Childrens Books Can Tell Realistic Stories
Childrens Books Can Make Parents Become Detectives
Have you ever read a book that touched you so much that you had to find the author and communicate your gratitude?
Children’s books can elicit the same response.
Children can love a book so much that parents reach out to authors. The Internet makes it easy to do so. Parents can find authors through their websites and social media platforms. Before the wide use of social media finding authors usually could only be done through sending letters to publishers. I have received letters from parents that were sent to publishers for me and I have received correspondence directly from parents who found my contact information on the Internet. I cherish the letters and I also cherish the immediacy of the contact through social media.
The following is a message I received from a parent in Los Angeles who located me through social media.
“My daughter and I just finished reading When Grandmama Sings and it started a discussion about segregation, acceptance, and loving others. Thank you! We enjoyed the book.”
Mothers not only contact me, but fathers do too. The following is an email I received from a father who discovered my contact information on my website.
“When Grandmama Sings is so realistic and convincing my daughter and I tried to find the history of the singer and her band.”
It brings me much joy to know that my books, not only touch children, but parents as well.
I have even received messages from parents in other countries. The following is an email I received from a father who lives in Israel.
“I am an American-Israeli citizen living practically my whole life in Israel. I have a daughter (5) whom I just finished reading the book you guys wrote and illustrated – Uncle Jed’s Barbershop. Apart from the story beautifully unfolding, the illustrations are amazing and true to life. When I got to the part where she arrives at the hospital and you describe the segregation, I ask my daughter, “What do you think? Are black people and white people any different?” Her answer is simple and touching. “Aba (father in Hebrew), you are a person. She is a person. We are all the same.” Needless to say, the rest of the story was read to her with tears in my eyes. The ending was inspiring and beautiful. And I do not usually go out of my way to find authors and illustrators of the many books I read to her. But this one was a special one. So thank you, for the beauty in storytelling, and the most splendid illustrations accompanying the book. Keep up the good work! With much appreciation!”
Hearing from parents warms my heart. I get such joy from receiving such communication. What makes the letters, emails, and social media messages extra special is that I do not know the people who take time to reach out to let me know that my books touched them.
It is beyond meaningful to know that my words have the ability to touch another human being to their core.
So parents keep up the detective work. Your messages mean more than you will ever know to authors.
For more information about my books click the link to visit my website
Brown Bookshelf Roundtable
I am participating in the Brown Bookshelf Roundtable this month, along with Kekla Magoon, Wade Hudson, and Johnny Ray Moore. Read our thoughts on Where Do We Go From Here regarding the children’s book industry. Below is an excerpt:
Here at the Brown Bookshelf, we’ve spoken often and long on the issues and ideas expressed in the Open Declaration. We do this work to lift up our young readers and show them how they can survive, thrive, and soar in this world. For many of us, the way forward might be clear, for others, not so much. We may sign on to petitions and open declarations, forward emails, RT, and “like”, and these can all be good and powerful things. But we believe that it’s important to reflect on how we will hold ourselves accountable, how we will act, and reflect; how we will “live out commitment to using our talents and varied forms of artistic expression to help eliminate the fear that takes root in the human heart amid lack of familiarity and understanding of others; the type of fear that feeds stereotypes, bitterness, racism and hatred; the type of fear that so often leads to tragic violence and senseless death.” We’ll present a series of those posts here; signatories asking, wondering, and doing an essential question: Where do we go from here?
Below, in the second of these posts, are some thoughts from award-winning authors, artists, and creators, including Kekla Magoon-KM (Shadows of Sherwood, X: A Novel, How It Went Down), Wade Hudson-WH, author (Jamal’s Busy Day, In Praise of Our Mothers and Fathers, Book of Black Heroes) and publisher of the storied Just Us Books, Margaree King Mitchell-MKM (When Grandmama Sings, Uncle Jed’s Barbershop), and Johnny Ray Moore-JRM, (Meet Martin Luther King, Jr., Howie Has A Stomachache).
Read the complete conversation at: The Brown Bookshelf
Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
3 Reasons to Give Uncle Jed’s Barbershop This Christmas
Uncle Jed was the only black barber in the county. And he had a dream. Living in the segregated South of the 1920’s, Uncle Jed had to travel all over the county to cut his customers’ hair. He lived for the day when he could open his very own barbershop. But Uncle Jed encountered setback after setback that delayed his dream. However, not even the Great Depression could force him to give up on his dream. Uncle Jed finally opened his barbershop after saving for years and years. The community celebrated with him and so did his niece, Sarah Jean.
Uncle Jed’s Barbershop is a stirring story of dreams long deferred and finally realized.
Here are three reasons to give Uncle Jed’s Barbershop to the child on your Christmas list.
- Uncle Jed’s Barbershop inspires children to dream great dreams for their lives and realize that those dreams can come true. I will always remember the girl in Little Rock, Arkansas who said to me, “I want to be a doctor when I grow up, but my Grandmama says I will never be one. Now I know I can be a doctor.”
- An award-winning musical has been adapted from Uncle Jed’s Barbershop. The most recent honor is a Henry Award nomination for Outstanding New Musical. Theatre critics say: “Get ready for some toe-tapping fun!” – “Uncle Jed’s Barbershop leaps from the bookshelf to the stage!” –
- James Ransome’s wonderful richly colored paintings bring the story to life.
Learn about Uncle Jed’s Barbershop
Learn about Uncle Jed’s Barbershop Musical
A Wonderful Joyous Day
The National Museum of African-American History & Culture opened Saturday with a ceremony befitting it’s importance. Rev. Howard-John Wesley, pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia said that this museum “Symbolizes all of the contributions, the culture and the crisis of black America. It’s a beautiful thing, especially in this day and time when we’re fighting to remind ourselves how important black lives are.”
The museum holds more than 3,000 items, including exhibits of an authentic slave cabin from a plantation in South Carolina, a Tuskegee Airmen training plane , the casket of Emmett Till, Chuck Berry’s candy-apple red 1973 Cadillac Eldorado, and nine of the ten Olympic medals won by Carl Lewis.
Descend into the lowest level. The exhibits start with the trans-Atlantic slave trade and goes to Emancipation. Along the way you will see a whip used aboard slave ships, an auction block where slaves were sold, and Nat Turner’s Bible.
The next level and ramps cover segregation to today. They include a rail car from the Southern Railway which shows the different accommodations for white and black passengers, who paid the same fare.
Above ground are floors 3 and 4. Here you will find African-American achievements in the fields of music, art, sports, the military, and other areas highlighted. From these levels visitors can look out and view the Washington Monument, Arlington National Cemetery, the White House, and the National Mall.
In his dedication of the museum, President Obama said, “Hopefully, this museum will help us to talk to each other, and more importantly listen to each other, and most importantly see each other.”
The dedication ceremony ended with the oldest and the youngest members of the Bonner family, who are descendants of slaves, ringing the Freedom Bell to officially open the Smithsonian’s new museum.
A trip to Washington, D.C. to see the National Museum of African-American History and Culture is a must. The museum is power packed, absorbing, and filled with exhibits that will elicit a wide range of emotions.
I Am Featured On Inspire Me Today
I’m so excited to share some great news with you! Today I am the featured Inspirational Luminary on InspireMeToday.com, sharing my wisdom with the world.
Excerpts from Decide To Shine Wherever You Are:
Don’t be afraid of becoming who you are.
The minute you decide that you are going to become who you are meant to be in this world, is the moment you begin to soar.
Criticism stops us at times. But look at your critic as a person, not as a god. When we place critics in the proper perspective we can get on with our life’s mission.
Click to continue reading: Decide To Shine Wherever You Are
3 Points To Cover When Talking To Children About The Importance Of Voting
As we enter the months leading up to the Presidential election in November, with caucuses, primaries, and debates in between, it is important to sit down with the children in our lives and let them know why it is important to cast votes for the candidates of our choice.
The hope of every parent is that their children will have a better life than they had. Exposing them to the realities of history might instill in them a desire to change conditions through the political process. We must let them know that there was a time in this country when black people did not have the same rights as white people. Only by being frank with our children can the world change.
Life is meant to move forward. If children have no sense of history, mistakes of the past will be repeated.
This brings me to the three points:
- Talk about history – Until the late 1960’s the constitutions of seven Southern states had ‘educational’ requirements which were specifically designed to prevent black citizens from exercising the right to vote. Registrars had complete freedom to reject any answer as incorrect. Several Southern states also enacted poll taxes, which had to be paid before voting. These taxes kept many black people and poor white people from voting.
2. Discuss tactics currently used to keep African-Americans and Hispanics from voting.
Some of these tactics are:
- Changing Polling Locations
- Eliminating Early Voting Days
- Reducing the Number of Polling Places
- Voter ID Laws
- Attacks on Groups that Register Voters
3. Read and discuss a book for children that deal with voting, such as Granddaddy’s Gift. This is a story that teaches children that just one person with a little courage can change their world.
Granddaddy’s Gift takes place in the South during the 1960’s. It is the story of a man who is respected in his town and has a very good life. He owns his own farm, grows food for the family, and takes good care of his family. He raises livestock and harvests crops. But even though Granddaddy has a good life he realizes that there is something else to strive for, like having the rights that all citizens are entitled to, such as the right to vote.
One evening Granddaddy attends a meeting where people are asked to volunteer to register to vote. No one volunteers at first. Then Granddaddy raises his hand. He volunteers to be the first black person in town to try to register to vote, even though great harm can come to him.
Although Granddaddy is not permitted to register to vote when he goes to the courthouse, bad things begin to happen. His name is printed in the newspaper as a warning to other black people who might try to register to vote. The local co-op will not sell him feed for his livestock anymore. In addition, his family is ostracized by other black people.
But Granddaddy does not give up. He studies for the test on the U.S. Constitution for several weeks. When he goes to the courthouse again, he passes the test and becomes a registered voter.
A big celebration is scheduled that night at a church to celebrate his accomplishment. As Granddaddy and his family arrive at the celebration they see big flames shooting into the night sky. Someone has set the church on fire. But instead of driving people apart, the fire brings the community together. And more people volunteer to register to vote.
The story ends with:
“On my eighteenth birthday, when I went to register to vote, Granddaddy came with me. I didn’t have to take a test on the constitution. I just had to fill out a card with my name, address, and date of birth. Now I could vote and make my own voice heard.
Granddaddy had taught me to stand up for things, even if I was scared, and always to be proud. His gift never left me.
At the top of the courthouse steps, Granddaddy took my hand. We had come a long way. We still had a long way to go.”
Granddaddy’s Gift is loosely based on my grandfather and the importance he placed on voting. When I reached voting age, my grandfather took me to the courthouse to register to vote.
Open a dialogue with your children and share your experiences with voting. Discuss the voting process with them. Answer their questions. It will be a learning experience for them and a reminder to you about the importance of voting.
For further information: Granddaddy’s Gift
Expanding Beyond My Comfort Zone
I jumped off the cliff!
Last year I did something I had always wanted to do. I published my first novel for adult readers, Woman In The Pulpit.
This decision was accompanied by much anxiety, fear, trepidation, and all other emotions that are present when we step outside our comfort zone.
Since my lane, so to speak, is books for children, I expanded slowly. First I wrote a novel for teens, which was published. As a result of taking this step into something new I was invited to appear on panels at book festivals. I enjoyed the experiences and open doors that my YA novel enabled me to enter.
I loved interacting with teens and getting their feedback. They completely identified with the characters in the book and the situations they encountered. They especially identified with the mask people show to the world that everything is okay. As the students in the book, real life students could name situations in their lives when they carried on as usual even though a crisis was occurring that turned their lives upside down.
After swinging my feet off the cliff with my teen novel, The People In The Park, I didn’t want to stop there.
I had projects I’d been working on but kept tinkering and revising.
My novel, Woman In The Pulpit, was sitting on the shelf daring me to step out into the unknown. I picked it up and put it down many times. My inner warring voices fought it out. “Put it out there,” said one voice. “No, don’t,” said the other. “Send it to agents and publishers,” said a voice. “No, not yet,” the other voice said. Back and forth they went. The conversation usually ended with me putting it back on the shelf.
After looking at the manuscript way too many times, I finally decided I didn’t want to answer the ‘What if?’ question years from now.
So I steeled my nerves and went to the edge of the cliff. I closed my eyes. And jumped! Into the unknown!
Oh my! It was scary!
When Woman In The Pulpit was published I had three weeks of travel scheduled with my other books. My trips kept me busy and kept my mind from focusing on what was happening with my newly published book.
Imagine my surprise when I returned home and received a notice that Woman In The Pulpit was on the Hot New Releases list!
I exhaled. And opened my eyes. This was going to work.
During the months since the publication of Woman In The Pulpit many new doors have opened: Speaking to women’s groups, church groups, and book clubs.
I am especially delighted when women in ministry tell me that the book is spot on and illustrates their experiences.
I love all the reviews the book has received. I especially like this one:
“Woman In The Pulpit has it all – humor, drama, love, romance, suspense, tragedy, betrayal, redemption, and some incredible spiritual insights.”
Jumping of the cliff into the unknown reminded me that we shouldn’t be afraid to go after our dreams. In jumping off the cliff I sprouted wings to fly.
I still have other goals and dreams. I’m climbing a mountain this year! Another one of those ‘What if?’ questions. I’m not broadcasting what it is. But this time next year I’ll let you know what happened.
Until then… Don’t be afraid to jump off your cliff.
To Purchase: Woman In The Pulpit