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Day 28: Lori Aurelia Williams

For the 28th day of 28 Days Later, we’re happy to celebrate the works of author Lori Aurelia Williams. Williams is the author four novels, including When Kambia Elaine Flew In from Neptune (Simon and Schuster, 2000), Shayla’s Double Brown Baby Blues (S&S, 2001), and  Broken China (S&S, 2005). She holds a master’s degree in [ Read the full article… ]

Day 27: Dimitrea Tokunbo

As a writer, amateur sketcher and wannabe singer, I find myself enthralled by people who successfully develop their artistic gifts in multiple areas.  With that confession, my enthusiasm regarding Dimitrea Tokunbo will come as no surprise. Dimitrea is an author, illustrator, mural painter, graphic designer, and full-time mom. She studied illustration at the Moore College of Art for [ Read the full article… ]

Day 26: Jewell Parker Rhodes

As a kid growing up in Pittsburgh, Jewell Parker Rhodes was the one who always had a book in her hands. Books were better than dolls, she writes on her website, better than food. It’s no wonder  she wrote her first children’s book while still in  elementary school. She illustrated it and shared it with her [ Read the full article… ]

Day 24: Gwendolyn Hooks

Somebody forgot to tell Gwendolyn Hooks that right-brained thinkers aren’t supposed to be creative, or that left-brained thinkers aren’t supposed to be math-oriented.  Not that such warnings would have mattered. Gwendolyn’s passion for educating and inspiring youth would have had her employing both brain hemispheres anyway. This former middle school math teacher has written fifteen books [ Read the full article… ]

Day 23: Dia Reeves

Dia Reeves has only been on the literary scene for a little over a year, but she’s already a veteran author. Dia’s first novel, Bleeding Violet (Simon Pulse, 2010), received praise from all corners of the YA universe, with Booklist praising biracial main character, Hanna, for her “poignant, memorable voice.” In starred review, The Bulletin [ Read the full article… ]

Day 22: Sharon Dennis Wyeth

I was in my 20s when I received a book that would change my life — Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth. That was my first time seeing an African-American girl on the cover of a picture book.  Entranced, I read page after page until I reached the end. Then, I smiled, stroked the cover and read it again. [ Read the full article… ]

Day 20: Frank Morrison

Frank Morrison is an award-winning children’s book illustrator and fine artist. A few of his picture books include Sweet Music in Harlem (Lee & Low Books, 2004); Jazzy Miz Mozetta, (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004); My Feet Are Laughing, (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006);  and more recently Quacky Baseball, (HarperCollins, 2011). He’s also the illustrator [ Read the full article… ]