Author: Don Tate

I received two very cool books in the mail today, Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln, written by Doreen Rappaport and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. And We Are The Ship, written and illustrated by Kadir (I already have this book, but shhh!). So what’s up with the Kadir books? I’ve been granted the [ Read the full article… ]

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Are you an unpublished writer of children’s fiction or nonfiction, who is a person of color?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… ]