Angela Dalton is a children’s book author from Oakland, California. In addition to writing books for young readers, she has also created online kids’ games, and is developing a puppet video series and a story time video program.
Bio
Angela Dalton is an award-winning author of children’s literature whose work has been recognized by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, Jane Addams Peace Association, Northern California Book Awards, and other esteemed organizations. Her titles include If You Look Up to the Sky, Ruby’s Reunion Day Dinner, Show the World!, To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Civil Rights, and her 2025 debut early reader, Freedom Celebration: A Juneteenth Party She has two forthcoming early readers for a new series releasing with HarperCollins in 2027.
The Journey: My Path to Publishing
(Image: If You Look Up to the Sky)
I self-published my first book, If You Look Up to the Sky, the winter of 2017 and received my first Kirkus starred review. The process taught me so much about the business of bookselling, but when I say it was a lot of work! Friend. I knew I had more stories to tell, but I did not have another Kickstarter campaign in me, so I decided to try traditional publishing. The collaborative nature of having an agent to champion your work for you sounded wonderful. I decided to seriously commit to learning more about craft and the children’s publishing community.
In 2018, after the papercuts had finally healed from mailing almost two hundred Kickstarter backer awards, I typed out queries to agents with a manuscript I was in love with at the time. I heard back from one agent who expressed interest and then ghosted me. I didn’t take it personally, things happen. I then sent it to three publishers who were accepting unagented work at the time and heard nothing. I put the story away and really questioned whether I should be doing this.
After a short break, I developed new stories and submitted them to a mentor/mentee program, which I didn’t get selected for, but the author I submitted to offered to give my work a critique – and that changed everything. This amazingly kind-hearted author gave me great feedback and said that, with a few tweaks, she felt it was ready to query. So, I opened my spreadsheet and selected my “Top Five” agents and quickly tailored and sent queries to them. Out of the six agents queried, I received four rejections, and two offers of representation. Mary Cummings of Great River Literary became my agent and we went on to publish three picture books and one early reader together. Like they say, it only takes one “yes.”
The Inspiration: Who/What Inspired Me
(Image: To Boldly Go)
“Go within every day and find the inner strength so that the world will not blow your candle out.” – Katherine Dunham; Dancer, choreographer, 1909 – 2006
Black people inspire me. Every day. There is no place or space that we do not impact with our gifts, knowledge, and strength. Our history is proof of what we can and will accomplish. This belief is what motivated me to tell the story of Nichelle Nichols, her role as the iconic Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek, and her seismic influence on American, film and television, and space exploration histories. Like so many others, I was inspired by how Nichols allowed us to see ourselves standing boldly and to embrace that the future is Black.
(Image: Freedom Celebration)
I am also inspired by a love for our stories of joy and resilience, which came from my father. He was an avid reader, and he loved telling me about the books he was reading or the authors he admired, and why he admired them, when I was a child. He taught me how to use books to create and build my own identity when I was in spaces that refused to let me see my own reflection. I pour all of this into my own work and am honored that my perspective continues to be accepted, valued, and included into the beautifully diverse chorus of our diaspora.
THE BUZZ: Reviews and Media Links
If You Look Up to the Sky
“Fosters familial connection and resilience; told in luxurious prose with illustrations worth framing.” – Kirkus Reviews, starred review
To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights
2024 Northern California Book Awards, To Boldly Go Nomination Interview (it was a winner!): Video
“This stirring tribute to a rare actor and the iconic role she played on “Star Trek” should be a welcome addition for all collections.” – School Library Journal
Freedom Celebration: A Juneteenth Story
“A comprehensive overview of this celebration in language that is easy for emerging readers. Highly recommended for all collections.” – School Library Journal
Social Links
https://angeladalton.com/newsletter/
Under the Radar:
Carmen Rubin is an acclaimed author, historian, playwright, and advocate. I’m incredibly honored to call a my dear friend. Her debut picture book (illustrated by Matt Williams), A Night for the Rice Carriers, releases August 8th, 2026 and it is beautiful. Do not sleep on this one.
Seina Wedlick is an award-winning author whose books celebrate the beauty of Nigerian and Nigerian-American culture. Her books The Night Market, Naming Ceremony, and Space for Everyone are among some of my favorites to have released in the last few years.