BENJAMIN BANNEKER: A COLONIAL GENIUS SHINING IN THE DARKNESS, wonderfully illustrated by Santosh Neogi, will be published in Core Knowledge’s “Voices in History” biography series this fall. I so enjoyed learning about Banneker, who was born free in 1731. He was a farmer, a self-taught astronomer and mathematician who is best known for lending his scientific abilities when the U.S. capitol was first being surveyed. He used astronomy and math to write the stuff of almanacs, one of which he boldly sent, along with a personal letter, to Thomas Jefferson, then Secretary of State, as proof of what men with African ancestry could do, if only given the opportunity.
Thomas Jefferson wrote Banneker back: ."..no body wishes more than I do to see such proofs as you exhibit, that nature has given to our black brethren, talents equal to those of the other colours of men..."
Part of a series of biographies for young readers in fifth grade, these books are designed to shine the light on several people from the margins of U.S. history.--all of whom displayed bravery, ingenuity, strength, and determination.
Thomas Jefferson wrote Banneker back: ."..no body wishes more than I do to see such proofs as you exhibit, that nature has given to our black brethren, talents equal to those of the other colours of men..."
Part of a series of biographies for young readers in fifth grade, these books are designed to shine the light on several people from the margins of U.S. history.--all of whom displayed bravery, ingenuity, strength, and determination.
Free for download HERE.
Thanks to my editor at Capstone, I wrote my very first graphic novel script, and it was super fun, too, very different from other formats. Trying to visualize every detail on the page was an interesting challenge, but seeing the end result--the call outs, dialogue bubbles, text descriptions, and illustrations by Oscar Herrero all turned into a real story narrative was super exciting for me! And I hope that kids will find FULL-COURT DRAMA: A BASKETBALL GRAPHIC NOVEL about Aiden who finds himself frustrated with Chloe, a new team member who can't play as well as he can, an enjoyable read too. One in a Slam Dunk series, FULL-COURT is forthcoming from Capstone August 2023. It has instructions on how to read a graphic novel, fun after-read activities, and a story meant to power up reluctant early readers, motivate budding writers, and inspire SEL learners.
Preorder your classroom copy HERE.
Who would have imagined I'd be writing a story like POTTY PARTY!, and a board book at that? Not me! But it was a delightful challenge, especially since my grandson was potty training when I was commissioned to write it. This super fun and vibrant story, illustrated by Olivia Duchess, and publishing by LB Kids, an imprint of Little, Brown, June 2023, touches on all aspects of potty training, including feeling the need to go, sitting and waiting, and picking out underwear.
Preorder your trainer a copy HERE.
Working on this entry for an educational publisher was super exciting! I researched all kinds of wacky weather and learned about the strangest of phenomena that we earthlings deal with nowadays, including tumbleweed storms. The things you'll discover that you never knew you'd discover when working on assignment!
For five years. I curated the content for the Highlighter, the ezine serving the Mid-Atlantic region of SCBWI. I was handed a blank content sheet, and from there created all kinds of kidlit features, wrote gobs of informative copy, and ensured each issue was chock full of the kidlit awesomeness that belongs to our members.
Having so many Mid-Atlantic SCBWI members, as well as members from other regions, express appreciation and gratitude for the newsletter made it worthwhile. I was especially blown away when, as a thank-you, the amazing Meg Medina had her publisher send me a copy of her lovely book EVELYN DEL REY IS MOVING AWAY, and the talented Jacqueline Jules did something similar. Serving others is a lovely privilege!
While it's true, I will miss working with my amazing coeditors, Susan VanHecke (who rocks socks with her red pen), and Tami Traylor (who rocks all things layout and design). I won't miss the maddening hours I spent curating the content for our ezine each quarter. After the fall issue of 2021, we decided to move on, leaving the Highlighter in other capable hands.
If you're an SCBWI member, you won't regret logging into SCBWI to check out our team's publication, published from 2017 through 2021. It might just take your breath away! Every issue took mine.
Having so many Mid-Atlantic SCBWI members, as well as members from other regions, express appreciation and gratitude for the newsletter made it worthwhile. I was especially blown away when, as a thank-you, the amazing Meg Medina had her publisher send me a copy of her lovely book EVELYN DEL REY IS MOVING AWAY, and the talented Jacqueline Jules did something similar. Serving others is a lovely privilege!
While it's true, I will miss working with my amazing coeditors, Susan VanHecke (who rocks socks with her red pen), and Tami Traylor (who rocks all things layout and design). I won't miss the maddening hours I spent curating the content for our ezine each quarter. After the fall issue of 2021, we decided to move on, leaving the Highlighter in other capable hands.
If you're an SCBWI member, you won't regret logging into SCBWI to check out our team's publication, published from 2017 through 2021. It might just take your breath away! Every issue took mine.
SCBWI members, you can find the Highlighter archive HERE.
Gilbert Hunt was an enslaved blacksmith who saved twelve women from the Richmond Theater Fire in 1811. I first read about Gilbert's heroic act while researching another man of color who lived in Richmond, Virginia, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. Little did I realize, how researching Gilbert's life would touch my very core. When I discovered Gilbert's story of heroic rescue was not included among the wonderful encyclopedic resource, ENCYCLOPEDIA VIRGINIA, I wrote the editors to say how much it needed to be included there. I also mentioned that I had just completed my research regarding Gilbert for a children's picture book biography, ARMS OF IRON, and that I could write the entry. I was delighted and honored when I was commissioned to do so! And though I thought my research was complete, little did I realize how very wrong I was. Digging deeper for this entry uncovered details of Gilbert's life, a treasure trove of documented history, that I hadn't realized I missed.
Read Gilbert's entry HERE.
©2015 Cricket Media, all rights reserved.
This poem about a little boy who's all dressed up and ready to go someplace special. But once outside, he must decide between staying all spiffy or jumping into a marvelously splooshy mud puddle. It was beautifully laid out alongside the delightful illustrations of Sairom Moon--a most-amazing, Korean artist--on pages 16 & 17 of the September 2015 issue of LADYBUG: The Magazine for Children, an award-winning imprint of Cricket Media.
Lorny Adams, one small girl amongst a slew of cow-roping brothers, had a burro. Though the poor thing looked more like a moth-eaten carpet than it did a useful donkey, to Lorny that burro was the most beautiful creature in all of New Mexico. As sure as lizards run, it was the best friend Lorny could ever have. So when a drought blew its dry breath on the Adams’ ranch, it was up to Lorny to keep her burro fed. Lorny's Burro is a short story based on a true story that appeared in Frontier Tales, January 2015, issue #64.
Being mean ain't in nobody’s blood.
Reckon folks will argue that one until there's no more moonshine on the mountains. But that's what Billy's sister, Sarah the Twerp, believes. And Billy wants to believe it, too. After all, he's been penned in by a violent past, and that makes him worried. Will he become violent, too, like his Pa?
It doesn't take much for Sarah to convince Billy that they ought to free Tonto & Silver, their pit bull pups, from a future of dog-fighting. And maybe, just maybe, they'll change their own futures while they are at it.
Freedom Pen is a fast-paced, middle-grade novella set in 1941 rural Virginia. It contains the lovely work of illustrator Ernie D'Elia. Freedom Pen was published in September 2012 by Pugalicious Press, a new publishing venture that unfortunately closed its doors just three months after Freedom Pen's release.
Nonetheless, Billy would still love to meet you over at his website. You're sure to enjoy reading a review of Freedom Pen over at Project Middle Grade Mayhem.
And who knows? Maybe one of these days I'll breathe new life into Billy and Sarah's story by refashioning it into a graphic novel!
Reckon folks will argue that one until there's no more moonshine on the mountains. But that's what Billy's sister, Sarah the Twerp, believes. And Billy wants to believe it, too. After all, he's been penned in by a violent past, and that makes him worried. Will he become violent, too, like his Pa?
It doesn't take much for Sarah to convince Billy that they ought to free Tonto & Silver, their pit bull pups, from a future of dog-fighting. And maybe, just maybe, they'll change their own futures while they are at it.
Freedom Pen is a fast-paced, middle-grade novella set in 1941 rural Virginia. It contains the lovely work of illustrator Ernie D'Elia. Freedom Pen was published in September 2012 by Pugalicious Press, a new publishing venture that unfortunately closed its doors just three months after Freedom Pen's release.
Nonetheless, Billy would still love to meet you over at his website. You're sure to enjoy reading a review of Freedom Pen over at Project Middle Grade Mayhem.
And who knows? Maybe one of these days I'll breathe new life into Billy and Sarah's story by refashioning it into a graphic novel!
(c) Ernie D'Elia, 2012
"I enjoyed reading this short and approachable book for young readers and dog lovers! It's a nice slice of life novella with a good sense of place. Young readers will certainly understand the main character's desire to save puppies from dog fighting. Dionna Mann has a lovely way with words!"
Kathryn Erskine, author of Mockingbird, a National Book Award Winner
"I enjoyed reading this short and approachable book for young readers and dog lovers! It's a nice slice of life novella with a good sense of place. Young readers will certainly understand the main character's desire to save puppies from dog fighting. Dionna Mann has a lovely way with words!"
Kathryn Erskine, author of Mockingbird, a National Book Award Winner