28 Days Later
Submissions for the 2009 28 Days later spotlights will open November 1, 2008.
Until then, enjoy the archives and read about some of children literature’s jewels and hidden gems.
Some of these authors and illustrators, you know.
Some of them, you don’t.
Among them are authors who have served as pioneers, blazing trails in their genre; two self-published who stood out in the very competitive market of independent authors; a National Book Award finalist, and Coretta Scott King honorees and award winners.
All of them are playing an essential role in the field of children’s literature.
Vanguard authors are in bold
Illustrators are in italics
Christopher Paul Curtis - Elijah of Buxton
Michelle Meadows – The Way The Storm Stops
Dana Davidson - Played
Rita Williams-Garcia – No Laughter Here
G. Neri – Chess Rumble & Sean Qualls - Phillis’s Big Test
Janice N. Harrington – The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County
Eleanora E. Tate – Celeste’s Harlem Renaissance
Patricia McKissack – The All-I’ll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll
M. Sindy Felin – Touching Snow
Jabari Asim – Daddy Goes To Work
Mildred D. Taylor – The Road To Memphis
Nina Crews - The Neighborhood Mother Goose & Leonard Jenkins – Sweet Land of Liberty
Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu – The Shadow Speaker
Allison Whittenberg – Sweet Thang
Walter Dean Myers - Game
Tonya Bolden – George Washington Carver
Troy CLE – The Marvelous Effect
Eloise Greenfield – The Friendly Four
Sundee T. Frazier – Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything In It & John Holyfield - Bessie Smith & the Night Riders
Carole Boston Weatherford – I, Matthew Henson: Polar Explorer
Karen English - Nikki & Deja
Coe Booth - Tyrell
Irene Smalls – My Pop Pop and Me
Stephanie Perry Moore – Prayed Up: Perry Skky Jr. #4
Kyra E. Hicks, Martha Ann’s Quilt for Queen Victoria
Celise Downs – Dance Jam Productions & Shane Evans- When Harriet Met Sojourner
Valerie Wilson Wesley – Willimena Rules!: 23 Ways to mess up Valentine’s Day
Sherri L. Smith - Sparrow
November 1, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Nice site. I really liked Tyrell, by Coe Booth.
November 1, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Rita Williams-Garcia
J. Woodson
November 1, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Check out the Del Rio Bay Clique novels by Paula Chase, which include So Not the Drama and Don’t Get It Twisted.
November 1, 2007 at 2:21 pm
This organization is timely and I am proud to partner with such a much needed sector of the literary world for people of color!
Sabra Robinson
AACBWI Founder
http://www.aacbwi.com
November 1, 2007 at 6:02 pm
From a classmate of mine at Vermont College…
SHANTE KEYS AND THE NEW YEAR’S PEAS, by Gail Piernas-
Davenport
http://www.gpdavenport.com/
Thanks for the nomination, Carol!
November 1, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Carole Boston Weatherford for Dear Mr. Rosenwald, Moses, and Birmingham, 1963.
Marilyn Nelson for A Wreath for Emmett Till
November 1, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Hair Dance by Dinah Johnson
November 1, 2007 at 8:54 pm
I nominate Kelly Starling Lyons, “One Million Men and Me”, 2007
November 1, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Another vote for Coe Booth!
November 1, 2007 at 9:53 pm
I nominate Kwame Alexander - an amazing poet for young people with a new YA poetry book called CRUSH: LOVE POEMS. Here’s his website…
http://www.kwamealexander.com/
He also visits schools (I’m a teacher as well as a children’s writer…that’s how I met him) and gives vibrant, get-up-and-shout kinds of poetry workshops for kids.
November 1, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Brenda Woods, Emako Blue
November 2, 2007 at 1:43 am
I’m so excited about the submissions so far. I’m commenting simply to gush over it. It’s great to see the submissions stream in.
Keep them coming guys!
-P
November 2, 2007 at 2:42 am
Hope Anita Smith - The Way a Door Closes
Nikki Grimes
November 2, 2007 at 8:14 am
Old: One of my favorite picture books of all time: ELLINGTON WAS NOT A STREET, poem by Ntozake Shange, illustrated by Kadir Nelson.
New: Likely Newbery candidate, and hardly under the radar, but still: ELIJAH OF BUXTON by Christopher Paul Curtis.
November 2, 2007 at 10:45 am
I hope you’ll check out the book, authors and artists on the Ezra Jack Keats award list — for 28 days, or just in general
http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/bookawards/index.html
Keats awards are for the best picture book work (1 for artist, 1 for writer) by a new (3 books or fewer) picture book creator, and the books must also celebrate the multicultural nature of our world — as did Keats’s books themselves.
November 2, 2007 at 12:06 pm
ANYTHING illustrated by Brian Collier…I just heard him speak and was very impressed. He does thorough research for each book and his collages are amazing. And any man who leaves a conference early so he can drive 4 hours to get to his daughter for after school pick up is a winner in my book! Fuse #8, if you are reading this, he is quite easy on the eyes too!
November 2, 2007 at 12:43 pm
I came to nominate Hope Anita Smith too!
Okay, then:
DADDY WAS A NUMBER RUNNER, BY Louise Meriwether
47, Walter Mosley
WHAT THEY FOUND: LOVE ON 145TH STREET, Walter Dean Myers
November 2, 2007 at 1:18 pm
It is awesome to see so many people excited about The Brown Bookshelf and 28 Days Later!
Thanks everyone for your support!!
November 3, 2007 at 1:38 am
old: Blue Tights by Rita Williams Garcia
new: Tyrell by Coe Booth
November 3, 2007 at 1:39 am
Also Red Rose Box by Brenda Woods.
Love that book.
November 3, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Marilyn Nelson - Fortune’s Bones and A Wreath for Emmett Till
November 3, 2007 at 10:54 pm
Sharon G. Flake, Angela Johnson, Sharon Draper, Julius Lester…
Niki Daly & Simi Bedford (is this strictly American?)
November 4, 2007 at 12:54 am
Glad to see people mentioning Coe Booth. I can’t say enough good things about Tyrell! I’d also like to nominate Every Time a Rainbow Dies by Rita Williams-Garcia.
November 4, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Check out A Hole in My Heart co-author with young author, Edward Booker at http://www.prioritybooks.com. He will release his new novel, The Hood In Me in January 2008. Also visit http://www.lydiabooks.com and read excerpt from her young adult self help book, Stepping Stones to Success.
November 5, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Copper Sun - Sharon Draper
No Laughter Here - Rita Williams-Garcia
Hush - Jackie Woodson
Moses - Carole Boston Weatherford
November 5, 2007 at 5:15 pm
How do I get involved? How can I support you?
Peace,
LaTonya
November 5, 2007 at 5:18 pm
The ABC’s of Character for People Around the World written by Delores Mitchell-Tulloss and Illustrated by Brian Hardison
November 5, 2007 at 5:28 pm
The Light in the Dark by Eric I Keyes, III
November 5, 2007 at 5:29 pm
One Million Men and Me by Kelly Starling Lyons
November 5, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Hi everyone. Keep the submissions coming. But wanted to respond to a few housekeeping issues:
1) We are not accepting self-published submissions in this open window period. The self-published authors will be selected by The Brown Bookshelf members, exclusively. We are only seeking traditionally published authors Nov 1- Dec. 1
2) Mrs. Spilknigton, Simi Beford’s book is actually not categorized as children’s. But feel free to add more. Or if Simi Beford does have an actual children’s book, please let us know the title. Thanks!
3) Latonya - you can get involved by spreading the word about out initiative and submitting names of author for consideration. After Dec 1st we will no longer accept submissions, so the more people who know and submit names, the greater the chance we’ll have a diverse (literary and popular fiction, YA and PB etc…
pool of talent to shine the light on in February.
Thanks.
Paula
Brown Book Shelf Member
November 5, 2007 at 6:42 pm
Oops one other housekeeping issue.
Please peruse the comments to see if your author/title has been submitted before submitting a name. A name only has to be submitted once. An author who is submitted many times gets the same consideration as one submitted once.
However, some people have submitted different titles by an author already submitted. And that’s okay because certainly there are veteran authors out there whose earlier books may be forgotten.
Thanks.
Paula
Brown Bookshelf Member
November 5, 2007 at 8:32 pm
I would like to nominate the following titles:
- George Crum and the Saratoga Chip by Gaylia Taylor
- John Lewis in the Lead: A Story of the Civil Rights Movement by Jim Haskins (deceased) & Kathleen Benson
- Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan by Mary Williams
November 5, 2007 at 9:36 pm
When the Horses Ride By by Eloise Greenfield
The Jones Family Express by Javaka Steptoe
Sweet Potato Pie by Kathleen D. Lindsey
November 5, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Check out THE KAYLA CHRONICLES by Sherri Winston, coming January 2008 from Little, Brown. She’s also the author of the ya, ACTING.
November 6, 2007 at 12:25 am
The Last Part First by Angela Johnson
November 6, 2007 at 12:58 pm
I would like to nominate this book:
Everything About Me is Beautiful by Amy Cooper
http://www.thevineyard-books.com
November 6, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Are you taking nominations for illustrators?
I am part of a group of writers who write picture books under the name of C.W. Bowie and I’d love to nominate our illustrator — Fred Willingham. He creates wonderful illustrations of children.
-wendie Old (a.k.a. C.W. Bowie)
Busy Toes
Busy Fingers
November 6, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Everything about me is Beautiful by Amy Cooper ,loved it ,it’s everything a child needs to read to help build self-esteem.
November 6, 2007 at 3:34 pm
I would like to recommend the wonderful Michelle Meadows, a relatively new voice on the picture book scene and the author of The Way the Storm Stops and Pilot Pups;
learn more about Michelle:
http://www.michellemeadows.com/About%20Me.htm
and her books: http://www.michellemeadows.com/Books.htm
November 6, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Hi Wendie. Actually we aren’t taking noms for illustrators. The primary focus of the Feb spotlight will be on authors. Although we’ll be spotlighing four illustrators - like the self-published category, they’re illustrators selected by The Brown Bookshelf members.
November 6, 2007 at 5:06 pm
I’d like to nominate Eleonora Tate for her latest book, “Celeste’s Harlem Renaissance” as well as her others!
November 6, 2007 at 8:12 pm
When Gorilla goes Walking by Nikki Grimes
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
This Little Light of Mine, E.B. Lewis
The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County, Janice N. Harrington
I am so excited you are doing this! I will be back with more nominations.
November 6, 2007 at 8:40 pm
I’d like to nominate Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor, The Land by Mildred D. Taylor, and Song of the Trees by Mildred D. Taylor/
November 6, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Sweet Music in Harlem, a terrific picture book by Debbie Taylor.
November 6, 2007 at 10:52 pm
I have a few titles:
Brother Hood by Janet McDonald
Little Divas by Philana Marie Boles
Sweet Thang by Allison Whittenberg
Dancer by Lorri Hewett
November 7, 2007 at 4:08 am
Eleanora Tate for Celeste’s Harlem Renaissance, published last spring.
November 7, 2007 at 10:47 am
Wonderful initiative. I wish you all good luck. I want to add, Kelly, that I’ve experienced my own brand of disapointment when I couldn’t find books that portrayed children like my own, ie: biracial children. It’s getting better - that was in 2001 - and initiatives like this one can only puysh things further in the right direction, iow, more diversity, bookshelves that finally represent the reality of an increasingly multicultural world.
I have not seen Jacqueline Woodson’s picture book SHOW WAY in the list above. I know her books do not qualify as being under the radar, but that picture book is one of the most gorgeous ones I’ve ever read. I’ll keep on looking, even though my living in India makes it hard to be up to date about what’s coming out.
November 7, 2007 at 4:45 pm
This is an excellent website and I believe the initiative that you are taking will open the doors for African-American authors and readers.
November 7, 2007 at 4:49 pm
I don’t know if this is technically YA, but Martha Southgate’s _The Fall of Rome_ is one of the best books I’ve read in years. I think it should be required reading in high schools AND in programs like TFA!
Hannah
November 7, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Here are a few that have been popular in my urban charter school (grades 6-12)
Played by Dana Davidson
Jason & Kyra by Dana Davidson
Criminal Minded by Tracy Brown
Imani in Never Say Goodbye by Jackie Hardrick (not sure–this might be self-published)
Simply Divine by Jacquelin Thomas
Harlem Hustle by Janet McDonald
Touching Snow by M. Sindy Felin
The Marvelous Effect by Troy Cle (much loved by my gamers and fantasy/sf readers!)
And one that I personally would like to see get more recognition:
Zahrah the Windseeker, by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu
November 8, 2007 at 1:50 am
Jabari Asim Whose Knees Are These?
Karen English Francie
Cheryl Willis Hudson Good Night Baby
Rosa Guy The Friends
Mildred Taylor Mississippi Bridge
Angela Shelf Mederis The Seven Days of Kwanzaa
Eloise Greenfield When The Horses Ride By
Jim Haskins John Lewis in the Lead
Phil Mendez The Black Snowman
Sherley Anne Williams Working Cotton
Patricia C. McKissack Goin’ Someplace Special
Gloria Jean Pinkney The Sunday Outing
Jerdine Nolen Thunder Rose
November 8, 2007 at 2:47 am
“A la carte,” by Tanita S. Davis. Knopf, summer 2008. The description sounds great!
“The Friendly Four,” by Eloise Greenfield (Amistad, 2006). Poems about four friends. Wonderful picture book!
I’m so glad others have already nominated “Shante Keys & The New Year’s Peas” and “The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County.” I just loved those.
November 8, 2007 at 3:46 am
Can’t Stop the Shine by Joyce E. Davis (KimaniTru/Harlequin) — It is an absolute MUST READ for our young adults!
November 8, 2007 at 2:20 pm
I am not sure if you are just looking for the author’s names, or you need specific book titles too? All these authors have more than one book, and I could name one or you could pick your favorite to highlight:
Zoro Neale Hurston, The Six Fools
Nina Crews, The Neighborhood Mother Goose
Won-Ldy Paye (American citizen? Not sure)
Traci L. Jones, Standing Against the Wind
Janet McDonalk Twists and Turns
Shelia P. Moses, The Legend of Buddy Bush
Ntozake Shange, Betsey Brown
Rita Williams-Garcia, no laughter here
Kyra E. Hicks, Martha Ann’s Quilt for Queen Victoria
Gwendolyn Brooks The Tiger Who Wore White Gloves
Kay Lovelace Taylor, Princess Aisha and the Cave of Judgment
November 8, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Cloudscome, thank you for the submissions.
You may submit an authors name or a specific title.
However, three of your author submissions have been previously submitted. Please review the posts to make sure the author or their title hasn’t already been named. It gives you more opportunity to introduce us to someone who hadn’t been “outted” yet.
Thanks again.
Paula
Brown Bookshelf Member
November 8, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Touching the Snow by M Sindy Felin, and yes it already mentioned by its just that good
I am surprised It Chicks by Tia Williams isn’t already up here,
November 8, 2007 at 3:58 pm
I was going to nominate Don Tate, but then I saw he’s one of you! I would still highly recommend him. I also loved the work Sean Qualls did for the book Dizzy, by Jonah Winter.
November 8, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Okay, I should have read the directions more carefully, as you are looking for authors, though I would love to see illustrators highlighted as well. I loved the book Let It Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals by Ashley Bryan. I also enjoyed Daddy Goes to Work by Jabari Asim.
November 8, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Last post, I promise! I just checked my bookshelf and found these favorites:
Visiting Langston by Willie Perdomo
Aunt Flossie’s Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard
November 8, 2007 at 7:42 pm
It’s so exciting to see teachers and librarians posting here!
Welcome, welcome!
Paula
Brown Bookshelf Member
November 8, 2007 at 10:36 pm
I’d really like to see a book of traditional “nursery rhymes” (Little Boy Blue, Little Miss Muffett, etc.) That may see old fashioned, but I am a volunteer in a kindergarten public school classroom, and years ago, I located such a book (self published), and it was the most popular book in the class. Nursery rhymes are a part of our cultural heritage and are still a part of kindergarten curriculum, and it is very important for African American children to see their own reflections in these poems.
Best of luck with your venture. While there are many more books available for African American children now than there were even a dozen years ago, we’ve got a long way to go!
November 8, 2007 at 10:36 pm
I nominate the YA novel, From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun by Jacquline Woodson, and the picture books Shante’s Keys and the New Year’s Peas by Gail Piernas-Davenport and Queen of the Scene by Queen Latifah.
November 9, 2007 at 4:29 am
I nominate author Lehman Riley from Minneapolis, MN. Mr Riley has created a series book for children 7 to 12 years old titled “The Adventures of Papa Lemon’s Little Wanderers.” Papa Lemon, the neighborhood grandfather in West, Mississippi, helps 5 ethnically diverse friends learn about U.S. History by transporting them back in time via his Magical Train. There are currently 4 books in the series. The Little Wanderers visit Dr. Martin Luther King, Harriet Tubman, a Navajo Wind Talker and Babe Didrikson. The Papa Lemon books focus on diversity, intergenerational connections and adventurous history lessons for youth. The grandparents who serve as positive role models in the books are Lehman’s grandparents, Papa Lemon & Mama Sarah, in real-life.
November 9, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Walter Dean Myers is now and has always been one of my favorite authors for young adults. “Scorpions”, “Monster”, “145th Street”, “Won’t Know til I Get There”, all powerful and very realistic.
November 9, 2007 at 4:55 pm
The Making of Dr. Truelove
by Derrick Barnes is the funniest most electric romantic comedy for teens that I have ever read!
TW
November 9, 2007 at 5:56 pm
What a great site! I found out about this site through AACBWI, which I recently joined. I also see people from Verla Kay’s Chat Board commenting here! How awesome!
I want to reiterate the nomination for Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson. My 8-year-old daughter loves it!
I would also like to nominate:
Off-color by Janet McDonald (her last book, I believe, before she passed–pub. 10/07)
A sweet smell of roses by Angela Johnson
Freedom on the menu: the Greensboro sit-ins by Carole Boston Weatherford
Walking to the Bus-Rider blues by Harriet Gillem Robinet
Grandma’s General Store–The Ark by Dorothy Carter
Hope to post more later!
November 10, 2007 at 12:48 am
I would like to nominate both of the Okorafor-Mbachu YA novels-
The Shadow Speaker and Zahrah the Windseeker are superb.
November 10, 2007 at 1:38 am
Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu has a new book out– The Shadow Speaker.
Her previous book, Zahrah the Windseeker, which I love, was already submitted.
I’ll just have to mention again 47 by Walter Mosley & The Marvelous Effect by Troy CLE to emphasize the presence of fantasy and science fiction titles by African American authors.
November 11, 2007 at 7:25 pm
I would like to submit an illustrator’s name to your list.
Dawn Majewsky (pronounced may-Yef-ski). Yes, she’s black. She illustrated a children’s book entitled, “Sam’s sister.” 2003.
Richard C. James
Editor and Publisher
An African-American Perspective
PO Box 1181
Williamsport, PA 17703
http://www.rcjamesdesign.net/African-American/
November 12, 2007 at 5:30 am
Thanks so far for all of the nominations, both posted here and send via email. Please keep the nominations coming. The list is growing long, but we know it could be longer.
November 12, 2007 at 9:04 am
Not sure I’ve seen Julian Houston, New Boy, on the growing list. Not sure either how well his book did, and maybe he doesn’t qualify as an author flying under the radar either, but I sure enjoyed reading it.
November 12, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Thanks Katia for the recommendation. We’ll add New Boy to the list. It reminds me of Black Ice by Lorene Cary based on the description posted on Amazon.
There have been some great suggestions that I will be checking out for myself.
November 12, 2007 at 7:56 pm
some poets:
Lucille Clifton
Alexis De Veaux
Mari Evans
Darryl Holmes
Margaret Walker
Tom Feelings
Javaka Steptoe
Marilyn Nelson, Fortune’s Bones
Beah E. Richards, Keep Climbing, Girls
Diane Z. Shore and Jessica Alexander, This is the Dream
Belinda Rochelle
Carole Boston Weatherford, Remember the Bridge
Dorothy S. Strickland
Hope Anita Smith, The Way a Door Closes
Elizabeth Swados, Hey You! C’mere; a poetry slam
Joyce Carol Thomas, Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea
Quincy Troupe, Little Stevie Wonder
November 12, 2007 at 8:18 pm
What A Truly Cool World
Why Heaven Is Far Away - both picture books by Julius Lester
Walter Dean Myers, of course, for YA novelist. He also does picture books as well.
November 14, 2007 at 1:05 am
The Big Box by Toni Morrison
My first graders absolutely love this book. The language is perfect and the subtle changes help students see the story in a different way as it progresses.
November 14, 2007 at 1:37 am
The Neighborhood Mother Goose - Nina Crews
November 14, 2007 at 2:30 am
I like The Baptism by Shelia P. Moses and Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
November 15, 2007 at 6:33 am
I could not agree more with the organizers comment that the books for African American children could use more light-hearted stories. As a new children’s librarian I find it a chore to find picture books especially that mirror AA children or that relate them on par to the antics of “other” children. For instance i would have loved to see a book like “I ain’t gonna paint no More” cartoon like chareacters make it hared to distinguish a nationality–that’s great. Thus way it relates seamlessly. Or the approach taken in Please Baby Please where it is an AA child being depicted but in the vein of what every child can relate to. My nominations there fore will be across the board for children:
1. Please, Baby, Please by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee
2. Hewitt Anderson’s Great Big Life by Jerdine Nolen
3. My Man Blue by Nikki Grimes
By the way these days I find it hard to tell if an author is AA or not because the jacket bios don’t say. Anyone have any ideas? Names aren’t as revealing these days either. To date I just try to Google them or out of desperation I just may call the publisher.
More to come. This site is a wonderful idea. Thank you.
November 15, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Janet, interesting that you say you can’t tell if an author is AA or not. I was under the assumption that most book jackets included a head shot of the author. Even without that, it seems 95% of Af-Am book covers tend to have photo shots of African Americans. I guess that’s not always a tell-tale sign, as the author may not be black. But it seems like most times if the cover has an African American the author is as well.
My own covers are racially vague, but my head shot is on the back.
-Paula
Brown Bookshelf Member
November 17, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Vaunda Micheaux Nelson hones a fine story based on impeccable research as seen in Almost to Freedom as well as Juneteenth, which she co- wrote with Drew Nelson.
November 20, 2007 at 2:50 pm
This is such a wonderful initiative. Here are some books I’ve appreciated.
Why War Is Never a Good Idea, picture book by Alice Walker.
There Is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me by Alice Walker too. Both are picture books.
I’ve long been a fan of Faith Ringgold’s picture books, especially TAR BEACH (which is by no means new).
Edwidge Danticat’s ‘BEHIND THE MOUNTAINS’ - first person fiction published by Scholastic - as well as Anacaona: Golden Flower, Haiti, 1490 are lovely.
Other authors: Andrea Davis Pinkney, whose picture books are published by Hyperion;
November 20, 2007 at 2:53 pm
PS: Christopher Myers has been in the spotlight lately with his JABBERWOCKY rendition, but he has many more sparkling titles, including WINGS.
November 21, 2007 at 6:15 pm
A Raisin in the Sun is by far the best drama out there, but I’d like to nominate Sweet Thang by Alison Whittenburg. It was funny and moving. A real good story. Also, I loved the excellent Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry by Mildred Taylor.
November 21, 2007 at 10:31 pm
I like the book by Mary Lyons that is one of the collected Zora Neale Hurston folktales, Roy Makes a Car. It is very popular with the patrons at my library.
November 23, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Hello ,
This is indeed a fabulous web site, so creatively designed and sponsored by the best in the business. I am honored that my name has been included among so many worthy authors. I’m especially gratified to see Sabra Robinson’s, Kelly Starling Lyons’, and Don Tate III’s names in this project. Keep up the wonderful work that you do and God bless.
Eleanora E. Tate, Author
Celeste’s Harlem Renaissance
November 24, 2007 at 1:10 am
This is a great resource for parents and students alike.
My nominations are 47 by Walter Mosley, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor, Red Polka Dot in a World Full of Plaid by Varian Johnson, and The Women That Raised Me by Victoria Rowell.
November 25, 2007 at 4:22 am
Ah, I thought we were nominating only 2007 books, so I went onto Amazon to see which book would be Jerdine Nolen’s latest book. (some of her books are under her married name of Harold.) She does good books and her illustrators have been wonderful.
Her very first book, Harvey Potter’s Balloon Farm, is popular and still in print.
Her latest one is:
Pitching in for Eubie
by
Jerdine Nolen and E. B. Lewis
(Hardcover - Oct 16, 2007
Publisher: Amistad
I would also like to nominate the illustrator of two of my own books (written under the pen name of C.W. Bowie) — Fred Willingham. He does wonderful children and should be better known than he is.
-wendieO
November 25, 2007 at 11:54 pm
The Orphan Boy by Tololwa M. Mollel
Moja Means One by Muriel Feelings
A Story A Story by Gail E. Haley
A Big Spooky House by Donna Washington
Freedom on the Menu By Carole Boston Weatherford
November 25, 2007 at 11:57 pm
These are wonderful books, children love to have them read to them.
November 26, 2007 at 1:46 am
The best book I have ever read to children was the The Hundred Penny Box by Sharon Bell Mathis, Leo Diollon & Diane Dillon
Its about a 100 year black woman who has her whole life’s memories in a old penny box that her daughter in law wants to throw away.
November 28, 2007 at 3:35 pm
My favorite illustrator, although he is not necessarily flying under the radar as his work was nominated for a Caldecott, is Kadir Nelson who has worked on both Spike Lee titles; Please Baby and Please Puppy as well as Moses which is the one that was nominated for the Caldecott.
December 1, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Please feature Christopher Paul Curtis. I love his books!
Sandra
December 1, 2007 at 7:02 pm
I’d like to nominate Life Doesn’t Frighten Me by Maya Angelou, illustrated by Mean-Michael Basquiat and designed by Sara Jane Boyers. This unique picture book is as stunning as a coffee table book besides speaking to the hearts and minds of children and adults.
Kay Winters
January 15, 2008 at 5:31 pm
List looks good. Don’t know who I’m pulling for just yet:))
January 19, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Woo hoo! Fantastic, diverse list. This is going to be GREAT.
January 21, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Great list! I will definite use many of these titles and authors in my next library display. I will also add Shelia P. Moses (I Dred Scott) and Sharon Flake. Love the Brown Bookshelf!
January 22, 2008 at 6:41 pm
I love your list. I just read “Elijah of Buxton” and I loved it. Is there a way to get a poster to post in my library?
This is my new favorite site.
January 25, 2008 at 1:08 am
[...] 28 Days Later [...]
January 25, 2008 at 6:00 am
Christal, at this time the only way to get the poster is to download the PDF or jpeg. We haven’t actually printed them. Thanks so much for visiting our site and supporting our initiative.
January 28, 2008 at 7:21 am
[...] learn more about the author, be sure to visit The Brown Bookshelf. As part of their 28 Days Later project, Carole Boston Weatherford will be featured on February 20th. And if you didn’t know [...]
January 31, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Oh my goodness! What a fabulous list! Can’t wait to read, read, read.
May blessings abound on the BB!
February 1, 2008 at 6:55 am
Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this great event. I feel so humbled and honored to be showcased with such wonderful talented and creative people. And thank you for acknowledging the self-published category.
February 1, 2008 at 6:56 am
P.S. I will be talking this event up every day on my blog by featuring these authors and illustrators as well.
February 8, 2008 at 7:16 am
There is a new Children’s Books Author on the scene named Makya Stell. She is 7 years old and the author of 4 books. A portion of her proceeds goes to a scholarship fund for first-generation and low-income college students. Her Myspace page is http://www.myspace.com/310521881 Please keep her in mind for future projects on Children’s Books. I wish you all the best, Kevin M. Weeks.
February 13, 2008 at 7:43 am
I just finished YANKEE GIRL by Mary Ann Rodman. It’s a terrific intermediate grade novel about a sixth grade girl whose FBI agent father is transferred to Mississippi to protect blacks registering to vote.
I also loved LET THEM PLAY by Margot Theis Raven. It’s a picture book about a black little league team in South Carolina in the 50’s.
February 25, 2008 at 1:45 am
I would like to suggest for your collection, “Jammim’ Jerone! The Lamb Who played the Saxpphone” Written by Angelique Bey, illustrated by Cecilia Gilbert. It is a fun childrens book written by one of my new daughters by marriage.
February 28, 2008 at 7:06 pm
As a YA librarian, I’ve known about Myers for years and I enjoyed Tyrell but as an old line SF fan of Butler and Nalo Hopkinson I was particularly thrilled to hear about Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu – The Shadow Speaker keep up the good work.!
March 28, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Great website! As a middle school librarian, I will use it often. I blogged about it, too, at teenlibrarian.com. Best of luck and I’m putting many of your titles on my next order list.