The Black Creators Series

Listen to our first ever LIVE episode of the Black Creators Series podcast. You can listen straight from our ALA Annual panel, featuring four legendary children's book creators in discussion with Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul, best-selling author, founder of Red Clay Educators, and cofounder of the Institute for Racial Equity in Literacy. Briana Mukodiri Uchendu , the Coretta Scott King–John Steptoe New T...

Early childhood educator Jamel C. Campbell addresses a common fear that children all over the world experience at the start of a new school year in his debut picture book, Olu's Teacher . This sweet, reassuring story is paired with the gentle, welcoming illustrations of Lydia Mba. Listen in as he talks with Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul, New York Times best-selling author and founder of Red Clay Educators...

Arlène Elizabeth Casimir is an educator, consultant, healer, herbalist, and writer. Her debut picture book, Back Home: Story Time with My Father , illustrated in lush, enchanting colors by artist Ken Daley, is a love letter to her parents' birthplace and to the ways storytelling can bring us together. Listen in as she talks with Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul, New York Times best-selling author and founder...

Ten-Word Tiny Tales is UK Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho's m agnificent compendium of twenty stories, each illustrated by a different artist and each just ten words long—as much a work of art as an invitation to budding writers. His young adult novel in verse, The Boy Lost in the Maze , is a spellbinding blending of the ancient myth of Theseus and the Minotaur with the quest of a modern-day tee...

Shade Lapite is British-Nigerian and has drawn on her heritage to create the world of her debut middle-grade novel, Goddess Crown , the first in a thrilling Afro-fantasy series set in the lush, opulent kingdom of Galla. Listen in as she talks with Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul, New York Times best-selling author and founder of Red Clay Educators, about her work and the profound and inspiring ways it can b...

Carole Boston Weatherford is a New York Times best-selling author and poet of award-winning books for children. Her picture book How Do You Spell Unfair? MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee , illustrated by the talented Frank Morrison, is the story of young spelling champion MacNolia Cox's groundbreaking achievement in the face of discrimination. Listen in as she talks with Dr. Sonja Cherry...

Born in Britain and raised on the tiny island of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Monique James-Duncan is passionate about writing literature with mirrors so all children can feel seen. Her publishing debut, Mommy Time , illustrated by Ebony Glenn, is an ode to mothers—particularly the largely unseen African American stay-at-home mother. Listen in as she talks with Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul, New York Tim...

Through writing, organizing, and facilitating, author Phoebe Sinclair strives to create space and opportunities for people to listen deeply, speak from the heart, and feel heard. Featuring zines crafted by award-winning illustrator Theodore Taylor III, her debut novel, Confessions of a Candy Snatcher , relates an emotive, reflective story about the wonder—and mess—of growing up. Listen in as she t...

Christine Platt is an author and advocate who believes storytelling is a tool for social change. Her engaging first chapter-book series, Frankie and Friends, is a refreshing portrayal of Black women in journalism in which her young protagonist, Frankie, explores big ideas such as racial injustice and activism with her supportive family. Listen in as Christine talks with Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul, New...

Filmmaker and award-winning author, David Barclay Moore infuses history with wry folk wisdom, metaphorical power, and a splash of magic in his bold and original tale Carrimebac . The Civil War may be over, but times are not substantially improved for the freed Black citizens of Walkerton, Georgia. With exquisite cinematic illustrations by John Holyfield, Carrimebac is a portrait of Black endurance...

Seasoned author of adult crime fiction Aya de León pits a teen spy against the ominous workings of a white nationalist in Undercover Latina , her debut book for younger readers. This fast-paced upper-middle-grade novel is smart, entertaining, and politically astute. Listen in as Aya de León talks with Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul, New York Times best-selling author and founder of Red Clay Educators, abou...

From his childhood in Senegal to his career in the NBA, Tacko Fall's inspiring story of practice, persistence, and hard work will motivate young readers to overcome obstacles and aim high—and higher still. Listen in as he shares his story with Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul, New York Times best-selling author and founder of Red Clay Educators.

Award-winning author Linda Williams Jackson centers her middle-grade novel The Lucky Ones around the historical touchstone of Robert Kennedy's southern "poverty tour," and pulls from her own childhood in the Mississippi Delta to tell a detail-rich and poignant story with memorable characters—sure to resonate with readers who have ever felt constricted by their circumstances. Listen in as she conve...

Author Atinuke was born in Ibadan, a city in southwestern Nigeria, and moved to Lagos with her family when she was five. She spent much of her childhood in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom, where she attended boarding school. She is the author of many books for young readers including the picture books Baby Goes to Market ,  B Is for Baby , and  Catch That Chicken! ; the early chapter book seri...

Every generation inherits the problems created by the ones before them, but no generation will inherit as many problems—as many  crises —as the current generation of young people. But change, even revolution, is possible; you just have to know where to start. In  Better Than We Found It , best-selling author Frederick Joseph and debut author Porsche Joseph make the case for addressing some of the...

Greg Neri is a filmmaker, poet, and Coretta Scott King honor–winning author whose many books for young readers include Ghetto Cowboy , a thoughtful and entertaining coming-of-age story that was adapted into the Netflix film Concrete Cowboy , and the equally moving follow-up, Polo Cowboy . Listen in as he talks with Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul, New York Times best-selling author and founder of Red Clay E...

Rhiannon Giddens is an acclaimed musician, singer, songwriter, and cofounder of the traditional African American string band the Carolina Chocolate Drops. She has long used her art to mine America's musical past and manifest its future, passionately recovering lost voices and reconstructing a nation's musical heritage. Her debut picture book,  Build a House,  written as a song to commemorate the 1...

Uplifting , touching , charming , and a delightful multigenerational tale are just some of the ways reviewers have described Janet Costa Bates's newest picture book about the loving bond between a grandfather and his grandson. Listen in as Janet Costa Bates speaks with Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul about Time for Bed, Old House and the powerful ways it can live in classrooms.

Author of Hoop Queens and its companion, Hoop Kings , as well as Pick-Up Game , Chameleon , and Twelve Rounds to Glory —which was a Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor Book—Charles R. Smith Jr. talks about his new book, Hoop Kings 2: New Royalty , with Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul as they discuss the powerful ways it can be used in classrooms to inspire students.

Join author and acclaimed artivist De Nichols as she speaks with Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul about her book Art of Protest: Creating, Discovering, and Activating Art for Your Revolution , a thought-provoking look at protest art.

When We Say Black Lives Matter is a picture book celebration behind the true meaning of the words Black Lives Matter . Join award-winning author-illustrator Maxine Beneba Clarke as she converses with Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul about her latest picture book and the profound and inspiring ways it can be used in classrooms.

Elite athlete and Netflix documentary star Zion Clark joins Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul to discuss his extraordinary and deeply inspirational authorial debut, Zion Unmatched ; his upcoming projects; and the powerful messages they bring to classrooms.

Multiple-award-winning illustrator Eric Velasquez speaks with Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul about his latest work, ¡Mambo Mucho Mambo! The Dance That Crossed Color Lines , a picture book that portrays the power of music and dance to transcend racial, religious, and ethnic boundaries.

National Book Award Finalist Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party's Promise to the People puts the Panthers in the proper context of Black American history. It invites a new generation of readers grappling with injustices in the United States to learn from the Panthers' history and courage, inspiring them to take their own place in the ongoing fight for justice. Listen in as author Kekl...

Suspenseful , absorbing , powerful , unflinching , extraordinary , and rich are just some of the ways reviewers have described the fictionalized childhood story of literary genius Zora Neale Hurston written by Victoria Bond and T. R. Simon. Listen in as the authors speak with   Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul about their inspiration for the Zora and Me trilogy and the important history and messages within t...