I recently received advanced copies of Ron’s Big Mission (Dutton, 2009), my most recently illustrated book! It is written by Corrine Naden and the late Rose Blue. I was just as excited last week opening the mail, as I was 20 years ago when first received advanced copies of a book I’d illustrated. My first [ Read the full article… ]
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What’s New in YA Releases II?
It’s that time again, time to celebrate more young adult books published this year. Since May, several new titles have come out that are just waiting for you to pick up and read. Some of our favorite authors are back with their second or third book, inviting us to resume the next saga in their [ Read the full article… ]
Those Reader Girlz
Oh, those Reader Girlz…where do they find the time? I’m telling you, these ladies have clearly found time in a bottle and are not sharing it with the rest of us. Justina, Mitali, Dia and Lorie Ann, what’s your secret? What I’m raving about is Reader Girlz upcoming chat series. In honor of Teen Read [ Read the full article… ]
Brown…(but not) like me
Last year, a debate of sorts launched surrounding our name, The Brown Bookshelf. Not just among those visiting our site, but among BBS members as well. Why hadn’t we called the group The Black Bookshelf? After all, the founding members are African American and our primary focus is on books by and for African American readers. And [ Read the full article… ]
The 9 Faces of Cybil(s)
Mmmm…smell that? It’s the scent of rubber burning as life in the literary lane speeds up. Before you know it, there will be talk of Caldecotts, Printzes and Coretta Scott Kings. There is no better time to be an author than when the rubber meets the road and people are talking books. Whew, I almost [ Read the full article… ]
Is there too much white noise …or not enough?
Forgive me, I think I’ve spoken about this before. But I think it’s an issue worth re-discussion, if that indeed is a word. Every now and again, I suffer from internetus overloadicus. It’s bound to happen when you have a website, a Myspace, a Facebook, a blog, are a member of several Yahoo groups, regular [ Read the full article… ]
28 Days Later – 2009
A little over a year ago, I, along with four of my colleagues in the kid-lit industry, joined together to form The Brown Bookshelf – an online community charged with highlighting both established and up-and-coming African-American children’s and YA authors and illustrators. Our 2008 – 28 Days Later Campaign was a huge success, and I’m [ Read the full article… ]
A new book about Honest Abe!
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… ]