ANSWER: Sometimes I get an idea from my very own life. "Always My Dad" is about a girl who doesn't see her dad very often. When I was little, I didn't see my dad often either.
I was very close to my mom, so in many of my stories the mother is an important character. So are grandparents! I had lots of fun with mine.
I also get ideas from research. "Once on This River" is about the life of African Americans in colonial New York. I got the idea for the book from an old document I discovered in a library.
"Freedom's Wings" is about the Underground Railroad. I read lots of history, while I was writing the book.
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"Something Beautiful"
A little girl longs to see beyond the scary sights on the sidewalk and the angry scribbling in the halls of her building. When her teacher writes the word beautiful on the blackboard, the girl decides to look for something beautiful in her neighborhood.
All Ages.
"SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL," illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet
Bantam Doubleday Dell, NY ISBN 0-385-32239-9
Thirteen-year-old Mahalia Moon holds her life together with the help of good people after her loving family falls apart.
Grades 4 - 8.
Alfred A Knopf, NY ISBN 0-679-88535-8;
Jacket Illustration Copyright, Allan Garns
"Orphea Proud "
As Orphea Proud shares her story on stage, powerful questions of family, prejudice, and identity are explored. In a society that is often ruled by convention, Orphea’s honest and gripping tale will be an inspiration to all those who champion individuality. Ages 14 and up.
Delacorte Press, NY ISBN 0-385-32497-9.
Jacket Illustration Copyright, John Ritter
Jacket Design by Angela Carlino
"Freedom's Wings" Corey's Underground Railroad Diary, Book 1
The diary of Corey Birdsong, a nine-year-old enslaved boy, living in Kentucky in 1857. Corey records daily life on the Hart farm and his escape on the Underground Railroad. Grades 3-5.
Scholastic, ISBN 0-439-14100-1.
Cover portrait by Glenn Harrington
"Flying Free" Corey’s Underground Railroad Diary, Book 2
Corey Birdsong’s diary continues as he and his family make a new life as free people in Canada.Grades 3-5.
Scholastic, ISBN 0-439-36908-8.
Cover portrait by Glenn Harrington
"Message in the Sky" Corey’s Underground Railroad Diary, Book 3
Corey Birdsong’s diary continues in Canada, where he becomes active with the Underground Railroad. Grades 3-5.
Scholastic, ISBN 0-439-37058-2.
Cover portrait by Glenn Harrington
"Always My Dad"
For a girl whose daddy doesn't live at home, times can be tough. But then there are the times when Daddy visits-like one magical summer! All Ages.
Alfred A. Knopf, NY ISBN 0-679-83447 and 0-679-88934-5
"ALWAYS MY DAD," illustrated by Raul Colon
"Once on This River"
While on a trip with her mother from Madagascar to New York in 1760, eleven-year-old Monday De Groot, a free child of color, learns the horror of slavery and the truth about her American family. Grades 4 - 8.
"ONCE ON THIS RIVER"Alfred A. Knopf, NY ISBN 0-679-89446-2;
Cover Art Copyright, Raul Colon
"Tomboy Trouble"
When Georgia, an eight-year-old girl, cuts her hair very short and plays baseball, the children in her new school ask her if she's a boy. Grades 2 - 3.
"TOMBOY TROUBLE," illustrated by Lynne Woodcock Cravath
Random House, NY ISBN 0-679-88127-1
"The World of Daughter McGuire"
Eleven-year-old Daughter moves to a new school. Her mixed-race heritage starts out as a problem, but in the end proves to be a source of strength. Grades 4 - 8.
"THE WORLD OF DAUGHTER McGUIRE"
Bantam Doubleday Dell, NY, Jacket illustration copyright, Jerry Pinkney
"Vampire Bugs,
Stories Conjured from the Past"
Following the oral tradition of African-American storytellers, the author weaves a collection resonant with voices of the past. Features both boy and girl protagonists in ghostly tales, based on African American and Native American history and folklore. Grades 4 - 8.
"VAMPIRE BUGS, STORIES CONJURED FROM THE PAST," illustrated by Curtis E. James, Bantam Doubleday Dell, NY
"Wrong Romeo"
Published in "Be Mine"
"Romance fans with a sense of humor may find just what they are looking for in this quartet of light-hearted love stories by four popular authors." Publishers Weekly
"White Real Estate"
Published in "From One Experience to Another" a collection of stories edited by Dr. M. Jerry Weiss and Helen S. Weiss.
A Tom Doherty Associates Book, St. Martins Press, NY, ISBN 0-312-86253-9
"Ginger Brown: Too Many Houses"
When her parents get a divorce, six-year-old Ginger lives for a while with each set of grandparents and begins to understand her new family situation, while getting a good dose of love.
Grades 1 - 2, or for older reluctant readers.
"GINGER BROWN: TOO MANY HOUSES," illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu, Random House, NY ISBN 0-679-85437-1
"Ginger Brown: The Nobody Boy"
Ginger's summer at her grandparents' home in the country is enlivened by the appearance of a little boy who calls himself Nobody. Grades 1 - 2, or for older reluctant readers.
"GINGER BROWN: THE NOBODY BOY," illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu, Random House, NY ISBN 0679-85645-5
"American Gold Swimmers"
Kristy Adams and her big brother Kirk are both competitive swimmers. The series follows their adventures. Grades 4-7.
Bantam Books
Featuring four roommates at the Alma Stephens School for Girls. The girls run a newspaper add for boy pen pals and end up with four boy counterparts who attend a neighboring prep school. The series follows the development of the girls' friendship and their romantic adventures through letters with the boys.
This series has twenty titles. Grades 4-7.
Bantam Doubleday Dell
Four book series featuring Annie and her neighborhood friends. The group creates their own plays and puts them on. Each book has a script at the back, so that readers can put on their own productions. Grades 2-4.
"Animal Rescue Farm"
Arden Quinn cares for an abused race horse on her grandparents' Animal Rescue Farm. Grades 2-3.
Scholastic
"A Family for Baby Grand"
The story of Baby Grand, a little piano who leaves her Mama to make a debut with a symphony orchestra. Presented with the musical compositions of composer Brad Ross, the story introduces live audiences to instruments in the orchestra and the concept of ensemble playing. Narrators have been Zoe Caldwell and Lucie Arnaz as well as artists in residence at the Kennedy Center under the direction of Todd Lloyd. Produced by The Kennedy Center/National Symphony Orchestra, Tako Kanayama conducting; the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Luis Biava; the Westchester Philharmonic, conducted by James Sadewhite.
