top of page
Yellow textured background

News & Reviews

The Myrlie Evers-Williams Story


A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP


image of cover of picture book biography titled A Voice of Hope about Myrlie Evers-Willaims

Philomel

(pub. 9.24.2024)

40 pages

Ages 4 - 8


Author: Nadia Salomon

   Illustrator: London Ladd


Character: Myrlie Evers-Williams


Overview :


" Myrlie Evers-Williams’ voice is gentle yet strong, soft yet powerful. It is a soaring song of hope.


Myrlie’s voice didn’t start out that way. She was born into the segregated South and the beautiful brown color of her skin made her a target for hate. It meant she didn’t have the same opportunities as white children, and that meant her dream of playing music onstage one day would be harder to achieve. But this didn’t stop Myrlie.


As she grew, she marched for equal rights alongside her husband and activist, Medgar Evers. She fought against Jim Crow laws and for voting rights. She became the chair of the NAACP, and finally she realized her dream of performing at Carnegie Hall. After that, as a voice for hope and change, Myrlie spoke at President Obama’s second inauguration, inspiring a nation."


Tantalizing taste:


"Throughout her life, Myrlie had pushed against racism. She gave much of herself to impact change – and she never forgot her grandmother's words.

On that chilly January day, on the steps of the Capitol, Myrlie reminded the world that even a quiet voice can grow powerful.

Her voice rang out like a symphony –

Strong. Soft. Soaring.

And her words echoed hope."


And something more: The author, Nadia Salomon, shared in the Author's Note: "I interviewed Myrlie Evers–Williams one day before the anniversary of her late husband Medgar Ever's death…She graciously granted the interview because I was the only journalist in the room to ask about the significance of the photos on the poster board. She spoke about her life and explained why she chose those eight specific photos. Curiosity landed me a very heartfelt conversation with Ms. Evers-Williams. I learned a lot about her, her hurt, and her life's purpose. For that, I am grateful. I made a promise to one day do something special with the interview. I share it here in picture back book format for little hands and hearts to learn about her, her family's sacrifice, and her legacy."

How Georgia O'Keefe Nourished Her Art


A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP


cover of picture book biography titled Gifts from Georgia's Garden about Georgia O'Keefe

Neal Porter Books

(Holiday House Publishing)

(pub. 3.19.2024)

40 pages

Ages 4 - 8


Author: Lisa Robinson

   Illustrator: Hadley Hooper


Character: Georgia O'Keefe


Overview:


" Most of us have heard the name Georgia O’Keeffe— she’s one of the most famous women in art history. But did you know that for most of her life, she lived on her own land in New Mexico, grew her own food, bought locally, and even made her own clothing?


Georgia’s garden and her art fed and enriched one another, just as her bean plants enriched the soil and her home-grown feasts fed her friends. In spite of the era’s prejudice against female artists, Georgia lived and thrived in her verdant sanctuary well into old age."


Tantalizing taste:


"And so,

beneath the wide skies of New Mexico,

inside adobe walls,

within this artist's imagination,

the seed of an idea took root:

to grow a garden.


A garden of her own...


Georgia grew old in her garden sanctuary,

and even when she became blind,

she continued to tend her garden and paint."


And something more: The author, Lisa Robinson, shared that "a story in the New York Times about the sale of Georgia's handwritten recipe cards inspired me to write this story. Georgia enjoyed cooking with the fruits, vegetables, and herbs she grew in her garden."


The Back Matter includes one of Georgia's cookie recipe, pecan butterballs, shown in her handwriting in the book.

Clap Your Hands for Viola Smith


A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP


cover of picture book biography titled The Fastest Drummer about Viola Smith

Candlewick Press

(pub. 3.5.2024)

40 pages

Ages 7 - 9


Author: Dean Robbins

   Illustrator: Susanna Chapman


Character: Viola Smith


Overview:


" Five girls played together in the Smith Sisters Orchestra: Irene on trombone, Erma on vibraphone, Edwina on trumpet, Mildred on violin, and Lila on saxophone. But what of the littlest sister? When Viola’s time came, almost every instrument was taken . . . except one.


When she first sat behind a drum kit, she lost the beat, made a terrible racket, and had more fun than she’d ever had before. Viola took to the road with her family, learned from the greats, formed her own band in the face of discrimination and ridicule, mastered twelve- and seventeen-piece drum kits, and played so fast she left no room for doubt: women could not only keep the beat—they could beat the odds.


At one hundred years of age, Viola was still slamming her snare and socking her cymbals."


Tantalizing taste:


"Viola practiced, practiced, practiced.

She worked on paradiddles, single stroke rolls,

double stroke rolls.


Her playing became bolder, flashier, and faster...


Women musicians got little respect in the 1930s...

They believed women could never sound as good

as men did on their instruments.


Viola had an idea for changing people's minds. She

would start her own women's band: The Coquettes!"


And something more: The author, Dean Robbins, shared in the Author's Note: "Following Viola's lead, countless women instrumentalists made their mark on popular music. They hailed her as a hero and an inspiration, marveling at her determination to keep playing to the age of 107."

Where to find Jeanne Walker Harvey books

bottom of page