favorite illustrations, hands down, are the ones of the panda town. I love them because comparing the two represents the aha moment I talked about earlier—showing the impact of representation on Red the red panda and the rest of the panda town. KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? MG: I want children to know that their stories are important, and others need them and will find value in them. I also want caregivers to understand why it’s so important for their children to read books and consume media that have positively portrayed characters that look like their child (especially main characters). And how important it is for their children to read diversely so they learn and can better relate to even those who don’t look like them or share their culture. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? MG: I know it sounds cliché but write what you love and what speaks to you. Each story requires an investment of time, energy, and emotions so make it worth it! Plus if the story gets published, that story will be with you for a very long time–you’ll be talking about it and promoting it A LOT. It’s much easier if you love your story and have a strong connection to it. Take your time to learn the craft. Publishing moves sooooo slowly. Taking some time to learn and develop craft is well worth it. And, when you’re ready, you’ll have a stockpile of manuscripts and the craft to be able to continue creating publishable stories. Margaret Greanias is a children’s book author who writes books to delight children, including MAXIMILLIAN VILLAINOUS (Running Press Kids, 2018), AMAH FARAWAY (Bloomsbury Kids, 2022), HOOKED ON BOOKS (Peachtree Publishing, 2023), and HOW THIS BOOK GOT RED (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2023). The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, three children, and a fluffle of dust bunnies.
To read a previous interview with Margaret, about her 2022 book, AMAH FARAWAY, click here. To learn more about Margaret, visit her website here. Carole: Jeffery and I are an award-winning mother-son team. We are excited to introduce our third collaboration, Kin: Rooted in Hope. The verse novel is a powerful family saga spanning enslavement and freedom. My first-person poems combine with Jeffery’s stunning scratchboard illustrations to conjure the voices and visages of our ancestors and their contemporaries. We reimagine their lives at the same Maryland plantation where a young Frederick Douglass was enslaved. From scraps of history, we tell a story that is at both painful and empowering, personal and universal—from the first glimpse of our ancestors’ names in a 1771 inventory to our 2016 homegoing to West Africa. Here, we discuss Kin, its backstory and our roots. Carole & Jeffery: Why was it important to tell this story? Jeffery: Kin is our story of our own family’s roots. However, there are countless stories like this that deserve to be told. Carole: Absolutely! When the Civil War erupted, there were 4 million African descendants enslaved in the United States. Imagine all the untold stories. I felt obligated to my ancestors and to their offspring to pass this story on. Jeffery: Why did you fictionalize the story? Carole: Despite my research, mysteries remained. My ancestors were barred from reading and writing, and the enslavers deemed Black lives unworthy of documentation. So, I fabricated details and revived once-marginalized voices to compensate for omissions and unknowns. Kin’s characters share first-person accounts of life at Wye House, Maryland’s largest enslavement plantation, and in all-Black, Reconstruction-era villages. In the process of conjuring those voices and recreating the milieu, I forged ties with my forebears. Readers will also hear from a retriever, furnishings and the Chesapeake Bay. Carole: What did you aim to achieve with the artwork? Jeffrey: I wanted to render high-contrast portraits and atmospheres with a dynamic sense of emotion while at the same time evoking the past. My illustrations have the feel of vintage prints. Jeffrey: What was your research process? Carole: Years before conceiving this book, I was piecing together my family’s saga. As a young adult, I visited the grounds of Wye House. In 1998, a new historical marker in Unionville—honoring the 18 veterans of the U.S. Colored Troops who co-founded the village—led me to my great-great grandfather Isaac Copper. A passage from Frederick Douglass’s autobiography describing another Isaac Copper immersed me deeper into the past. That research produced my great-great grandfather’s military discharge papers. Once I decided to write a verse novel, I toured Wye House (which is a private home, not a museum) and the burial ground for the enslaved. I scoured the enslavers’ ledgers and studied material culture, the landscape and archeological reports. I also searched databases of slave ships and of the plantation’s enslaved residents. Carole: What challenges did you face in creating the illustrations? Jeffery: There weren’t many reference photos. That meant I had to imagine some elements and to use models including family, friends and, for one illustration, myself. I also had to find references for the landscape from various archives. Carole: Describe the artistic medium? Jeffery: Scratchboard is a subtractive medium in which artists use metal instruments known as nibs to scratch the surface off the top of the scratchboard paper to reveal lightness underneath. Scratchboard is a very meticulous design and execution process. One illustration may drawn up to three times before the final illustration is scratched. That is also true of digital scratchboard which I used for the first time in this book. Carole: Do you have a favorite illustration? Jeffery: My favorite is paired with the poem “The Rachel Speaks of Captain Richard Bruff.” My wife Bre’Anna modeled for that illustration. Jeffery: Do you have a favorite poem? Carole: My favorites are the question poems that aim to pinpoint my ancestors’ African roots. Although I went back seven generations to 1771, I still long for answers. As for the illustrations, I have so many favorites that it’s hard to choose just one. I really appreciate Big Jacob, the Gardener because I know how long you have practiced drawing hands. But Young Isaac reminds me of you, Jeffery, in Copperville as a boy, at our pond and at the creek. Carole: When did you first become aware of our family’s history on the Eastern Shore? Jeffery: My grandfather, who grew up there, showed me the one-room schoolhouse he attended across the road from our house. He also told me about community Christmas celebrations during his Depression-era childhood. But he didn’t discuss slavery with me. How about you? Carole: When I was a child my family would visit Copperville, the hamlet co-founded during the Reconstruction by my great-great grandfather Phillip Moaney. His portrait hung on the wall in the homestead. I would later learn that Phillip had been enslaved at Wye House—the same plantation as a young Frederick Douglass. As an adult, I heard about another great-great grandfather Isaac Copper, who co-founded nearby Unionville with other veterans of the U.S. Colored Troops. Jeffery: What discoveries surprised you most? Carole: In the Wye House plantation ledger, some enslaved people had surnames. By 1771, my fourth great grandparents, Isaac and Nanny Copper, were already in colonial Maryland. Local lore is that my great-great grandfather, Isaac, was called “the Royal Black” because he descended from African royalty. What if I had known that when we visited West Africa in 2016? Carole Boston Weatherford has written many award-winning books for children, including You Can Fly illustrated by her son Jeffery; Box, which won a Newbery Honor; Unspeakable, which won the Coretta Scott King award, a Caldecott honor, and was a finalist for the National Book Award finalist; Respect: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, winner of the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award; and Caldecott Honor winners Freedom in Congo Square; Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement; and Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom.
Carole lives in North Carolina. Visit her website at CBWeatherford.com. Jeffery Boston Weatherford is an award-winning children’s book illustrator and a performance poet. He has lectured, performed, and led art and writing workshops in the US, the Middle East, and West Africa. Jeffery was a Romare Bearden Scholar at Howard University, where he earned an MFA in painting and studied under members of the Black Arts Movement collective AfriCobra. A North Carolina native and resident, Jeffery has exhibited his art in North Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. Visit his website at CBWeatherford.com. -- You can purchase Kin: Rooted in Hope here. KidLit in Color author Gabriele Davis is pleased to reveal the cover for her debut picture book, PEACHES, published by Abrams and illustrated by Kim Holt. It will release in May 2024. PEACHES is a lyrical, intergenerational story inspired by Gabriele’s father and his love of homemade peach cobbler. It narrates a milestone moment in a young girl’s life as she assumes a poignant family tradition. It celebrates joy, perseverance and how those we love live on in us. Gabriele feels lucky to have been perfectly matched with artist Kim Holt, who skillfully conveys these themes as well as the loving bonds between family members in this story. Here, Gabriele chats with Kim about her illustrations. I am delighted with your gorgeous illustrations for PEACHES. They are so full of warmth and heart! What inspired your artistic approach to this book? KH: When PEACHES was presented to me, I immediately said yes! I had randomly done some sketches the year before of my grandmother and me baking and wanted to do art around that relationship. I stored those ideas away, and when this came up, I used them as a starter guide for my sketches and reflected on my relationship with my grandmother when illustrating the story. I love using lots of color in art. In reading the story of PEACHES, I wanted the characters to stand out with pops of color. The peaches themselves are a central character, so I chose colors that were more complementary to each other. I wanted everyone to be able to stand alone in a scene and complement each other when they were together. Did you have to do any visual research? KH: I always do extensive research for each book. Even though I have baked pies, I spent a lot of time researching techniques for making peach pies and cobblers. I wanted to see the process, what counters look like, and the arrangement of ingredients. I also wanted to see the differences in approach between adult and child baking. Is there anything in particular about this story that resonated with you? KH: This story touched me deeply because I spent so much time with my grandmother, Vivian Garnes, and, for a time, lived with my grandparents. She gave me my foundation for cooking and my love for others. She taught me how to make my first pie from scratch, so the memories were there. Food can express love, especially when you take the time to prepare someone their favorite dish. Anyone who knows me can tell you I love food, recipes, cooking, and peach cobbler :). What do you hope children take away from your drawings? KH: I hope children will relate and see themselves in the moments captured. I hope they notice the details and spend time with each page looking for more. Thanks for putting your heart into this book, Kim! Can you share what’s coming up next for you? KH: The books I illustrated that are coming out are Justice Ketanji: The Story of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and The Bronx Is My Home. KIM’S BIO: I am fascinated by capturing moments in time. In particular, I love painting special moments of joy, wonder, and quiet struggles and hearing the conversations and memories they stimulate for people of all ages. I am a painter and illustrator who strives to capture these moments in my artwork, and whether young or old, I want people to see themselves. I have had a passion for art and drawing from an early age and found great inspiration growing up directly across from the Brooklyn Museum. I have a BBA in Marketing from Howard University and a BFA in Animation from the Academy of Art University. My passion is creating energetic, expressive work full of personality, typically incorporating a vibrant and fresh color palette. I make art and live in the Washington D.C. metro area with my husband and two dogs, Sugar and Spice. See more of my work online at: www.kimscollectionofstuff.com IG: @kimholt As a child, Gabriele longed to see families like hers reflected in the books she read. Now she gets to make that happen for other underrepresented readers. Gabriele holds an MA in magazine journalism and has worked as a children's magazine editor and freelance writer. She lives in the Northwest Hills of Connecticut where she tutors, teaches yoga, bikes and writes. She enjoys creating works that inspire children to laugh, love, discover their inner strength, and feel seen. Peaches, releasing in May 2024, is Gabriele's debut picture book. Her second picture book, Our Joyful Noise, will follow in Fall 2024.
Learn more about Gabriele and her books at www.gabrieledavis.com. Twitter: @GDavisBooks Instagram: @iamgabrieled A Juneteenth Conversation With Tonya Abari and Alliah L. Agostini Are you looking for children's books about Juneteenth? Be sure to check out two titles from our very own Alliah L. Agostini, illus. by Sawyer Cloud (The Juneteenth Story) and Tonya Abari, illus. by Tabitha Brown (Let’s Celebrate Juneteenth). We sat down with these authors in a brief conversation about commemorating Juneteenth. 1. How did learning (or not learning) about Juneteenth as a child impact your knowledge of this history as an adult? AA: I’ve always known about Juneteenth because my Buffalo, NY community has long celebrated it- but my knowledge of the depth of the history behind it and its evolution is something that eluded me until I started research for The Juneteenth Story. Juneteenth was never discussed in any of my history curriculums from elementary through graduate school. TA: I did not learn about Juneteenth until my early twenties. That’s right. All of public K-12 and undergrad, and not a single mention of Juneteenth (*shaking my head emoji*). It wasn’t until a chance trip to Houston that I gained knowledge of Juneteenth by witnessing several local celebrations. I quickly began researching and knew that I’d devote more time incorporating additional education for myself and my (at the time) future family. 2. What Juneteenth traditions do you have/have you started with your own family? AA: My grandfather helped start the Juneteenth Festival in Buffalo, NY in 1976, so I grew up going to and even helping out with the festival. It was celebrated annually in Martin Luther King Jr. Park on the east side of Buffalo, and it was huge - it has been touted as the third-largest Juneteenth festival in the world. I fondly remember going to the festivals, watching the parades, and gorging on barbecue chicken, hot dogs, and sno-cones. After I left Buffalo for college, I remember not being able to find any large festivals in the other cities where I lived after, and I realized how special our celebration truly was. Now that the holiday has broader awareness, I’ve enjoyed barbecuing, blasting my Juneteenth playlist, making crafts, and going to local festivals with my family. TA: Since we didn’t celebrate Juneteenth growing up, I’m the official tradition starter for my family. We begin the day with reflection and education — reading books, watching documentaries, whatever we can get our hands on. This year, we are participating in a walking tour where we’ll get to know more about Nashville’s Black history. My oldest selects a Juneteenth recipe and we make it as a family with our midday tea (my husband is Nigerian, so jollof has made its way to every celebration including Juneteenth, ha!). In the past decade, we’ve attended citywide celebrations, barbecues, and enjoyed a nice spread at home. One of these years I’d like to make it back to a rodeo, just like the one I saw in Texas in my 20s. 3. What is your favorite dish associated with Juneteenth? AA: Red sno-cones!! I love their crunchy, sweet, icy goodness. I occasionally even helped sell sno-cones at our festival, so they are very nostalgic to me. TA: Hibiscus tea is a favorite in our household. The flower is bright red, flavorful, and native to Africa. The formerly enslaved also incorporated this tea in the first Juneteenth celebrations. We like to remix the teas, adding peppermint or lavender — and the tiny humans dress up for our “Noonteenth” tea parties (Alliah, can you dig the mashup?). AA: Noonteenth?! I LOVE IT! 4. What do you most enjoy about Juneteenth celebrations beyond food? AA: The vibe. The many sights, sounds, feels and smells of Juneteenth create a sensorial vibe like no other. From the multi-colored Afrocentric clothing worn by attendees and sold by vendors, to the many hair textures and styles, to the smell of barbeque smoke and incense, to the bass coming from speakers and shouts of drill teams and other paraders, there’s nothing like it. TA: The keeping of our history is so important. Through these traditions, we celebrate and live in our joy. We have endured unimaginable circumstances, and still we thrive. It’s beautiful to see folks coming together to honor that. 5. What have you found most eye-opening in your conversations with others about Juneteenth since it became a national holiday? AA: I’ve found the sense of guilt that so many people, especially African-American people, have about not knowing about the holiday, to be really sobering. So many of us feel almost deceived and willfully undereducated, but the reality is this lack of knowledge is the direct consequence of curricula that excluded so much of our [Black] history. It’s not our fault- we didn’t know what we didn’t know! But now that we do know, we can use this as an opportunity to right these wrongs and teach ourselves and the next generation, and fight for continued access to books and curricula that tell our story- even when certain forces *a-hem* attempt to suppress access. TA: I have to admit that I felt so guilty for not knowing about Juneteenth. And an even bigger secret is that I felt guilty writing a board book about it knowing that I did not commemorate Juneteenth until adulthood. But upon deep reflection, I knew I wanted to write a book that introduced babies and toddlers to the significance of Juneteenth — the same way that I was introduced to it. You’re absolutely right. I felt deceived! But the untold and undertold [Black] history is not my fault. And now that I know better, I’m certainly doing better. 6. As the holiday becomes less ‘novel’, what message do you hope remains in the mind of those who celebrate? AA: I hope people continue to keep the roots of Juneteenth at the forefront. This holiday celebrates the delayed emancipation of generations of enslaved African-descended people, the people who toiled and built this country under a brutal, racist, inhumane system. Holidays tend to be diluted, commercialized, and generalized with time. Let us not forget who and what is at the core of this celebration. TA: You took the words right out of my mouth, Alliah. To add, I just saw a post online from a banner in SC that advertised Juneteenth with non-Black folks at the center and er um…no, no, no. It’s also cool that big corporations like Walmart now carry Juneteenth merch, but it’s important to remember to support Black-owned businesses, especially on Juneteenth. I’ll repeat: Let us not forget who and what is at the core of this celebration. AA: Amen! For additional Juneteenth reading recommendations for young readers, check out these lists:
Today on the blog Alliah L. Agostini is thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with KidLit in Color member Alyssa Reynoso Morris, debut author of Platanos are Love (and as you will learn, much, much, more!). ALA: Alyssa, you have a very busy 2023, but I’m very excited about your debut, Plátanos are Love. Can you tell us a little about your inspiration for the book? How much of this story is taken from your own experience? ARM: Plátanos are Love was based on my childhood experience cooking in the kitchen with all three of my grandmothers. Cooking was how they showed me they loved me. It was also a time for us to talk about school and life. We would cut and fry and dice and mash while sharing stories and making plans for the future. My abuelas have since passed but Plátanos are Love is my way of keeping them, their memories, and their love alive. ALA: I love how you managed to weave in the multi-generational and historical importance of platanos to Dominican culture - why was this important to you as you molded the narrative? ARM: I have always been interested in how our history impacts our present, which is an interest imbued in me by my abuela Nona (one of the abuelas that influenced this book.) My interest in history makes its way into all my stories, but it really is the HOOK of this book. I wanted to show that plátanos - a food many Dominicans eat everyday - is not just a food we love, it is one we are able to enjoy because of the resilience of our African ancestors. ALA: Your book is dedicated to your three abuelas for teaching you the magic of storytelling and food. What wonderful lessons. Did/do they have any signature dishes that bring you particular joy? Which ones can be found in Plátanos are Love? ARM: I LOVE THIS QUESTION! They each had their signature dishes and all could be found in Plátanos are Love. If anything it was HARD to pick only a few of their dishes because they could all cook up a storm and because plantains are such a versatile food. Some signature dishes I was not able to include in the text are mofongo, alcapurria, pastelon, yaroa, and many more. ALA: I love books like this one that use onomatopoeia beautifully. What’s your favorite sound word? ARM: I love onomatopoeia and alliteration. These are some of my favorite literary techniques. My favorite sounds in the English version of the book is “CRUNCH MUNCH” but my favorite sound word in Spanish is “MACHUCA” which means “to mash.” It is just so much fun to say. I had so much fun translating my book into Spanish. The Spanish version Los Platanos Son Amor will come out in 2024. ALA: Are there any Easter eggs readers should look out for as they read the book? ARM: OHH YES!!! Great question! The amazingly talented Mariyah Rahman included real pictures of both our families in the illustrations. ALA: What is your favorite way to eat plátanos? This is a big point of debate in our family. ARM: Asking me to pick my favorite way to eat plátanos, is like asking me to pick my favorite book… Ahhh. I can’t! I am sorry to disappoint you, because it depends on my mood. When I want salty and crispy I eat tostones. If I have time and want something more filling then I make mofongo or mangu. If I want something sweet, I eat maduro. If I want plátanos but don’t want them to be the star of the dish I will eat it in pastelon, which is basically like lasagna, but instead of noodles we use plantains cut into thin slices. ALA: You provide three delicious recipes in the back of the book. Are you a big chef? If so, what’s your favorite thing to cook? ARM: I am NOT a chef, but I can cook. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being an amateur and 10 being pro-chef; I am a solid 7. I love making meals that remind me of my abuelas. I feel like they are hugging me as I cook. I love making dishes from my culture and sharing them with others. I also enjoy trying out new recipes from other cultures because I love to learn and believe in celebrating our cultural diversity. ALA: What do you want readers to take from Plátanos are Love? ARM: I want them to know that they are loved. I want them to have pride in their roots, culture, and recipes. I want them to know about the resilience of their ancestors. I want them to know that they matter and that their stories and experiences matter. ALA: You have two more books coming out right? Would you mind telling us a little bit about them? ARM: Yes of course! On October 24th, 2023 my second book The Bronx Is My Home comes out, and my third book Gloriana Presente: A First Day of School Book comes out in 2024. The Bronx Is My Home is a picture book celebration of hometown pride including the history, landscape, cuisines, cultures, and activities unique to this vibrant community. Welcome to the Bronx, New York, where you can see bodegas and businesses bustling on every street, taste the most delicious empanadas in the world, smell the salty sea air of Pelham Bay, and pet horses at the Bronx Equestrian Center. From sunrise to sunset, Santiago and Mami have many treasures to enjoy in their neighborhood on a beautiful Saturday, including colorful birds on the Siwanoy Trail and fresh cannolis on Arthur Avenue. This energetic and joyful family story offers both a journey through and a love letter to this special borough. The Bronx Is My Home is a triumphant celebration of hometown pride, as well as a heartfelt invitation to all, for readers of My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero, illustrated by Zeke Pena, and Saturday by Oge Mora. My third book Gloriana Presente: A First Day Of School Book is a bilingual picture book that features a Dominican American girl overcoming anxiety and finding her voice in the classroom. ALA: While many picture book authors are fairly prolific, there tends to be a common thread throughout most of our work - what would you say is consistent throughout yours? ARM: I love this question. All my books are very different. Plátanos are Love is lyrical and poetic. The Bronx Is My Home gives off non-fiction sightseeing vibes. Gloriana Presente: A First Day of School Book is character and plot driven with a struggle the main character has to overcome. The themes that can be found in my books are family, pride, resilience, and joy, but if I were to sum up what strings all of my books together in one word it would have to be LOVE. Plátanos are Love is a LOVE letter to plátanos, my culture, my family, and my ancestors. The Bronx Is My Home is a LOVE letter to The Bronx and a reminder to kids from the BX that they can be whatever they want to be. Gloriana Presente: A First Day of School Book is a LOVE letter to my Abuela, to immigrants, and to those who struggle to find their voice. I want my audience to feel loved by my books so they go out into the world and spread it far and wide. We can all use more love in the world. ALA: Where can readers find you, and most importantly, how can they best support your work?
ARM: Please find me on my website which is www.alyssaauthor.com as well as on Instagram and Twitter at @AReynosMorris. The best way to support my work and authors is by ordering our books and/or requesting our book at your local library. After you read our stories, please review them. It helps to boost and share our stories. I also do author visits and am open to media appearances so hit me up. |
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