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

R.I.P. Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

December 5, 2013, Nelson Mandela joined the ancestors.  He was a tireless leader for human rights and social justice.  He left a legacy, in words and in deeds, for us to emulate.

Some of his books are listed below:

Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela                                                                                                                     How Far From Slaves We Come (co-written with Fidel Castro)                                                         In the Words of Nelson Mandela                                                                                  Conversations with Myself (co-written with Barack Obama)                                         Mandela’s Way (Lessons on Life, Love and Courage) co-written with Richard Stengel) Mandela: An Illustrated Autobiography

Children’s books on Nelson Mandela:                                                                                     Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson                                                                                             Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom by Chris van Wyk, Paddy Bouma

The Library of Congress has digital resources on Nelson Mandela.  Go to loc.gov and search “Nelson Mandela”

President Obama eloqently spoke on the passing of Nelson Mandela.  The link is below: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/12/05/president-obama-delivers-statement-passing-nelson-mandela

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

December Releases

YA Books written by authors of color.

Edith's avatarCotton Quilts Edi

In 2012, I listed 102 YA books written by authors of color. This year, 81. I’m certain I’ve missed some.

For example, in September I missed Antigoddess by Kendare Blake.Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health. Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god. 

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just…

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

Ann Petry and The Street

On this day, Ann Petry was born, and would later write a classic novel, The Street.  This novel explores issues of race, class, gender, motherhood, and more in 1940s Harlem.

A few resources are listed below.

NPR: http://www.npr.org/2008/06/16/91556698/an-unflinching-street-view-of-the-american-dream

PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americannovel/video/ANthestreet.html

Voices From the Gaps: http://voices.cla.umn.edu/artistpages/petryAnn.php

KRLemmons African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature, Children's literature, Lesson Plans, Resources

Happy Birthday, Toni Morrison!

Toni Morrison was born February 18, 1931, in Lorain, Ohio.  For more information about this award-winning author, click on the following links:

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/profiles/m/toni-morrison.html

http://www.biography.com/people/toni-morrison-9415590

http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5262

For lesson plans and ideas for using Toni Morrison’s book, Beloved, click on Thinkfinity, and type in Beloved in the search box.