Podcast appearances and mentions of tonya bolden

Discover the incredible true story of how one of history's most successful potato farmers began life as a slave and worked until he was named the "Potato King of the World"!Junius G. Groves came from humble beginnings in the Bluegrass State. Born in Kentucky into slavery, freedom came when he was still a young man and he intended to make a name for himself. Along with thousands of other African Americans who migrated from the South, Junius walked west and stopped in Kansas. Working for a pittance on a small potato farm was no reason to feel sorry for himself, especially when he's made foreman. But Junius did dream of owning his own farm, so he did the next best thing. He rented the land and worked hard! As he built his empire, he also built a family, and he built them both on tons and tons and tons of potatoes. He never quit working hard, even as the naysayers doubted him, and soon he was declared Potato King of the World and had five hundred acres and a castle to call his own.From award winning author Tonya Bolden and talented illustrator Don Tate comes a tale of perseverance that reminds us no matter where you begin, as long as you work hard, your creation can never be called small potatoes. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/avant-garde-books/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/avant-garde-books/support

It's Expanding Girls' Horizons in Science and Engineering Month! Get reading recommendations to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. Check out what we talked about: Books mentioned: "STEM Lab: 25 Super Cool Projects: Build, Invent, Create, Discover" by Jack Challoner with readalike "Maker Lab Outdoors: 25 Super Cool Projects: Build, Invent, Create, Discover" by the same author. "The Only Woman in the Room" by Marie Benedict with readalike "The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post" by Allison Pataki. "Changing the Equation: 50+ US Black Women in STEM" by Tonya Bolden with readalike "Little Black Girl: Oh, the Things You Can Do!" by Kirby Howell-Baptiste. "The Chai Factor" by Ferah Heron with readalike "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus. "A Lab of One's Own: One Woman's Personal Journey through Sexism in Science" by Rita R. Colwell with readalikes "The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science" by Kate Zernike and "The Mistress of the Art of Death" series by Ariana Franklin. "The Calculating Stars: A Lady Astronaut Novel" by Mary Robinette Kowal and "Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race" by Margot Lee Shetterly. Learn more about this month-long celebration: https://www.holidaysmart.com/node/1423 Find out how you can check out e-Materials for Read an e-Book Week: https://oakcreeklibrary.org/e-books-e-audiobooks Follow us on some of our socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@oakcreeklibrary Twitter: https://twitter.com/OakCreekPubLib Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oakcreeklibrary YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0fXBQabGb_kU15q6iQpqWQ To access complete transcripts for all episodes of Not Your Mother's Library, please visit: oakcreeklibrary.org/podcast Check out books, movies, and other materials through the Milwaukee County Federated Library System: countycat.mcfls.org hoopladigital.com wplc.overdrive.com oakcreeklibrary.org

In this episode we'll be talking about why laws regarding stewardship of other peoples' money exist, how institutionalized prejudice threatened the lives and well-being of Sarah Rector and her family, and how she fought back and re-gained control of what was rightfully hers. Come meet the young millionaire who refused to let the shady people "managing" her money win! Also, we're on Patreon now! If you'd like to support us with your cash, please feel free to do so. The podcast will not be going behind a paywall of any kind, we're not doing ads, the podcast is free and always will be - this is just a way to help support the folks making it. https://www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast Sources for this episode include: Searching For Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America by Tonya Bolden, published 2014 by Abrams The Richest Black Girl in America by Dr. Lauren N. Henley Washington Post article by Sydney Trent, September 3 2022

If you are a black woman who wants to leave a legacy as a Leader, Speaker, Coach, or Consultant this episode is for you. Tonya Bolden-Ball is a bright, passionate, energetic public speaker, life coach, mentor, and community activist serving in the Lafayette, Louisiana community. With over 18 years of involvement, she has forged relationships and opportunities that have opened the door for others as well as herself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy #talktuesday! Today @theeamateurexpert is going LIVE with Tonya Bolden-Ball (@tonyabball)! Tonya is a bright, passionate, energetic public speaker, life coach, mentor, DE & I boss, and community activist serving in the Lafayette, Louisiana community. We will be discussing her career path, her ideas of success and the tips & motivators she used along the way. Audio Engineer: b_cuz Originally recorded February 15, 2022 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theeamateurexpert/support

Born as the daughter of freedmen in 1902, Sarah Rector rose from humble beginnings to reportedly become the wealthiest black girl in the nation at the age of 11. Rector and her family where African American members of the Muscogee Creek Nation who lived in a modest cabin in the predominantly black town of Taft, Oklahoma, which, at the time, was considered Indian Territory. Following the Civil War, Rector's parents, who were formerly enslaved by Creek Tribe members, were entitled to land allotments under the Dawes Allotment Act of 1887. As a result, hundreds of black children, or “Creek Freedmen minors,” were each granted 160 acres of land as Indian Territory integrated with Oklahoma Territory to form the State of Oklahoma in 1907. While lands granted to former slaves were usually rocky and infertile, Rector's allotment from the Creek Indian Nation was in r the middle of the Glenn Pool oil field and was initially valued at $556.50. Strapped for cash, Rector's father leased his daughter's parcel to a major oil company in February 1911 to help him pay the $30 annual property tax. Two years later, Rector's fortune took a major turn when independent oil driller B.B. Jones produced a “gusher” on her land that brought in 2,500 barrels or 105,000 gallons per day. According to Tonya Bolden, author of Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America (Harry N. Abrams; $21.95), Rector began earning more than $300 a day in 1913. That equates to $7,000 – $8,000 today. She even generated $11,567 in October 1913. Rector's notoriety ballooned just as quickly as her wealth. In September 1913, The Kansas City Star local newspaper published the headline, “Millions to a Negro Girl – Sarah Rector, 10-Year-Old, Has Income of $300 A Day from Oil,” reports Face 2 Face Africa. In January 1914, the newspaper wrote, “Oil Made Pickaninny Rich – Oklahoma Girl With $15,000 A Month gets Many Proposals – Four White Men in Germany Want to Marry the Negro Child That They Might Share Her Fortune.” Meanwhile, the Savannah Tribune wrote, “Oil Well Produces Neat Income – Negro Girl's $112,000 A Year”. Another newspaper dubbed her “the richest negro in the world.” Her fame became widespread, and she received numerous requests for loans, money gifts, and four marriage proposals. At the time, a law required Native Americans, black adults, and children who were citizens of Indian Territory with significant property and money were to be assigned “well-respected” white guardians. As a result, Rector's guardianship switched from her parents to a white man named T.J. Porter. Concerned with her wellbeing and her white financial guardian, early NAACP leaders fought to protect her and her fortune. In 1922, she married Kenneth Campbell, the second African American to own an auto dealership. The couple had three sons and were recognized as local royalty, driving expensive cars and entertaining elites like Joe Louis, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie at their home. They divorced in 1930 and Rector remarried in 1934. Rectors lost most of her wealth during The Great Depression. When she died at age 65 on July 22, 1967, she only had some working oil wells and real estate holdings. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unlabeled/support

Kelly and Hannah answer listener requests for book recommendations. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more YA news and recommendations, sign up for our What’s Up in YA newsletter! SHOW NOTES Short story collection. Preferably fiction and/or fun/uplifting Meet Cute: Some People Are Destined to Meet; Tales from the Inner City by Shaun Tan; Take the Mic edited by Bethany C. Morrow; Snow in Love; Hope Nation edited by Rose Brock; The Radical Element edited by Jessica Spotswood. A gift for my brother who isn’t a big reader. He’s in college, loves soccer and video games, and hasn’t enjoyed a book since reading Holes in middle school. Don’t Read the Comments by Eric Smith; Slay by Brittany Morris; The Pros of Cons by Alison Cherry; Booked by Kwame Alexander; Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez; Warcross by Marie Lu; Feed by MT Anderson. New, contemporary, socially conscious, diverse. Yes No Maybe So by Aisha Saeed and Becky Albertalli; The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert; Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusuf Salaam; Running by Natalia Sylvester; We Didn’t Ask For This by Adi Alsaid; Dear Justyce by Nic Stone. Diverse body positive books. What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillaume; Melt My Heart by Bethany Rutter; My Eyes Are Up Here by Laura Zimmermann; Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero; If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann; Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Our Radical Anatomy edited by Kelly Jensen. YA dealing with survivors of sexual abuse/pedophilia/other childhood trauma: some of my favorites that I’ve read are Sadie, Girl in Pieces, Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls, Perks of Being a Wallflower and Speak. Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson; Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough; The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith; Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn; How Dare the Sun Rise by Sandra Uwiringyimana; Wrecked by Maria Padian; Infandous by Elana K. Arnold; In The Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado. A YA book to get my friend who doesn’t really read….p.s. she really likes Disney. Disney’s Twisted Tales; Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige; Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo; Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee. One of my high school students likes mysteries and fantasy novels, but doesn’t like any “kissing” (i.e. lots of romance or a focus on a relationship). What suggestions could I give her? Goldie Vance: The Hotel Whodunit by Lilliam Rivera; Endangered by Lamar Giles; Jennifer Lynn Barnes; Karen M. McManus; Complicit by Stephanie Kuehn. A book for my 16 year old nephew who is a very particular reader. Used to love Rick Riordan but has moved on. Beyond Riordan, the only books I’ve sent him that he has actually called begging for the sequels is Scythe. He likes Agatha Christie “because it makes him think” (to figure out what is going on). I’ve tried AS King and Going Bovine, but have not gotten a reaction and all the fantasy tried and trues. Would love an idea from you! Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore; The Future will be BS-free by Will McIntosh; The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah; Warcross and Legend by Marie Lu. A contemporary with some magic and some romance, but the story does not center grief. Now and When by Sara Bennett Wealer; Displacement by Kiku Hughes; Lobizona by Romina Garber. I am looking for a fantasy novel with romance that ideally is part of an almost finished or finished series. I have already read many of the popular ones, so I guess I am looking for those that were a bit more under the radar. I have read/started the Folk of the Air Series, A Court of Thorns and Roses Series, Red Queen Series, all of Cassandra Clare, etc. and loved them all! Looking for something in that realm. Blythewood by Carol Goodman; Lost Voices by Sarah Porter; The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd; Brooklyn Brujas by Zoraida Cordova. Warm fuzzy story about family (chosen, biological, adopted, whatever) with winter holiday(s) (not necessarily Christmas, but Christmas ok) as a backdrop and a happy ending. Something wintery and hopeful. (At least something that leaves the reader with some hope.) I like a variety of things. Some writers whose work I’ve enjoyed: Katie Henry, Karen McManus, Tomi Adeyemi, Jenny Han, Nina LaCour, and too many names to list. A few books I’ve read and enjoyed because of this podcast: Agnes at the End of the World, We Are the Perfect Girl, and Orpheus Girl. 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston; The Kid Table by Andrea Seigel; The Chaos of Standing Still by Jessica Brody. A feminist book like Rules for Being a Girl. Girls Like Us by Randi Pink; The Degenerates by J. Albert Mann; Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina; Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan. Books for a 13 year-old. She loves the Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare and anything written by Rick Riordan. Recently, I loaned her my copy of With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo (one of my favorite YA authors ever) and she loved it. I’d really like to give her books in a genre she loves and one that will expand her reading material. Finding Yvonne by Brandy Colbert; New Kid/Class Act by Jerry Craft; Inventing Victoria by Tonya Bolden; Akata Witch/Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor. Something that will make me laugh, but also teach me something. The Go-Between by Veronica Chambers; Cherry by Lindsey Rosin; Unpregnant by Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan; We Are The Perfect Girl by Ariel Kaplan. I’m looking for at book for my niece (18 years old). She is not an avid reader out side required reading in school. She’s not that into fantasy and Sci fi, she likes contemporary fiction better. She might like a short story collection because 40 pages is not as daunting as 350 pages (or more if it’s a series) for a story. Books she had liked recently: They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera and Broken Things by Lauren Oliver. Try Margarita Engle, Nikki Grimes, Stephanie Hemphill, Kwame Alexander as an alternative to short stories but still with a lot of white space, as it may be less intimidating; Toil and Trouble edited by Jessica Spotswood and Tess Sharpe; Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo. I’m interested in spooky tales, thrillers, science fiction, and non-WWII fiction. No dystopias or urban fantasy, please! The most important thing to me as an aromantic asexual person is that’s there’s no significant romantic element. I don’t want the main character to have any romantic partners or to spend several pages daydreaming about their crush(es). Thanks! Pan’s Labyrinth by Guillermo del Toro and Cornelia Funke; Dread Nation by Justina Ireland; Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham; The Blood Confession by Alisa M. Libby; The Girl From The Well by Rin Chupecho; Jackaby by William Ritter; Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour. A book for my 19 year old sister who loves Wilder Girls and The Poet X. She is a fan of feminism, horror, and queerness in books. The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters; Mary’s Monster by Lita Judge; The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis; Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez; We Are The Wildcats by Siobhan Vivian; The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus. A book for my daughter. She recently told me that she is gay. I want to show her how much I love her and accept her. She loves graphic novels and has read many of the most popular ones featuring same sex relationships. Everything Noelle Stevenson! Lumberjanes, Nimona, The Fire Never Goes Out; Queer: A Graphic History by Meg John Barker and Julia Scheele; Skim by Mariko Tamaki; Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu; Kiss Number 8 by Colleen AF Venable and Ellen T. Crenshaw; Moonstruck by Grace Ellis and Shae Bragl. Something heavily folklore-based (Maggie Stiefvater or higher level of “heavily”) and LGBTQ+ please? European and Asian folklore are my favorite but I’ll be happy to dive into any other as well. Anna-Marie McLemore; A Thousand Beginnings and Endings edited by Elsie Chapman and Ellen Oh; Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco; A Curse of Roses by Diana Pinguicha; Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao; Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardost. A fantasy or science fiction novel, preferably action-packed. Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger; The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline; Cut Off by Adrianne Finley; Orleans by Sherri L. Smith. An awesome ghost story. The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco; Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn; Horrid by Katrina Leno; The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring; Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour; Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All by Laura Ruby; Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. School for Good & Evil read-alikes for 14-year-old reluctant reader. Thanks! Carry On by Rainbow Rowell; The Irregular at Magic High School manga series by Tsutomu Sato; The Black Mage by Daniel Howard Barnes; Supermutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki; A Blade so Black by LL McKinney; Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim; Liz Braswell’s Twisted Fairy Tales series; Melissa Albert’s The Hazel Wood. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Authors Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and Grace Lin answer the question Did you ever forget what to write? and a kid reviews No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in Kansas by Tonya Bolden and illustrated by Don Tate.

CHANGING THE EQUATION celebrates more than 50 women who have shattered the glass ceiling, defied racial discrimination, and pioneered in their fields. Award-winning author Tonya Bolden explores the black women who have changed the world of STEM in America. The book provides an inside look at groundbreaking computer scientists, doctors, inventors, physicists, pharmacists, mathematicians, aviators, and many more. In these profiles, young readers will find role models, inspirations, and maybe even reasons to be the STEM leaders of tomorrow. These stories help young readers to dream big and stay curious.

Welcome!We hope everyone is doing well. Today we read "Barack Obama, Son of Promise, Child of Hope" by Nikki Grimes and "The Champ" by Tonya Bolden. The stories of two trailblazing African American men are highlighted in both of these two books. As always, you can find these and more books at your local library or bookstore.

Guest Host Vanesse Lloyd Sgambati speaks with David Simon Director of the Simon Education and coordinator of the Black Book Festival in London. Also interviewed Tonya Bolden, author of Changing the Equation: 50 + Black Women in STEM. Finally Vanesse talks with Dr. Camille Gaynus, Marine Biologist who will be honored this month as part of Women's History Month.

National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson (Brown Girl Dreaming, 2014) discusses her stunning new novel, Red at the Bone. Realistic fiction at its finest, Red at the Bone thoughtfully contends with decisions, desire, consequences, gentrification, and the Great Migration, as a Brooklyn family celebrates a sonorous cotillion in their Park Slope brownstone in spring 2001. Woodson talks craft, cultural touchstones, and an artist’s debt to past and future generations. Then our editors join with their reading recommendations for the week, including books by Carol Anderson and Tonya Bolden, Toni Morrison, and Salman Rushdie.

In this week's episode we interview Tonya Bolden, experienced young adult and children's biographer, and author of Facing Frederick: The Life of Frederick Douglass, a Monumental American Man and No Small […]

This week, we're discussing narrative nonfiction and its power to help turn young readers into critical thinkers and global citizens.  Last year, we launched the Scholastic Focus imprint, dedicated to presenting young readers with true and moving stories to help them better understand themselves and the world around them.  Today, we're talking with editorial director Lisa Sandell as well as four Scholastic Focus authors: Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Deborah Hopkinson, Robert Edsel, and Lawrence Goldstone. Listen as they tell us about their compelling new books and what they hope readers will take away. Additional resources: Learn more about Scholastic Focus books Learn more about Dark Sky Rising by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., with Tonya Bolden Learn more about D-Day by Deborah Hopkinson Learn more about The Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert Edsel Learn more about Unpunished Murder by Lawrence Goldstone Guests: Lisa Sandell is the editorial director of Scholastic Focus. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., is one of the premier U.S. scholars of African-American literature and history. Gates is the head of Harvard's African-American Studies department. He is an acclaimed author and critic who has unearthed an array of literary gems; he has also hosted PBS programs such as Africa's Great Civilizations; Finding Your Roots; Black in Latin America; and the Emmy Award-winning series, The African-Americans: Many Rivers to Cross. Gates is the recipient of more than 50 honorary degrees and numerous prizes. He was one of the first recipients of the MacArthur genius grant in 1981. He was the first African-American scholar to be awarded the National Humanities Medal, was named to Time's 25 Most Influential Americans list in 1997, selected for Ebony's Power 150 list in 2009, and to Ebony's Power 100 list in 2010 and 2012. Deborah Hopkinson is an award-winning author of picture books, fiction, and nonfiction. Her nonfiction titles include Shutting out the Sky: Life in the Tenements of New York, 1880-1924, an NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book and Jane Addams Peace Award Honor Book; Titanic: Voices from the Disaster, a Sibert Medal Honor Book and YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction finalist; Courage & Defiance, Stories of Spies, Saboteurs and Survivors in World War II Denmark, a Sydney Taylor Notable Book, NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended Book, and a winner of the Oregon Book Award and Oregon Spirit Award; and  Dive! World War II Stories of Sailors & Submarines in the Pacific, which was named an NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended Book and Oregon Spirit Award honor book. Deborah lives with her family near Portland, Oregon. Visit her online at deborahhopkinson.com, and follow her on Twitter at @Deborahopkinson. Robert Edsel is the author of three books about the Monuments Men including the #1 New York Times bestseller The Monuments Men, which Academy Award winner George Clooney adapted into a feature film in 2014, and Saving Italy, also a New York Times bestseller. In 2007 he founded the Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art, which was a recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the United States' highest honor for work in the humanities. He lives with his family in Dallas, Texas. Please visit him online at www.robertedsel.com and on Twitter at @RobertEdsel. Lawrence Goldstone is the author of more than twenty books for adults, including three on Constitutional Law. His first book for young readers, Higher, Steeper, Faster—The Daredevils Who Conquered the Skies, received three starred reviews and was named one of Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2017. Goldstone's writing has been featured in The Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. Visit his website at www.lawrencegoldstone.com. Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Sound mix and recording by Daniel Jordan Edited by Mackenzie Cutruzzula Produced by Emily Morrow   

This week, we're discussing narrative nonfiction and its power to help turn young readers into critical thinkers and global citizens.  Last year, we launched the Scholastic Focus imprint, dedicated to presenting young readers with true and moving stories to help them better understand themselves and the world around them.  Today, we're talking with editorial director Lisa Sandell as well as four Scholastic Focus authors: Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Deborah Hopkinson, Robert Edsel, and Lawrence Goldstone. Listen as they tell us about their compelling new books and what they hope readers will take away. Additional resources: Learn more about Scholastic Focus books Learn more about Dark Sky Rising by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., with Tonya Bolden Learn more about D-Day by Deborah Hopkinson Learn more about The Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert Edsel Learn more about Unpunished Murder by Lawrence Goldstone Guests: Lisa Sandell is the editorial director of Scholastic Focus. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., is one of the premier U.S. scholars of African-American literature and history. Gates is the head of Harvard’s African-American Studies department. He is an acclaimed author and critic who has unearthed an array of literary gems; he has also hosted PBS programs such as Africa’s Great Civilizations; Finding Your Roots; Black in Latin America; and the Emmy Award-winning series, The African-Americans: Many Rivers to Cross. Gates is the recipient of more than 50 honorary degrees and numerous prizes. He was one of the first recipients of the MacArthur genius grant in 1981. He was the first African-American scholar to be awarded the National Humanities Medal, was named to Time’s 25 Most Influential Americans list in 1997, selected for Ebony’s Power 150 list in 2009, and to Ebony’s Power 100 list in 2010 and 2012. Deborah Hopkinson is an award-winning author of picture books, fiction, and nonfiction. Her nonfiction titles include Shutting out the Sky: Life in the Tenements of New York, 1880-1924, an NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book and Jane Addams Peace Award Honor Book; Titanic: Voices from the Disaster, a Sibert Medal Honor Book and YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction finalist; Courage & Defiance, Stories of Spies, Saboteurs and Survivors in World War II Denmark, a Sydney Taylor Notable Book, NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended Book, and a winner of the Oregon Book Award and Oregon Spirit Award; and  Dive! World War II Stories of Sailors & Submarines in the Pacific, which was named an NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended Book and Oregon Spirit Award honor book. Deborah lives with her family near Portland, Oregon. Visit her online at deborahhopkinson.com, and follow her on Twitter at @Deborahopkinson. Robert Edsel is the author of three books about the Monuments Men including the #1 New York Times bestseller The Monuments Men, which Academy Award winner George Clooney adapted into a feature film in 2014, and Saving Italy, also a New York Times bestseller. In 2007 he founded the Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art, which was a recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the United States’ highest honor for work in the humanities. He lives with his family in Dallas, Texas. Please visit him online at www.robertedsel.com and on Twitter at @RobertEdsel. Lawrence Goldstone is the author of more than twenty books for adults, including three on Constitutional Law. His first book for young readers, Higher, Steeper, Faster—The Daredevils Who Conquered the Skies, received three starred reviews and was named one of Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2017. Goldstone’s writing has been featured in The Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. Visit his website at www.lawrencegoldstone.com. Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Sound mix and recording by Daniel Jordan Edited by Mackenzie Cutruzzula Produced by Emily Morrow   

For over 20 years I have shopped at Brett Hewitt’s Positive Vibes store in Virginia Beach. One of the key things I know I can find in his store are wonderful books for African American children. Positive Vibes has a wide selection of books that I have given as gifts for nephews, nieces and friend’s children. In this episode I want to feature four children’s books I purchased from Brett’s store. Let’s start with Natasha Anastasia Tarpley’s “I Love My Hair”. This is an excellent book for a parent of an infant. In this story Keyana’s mother tells her all the ways that her hair is special and then Kenyana talks about the way she enjoys her different hair styles. The pictures and the story capture the loving relationship between Kenyana and her mother. This is a very short book that will be a favorite story for a child. The adult reading the story to a child will enjoy it and will love reading it to a child as much as the child will love reading it. “I Love My Hair” has very thick pages so it can survive a little child’s handling and chewing. The watercolor artwork by illustrator E. B. Lewis are wonderful and each picture captures the love and joy expressed in the story. I love the way this book celebrates the beauty of a black girls’ hair. This is an excellent gift for the parent of an infant girl. The next book is Crystal Swain-Bates “I’m A Big Brother”. The story focuses on the new world a young boy enters when his parents bring home his new baby brother. The new big brother tells us all the unique things about his new baby brother. Also, the differences between the baby and the older boy are described. It ends with the new big brother realizing that he will be a great big brother. This is a useful book for parents of a small child and they have a new baby on the way. The illustrations feature a friendly family of African American, so children will see themselves in this book. I can see a parent using this story to prepare a child for the new role of big brother. Another book I purchased from Positive Vibes is Margaree King Mitchell’s “Uncle Jed’s Barbershop is a wonderful story of perseverance, history and family love. The story follows Sarah Jean’s beloved Uncle Jedediah and his lifelong desire to own his own barber shop. While telling this story, Margaree Mitchell share the history of the mid 1900’s for African American families. This is a wonderful book for young readers because there is so much captured in this short story. Not only will the reader get a picture of life in the past, you will see how black families worked together to make it through tough times and share the good times. This love is captured in the story and illustrations by James Ransome. Each page and illustration will bring back memories of beloved family members who played key roles in our lives. This is such a wonderful book. Anyone who reads this will be touched by this story of family love. Finally, I want to talk about Tonya Bolden’s book “Maritcha – A Nineteenth-Century American Girl”. Ms. Bolden came across a memoir of Maritcha Remond Lyons who was born 1848 in Manhattan New York. This is a fascinating look at the life of a black family through the eyes of Maritcha during this period of history. It is great that it features a view of black life in the 1800’s that is different from the life of rural black people in the south. Tonya Bolden makes use of photos and illustrations from the time period to reinforce the story and make it real. This is a great book to share with a child. You will see the love of this family and perseverance in the face of life shattering tragedy. Tonya Bolden brings this valuable memoir to an audience of young readers and this will encourage further exploration into African American history. If you are in the area, stop by Positive Vibes and see all the great books and say hi to Brett. He has been committed to connecting African American with products that reflect their culture and history. Go to Brett's site and use the contact form to let him know about a book you want. Positive Vibes 6220 Indian River Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23464 (757) 523-1399 www.positivevibesva.com www.facebook.com/PositiveVibesVA

June 16, 2015. Two Washington D.C. high school students meet award winning author Tonya Bolden to discuss the research and writing process around her book "Capital Days: Michael Shiner's Journal and the Growth of Our Nation's Capital" (Part 1 of 3). For transcript, captions, and more information, visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=7326

June 17, 2016. Washington D.C. high school students meet award winning author Tonya Bolden to discuss the research and writing process around her book "Capital Days: Michael Shiner's Journal and the Growth of Our Nation's Capital" (Part 3 of 3). For transcript, captions, and more information, visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=7325

June 16, 2015. Two Washington D.C. high school students meet award winning author Tonya Bolden to discuss the research and writing process around her book "Capital Days: Michael Shiner's Journal and the Growth of Our Nation's Capital" (Part 2 of 3). For transcript, captions, and more information, visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=7324