In honor of Black History Month, I'm introducing two books published by SPB Publishing. This publisher is a crossover of two Cherry Lake Publishing imprints: Sleeping Bear Press which specializes in fiction and nonfiction trade books, and the more academically-specialized Cherry Lake Press. Both books were published in 2021 but are still pertinent and will impact students for… Continue reading TWO MIDDLE GRADE NONFICTION BOOKS from SBP Publishing: Reviews and Giveaways
Congratulations to Joan Edwards who won Barbara Younger's painting from last week's blog.The other day I received a stack of books from Sleeping Bear Press which included several nonfiction titles.In honor of Black History month, I chose Stompin' at the Savoy: How Chick Webb Became the King of Drums by Moira Rose Donohue as the first one… Continue reading Stompin' at the Savoy: A Nonfiction Picture Book Review and Giveaway
Congratulations to Danielle Hammelef who won Galapagos Girl from last week's blog. As the new blog coordinator for the SCBWI-Carolinas blog, I was excited to "meet" Shana Keller through email and schedule her blog on writing picture book biographies. When she told me that her newest biography, Bread for Words was being published by Sleeping… Continue reading Bread for Words– A Frederick Douglass Story: A Picture Book Review and Giveaway
Congratulations to Connie Saunders who won Vijaya Bodach's new novel, BOUND. Thanks to all of you for your comments the last three weeks; both Vijaya and I appreciated hearing from you. ******* Many of you have been following my blog for years and some of you are new readers. My "old" followers are familiar with… Continue reading Celebrate Black History Month With These Books
I didn’t realize when I selected Zora and Me from the audio book shelf of my local library that I would be treated to a powerful, multiracial historical novel. But I was. Under 200 pages long, this book is the result of collaboration between Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon. Their fictionalized account of Harlem… Continue reading Zora and Me: Multi-Racial Read #5
Locally (Charlotte, NC):Levine Museum of the New South presents, "Blood Done Sign My Name", performed by Mike Wiley. The play is based on Tim Tyson’s best book about a true story in eastern NC involving the murder of a black Vietnam veteran. Click here for ticket information. Nationally:The 2010 National African American Read-In is sponsored… Continue reading Black History Month Resources
In honor of Black History Month the Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library is hosting a series of documentaries highlighting local African American history. The four films were produced by WBTV reporter Steve Crump; click here to see the schedule (scroll down to films). Today I saw the first movie, Lessons from the Lunch Counter, which recounts… Continue reading History Happened Here
Award winning author Russell Freedman published this biography of African American vocalist Marian Anderson in 2004. I selected it as background to the novel that I'm working on and was not disappointed. Anderson was born in 1897 and grew up in the ethnic neighborhoods of south Philadelphia. Her mother was widowed when she and her… Continue reading The Voice that Challenged a Nation