 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:
 I don't remember ever hearing a child say NO more than my son, Tulio. I had three kids before him and none of them seemed to utilize the word with such ferocity. When Tulio began speaking, he stuttered and would be frustrated at the inability to communicate. We would try to help him by asking questions but he'd yell "No!" When we asked if he was tired, he would holler "NO" as his eyelids fell heavily with gravity. Even though he appeared scared, he'd insist that he wasn't. The one word he could say the most and with such clarity and emphasis was the word No.  As a mother to a child with big emotions, I didn't know what to do. All I had was patience, and it was slowly waning. I was growing weary of being unable to help my child through the intense moment. I could only offer comfort and hugs to a child struggling so hard to talk. Those hugs calmed him. Even between sobs and anger, a hug is how we could connect and relate. And so, I began to journal our days and these events. I'd write excerpts and illustrate the moments that made us both cry and laugh. He loved it and I needed it. Through this, we could document his learning process and the power of the word No. This book is for all the kids who say No because they don't know how to communicate yet. This book is for all the parents and child care providers who want to help kids navigate through big emotions. All illustrations are hand cut from paper. The book is easy to read, easy to understand, and more importantly, easy to relate to. Even a child as young as 18 months can proudly "read" this book and understand the pictures, the words, and the love of a hug.   I am a Puerto Rican professional illustrator and writer who works in spurts while raising a family of 6 with my husband. The No Boy, Tulio, is my fourth kid. And yes, he still has big emotions, he still works to communicate, and he still stutters, which can impact his speed of communication. With a family this big, there are many stories to document and share. It's not only important for us, but to the families and kids who can relate, especially those of us who do not often see ourselves in books. My goal is to ensure that my kids and others like them are represented in color, culture, and communication through art and writing. You can follow me on my instagram. Library day was a big deal in my family when I was a kid. We’d walk in with empty paper bags from the grocery store, I’d fill them up in the children’s section, and then carefully carry them out so they wouldn’t tear from the weight. I still remember how amazing it was to go home feeling rich in unread stories. I loaded those bags with all sorts of books, but my favorites were by Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume, like so many of my peers. Back in my room, I’d spend countless hours absorbed in the lives of their characters, wishing that I was friends with them, playing the same games, living in their neighborhoods, and going to their schools. Their daily struggles and challenges became my own, along with their triumphs and victories. I savored the moments that I was transported into their worlds before I was jolted back into my own.  It wasn’t that my life was terrible in any way. It just felt so . . . ordinary. Even as a Pakistani-American Muslim child of immigrants growing up in a diverse suburb of Washington, DC, who felt different than those around me, I considered myself far from special. My life was divided between school friends, neighborhood friends, and family friends, with little overlap. I didn’t vacation much, go to sleep away camp, have a dog, take piano lessons, or any of the other things that seemed to make other kids’ lives more exciting than mine. Instead, I played make-believe games about running away, built forts, had a toolshed converted into a playhouse, and painted pet rocks when I wasn’t reading. I also ate kofta and roti for dinner, heard Urdu news playing on the television, and went to the Islamic center on the weekends. As a child writer (which I was, although I never dared to call myself that!) I filled pages with tales about pirates, intergalactic adventures, knights and castles, and stories inspired by popular television shows involving superheroes and stunt actors. I didn’t write about my own life, my neighborhood, or the things that made up my unexciting days in my unexceptional life. And the idea of writing about my family? No way! Who would be able to relate to my experiences? Who would understand the way my family worked, along with our traditions, foods, language and more? We weren’t like the families of Ramona or Margaret, or the other kids I read about. Coming from that mindset, it still amazes me that all these years later I’m writing about a Pakistani American Muslim girl in my Zara’s Rules series. The books mostly take place in her home and neighborhood, with a diverse group of neighbors based on my own, and an extended family inspired by mine. But what I understand now as an adult is that what we see as small or mundane moments now, feel a lot bigger when you’re a kid, and that there is so much beauty, fun, discovery, and growing in those daily struggles and victories I adored reading about when I was younger—and love to write about now.  When I started my children’s writing career over twenty years ago, beginning as a writer-for-hire for various series, then making my way over to trade publishing and starting with picture books, I still couldn’t let myself dream that I would ever write something like Zara’s Rules. It’s a series that celebrates being a kid, creativity, and friendship. It’s all about antics: trying to break a Guinness World Record, creating a wagon-based business to earn needed funds, saving a staycation by turning into a camp, and more. There are failures and triumphs, all on a kid-sized scale. But it’s also about an ordinary girl like me and my kids. A girl who goes on bike rides, plays kickball, and watches her little brother, and also hears Urdu, eats paratha, and celebrates Eid. She is relatable and charming in every way because of who she is, not in spite of it. I owe a tremendous debt to Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume, for teaching me that the lives of ordinary girls are fascinating to other kids, and for showing me that families and friendship can be messy and complicated but no less wonderful. I didn’t need for the characters I read about to be exactly like me in order to wish I was their friend, I just needed them to feel real. And it brings me endless joy to know that readers are connecting with my Zara and wishing they lived on her street as they get to escape into her world for a little while, one book at a time.  Hena Khan is a Pakistani American writer. She is the author of the middle grade novels Amina’s Voice, Amina’s Song, More to the Story, Drawing Deena, and the Zara’s Rules series and picture books Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns, Under My Hijab, and It’s Ramadan, Curious George, among others. Hena lives in her hometown of Rockville, Maryland, with her family. You can learn more about Hena and her books by visiting her website at HenaKhan.com or connecting with her @HenaKhanBooks.
Headshot photo credit: Havar Espedal Aya Khalil: Hello and salam! I am SO thrilled to interview you today for Kidlit in Color's blog. I read an advanced copy of Salat in Secret, and wow! What a stunning picture book. Can you briefly tell readers what your newest picture book is about in your own words? Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow: Wa Salaam Aya and thank you so much! Salat in Secret is the story of Muhammad who receives a salat/prayer rug on his seventh birthday, the age when young Muslims are encouraged to observe their five daily prayers. He wants to observe all of his salat prayers on time. However, one occurs during the school day and he’s too shy to ask for a place to pray. AK: I love this book for so many reasons. First, my son is seven years old and his name is Muhammad! Reading this reminded me so much of him. It also reminded me of my younger self. There were many times growing up where I would feel embarrassed of praying in public. But my parents always did. In fact, I remember one time my dad prayed in a coat closet at a restaurant and the police were called. Something similar happens in this book, would you like to explain to readers a little about why you put that part, and also the mean lady (we're all familiar with her) who presumably called them? JTB: The police scene in the book occurs when Muhammad’s dad is praying on the sidewalk and a woman calls police officers over. The police stand and watch and it is a scary scene for both Muhammad and his dad. It’s loosely based on something my father told me about when he was working as an ice cream man. Another ice cream man, an Iraqi immigrant, got out and prayed on the sidewalk in the middle of his work day and police were called on him. They watched and threatened him and then questioned him afterward. The man was crying when he told my father this story and he kept repeating “why” because he couldn’t make sense of it. I included this scene because part of the fear of making our obligatory prayers is the criminalization of Muslims and our faith. This is always in the background for us. Muhammad’s fears about asking about salat aren’t unfounded. There are always people like the “mean lady” in the book who see our very existence as needing policing. It takes a real act of bravery to pray anyway.  AK: Hatem Aly does it again with his stunning illustrations! What is your favorite spread or page? For me, that sunset spread with the ice cream truck took my breath away. JTB: Honestly, that sunset spread is such a brilliant work of art that I have to agree with you. It’s my fave! I love that and so many of the elements that Hatem brings to the work. I am particularly enamored with the salat rug end papers because they are so intricate and beautiful and I enjoy the way they open up like actual rugs. AK: What do you hope kids who are Muslims take away from this book? What about kids and adults of other faiths? JTB: I hope Muslim kids feel seen and that they learn that they are entitled to ask for what they need to practice their faith. Kids should know their voices are powerful even when their voices shake. Speaking up is bravery. I’m hoping that readers of other faiths (or no faith) see that too. That they can and should ask for what they need to be comfortable in the school space and to be empathetic when others are voicing needs that may be unfamiliar to them too. AK: You dedicated this book to your Dad (Allah yerhamo). Is there a reason for this, was he an inspiration while writing this book? JTB: Ameen, thank you. I was inspired to write this book a few weeks after my father passed away. While I was processing my emotions of grief, I also found myself feeling a profound sense of gratitude that I had had a father like him to grieve. I looked back and thought about his life and the many joyful memories I shared with him. I was a true daddy’s girl and I remembered the fun we had working on his ice cream truck and the way we would stop and find places to pray. I remembered how proud and unapologetic he was as a Muslim, and I thought about how much that impacted my sense of self. I wanted to put a father like that into a book. Meanwhile, my youngest child was turning seven. I was thinking about what gifts to get him, and a salat rug occurred to me because of the spiritual importance of his age. I thought about how excited my father would have been if he could see that, and I had this story.  Photo Credit:: Michael E. Gray
AK: How long did it take for you to write this? It also was preempted! Do you want to talk a little about that for those unfamiliar with a pre-empt? JTB: This may be the fastest I’ve ever written a picture book. I wrote a first draft in one sitting. Once I had the story it was itching to get out and I couldn’t do anything else. It just flowed out of me and my pen had to keep up. After a couple of weeks of working on it, I felt it was ready for critiques and then my agent submitted it to multiple editors. It was then preempted by Ann Kelley at Random House Studio within days. A preempt is when an editor basically takes a book off the table for other editors, but they have to do this quickly – before other editors have a chance to make an offer. If an editor wants a book badly enough and thinks there might be competition, they can offer a deal strong enough to convince an agent and author to not let other editors offer on it and prevent a possible auction. AK: After you announced this book, I remember someone asked his followers where was the most interesting place everyone has prayed at. I have prayed at college staircases and changing rooms. How about you and your family? JTB: Probably the funniest place was during our family vacation last year. We found a patch of grass near a body of water in a parking lot at Disney World. It was kind of secluded so we thought we’d found a good spot. My husband was beginning to lead and I turned around and noticed there were signs behind us saying to beware of alligators. I hollered and we bolted out of there. AK: 😂😂 That is hilarious. I recently read your newly released middle grade, Grounded, that you co-wrote with three incredible authors. I absolutely love it. Not only was it hilarious (I read it on the airplane and was giggling so hard), but the friendship theme is so great. What was it like co-writing a book and what was your favorite part about writing it? JTB: Co-writing was such a nice break from the usually solitary work of writing. We were constantly sharing new ideas and surprising each other with funny things to add. More importantly for me, it helped build up my confidence as an MG writer because this is a relatively new genre for me. The positive and almost-instant feedback made this project incredibly special as a developing MG writer. AK: Any tips for aspiring authors? JTB: Yes, read, read, read your genre. Then, read some more.Books are the best class you’ll ever take. The other is to not back down from telling the story you want to tell. Be unapologetically you in your books. AK: Where can readers find you and your books? Please follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jtbigelow and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjamilah/ And visit my website: https://jamilahthewriter.com  Hello and Salaam, Aisha! I am so excited to be interviewing you today for KidLit in Color's blog. I'm sure many are familiar with you and your work, but can you briefly tell our readers a little about yourself and your books: Walaikumsalaam, Aya! I’m delighted to connect with you. I write books for young people of all ages including Amal Unbound, and Bilal Cooks Daal. I’m also a proud founding member of the nonprofit We Need Diverse Books. I absolutely loved your picture book Bilal Cooks Daal (fun fact, I used it as a comp for my picture book, The Night Before Eid). The Together Tree is definitely a bit more different and more serious. I know you touch on it a little in your backmatter, but can you tell readers why you wrote it?  I’m delighted to hear that Bilal Cooks Daal was a comp for The Night Before Eid! My picture books are inspired by my children and our lived experiences. Bilal Cooks Daal was inspired by my middle son who was surprised when no one in his preschool knew what daal was. The Together Tree is also a story inspired by one of my children though his situation was considerably more challenging. During his first week of kindergarten, my eldest son was bullied by his peers. The Together Tree explores what it is to experience bullying, and importantly, what someone can do if they happen to be a bystander to help the person who needs such help. In addition to being a story about the power of bystanders, The Together Tree is also a tale about the power of imagination to build community.
The Together Tree also reminded me of my debut picture book, The Arabic Quilt, in terms of getting bullied for the way they look or speak. In both books, the "mean kid" feels bad for what they did and is apologetic. I've heard some conflicting points of view about this. Why did you think it was important that the mean kid apologize to Rumi for his actions in The Together Tree? That’s a great question! I think that both situations (where a bully does not apologize or learn, and where a bully does mend their ways) are realistic and happen every single day. I love Jacqueline Woodson’s picture book Each Kindness which examines how sometimes we don’t get to make amends with those we’ve hurt. Stories like those are very important. I chose to write a story about reconciliation in part because the children in The Together Tree are very young and because while it is a story about many things, it’s also a story about the power of forgiveness. We might make mistakes. We might do the wrong thing. But we always have the choice to rectify, and get back on track. Do you have any tips for aspiring authors or new authors? I often get asked where I get my story ideas from. As I shared in one of my earlier answers, much of what I write is inspired by my own lived experiences. So often we discount our own lives as sources for stories, but there is so much that can be examined and explored. One should never discount the power of ones own lived stories! What did you think of the illustrations, do you have a favorite spread? LeUyen Pham is one of my absolute favorite illustrators. When we began to consider who might illustrate this book, she was my dream partner for this project. I am so grateful for her insights and creativity that brough the story to life. My favorite spread is further into the story, when Asher—the bully—does an unthinkable act of cruelty. LeUyen captures the emotion of that moment for both the bully and Rumi, the child who is being bullied, so vividly through her use of color and lack thereof. It is a profound spread. What's the biggest takeaway you want for readers to have after they finish reading this book? It is my dream that this story can be part of first week of school activities in order to build community and foster a warm learning environment. I’m delighted to hear that Bilal Cooks Daal was a comp for The Night Before Eid! My picture books are inspired by my children and our lived experiences. Bilal Cooks Daal was inspired by my middle son who was surprised when no one in his preschool knew what daal was. The Together Tree is also a story inspired by one of my children though his situation was considerably more challenging. During his first week of kindergarten, my eldest son was bullied by his peers. The Together Tree explores what it is to experience bullying, and importantly, what someone can do if they happen to be a bystander to help the person who needs such help. In addition to being a story about the power of bystanders, The Together Tree is also a tale about the power of imagination to build community. The Together Tree also reminded me of my debut picture book, The Arabic Quilt, in terms of getting bullied for the way they look or speak. In both books, the "mean kid" feels bad for what they did and is apologetic. I've heard some conflicting points of view about this. Why did you think it was important that the mean kid apologize to Rumi for his actions in The Together Tree? That’s a great question! I think that both situations (where a bully does not apologize or learn, and where a bully does mend their ways) are realistic and happen every single day. I love Jacqueline Woodson’s picture book Each Kindness which examines how sometimes we don’t get to make amends with those we’ve hurt. Stories like those are very important. I chose to write a story about reconciliation in part because the children in The Together Tree are very young and because while it is a story about many things, it’s also a story about the power of forgiveness. We might make mistakes. We might do the wrong thing. But we always have the choice to rectify, and get back on track. Do you have any tips for aspiring authors or new authors? I often get asked where I get my story ideas from. As I shared in one of my earlier answers, much of what I write is inspired by my own lived experiences. So often we discount our own lives as sources for stories, but there is so much that can be examined and explored. One should never discount the power of ones own lived stories! What did you think of the illustrations, do you have a favorite spread? LeUyen Pham is one of my absolute favorite illustrators. When we began to consider who might illustrate this book, she was my dream partner for this project. I am so grateful for her insights and creativity that brough the story to life. My favorite spread is further into the story, when Asher—the bully—does an unthinkable act of cruelty. LeUyen captures the emotion of that moment for both the bully and Rumi, the child who is being bullied, so vividly through her use of color and lack thereof. It is a profound spread. What's the biggest takeaway you want for readers to have after they finish reading this book? It is my dream that this story can be part of first week of school activities in order to build community and foster a warm learning environment. Aisha Saeed is the author of Written in the Stars, which was listed as a Best Book of 2015 by Bank Street Books, a 2016 YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, and named one of the Top Ten Books All Young Georgians Should Read in 2016. She is also the author of the middle grade novel Amal Unbound, which has received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews and is a Global Read Aloud for 2018. Her other picture books include Bilal Cooks Daal and The Together Tree. Aisha is a founding member of the nonprofit We Need Diverse Books. She has been featured on MTV, HuffPost, NBC, and the BBC, and her writings have appeared in publications including the journal ALAN and the Orlando Sentinel.  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.  Growing up celebrating Eid as an Arab American in the 1990s vs. today Aya Khalil 1996. Third grade. Minot, North Dakota. December. It was Christmas season and everyone was buzzing about what gifts they asked Santa for. Christmas books were read. The classroom was decorated with dazzling lights. My friends told me Santa is real and one of my friends even swore she saw him in the sky. I was the only Muslim in the class. In fact me and my brother were the only Muslims in the entire school in the small town. Ramadan wasn’t until January and Eid was a month after that. But it was fine because we were excited for the three weeks of winter break and all the yummy treats our friends and neighbors would share. 1999. Lima, Ohio. 6th grade. December. It was Ramadan too! My brother and I and one other girl were the only Muslims. We fasted and our classmates wondered why we weren’t eating while they wondered what they were getting for Christmas this year. A Sega Dreamcast? A nanopet? We were looking forward to the three weeks off, most of it during Ramadan and wait until Eid where our parents would take us to a small rented building the twenty Muslims in town went to pray Juma’a and held Eid prayer. We would receive our Eidiya, our Eid money, eat my mom’s delicious ka’ak el Eid, flaky buttery cookies topped with powdered sugar. We would share them with our lovely Indian neighbors and they would exchange their delicious gulab jamun with us throughout the year. 2001. Ohio and Cairo. Ninth grade. Phew. We were now in an Islamic School and everyone at school celebrated Eid and Ramadan. Late night taraweeh at the masjid with my schoolmates, halaqas at my house and my friends’ house on Friday nights. We would host fabulous Eid brunches at our house.This year would be extra cool because we would spend Eid and the last few days of Ramadan in Egypt since was during winter break and it was magical. We stayed up until morning Eid prayer with my cousins. Streets were adorned with Ramadan and Eid decoration. Lots of lights! And so many lanterns, fawanees, everywhere.  2012. Charleston, South Carolina. December. My first was born. Eid wasn’t until August so we had plenty of time to prepare for her first Eid. Eid came in August, and we dressed her up in the cutest Eid dress. We went back home to Ohio for Eid to celebrate with the family. We all dressed in our best, and put up Eid lights at home. We even got my daughter a onesie that said My First Eid. I never had that when I was young. There was even an Eid book out, published in 2007. Not bad! I’m sure there will be more as my daughter gets older. 2015. Ohio. June. My second was born. And Eid was next month! My first born daughter was 2.5 and was going to preschool. We made goody bags for her classmates and I was asked to come talk about Ramadan and Eid and read an Eid book! I found one or two Eid books. Not bad. But they were either a bit difficult to find at the library and local book store or written by…people who weren’t Muslim? It’s okay, I’m sure there will be more as my kids get older. 2015-2019. Ohio. My third was born in 2019. We went all out on Eid for the kids. We put lights inside the house (and outside!), decorated the house with lanterns, baked, decorated cookies, shared with our friends and neighbors. As my kids entered grade school, I was asked to come in talk about Eid/Ramadan and even read some books. A few books about Ramadan were being published, but there were still barely any Eid books. It’s OK though because there were lots of other fun Eid and Ramadan things we didn’t have when we were young: personalized pajamas, modern yet traditional Eid decor, LED lights, Eid cards. My friends and I even collaborated with the local library and planned Ramadan and Eid events. It was the best. My kids were excited for Eid. 
2023. The Night Before Eid was sold a few weeks after. It was released just last month. It’s been mentioned in The Washington Post, USA Today, Associated Press and more. Target stores nationwide bought a few thousand copies for their store and I will never forget the first time I went in the store and found it there. Finally, our stories are being recognized. Finally, our Arab traditions are celebrated. Finally, our food and language are normalized. I needed this book growing up as an Arab Muslim in America, and I hope kids will embrace this story filled with intergenerational love, baking, and the magic of Eid. Although there are a few Eid books out there or coming out, there’s still work to be done. From a 2019 research, only 1.2 percent of books, 45 books, had some type of Muslim diversity. There’s a lot of work to do, and we are still underrepresented in children’s literature, but the talent amongst Arabs in America is incredible. We just need more publishers and editors to welcome us and believe in our stories. This blog post is part of the #30DaysArabVoices Blog Series, a month-long movement to feature Arab voices as writers and scholars. Please CLICK HERE to read yesterday’s blog post by Sahar Mustafah (and be sure to check out the link at the end of each post to catch up on the rest of the blog series). You can find out more about Aya's books here.  Photo credit for head shot: Feda Eid We are so excited to share this interview today with Hannah Moushabeck. Our member Aya Khalil interviews her about her newest book, Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine. AK: Hi Hannah! I am so excited to be interviewing for Kidlit in Color's blog. Could you please briefly tell the readers about yourself? HM: My name is Hannah Moushabeck. I am an author, editor, and book marketer. I was raised in a family of publishers and booksellers in Western Massachusetts and England. Born into Interlink Publishing, a family-run independent publishing house, I learned the power of literature at a young age. My first book Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine (Chronicle Books, March 2023) goes on sale on March 28th, 2023. AK: Your debut picture book, Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine is an absolutely stunning picture book that is filled with so many layers like intergenerational relationships, family, delicious food, hope and freedom. Why did you write this picture book with these important topics? HM: The displacement of families is tragically not an uncommon practice in our global history. People from around the world are being displaced from their homelands through war, climate disasters and unrest, unable to return, with devastating results. While this book is a love letter to my homeland, I hope it sparks curiosity and will inspire readers to learn more about displaced populations. I also hope that the book will give Palestinian readers a feeling of pride in their culture and homeland, as I do, offering them an alternative to the negative stereotypes portrayed in popular media.  AK: The author's note was very moving. You mentioned the 1948 Al-Nakba, or the catastrophe. Would you be willing to tell the readers what this is and why it is important to write about it in the author's note? HM: For generations my family lived in the Katamon neighborhood in West Jerusalem, until May 15, 1948, the day Palestinians call Al-Nakba (the catastrophe). Al-Nakba refers to the displacement and ethnic cleansing of Indigenous Palestinians from their ancestral homeland. May 15th, 1948 was the day the State of Israel came into being and began the forced expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. The Nakba, however, never ended, as Palestinians continue to be forced to leave as their homes are destroyed and their freedoms are limited. On this day all my relatives, after being warned of danger, packed small bags, locked their doors, took sanctuary in the Old City of Jerusalem. They were never allowed to return to their homes and, to this day, carry with them the keys to their houses, now occupied by others. There is so much misinformation about Palestine. I wanted to provide a first-person account of my family’s lived-experience as a testimony to our existence and the existence of all Palestinians living in the diaspora. AK: Thank you for sharing your family's experiences. The illustrations are absolutely stunning. I especially loved the food and kitchen illustrations! What did you think of Reem's illustrations and what was your favorite spread and why? HM: I am deeply in love with Reem’s illustrations! We worked so closely, and she was able to capture so many incredible things from the photos and stories that were shared with her. The muted tones and soft lines take the reader back in time whilst giving the story an ethereal, fairytale-like quality. My favorite spread has to be the illustration of the girls dreaming of their homeland. The artwork brings tears to my eyes, as we see the girls interacting with characters from their fathers’ stories. It offers the reader a glimpse of what life would be like, had my family never been displaced. It shows that even if you cannot return to somewhere in reality, it still lives on in stories and your imagination.  Photo credit: Shanaz Dean AK: Tell us a little about your author journey. Something authors of color and I talk about, and especially my Arab author friends, are the challenges we face to get our work published. How was your journey like? How long did it take for you to find a home for your beautiful words? HM: My author journey is not a typical one. Having worked in the publishing industry for many years, I have built close friendships with editors, agents, and other authors. When the manuscript of my book was finished, I sent it to my friend, Ariel Richardson (a talented editor at Chronicle Books) for advice. She called the next day and told me she wanted to acquire it. My picture book will one of only a handful of traditionally published picture books about Palestine (written by a Palestinian) since Sitti’s Secrets by Naomi Shihab Nye was published in 1994. There are many challenges for Arab authors. According to the Diversity Baseline Survey by Lee & Low, less than one percent of all books published in the US are by folks of Middle Eastern decent while the population of Middle Eastern immigrants living in the United States is four times that number! Like for many other marginalized populations that path to publishing is much steeper. Nora Lester Murad, author of Ida in the Middle, noted in a recent article for School Library Journal that “What I’m finding in my research about censorship of Palestinians is concerning. Although advocates of intellectual freedom, freedom to teach and the right to learn stand up (appropriately so!) for books about Black, brown and queer communities, the intense, multilayered censorship of Palestinians goes virtually unchallenged – and, in fact, unnoticed. Simply put, Palestinians and their literature are invisible to organizations like the American Library Association, National Coalition Against Censorship, and the National Council of Teachers of English, among others.” Last year, in an effort to offer my publishing knowledge and support to Palestinian writers, I started Palestinians in Kidslit, a group of Palestinian Americans and Canadians who write for children. I am so excited to share that many members have book deals at major publishers coming out in the next few years. AK: Wow, I love that the editor called you right away to acquire it! I absolutely love all the details and symbolism throughout, like the musical instruments, the the tarboosh, the keffiyah, Umm Koulthoum (I have her in my picture book too!), the key and the pigeons. Why as it important to have these throughout and what does it mean to you and Palestinian readers? Is there anything you would like to elaborate on more for readers who may not be familiar? HM: When writing this book, I had two goals in mind. The first was for Palestinian readers to feel seen and proud. Proud of our history, our culture, and our art. Including details that Palestinians would recognize was an important part of this representation. The second goal was for this book to serve as a window into Palestinian culture for non-Arabs. True authentic representation is in the details! One example of this is the symbol of the key. Palestinians living in exile have used the key as a symbol for the “right to return,” which is a movement that would allow Indigenous Palestinians the freedom to return to their homeland. Many Palestinians still have the keys to their houses, like my family. Keys also represent an opening or unlocking, which feels particularly relevant to my story. As a second-generation Palestinian, I find myself constantly seeking out and learning more and more about my culture and ancestry. One of the tragedies of displaced families is that so much of what makes up your culture and identity is lost through distance, time, and assimilation. This book unlocks truths about my culture that took me many years to discover. It took years of pestering my family members for stories, recipes, and photos. I am still unlocking new wonderful parts of my culture—even now as an adult. AK: That's so beautiful. I know readers will love it and Palestinians will be so proud of their culture and history. Where can readers find you and purchase/pre-order your picture book? At their local independent bookstore of course! If folks would like signed copies, they can order them at these bookstores. Photo credit for photo below: Shanaz Dean   Today, on KidLit in Color we are celebrating award-winning author Alliah Agostini Livingstone and illustrator Shamar Knight-Justice on their picture book, BIG TUNE: Rise of the Dancehall Prince (Published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux - BYR). BIG TUNE is an exuberant picture book about a Black boy with big dancing dreams who learns the meaning of courage and community. BIG TUNE is set within a vibrant Caribbean American neighborhood and told to a rhythmic beat, Big Tune is a story of Black boy joy that touches on determination, confidence to express who you are, selflessness, and community gratitude. Alyssa Reynoso-Morris talks with Alliah about her latest book on the blog. ARM - First, thank you so much for writing this fun text Alliah. As someone who loves to sing and dance, I loved your book!! Tell me, what inspired you to write this book? ALA - My mutual love of music and dance and community- something I was missing when it was written! This book, like many being released right now, was born during the height of the pandemic. We were largely isolated and celebrations were limited to drive-by celebrations and in-home dance parties with DJ Alexa. ARM - Your love of music, dance and community definitely shine through. Some of the themes I picked up on are “community”, “generosity”, and “sharing” I love how you interwove such important themes into such a fun and heartfelt text. Can you talk about your writing process for this story? Did the idea come to you all at once with the themes and character or did it change and evolve through revisions? ALA - Big Tune sprung out of another manuscript I was working on that wasn’t quite working. I was sharing it with critique partners when one asked a question - what if the protagonist was shy? The other story was about dance, and it triggered some memories of stories my husband would tell about the family parties his parents threw when he was growing up in a Jamaican household in Brooklyn. While he loved the parties, everyone else would dance and some would sing along, but he was on the shy side! But he did like picking up the cans and bottles so he could keep the coin return money and spend it on whatever he wanted. Ironically, he is the best dancer I know - something a lot of his family members didn’t see until our wedding (the DJ was lit!). Once this connection hit, the rest of the story came to me like a flood. I wound up spending time finessing the rhyme, and it ultimately wound up being the manuscript that helped me secure an agent. After that, I worked with my agent to tighten the rhythm and rhyme even more, so it would read cleanly when on submission. Fortunately, Janine O’Malley at FSG liked it enough to pre-empt it with a two-book deal. Aside from the addition of one spread and the author’s note, the book reads mostly as it did when it was submitted. ARM - WOW THAT IS AMAZING! I love Shane’s character. I resonate with him so much as the shy one in the family. How did you develop such a relatable character? ALA - I’m fortunate to live with a few inspirational folks- this was helpful while writing during lockdown! Like many writers, I used some of the best (and sometimes challenging!) attributes I see in the people I love to make characters that are a fusion of reality and fiction. I didn’t know my husband as a child, but knowing who he is now, I know that being generous, determined, enterprising, and family and community-minded are likely attributes that he had back then - so I thought about how those may manifest in a youthful, but imagined version of him. ARM - Your debut book The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States is informative and historical. When I read the BIG TUNE advanced readers copy, I literally felt like I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. The rhythm and rhyme make for a lyrical and poetic story. It is so different from your first book. And your third book is a biography, right? How do you manage to write in such different styles? ALA - Big Tune was originally supposed to be my first book! When the opportunity to write The Juneteenth Story emerged, I hadn’t yet written any non-fiction, but I knew it was something I had to do, as my grandfather helped start my hometown’s Juneteenth celebration over 46 years ago! Frankly, I’m at the point in life where I’m less afraid to try new things, so I did my best and it worked out well. When the biography opportunity came along, I already had non-fiction under my belt and was working on another, so it has been helpful to build my skill set as I’ve worked on new projects. I have an absurdly long spreadsheet of other works in progress - I find inspiration everywhere and kind of just go with whatever my gut tells me for a particular story. That typically is accompanied by endless revision, however.  ARM - Yes revision is key. Can you offer any tips for those that want to write in rhyme? ALA - Think long and hard about your need to write in rhyme. When it’s executed well, it reads fun and effortlessly, but getting to this point is hard work. You’re trying to make sure you tell a cohesive story while also doing so within the limitations of maintaining a rhythm and rhyme scheme. My agent first put it in these terms for me- A rhyming manuscript is like giving someone a song to sing… without sheet music. Writing in rhyme also puts some limitations on the global marketability of your book because of the difficulty of translating it. A lot of editors aren’t into rhyming manuscripts, but obviously, some are. All that being said, as much as I try, I can’t resist the urge to rhyme or write rhythmically - it’s just my natural inclination. It made sense for Big Tune, especially, as music is at the heart of the story! I like to start with a concept and a hook. Sometimes I write rhythmically sans rhyme (I love to wisely use and evolve repetition). But as the story builds, sometimes it flows as more of a lyrical piece, and other times, rhyming. Use a metronome to keep the beat while you read your work aloud. Google has a free one. If you feel yourself having to speed up or slow down to match the beat, then the rhythm needs to be reworked. I like to use the AI read-aloud function on MS Word to read my rhyming or rhythmic work back to me. AI voices are the driest possible voices, and they don’t “lie”, or modify rhythm to make it sound better. If a robot reads your writing and sounds like it has some flow, you’ve got something good.  ARM - Not only are you an award-winning author, but you’re also a wife and mom. How do you make time to write? ALA - I’m not an early morning person, but I try to be diligent about writing in the morning after I take the kids to school and use the afternoon for social media/admin/meetings. Doesn’t always work that way, but it’s nice when it does. I’m also a night owl, and I typically get struck with an idea at 11:30 pm as I’m trying to go to sleep (exactly what happened with Big Tune!)… then I’m up until about 1 am. ARM - I am a night-owl too and I often do my best work at night. I know your debut book The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States was sold out. Congratulations on that. How has your marketing background helped you promote your books? ALA - Thanks, although honestly that problem can also be a double-edged sword, or a “good-bad problem” exacerbated by pandemic supply chain issues. I had book signings with a very limited number of books to sign! Fortunately, it did perform beyond expectations, and my publisher also wisely pivoted to create a paperback option in the absence of hardcover availability. I’ve worked for huge multi-million dollar brands, and tiny tiny start-ups - frankly, my startup experience is what has been most helpful so far. I’ve learned how to market creatively (hustle) with basically no budget. Although budgets are very, very helpful! ARM - What are the top 3 marketing tips you want to share with authors and readers? ALA - Think hard about your book’s possible ‘Who’, or target - who will be the biggest champion for your book, and how can you reach them in a meaningful way? While stories can connect to people on a number of different levels, for books that may resonate with historically marginalized audiences, you may better understand them than your publisher does. Your publisher will likely have a better understanding of the levers for traditional literary publicity channels, but don’t be afraid to provide your insight on less traditional ways to reach your audience. Talk to everybody about your book- fight through the urge to be shy or not self-promote. You never know who may find interest in your work or may know someone who could be helpful for pitching your book to press, securing a speaking engagement, or even a bulk order of your books. Be authentic. If you are open to it, share your journey - the peaks and valleys. When people feel invested in your journey, your success feels like their success, so they are emotionally invested in helping you succeed! When you are genuine about your passion for your topic you’re the most magnetic. Do it in your own way. I love writing rhythmically, and I also love music, so I share a lot of playlists to help people connect with my topic and work musically, for instance. ARM - What books are on your to-be-read list? ALA - Where to begin?? There is a certain upcoming book about one of my favorite foods- plantain!… Platanos are Love by a certain author named Alyssa Reynoso-Morris (wink). I’m also looking forward to reading Locs not Dreads by Tonya Abari, and Grounded, an upcoming middle grade book by a coalition of incredible authors including Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow. ARM - SUCH A GREAT LIST!!! What do you hope readers take away from BIG TUNE: Rise of the Dancehall Prince? ALA - So much! Persevere, do what you love, and be yourself! It can be hard, but the resulting joy can truly be irreplaceable. Although people don’t always read Author’s Notes, I hope they take a minute to read this one. It talks about how in immigrant (and other!) communities, parties and gatherings are more than parties - they can also be safe spaces. Places where you don’t have to explain yourself, a place where “everybody knows the words to the songs”, and an opportunity for muted accents to be amplified. Separately, I hope people learn a little bit about the importance of Caribbean-descended artists to the emergence of hip-hop, a global phenomenon which is celebrating its 50th birthday this year! ARM - Thank you so much for your time Alliah! You are incredible and deserve all the STARS and FLOWERS. To learn more about Alliah read her bio below and visit her website.  Buffalo, NY native Alliah L. Agostini has marketed everything from iconic brands to scrappy start-ups, but motherhood helped her return to her first love: children's literature. She writes to spread joy, truth, and to help more children see themselves reflected on the page.
Alliah is the author of The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States, the upcoming Oprah Winfrey: A Little Golden Book Biography, and Junior Library Guild Selection BIG TUNE: Rise of the Dancehall Prince, which has received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publisher's Weekly. A proud member of KidLit in Color, Black Creators HQ, the Picture Book Sunrays, and SCBWI, she and her work have been featured on CNN, the TODAY Show, GoodHousekeeping, and more. Alliah resides in New Jersey where she enjoys impromptu dance parties, fossil hunting, and making up corny jokes with her husband and two children. She has an A.B. and an M.B.A. from Harvard. Website: https://www.alliahagostini.com/ Social media tags Instagram: @alliago Twitter: @alliago   KidLit in Color author Valerie Bolling is excited to reveal the cover for TOGETHER WE SWIM (illustrated by Kaylani Juanita and published by Chronicle). This picture book, which is a companion for 2022’s TOGETHER WE RIDE will be released on August 15, 2023. What does the cover say? VB: First of all, shout-out to Kaylani Juanita for these heart-warming illustrations! I love how she depicts the love between mother and son and the special moment they share as she’s teaching him to swim. This cover screams parental love and, of course, “Let’s swim!” Why should folks read this book? VB: This book celebrates an important achievement in a child’s life: learning how to swim. There are other books about swimming, but what makes this one special is that it highlights the bond between child and adult that’s required to succeed in learning this skill. Since a father-daughter relationship was showcased in TOGETHER WE RIDE, readers will enjoy seeing the mother and son from that book as the focus of TOGETHER WE SWIM. What’s Next? VB: On May 2, 2023 the first book, THE GRAY DAY, in my early reader series, RAINBOW DAYS (illustrated by Kai Robinson and published by Scholastic Acorn), will make its appearance, and the second book in the series, THE GOLD BOWL, arrives in September. BING, BOP, BAM: TIME TO JAM! (illustrated by Sabrena Khadija and published by Abrams Appleseed) will be released on August 8, 2023 – a week before TOGETHER WE SWIM. Looking ahead to 2024, I’ll welcome the third RAINBOW DAYS book, THE ORANGE WALL, as well as I SEE COLOR, a co-authored book with Kailei Pew (illustrated by Laylie Frazier and published by Harper Collins). I’m excited to get these books into schools, libraries, bookstores, and, ultimately, into the hands of young readers.  What does the cover say?
KJ: Encouragement! A proud mama swimming with her confident son. I hope readers look at the cover and hear the ambiance of a community pool, the mother cheering him on, and the child laughing. Why should folks read this book? KJ: Valerie does an excellent job capturing the nervous excitement and rewarding enjoyment of learning new skills. Together We Ride, and Together We Swim are the perfect books to revisit and unwind after a long day of learning something new! What’s Next? KJ: I’m currently illustrating two books and working on the art for a project I wrote. I also have an upcoming release in September 2023 for another book I illustrated, Loud and Proud, written by Lesa Cline-Ransome. I’ll be around! |
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