Author: Don Tate

While surfing the net today, I discovered one more Barack Obama children’s book to add to my list, Barack, written by Jonah Winter and illustrated by AG Ford (read his blog). I haven’t read the book, yet (maybe they’ll send me a review copy), but the cover illustration is off the chain. Do they still [ Read the full article… ]

My six-year-old son was a staunch Hillary supporter. I didn’t have a problem with that; I was happy his mind was open to a woman president. What bothered me, however, was his attitude toward Obama. “I don’t want a Black president,” I overheard him say to a playmate. And he got quite emotional on caucus [ Read the full article… ]

Are you an unpublished writer of children’s fiction or nonfiction, who is a person of color? It’s not too late to submit a manuscript to Lee & Low Books Ninth Annual New Voices Award. Submissions are still being accepted through October 31, 2008. See the Lee & Low Books website for more information. Congratulations to [ Read the full article… ]

A Man for All Seasons: The Life of George Washington Carver by Stephen Krensky Illustrated by Wil Clay Published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers How does a pumpkin seed become a pumpkin? Why do some plants require more sunlight than others? Even as a young child, George Washington Carver’s mind was consumed with [ Read the full article… ]

The Freedom Business Including A Narrative of the Life of Venture, a Narrative of Africa Poems by Marilyn Nelson Art by Deborah Dancy Published by Wordsong Poetry Ages: 11–14 Grades: 6–9 Pages: 72 Broteer Furro was born the son of royalty. His father was the Prince of the Tribe of Dukandarra, in Africa. At the [ Read the full article… ]

Becoming Billie Holiday By Carole Boston Weatherford Art by Floyd Cooper Published by Wordsong Poetry, (An imprint of Boyd Mills Press) From the jacketflap: “In Philadelphia, on April 7, 1915, Sadie Fagan gave birth to a daughter. She named her Eleanora. The world, however, would know her as Billie Holiday, possibly the greatest jazz singer [ Read the full article… ]

Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story Written by Janet Halfmann Illustrated by Duane Smith Published by Lee & Low Books, 2008 After I read Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story (Lee & Low Books, 2008), I knew I wanted to talk it up here at the Brown Bookshelf. But then I [ Read the full article… ]

Donavan’s Double Trouble Written by Monalisa DeGross Illustrated by Amy Bates Published by HarperCollins, 2008 Donavan’s friends say he has a math block. They say no matter what he does or how hard he tries, he won’t understand until he has some sort of a math breakthrough. Donavan knows his friends are right, but he [ Read the full article… ]