I enjoy reading biographical picture books. When they’re well done, the interplay between the words and images really enliven the story. The picture books focus on a particular aspect of the life making success possible for young readers. Biographies specifically for young adults are rare, but when they exit they usually incorporate photographic evidences to… Read More Voicing Black Lives
Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas by Gwendolyn Hooks and Colin Bootman (Lee and Low; 2016) Tiny Stitches is as much a history of modern medicine as it is a children’s biography of Vivien Thomas. The book revisits a time when someone could become a respected practitioner of medicine based upon their… Read More Biographies: Black Men in Picture books
Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of young John Lewis by Jabari Asim and E. B. Lewis. (Nancy Paulsen Books; 2016) I remember reading about John Lewis adopting his family’s chickens as his congregation when he was a child. Asim details this time in Lewis’ life as a character building activity. The muted water color… Read More Biographies: Black Men
In 2015 Nielsen released Increasingly Affluent, Educated and Diverse a report that focused on the increase buying power of African Americans earning >$60k/annually. The information on this group, which is growing at a rate faster than white counterparts would be seen as specifically relevant to businesses and industries hoping to increase profit margins. The report… Read More CCBC Data Dive
title: Mahalia A Life in Gospel Music author: Roxane Orgill date: Candlewick, 2002 Roxane Orgill began her writing career as a music critic and she eventually transformed to an author of children’s and young adult biographies, often of those of African American musicians. Her knowledge of music history is definitely present in Mahalia A Life… Read More Biography: Mahalia A Life In Gospel Music
Cotton Quilts 