The Storytelling Life of
Virginia Hamilton
A TRUE TALE WITH
A CHERRY ON TOP
Christy Ottaviano Books
(Little Brown)
(pub.1.9.2024)
40 pages
Ages 4-8
Author and Illustrator: Nina Crews
Character: Virginia Hamilton
Overview:
"Virginia Hamilton was only nine years old when she decided she would become a writer. Growing up in the countryside of Ohio, she listened to her family’s stories and knew that words held extraordinary magic. From her childhood years discovering her love for storytelling, to her early adult life honing her craft in the city, Virginia found her voice in her writing as she began a career defined by her roots.
Through interconnected poems, this moving biography celebrates the remarkable life of the highly decorated and much beloved Virginia Hamilton. It’s a stunning tribute to a girl who dared to dream—and inspired those after her to do the same.Virginia Hamilton was only nine years old when she decided she would become a writer. Growing up in the countryside of Ohio, she listened to her family’s stories and knew that words held extraordinary magic. From her childhood years discovering her love for storytelling, to her early adult life honing her craft in the city, Virginia found her voice in her writing as she began a career defined by her roots."
Tantalizing taste:
"They snuffed and snorted and grunted.
The hogs wallowed in the mud outside the barn.
The scent of hay and manure filled the air.
She shushed and tsked and
told the hogs to be just a little bit quieter.
Didn't they know that she was writing her novel?
Virginia filled page after page of her notebook,
dove deep into the stream of her dreams,
and soon, the world around her fell quiet."
And something more: Nina Crews, in the Author's Note explains that "Each poem in this book is anchored by a single word and highlights anecdotes and themes that Hamilton shared in speeches, essays, and interviews. She believed that childhood could provide all that a writer needed to create fiction. With that in mind, I let her descriptions of people, places, and events from her younger years lead me to this re-creation of her past. Her novels provided insights as well, for even though they are not autobiographical, her childhood finds its way into many of her stories."
The Autobiography of
Mrs. Coretta Scott King
A TRUE TALE WITH
A CHERRY ON TOP
Godwin Books
(Henry Holt and Company
(pub.1.2.2)
40 pages
Ages 4-8
Author: Coretta Scott King
with the Reverend Dr. Barbara Reynolds
Illustrator: Ekua Holmes
Character: Coretta Scott King
Overview:
"This is the autobiography of Coretta Scott King––wife of Martin Luther King, Jr.; founder of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (the King Center); architect of the MLK, Jr. legacy; and global leader in movements for civil and human rights as well as peace. Learn about how a girl born in the segregated deep south became a global leader at the forefront of the peace movement and an unforgettable champion of social change.
Resilience, bravery, and joy lie at the center of this timeless story about fighting for justice against all odds."
Tantalizing taste:
"I would finish what Martin and the movement started. I decided to continue with the march in Memphis.
[There,] I spoke without notes, from the heart. I challenged the crowds to 'see that Martin's spirit never dies, and that we will go forward from this experience.'"
And something more: The book ends with these words by Coretta Scott King: "I want people to know that I was committed to leaving an eternal flame, built on love, that would never be extinguished. Love is not a program, not a political party, not a race. It is a promise with a power all its own. The contributions of Martin and me, and of those behind and before us, are the greatest witnesses I can imagine to the power of love in action.
The Dream is a work that is very much in progress. I am counting on the next generation."
A TRUE TALE WITH
A CHERRY ON TOP
Christy Ottaviano Books
(Little, Brown and Company)
(pub.1.2.2024)
48 pages
Ages 5 - 9
Author: Dinah Johnson
Illustrator: Jerry Jordan
Character: Ida B. Wells
Overview:
" Ida B. Wells grew up during a time when women did not have the right to vote. But Ida aspired for equality; she had learned from her parents to forge a life through hope and bravery, so she worked tirelessly to fight for an America that was fair to everyone regardless of race and gender. Her courageous activism made her one of the most influential civil rights leaders in American history. Here is Ida’s story with a specific spotlight on her fearless role in the Women’s March of 1913."
Tantalizing taste:
"Ever since she was a young woman, Ida had always done the right thing. The right thing now was not to follow the wishes of these white women who didn't care if she and other Black women got the vote.
The right thing now was for Ida to follow her heart and mind. She worked her way through the crowds of people along the path of the parade."
And something more: In A Note From The Author, Dinah Johnson explains that Ida B. Wells' "many invaluable contributions to society were celebrated in 1990 when the US Postal Service issued the Ida B. Wells commemorative stamp. More than a century after the Women's March of 1913, her story is as important and inspiring as ever."
