KRLemmons African American Young Adult Literature

New YA Author: Valerie Day-Sanchez

Edith's avatarCotton Quilts Edi

I really enjoy networking on Twitter because I’m able to meet people like author Valerie Day-Sanchez. She recently interviewed me on her blog and, isn’t turnabout fair play?

I thought I’d try out my 2014 word [SHINE] and ask  Valerie What makes you shine? What do you do that makes you feel vital and gives you energy?What delights you?

When are you able to get in the flow and have your writing (or other talents) flourish?

Shine…what makes me light up, feel inspired, makes me rejoice or simply get out of bed in the morning? Aside from my awesome husband and my gorgeous boys there is one thing that motivates and drives me. One thing that gives me the inspiration to write, gives me the energy to chase my kids, and teach and that is possibility.
The idea that really anything is possible, the realization that there…

View original post 327 more words

KRLemmons African American Authors, African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature

The Brown Bookshelf 28 Days Later Day 16: Kelli London

Kelli London, author of seven young adult novels, is spotlighted today in The Brown Bookshelf 28 Days Later.  Her titles include: Charly’s Epic Fiascos, Reality Check, Star Power, Boyfriend Season, Cali Boys, and Uptown Dreams.  Her most recent book is the fourth in the Charly’s Epic Fiascos series, Beware of Boys. Read more about this prolific writer here.

KRLemmons African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature, Children's literature

2014 African American Read-In

The National Council of Teachers of English is celebrating its 25th Annual African American Read-In.  Information about this event can be found by clicking here.

Churches, community organizations, schools, libraries and bookstores can participate in this event.  The event can be simple or elaborate, with the focus on literacy, using any works written by African Americans.  The event must be held during the month of February.  After the event, a brief report must be submitted to NCTE.

 

KRLemmons African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature, Children's literature

The Brown Bookshelf Day 1 of 28 Days Later

The Brown Bookshelf, a group of African American children’s and young adult authors and illustrators, hosts it annual 28 Days Later.  28 Days Later showcases some of the best African American children’s and young adult authors and illustrators.

Day 1 features Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of human rights activists, the late Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz.  She is the author of Growing Up X and a children’s book, Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X.  Read more about Ms. Shabazz by clicking here.

KRLemmons African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature, Children's literature

ALA Youth Media Awards You Might Not See Elsewhere

Edith's avatarCotton Quilts Edi

edited

I’m still at ALA with one more day for Best Fiction in Young Adult committee meetings. We have a few more books to discuss, then we vote on what books to add to the list and what books need to be in our Top Ten. Flights are getting canceled all over the country, so I’m hoping one more day here will get me home with no delays.

In the meantime, I’m finding out that a few of the books awards just aren’t getting posted to ALA sites. I’m excited about these well deserving titles and am going to post all the Ethnic Awards right here in one place. Much congratulations to all the winners that I’m so happy to mention.

The organizations sponsoring awards announced yesterday have varying relationships with the American Library Association. American Indian Library Association, Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association, Black Caucus of ALA,

View original post 673 more words

KRLemmons African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature, Children's literature

Coretta Scott King Book Awards

Later this month, the 2014 Coretta Scott King Book Award Committee will announce the authors and illustrators recipients.  “The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.  The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.”

I look forward to hearing the announcements.  This announcement, as well as others, are part of the American Library Association Youth Media Awards.  Many of us have called these awards the Academy Awards for authors and illustrators.  These award winning books and media not only honors the authors and illustrators, but also tells the world that these are books that should  be read.  

Some time ago, I challenged myself to read the honor and award books from the Coretta Scott King Book Awards list http://www.ala.org/emiert/coretta-scott-king-book-awards-all-recipients-1970-present   So I shall continue the challenge this year, and begin to read these books.  If you do not have a reading challenge, and there are many, you can certainly join me in this challenge!

Happy reading!

KRLemmons African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature

2013 African American Fiction for Teens

elliottzetta's avatarFledgling

It’s that time of year again! Edi Campbell kindly gave me her list of 2013 books by PoC (people of color) and I pulled out the fiction books by Black authors (middle grade and young adult). As always, if you see that we’ve missed a title, please let us know. I have not added titles from Saddleback Educational Publishing, a press devoted to hi-lo fiction for teens. You can find Saddelback’s Black authors on our 2011 and 2012 lists. Two of the titles are reprints. Walter Dean Myers, outgoing National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, had a good year with 3 titles; Amar’e Stoudemire and Kelli London had 2 titles each, as did Ni-Ni Simone and Amir Abrams. How many of the remaining authors made their debut in 2013? Less than ten, by my count. According to a recent article in New York Magazine, there were over…

View original post 461 more words

KRLemmons African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature, Resources

Happy Birthday, Zora Neale Hurston!!!!

Zora Neale Hurston was born on January 7.  She was a novelist, folklorist, and short story writer, who claimed Eatonville, Florida as her birthplace. Although she is well known for her novel is “Their Eyes Were Watching God”, she has written other works as well, such as “Mule Bone”, “Jonah’s Gourd Vine”, “Moses, Man of the Mountain”, to name a few.

A couple of resources on this influential writer include:  http://zoranealehurston.com, http://www.biography.com/people/zora-neale-hurston-9347659

Every year in Eatonville, Florida, there is a Zora Neale Hurston festival.  Now celebrating its 25 year, this year’s festival is a weeklong celebration featuring celebrities, workshops, special events and more.  For more information, go to http://zorafestival.org