Like the sunflower in her picture, Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie radiates joy. Whether greeting fellow children’s book creators or sharing with the young people she serves as an author and educator, her spirit shines with the love of connection, exploring the meaning behind every-day moments and savoring life.
Her latest picture book, WE GO SLOW, shows that joie de vivre. Called a “balm,” a “gem” and a “reminder,” it takes us on a mindful walk in a busy city neighborhood. Tallie’s lyrical story shows the power in slowing down and spending time with the people and places you hold dear. A love letter in a book, WE GO SLOW is a fitting choice for Valentine’s Day or any day.
We are delighted to celebrate Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie on Day 14.
Bio
Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie (MFA Mills College, Ph.D. Brown) is an interdisciplinary artist, poet, and scholar.
Tallie is the author of WE GO SLOW (Atheneum Books for Young Readers) which was chosen as a New York Public Library Best Book of 2025, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, and an NCTE Charlotte Huck Recommended Book. She is also the author of the Ezra Jack Keats Honor-winning children’s book LAYLA’S HAPPINESS (Enchanted Lion Books), the poetry collections Strut (Agape Editions), Karma’s Footsteps (Flipped Eye), and the epistolary work Dear Continuum: Letters to a Poet Crafting Liberation (Grand Concourse Press).
Tallie’s poetry is the subject of the film “I Leave My Colors Everywhere.” She is also featured in “Tell Me Another Story” a film about the importance of inclusivity in children’s literature.
Tallie is the mother of three galaxies who look like daughters.
The Journey
I am a poet. By the time I started writing for kids I had been getting my poetry published in literary
magazines, anthologies, and journals for some time. But after I had my first daughter I decided to start writing children’s books. Everything I wrote was rejected for years. I’m pretty determined so I kept reading, writing, and getting feedback. My husband met Claudia Zoe Bedrick who runs Enchanted Lion Books at a gathering. They began talking and it came up that she publishes children’s books. My husband told her that I write children’s books and she gave him her card saying I should contact her. Soon after that Claudia and I met up at the now closed City Bakery in Manhattan. I took some work in folders and she read it on the spot. We had a really good conversation, she was supportive of my work and some years later she published
After LAYLA’S HAPPINESS came out I started to learn more about the business of publishing. I decided to find a literary agent. It wasn’t easy to get one even after the success of Layla so I started asking people I trust if they knew agents who were open to talking to prospective clients. Once again because of friends I got to talk to some agents. I ended up deciding to work with Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Associates and Jenn sold my second book WE GO SLOW to the amazing Feather Flores at Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
The Inspiration
My children inspired me to start writing children’s books. After my first daughter was born I was shocked by how few books contained families that reflected our family (it was like that when I was a kid too) and that was when I decided to start writing for kids. I continue to be inspired by my daughters and children I meet when I do school visits. Lucille Clifton who’s one of my favorite poets wrote for children and I feel like an important part of my work is to speak to young people.
The Process
I always use pen and paper! I only go to the computer when I think I have something worthwhile and by then I’ve edited it on paper first. I like to read my work out loud to see how it sounds; that’s an editing technique that I learned from Sonia Sanchez, another of my favorite poets. I also let someone in my family read the work so I can get feedback from them.
I try my best not to edit the soul out of what I write. I want to make sure I send it to my agent kind of polished and kind of raw because it’s important for a reader to get the heartbeat of the piece and it’s important that I don’t overthink it otherwise instead of sending it out I might stuff it in a drawer because I’m afraid it’s not good enough.
The State of the Industry
Every time the Cooperative Children’s Book Center puts out their statistics I realize what a feat it is to get a book about Black children published.
I also realize that so much of publishing can be who you know or who knows you and I find that difficult. I recommend going to conferences like KWELI because it’s a great space where you can meet agents, editors, and other writers. You’ll need different types of support to reach your goals in art and in the publishing business. Even though writing is something you often do by yourself you need an entire ecosystem of folks to get the work out into the world but building community is a very different thing than just using people to get your career happening. I love the ways that I see folks building intentional community.
The Buzz
WE GO SLOW
- NCTE Charlotte Huck Outstanding Fiction Recommended Title
- Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Text
- ALA Notable Children’s Book
“Via spare, poetic language as well as watercolor and pencil illustrations that take hazy, desaturated hues, Tallie and Becker celebrate the time shared between a child and caretaker as they together meander through a metropolitan neighborhood. . . . Whether viewed as a depiction of mindfulness in practice or the quiet joys of together time, this tender story is a reminder of the importance of being in the world with unhurried attention and open hearts.”– Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
LAYLA’S HAPPINESS
“Well-illustrated poetry of the best kind that will leave sunshine in its wake.” – Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW
CONNECT:
Website: https://www.ekeretallie.com/
IG: @sageekere_