Quvenzhané Wallis Hopes to Reach Young Readers With Her New Books

Quvenzhané Wallis the 12 year actress who has starred in the remake of the movie, Annie, and in the movies Beasts of the Southern Wild, Twelve Years a Slave, and the animated film, Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet will now turn her talents to publishing.  Publishers Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers have announced that they have made a deal with Miss Wallis to publish a chapter-book trilogy and a picture book to be released between January 2017 and Summer 2018. The picture book will be loosely based on her life experiences and the chapter books will be based on the adventures of a spunky talented third grader. The talented Wallis who is the youngest actress ever to receive a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress hopes to reach readers ages six and older. “Reading is very important,” Wallis said. “It allows people to form a visual experience in their minds of what is going on in the story. I hope all readers enjoy using their imaginations along with me and take a journey into my books.”

Dawn Davis, VP and publisher of 37 INK, a division of Atria added, “The characters Quvenzhane has portrayed have an alluring mix of self-possession and vulnerability. We look forward to her bringing that same electric combination to the page. We also hope these books will help expand the diverse array of voices in the children’s book space.” 

The Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture Celebrates 90 Years!

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, one of the most important resources  for information on African- American history is celebrating its' 90th Anniversary.  If you live in New York or are visiting Harlem this is the place to introduce young  people to the rich cultural heritage of people of African descent. They offer a Young Scholars program for young people and educational programs for educators.

The Center was started with the collection of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg,  an Afro Puerto Rican who was challenged to start his collection when his teacher told him Africa had no history. Throughout his life he collected books, art, photographs, slavery narratives, and founded a historical society on Africa.  Now one man's dream has been been a source of wealth and information for many generations. Scholars, students, writers, artists, activists have flocked to the center to be inspired and informed. As a young girl I was introduced to the center, and as a student I spent hours pouring over fascinating stories on African American culture.  The Schomburg was also where I first met Langston Hughes.

Doc McStuffins Goes to Washington

First Lady Michelle Obama joins Doc McStuffin as an animated character for the upcoming episode of “Doc McStuffins Goes to Washington.” The episode premieres Monday, October 5 at 9AM on the Disney Channel for Child Health Day. Doc McStuffin who fixes broken toys in her backyard playhouse clinic will be invited by the First Lady to make a difference in her community.  Fans of the series will later see her honored in a special ceremony, where the First Lady appoints Doc to official “toy doctor” for the White House.

Child Health Day is a United States Federal Observance Day observed on the first Monday in October. On Child Health Day the president invites "all agencies and organizations interested in child welfare to unite on Child Health Day in observing exercises that will make the people of the United States aware of the fundamental necessity of a year-round program to protect and develop the health of the children of the United States." The holiday was enacted by Congress in 1928, and was first celebrated on May 1, 1929.

See "Doc McStuffin Goes to Washington" starting on Monday, October 5 at 9AM on Disney Channel and at 7:30PM on Disney Junior Channel.

Teaching Young Children that Black Lives Matter

Black History will come alive for young children this Thursday when a group of parents and children in San Francisco will march, sing and chant and focus on why Black lives are valuable to the community. In honor of Black History Month, they are inviting all families with children ages 3-10 years  (but all are welcome) to march with their children and learn about the Black Lives Matter movement. They will meet at Mission Community Market.  This event is appropriate for young children and will not focus on violence and murder but  will discuss how children can address issues of racism. This event will be held on Thursday, February 26 from 3:30pm - 5:00pm in PST at the Mission Community Market - 90 Bartlett St, San Francisco, California 94110. For more information.

The 23 African American Children's Book Fair

Philadelphia will host The 23 African American Children's Book Fair this Saturday. This event was created to introduce parents, caregivers, and teachers to the writers and artists bringing alive the African American story. Authors and illustrators attending this year include Tonya Bolden, Floyd Cooper. Jerry Craft, AG Ford, E.B. Lewis and many more. The fair will have author reading, children's project and books for sale. Visit their website for more information.  For more information about the year's book fair, email Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati , vlloydsgam@aol.com or call (215) 878-BOOK, @1835 WYNNEWOOD ROAD
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19151.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Kwanzaa!

If you are spending the holidays in New York there are some wonderful events to help us celebrate the our achievement this year. So be inspired and enjoy.

Misty Copeland,  principle ballerina for the American Ballet Theatre has faced many obstacles since  starting her dance career at the late age  of thirteen. As a young girl living with a single mother and sometimes being homeless she found her calling in dance.  She is now performing in the holiday favorite, The Nutcracker.  Misty exemplifies the spirit of  Kujichagulia (koo-jee-chah-goo-LEE-ah)  - Self-Determination.  Kujichagulia means  to be responsible for ourselves and to create your own destiny. Find her story in her memoir, Life in Motion, My Story of Adversity and Grace, an unlikely ballerina.

Catch Kiki Palmer and Nene Leakes performing on Broadway in Rodgers and Hamerstein's   Cinderella. Kiki Palmer plays Cinderella and Nene Leakes plays the Wicked Queen at  Broadway Theatre - 1641 Broadway at 53 rd St.

                                          Jazzed! The Changing Beat of 125th Street

Young people get jazzed at The Children’s Museum of Manhattan! Find your own beat as you tap, snap, clap and stomp your way through. Live music, hands-on art workshops and an immersive environment celebrates the rich history and lasting legacy of jazz in America. This interactive exhibition and program series features rarely seen images, archival footage, and original jazz artifacts. Visit the Children's Museum of Manhattan - The Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street, New York, NY 10024. Call 212-721-1223. Catch the exhibit before it closes on December 31, 2014. 

                                       Speaking of People: Ebony, Jet and Contemporary Art

Many of us remember when the only few positive images of African American people came from the pages of Ebony and Jet. Now a younger generation can discover the history and social role these publications played in African American lives. Speaking of People: Ebony, Jet and Contemporary Art explores the ways contemporary artists use Ebony as a resource and as inspiration in their practices.  The first exhibition devoted to this topic, Speaking of People features over thirty works by a multi-generational, interdisciplinary group of sixteen artists.  The Studio Museum in Harlem is located in Manhattan at 144 West 125th Street between Lenox Avenue (Malcolm X Boulevard) and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard (7th Avenue).

Celebrate Native American History Month

People from all over the world flock to America looking for democracy, and make it their home.  However, we don't often acknowledge the gifts of the original inhabitants of this great land. In November we  celebrate, Native American History Month.  This story about their influence on the constitution, adds a new dimension to the history book.