Francie Latour is a writer and editor whose work explores issues of race, culture and identity. She coordinates a diversity initiative at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; she is also co-founder and co-director of Wee The People, a … Continue reading Francie Latour: “Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings”
I had the honor of speaking to another one of the contributors to the stirring anthology WE RISE, WE RESIST, WE RAISE OUR VOICES. Pat Cummings is the award winning author and illustrator of dozens of books for young readers. … Continue reading Interview with Pat Cummings
I first met Traci two years ago at the Kweli conference in NYC. And boy, am I glad I did. She has become a dear friend and a real inspiration. Her picture book, WE ARE GRATEFUL: OTSALIHELIGA, illustrated by … Continue reading Interview with Traci Sorell
WE RISE, WE RESIST, WE RAISE OUR VOICES, (Crown Books for Young Readers, published in partnership with Just Us Books, September 4, 2018), an anthology edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson, features diverse authors and illustrators answering the question, … Continue reading Interview with Evelyn Coleman
Sean Qualls is an award-winning, Brooklyn-based, children’s book illustrator, author and artist. In addition to his fine art painting, he has illustrated number of highly acclaimed books for children. His most recent titles include Grandad Mandela, Emmanuel’s Dream:The True Story of … Continue reading Sean Qualls: Inspired to go for feeling
KATE SCHATZ: Let’s start with the title of the book—Young, Gifted, and Black. How did you land on it? Did you have the idea for the book and then the title, or vice versa? For older generations (and some especially woke kiddos!) it … Continue reading Jamia Wilson: “Young, Gifted, and Black”
Cynthia, or Cyn, as most of us know her, has been a dear friend and mentor of mine for several years. She is an amazing New York Times best-selling author of fiction for young readers. Her published books, short stories, … Continue reading Interview with Cynthia Leitich Smith
Ten years ago I was a young dad going back to school when I met artist Duncan Tonatiuh in class. We were both students at Parsons in New York. Duncan was then working on his thesis project and showing me some of what would … Continue reading Duncan Tonatiuh: Creative process, migration, pre-Columbian & modern art
Interview with John Seven and Jana Christy, author and illustrator of several picture books including We Say No! A Child’s Guide to Resistance, A Rule Is to Break: A Child’s Guide to Anarchy, Gorilla Gardener: How to Help Nature Take … Continue reading John Seven & Jana Christy: “We Say No! A Child’s Guide to Resistance”
AFD: What teacher helped you find your writing voice? MCR: I couldn’t begin to name just one teacher! My ninth grade English teacher, several workshop leaders and speakers at conferences, the women of my critique group, my oldest daughter, my … Continue reading Monica Clark-Robinson: “Let the Children March”
