Carole Boston Weatherford

Carole Boston Weatherford is an accomplished poet, writer, artist, musician, and social critic whose bibliography spans over thirty books. Her work in children's literature  has earned her widespread acclaim and numerous awards. 

Carole's picture books have been described as poetic, intimate, and ultimately educational reads. Often focused on the growth of the civil rights movement and the state of African-American culture in the United States, her works provide genuine insights into our cultural memory through their powerful storytelling.

Reviews

A Crown of Stories

“Family stories and a love of learning were seeds planted in the child who would become one of the world’s most important writers. Born in 1931, in Lorain, Ohio, Chloe Ardelia Wofford grew up listening to her mother’s singing and stories and her grandfather’s violin. The musicality and narratives remained with her, as did a love of language. She started to read early, the only child in her first grade class to do so. She continued to listen to and absorb the world around her, developing skills that eventually sent her to Howard University. There she adopted the name Toni as she studied English literature and drama; she also met Harold Morrison, whom she would later marry. She witnessed firsthand the racism that existed in the nation’s capital. As a professor, then as an editor, she promoted neglected works of Black writers. While managing motherhood and a career, she began to craft her own novels and built a unique body of work that captured the attention of the world; in 1993, she won the Nobel Prize in Literature—“the first Black woman so honored.” Writing in second person and addressing Morrison herself, Weatherford skillfully weaves together the various aspects of the writer’s life in a lyrical account that flows and reveals her rich contributions. Weatherford emphasizes the role of listening, grounding Morrison in her family and community. Making wonderful use of collage, Thompson’s evocative paintings enhance the text, beginning with a striking cover image. Transcendent and deeply resonant.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“How do you tell a story?" begins this thoughtful tribute to writer Toni Morrison (1931–2019), born Chloe Ardelia Wofford. Starting with Morrison’s family’s move north as part of the Great Migration, Boston Weatherford (Kin) highlights the child’s listening—"to your mother’s ghost stories/and your grandfather’s violin"—as key to her learning the art of storytelling. The only Black child in her first grade class, and the only student who can read, she devours books at home "like Sunday supper," while learning to "listen to your surroundings"—including, due to racism and financial precarity, "the packing and unpacking/ of your family’s possessions." As she matures, she studies English literature, then becomes a college professor, the first Black senior editor in publishing, a Pulitzer and Nobel Prize–winning writer—and, additionally, "a bridge" listening "to the silence for voices/ that have been muted far too long." Attending closely observed second-person text that puts the reader in Morrison’s shoes, debut artist Tahir Johnson combines media, including paint and collage, lending textured depth to portraits of a creator whose stories "get under our skin, next to our hearts, and inside our souls." An author’s note and timeline conclude.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

Outspoken

“[Robeson’s] strength of character as an “unbending truth teller and troublemaker” comes through clearly in the illustrations as well as the words; in montages of images, many based on contemporary photographs, Velasquez poses him heroically, whether in charismatic performance, speaking out defiantly against racism and social injustice, or, finally, broken down by poor health.”—Booklist, Starred Review

“In comprehensive first-person free verse and oil portraiture, Boston Weatherford and Velasquez reverently draw the life of multifaceted performer, athlete, and activist Paul Robeson (1898–1976) via four acts: Youth, Artist, Activist, Erased. Propulsive text punctuated with song lyrics, many from African American spirituals, record key moments, including the early death of Robeson’s mother (“Sometimes I feel like a motherless child”). From college athlete to stage and film actor, and rising to international celebrity, he became “an emissary for universal struggles,” singing across Europe and the Soviet Union, and later experiencing repercussions for supporting progressive movements. Without shying away from the varied layers behind his public controversy or the details behind his attempted suicide, the creators painstakingly detail history’s intersections in one activist-icon.”—Publishers Weekly

“Weatherford and Velasquez explore actor Paul Robeson’s remarkable achievements. Written as a “one-man show” in the first person, this tale in four acts highlights the phases of Robeson’s remarkable life (1898-1976). He adored his father, who was born into slavery and gave Robeson every chance to develop mentally, physically, and spiritually. Robeson excelled as a scholar and athlete, and in college he developed his skills as a performer. Although he studied law, other opportunities led him to the stage, where his acting and singing moved crowds both at home and abroad. He took advantage of his fame to speak out against oppression wherever he went. Robeson enjoyed positive experiences in the Soviet Union, where he found that racism didn’t curtail his life as it did in the U.S. When the Red Scare villainized Soviet and Communist sympathizers, Robeson refused to denounce communism; the government took away his U.S. passport, and his life and livelihood became limited. Lengthy verse, presented in double columns and a small typeface, is accompanied by powerful, painterly images, many based on actual photographs, set against a white background. Informative, insightful, and comprehensive, this book will be a valuable addition to reference shelves, classrooms, and anywhere older elementary children are drawn to learning more about legendary American changemakers. This inspiring volume leaves nothing out. (timeline, source notes, bibliography, copyright acknowledgments)”—Kirkus Reviews

Bros

“Five young Black boys come together for a day of ecstatic play at the park. The rose-painted landscape of sunrise greets readers as this book opens on three friends meeting in the morning quiet of a playground. After the kids enjoy a rollicking wagon ride and build an imaginary time machine, two more friends join the group, and the five play pretend, explore a garden, visit the library, shoot hoops, and have adventures until the sun goes down. Weatherford’s spare, subject-verb text captures Brown’s vibrant spreads (or perhaps it’s the other way round) in a heartbeat of rhyme: “Bros dare. We care. We speak. We geek. We lead. We read.” Brown’s soft but textured illustrations feel fresh and open, with all the energy of cartoon callbacks and the spontaneity of playground fun. The crew of bros represent an array of melanin in rich shades of brown; they’re also diverse in terms of body type and ability, to say nothing of the fresh cuts and fly natural styles atop their heads. The text lends itself to rhythmic storytimes, first-time forays into solo reading, and even some sight-word practice. But more than this, this book’s significance is the simple, uninterrupted joy and shared belonging present in each of the spaces the group of five chooses to be—a liberation that Black boys can’t always find outside (or indeed within) a book’s pages. Delightful.”—Kirkus Reviews

Kin: Rooted in Hope

“Coretta Scott King Award winner and National Book Award finalist Carole Boston Weatherford teams up once again with illustrator son Jeffery Boston Weatherford to explore their shared past and honor their enslaved ancestors through dignified poems and stunning artwork in  Kin: Rooted in Hope. Mother and son begin their narrative in 2016 at the Door of No Return, a trading post on Gorée, an island off the coast of Dakar, Senegal, where "captive Africans/ were held for weeks, months,/ until their numbers could fill/ a ship's belly." Next, they travel to the Wye House Plantation in Easton, Md., where their ancestors were enslaved by the Lloyd family. Carole Boston Weatherford's narrative follows both chronological history and the mother/son's trip to uncover the painful past. Her poems use historical records that showcase the diverse voices of her ancestors, as well as those of the enslaving family, and even first-person points of view for ships, Chesapeake Bay, and the Wye House itself. Weatherford's rhythmic and artistic narrative, inspired by Alex Haley's novel  Roots, brings to life her ancestors, the places they lived, and their oppression. Additionally, her personification of places that "witnessed" generations of enslavement gives readers an unexpected viewpoint. Jefferey Boston Weatherford accompanies his mother's poems with expressive black-and-white scratchwork illustrations that add further weight, humanity, and grandeur to the history. For many Black families, the process of tracing their ancestry is difficult because of the enslavement of their ancestors; here, the Weatherfords invite readers who may feel lost and erased to share in their own history.”―Shelf Awareness, Starred Review

“A sweeping, poetic, and genealogical look at how family was defined and unraveled through enslavement, Carole Boston Weatherford’s novel in verse explores her own journey toward finding her ancestors, alongside the gut-wrenching, detailed scratchboard artwork of her son. How can one trace their family history from a portrait hanging in a living room to a slave ship bobbing off the coast? Through historical records and Weatherford’s rhythmic, imaginative style, her ancestors come to life, as does the reader’s journey through time, from plantation to plantation, through historical moments and quiet afternoons in the Wye House. Weatherford’s work here—to help build a bridge from the Door of No Return to a place of hope for generations to come—is an impressive feat that nicely supplements any nonfiction work on the Middle Passage through the Civil War. The stark line illustrations on alternating black and white pages are a searing accompaniment to the verse, bringing these figures out of the darkness and deepening the humanity that glows in the pages. For fans of Kwame Alexander, Ashley Bryan, and Faith Ringgold.”―Booklist

“The Weatherfords—a mother-son duo—pay tribute to their enslaved ancestors’ pain and resilience across generations in this moving collection of illustrated poems, inspired by Alex Haley’s Roots. Hoping to learn more about her family history, the author attempts to trace her lineage to its beginnings. In 2016, while traveling to Gorée, an island off the coast of Dakar, Senegal, Weatherford and her son visit “slave castles”—trading posts where “captive Africans/ were held for weeks, months,/ until their numbers could fill/ a ship’s belly.” From there, the two embark on a journey that takes them to the Wye House Plantation in Easton, Md., where their ancestors were enslaved by the Lloyds, a white Quaker family. Throughout, poems showcase various perspectives, including those of the creators’ forebears, the enslaving family, and a ship carrying captives. While this narrative range can sometimes cause confusion, it nevertheless makes for a layered text that highlights the perseverance of the Weatherfords’ ancestors and the horrors that they endured. Sketch-like b&w line illustrations depict key moments within the narrative. By sharing their family’s story, the Weatherfords craft a harrowing and motivational addition to enslaved peoples’ history.”—Publishers Weekly

How Do You Spell Unfair?

“The inspiring team that produced Standing in Need of a Prayer shines the light on another historic moment in American history. MacNolia Cox, a champion speller from Akron, OH, persevered despite racist obstacles in her path to become the first ­African ­American top five finalist in the ­National Spelling Bee. Morrison’s illustrations capture the emotions, tenacity, and strength of Cox and her supporters while Weatherford’s free verse tells the story of a young girl with a gift for spelling (and an amazing work ethic) and her journey to the bee in 1936. Without shying away from the racism Cox endured, Weatherford keeps the focus squarely on the determination of the champion and her supporters for the opportunity to show her talents as a speller. Back matter expands on the story of America’s racist history surrounding spelling bees and includes other remarkable accomplishments by spellers of African descent from last century to the present. ­Another stunning title from a gifted pair of creators, this deserves a place in all collections as children will root for Cox and be inspired by her amazing accomplishments.”—School Library Journal, Starred Review

“The picture book HOW DO YOU SPELL UNFAIR? MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee, by the veteran children’s nonfiction author Carole Boston Weatherford, functions both as history and as antiracist reading that will inspire discussion in homes and libraries. Weatherford’s depiction of Cox’s journey pairs facts gleaned from newspaper accounts with directive questions: “Can you spell discrimination?”

It is not subtle. But at a time when many Americans will offer any explanation for racism but racism, there is value in being on-the-nose. Even in seemingly straightforward games of achievement like spelling bees, the best and the brightest don’t always secure the victory, and racism can curdle the whole affair.”—The New York Times

“MacNolia Cox was neither the first African American child to win a national spelling contest (1908) nor the next (2021)—but she was the first even to win a spot as a finalist in all the intervening decades and, Weatherford suggests, could well have won except for some rule-bending by the judges. Using a call-and-response cadence (“Can you spell dedication? / D-E-D-I-C-A-T-I-O-N”), the author pays tribute to the Akron, Ohio, eighth grader’s indomitable spirit and focus as well as her love of words while recording the public excitement she caused by winning her school and then citywide bees. With a teacher, a reporter, and her mother, MacNolia then traveled to Washington, D.C., where she experienced segregation (even on stage, in the accompanying, pointedly wordless, picture) but “nailed word after word.” She didn’t win the championship but proved something important by her example: “That was MacNolia’s triumph.” Her slender figure glows with character in Morrison’s illustrations, too, where she pores studiously through dictionaries here, poses with celebrities like Joe Louis and Fats Waller there, waves gravely to a cheering crowd as she boards a train for the nation’s capital, and afterward returns to her hometown in graceful, silent dignity. Spells out reasons to vow N-E-V-E-R A-G-A-I-N.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“In 1936, after winning her school’s spelling bee, eighth grader MacNolia Cox became the first African American to win the Akron, Ohio spelling bee. Her prize? Twenty-five dollars and a trip to the National Spelling Bee in Washington. A brass band and “a crowd of thousands” gathered to see her off. When her train crossed the state line into Maryland, MacNolia and her mother were forced to move to a Blacks-only car. Although other spelling champs stayed in a hotel, its “whites only” policy excluded the Coxes. Even at the spelling bee, the two Black students were seated at a card table, separated from the white competitors. When only five kids remained, MacNolia misspelled a word. Despite protests that it wasn’t on the official list, the judges, “mostly from the segregated South,” stood firm. But back home, Akron residents welcomed their girl home with a parade. Weatherford tells of MacNolia’s experiences in concise, direct narrative, while occasionally asking a question such as, “Can you spell discrimination? D-I-S-C-R-I-M-I-N-A-T-IO-N.” The injustices MacNolia faced are clear, but so are her intelligence, diligence, and ability to excel, “given a level playing field.” Capturing the characters’ emotions and their personalities, Morrison’s vibrant oil-and-spray-paint illustrations are riveting. This moving picture book portrays a girl who met injustice with dignity and excelled.”―Booklist, Starred Review

“As a young Black girl growing up in 1930s Akron, Ohio, MacNolia Cox had an affinity for words—long and complicated words in particular. Known to read the dictionary for fun, the scholar handily won her school’s spelling bee, a written test, and an oral competition, which put her in the running for the citywide contest. Competing there against fifty other children, MacNolia emerged victorious as the first African American to win—a feat that made her even more beloved and famous in her community and eligible to compete in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, prejudice and discrimination tainted her experience. On the train, MacNolia and her mother were forced to move to a segregated car once they reached the state of Maryland; the official hotel was for whites only; and she and the other Black competitor were made to sit at a different table during the bee itself. However, showing the same acumen and resolve as in Akron, she continued to advance in the competition, making it to the top five. Cox is remembered for her perseverance under pressure, and both the affecting text (with its spelling-centered refrain: “Can you spell dedication?…Can you spell excited?”) and brilliantly hued oil- and spray-paint illustrations portray her with dignity while reflecting the intensity of the times. An epilogue reinforces how every victory encourages others; a bibliography is appended.”—The Horn Book

“In this thoughtfully conceived picture book, Boston Weatherford centers MacNolia Cox (1923–1976), who achieved celebrity status in 1936 after becoming the first African American to win the Akron, Ohio, spelling bee, thus qualifying for the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. The narrative fittingly works in vocabulary words to tell the tale, for example underlining Cox’s commitment in preparing for the national bee (“Can you spell  dedication? D-E-D-I-C-A-T-I-O-N”). As Cox and her mother set out on their trip to the U.S. capital, where segregation sets them apart from white contestants, words such as  famous  and  excited  give way to terms like  racism  and  unfair. Morrison’s distinctive portraiture shows the protagonist meeting with Black legends in Akron, and juxtaposes the community support Cox enjoys in her home state with experiences of racial discrimination in the nation’s capital. It’s a powerful, word-by-word telling of a child’s personal triumph. A foreword and epilogue offer a history of spelling bee segregation in the U.S.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

You Are My Pride

“A love letter to humans, all of whom originated in Africa. Told in second person by Africa herself, this evolution story opens with images of landscapes as the narrator announces, “I am the mother of all humanity / I have a long history and a longer memory.” What she remembers most of all is “you, / my offspring of all colors / in all corners of the earth.” In beautifully evocative free verse, she reminds us of “our timeless bond,” and as she progresses through time, the illustrations show different landforms and then a hominid sitting in the mouth of a cave. The narrator emphasizes humans’ survival and the things Mother Africa provided that enabled them to live through difficult conditions: caves for shelter, forests for food, intelligence to outwit predators. Lewis’ gorgeous, dreamlike watercolors sharpen as they move closer to contemporary life. The book’s title has a double meaning: In one image, a lioness closes in on a swift-moving herd of gazelles while the narrator articulates her love for these animals, “but,” she says, “you, child, are my pride.” By labeling humans with the collective noun for lions, Africa claims all of us as her family and also makes clear that we are the creation of which she is proudest—an inspired use of wordplay. An appended evolutionary timeline will spark further scientific research. A strikingly illustrated, innovative story of human evolution at the intersections of science and art.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“There is a deep, melodic cadence to the words of You Are My Pride, a lyrical appeal to the world’s children to remember their planet and take care of it…Lewis’ watercolor illustrations are the perfect complement, capturing the watery swirl from which humans evolved into upright creatures and developed the skills to survive in nature…The genre-crossing nature makes this an ideal title for both the science and ELA classrooms—or simply as a read-aloud with the potential for rich discussion.” —Booklist

“Boston Weatherford’s affectionate letter from the cradle of humankind begins, ‘I am the mother of all humanity,/ I have a long history and a longer memory./ Most of all, I remember you,/ my offspring of all colors/ in all corners of the earth.’..Lewis wields watercolor to pristine effect in depicting vast and varied landscapes. A timeline of human evolution concludes.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

All Rise: The Story of Ketanji Brown Jackson

“Weatherford highlights the struggles and resilience of Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve as associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Maya Angelou’s famous poem “Still I Rise,” although not directly mentioned until the end of the book, serves as the narrative frame for Justice Jackson’s inspiring story. The title refers to the respect given a judge entering a courtroom but also to the hope that all people can rise above constraints. The vivid digital illustrations underscore the theme. Just about every page starts with the refrain “She rose,” placing this declaration in large, bright cursive above the regular text. We learn of Ketanji’s roots, how being born in the decade after the civil rights movement shaped her views of justice for all, how she rose in school and in activities like debate, and the many slights and humiliations she rose above. The illustration of Justice Jackson standing outside the Supreme Court with “Equal Justice under Law” carved in stone over the entrance speaks volumes. A gripping biography.”―Booklist

“Exemplifying how “whatever she did, wherever she was, Ketanji Brown Jackson rose to the top,” Boston Weatherford starts each spread of this high-level biography with a nod to Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise”—the poem that Brown Jackson (b. 1970) quoted during her confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. Play-by-play lines reflect her maturation, reference her heritage (“the dedication and determination of her parents”), and show Brown Jackson navigating limitations and prejudice placed on her by others (“She rose/ above the debate judges who mocked her African name... She rose/ above a guidance counselor’s doubts that she could get into Harvard”). Evans’s unlined digital illustrations visualize, in pastel clouds, the figure’s connections to elders including Shirley Chisholm and Mae Jemison. It’s an inspiring biography focused on rising above challenges. A “Letter to My Granddaughter and All of Our Daughters” and timeline conclude.”—Publishers Weekly

“Ever since she was a child, Ketanji Brown Jackson rose to the top. She learned the value of education from her parents, who were the first in their families to go to college, and her grandparents, who only finished grade school. She accomplished everything to which she put her mind, becoming the mayor of her junior high school and president of her senior high school. As a Black girl, she experienced racial prejudice when she was overlooked for a role because she wasn’t white and when debate judges mocked her African name. She didn’t let anything stop her and rose from Harvard Law School to federal judge to Supreme Court Justice. ­Deliberately harking back to Maya ­Angelou’s seminal poem “Still I Rise,” this title is a fascinating look at Justice Brown’s journey to the Supreme Court. The vibrant illustrations accompanied by quotes from Justice Brown work together to bring her story to life. Readers get a glance at how a little girl rose above all the obstacles with grace and intelligence, inspiring others—­including the author, who pens a letter to relatives about her own journey of appreciation. Includes a time line. A necessary addition to all collections, warmly illustrated and beautifully told.”—School Library Journal, Starred Review

“A praise song for the U.S. Supreme Court’s first Black woman justice. Using “She rose” or “Ketanji rose” as refrains, Weatherford retraces in pithy evangelical bursts the general course of her subject’s early life and career—from being elected “mayor” of her junior high school to shrugging off slights to her name and race, levitating past a guidance counselor’s doubts about her getting into Harvard (where she ended up editing the law journal as a graduate student), and, as a federal judge, coming to the attention of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden on her way to the judicial top. Leaving further character analysis and biographical detail to others, the author then just quotes Jackson that she is “standing on the shoulders of my own role models” and closes by positioning her as “a role model for children everywhere.” Evans follows suit in scenes of the buoyantly smiling justice at various ages and with her childhood and adult families by adding portraits of Shirley Chisholm, Maya Angelou, and other Black women who overcame obstacles. A letter from the author to her granddaughter (“and all of our daughters”) closes out the book. A distinctly purposeful profile.”—Kirkus Reviews

Me and the Family Tree

"A beautiful homage to family and the strong bonds we have with each other"―Youth Services Book Review

"Weatherford's delicately poetic text ensures a steady rhythm, with capping rhymes on every other spread, and Corrin's evocative art adds an incredible amount of depth and heart... playful affection, wry humor, and vibrant love" ―Booklist, Starred Review

A Song for the Unsung

“This necessary backstory of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom illuminates the significant role played by activist Bayard Rustin in that immensely successful event. Born in 1912, Rustin was raised by his grandmother on Quaker values of nonviolence and awareness of injustices suffered by fellow African Americans. In later years, he “put his feelings about equality and pacifism into action.” Undeterred in his resolve, he was beaten, arrested, and jailed for refusing to give up his seat on a bus or to fight in World War II. Upon his return from India, where he traveled to learn about nonviolent protest from Gandhi’s followers, he introduced the philosophy to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It became the strategy that anchored the civil rights movement. Although rebuked and sidelined because he was gay, Rustin remained committed to his personal agenda of equality for all. Weatherford and Sanders’s engaging and fluid narrative is accentuated with titles of protest songs, alluding to Rustin’s love of music and its importance in the civil rights movement. Acrylics in bold, vibrant colors with collage elements convey the quiet, unassuming demeanor of Rustin as well as the triumphant spirit of the March on Washington. Back matter includes a timeline, information on music and peaceful protests, a copy of the official program, and references.” —The Horn Book

“On August 28, 1963, more than 250,000 people descended on Washington, DC, to march for jobs and freedom for Black people. Leading the march was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but its orchestrator was Bayard Rustin, a proponent of the nonviolent resistance that would become a hallmark of the civil rights movement. Rustin’s own peaceful protests landed him in jail more than once, and he was passionately committed to civil rights. So why was he unsung during his life? Because, the authors explain, he was a gay Black man, the victim of a different kind of prejudice. Next to civil rights, music was at the center of Rustin’s life—a fact that gives this exemplary picture-book biography the imperative, on nearly every page, to invite readers to sing everything from freedom songs to “We Shall Overcome.” Rustin’s life is beautifully captured by illustrator McCray’s bold, textured artwork—created with acrylics, decorative and handmade papers, newspaper, and sheet music—which harnesses the energy and spirit of the man and the movement. Robust back matter offers further information on Rustin’s life, peaceful protest, and the March on Washington (including a YouTube link to Rustin giving a speech), plus well-curated reading lists. The result is a splendid tribute to a true hero of the civil rights movement.”—Booklist, Starred Review

“Images and sound bites from the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, have become familiar fodder for school curriculum on the civil rights movement. Here, however, Weatherford and Sanders introduce a key but overlooked organizer who made the event happen: Bayard Rustin, a gay, Black activist known for his singing voice and his commitment to nonviolent protest. This snapshot of Rustin’s life spans the day of the march, dipping back in time to discuss his childhood in Pennsylvania,his numerous arrests for activism in adulthood, and his trip to India to study nonviolent resistance from followers of Ghandi. Rustin took these ideas back to the states and to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., himself, but his sexuality was seen by some fellow activists as a liability. Still, when the time came to organize the march, A. Philip Randolph brought Rustin on as his deputy. The narrative focus on the day of the march tends to overtake the biographical information, but it does serve to precisely locate Rustin in both time and place during the event. And McCray’s gorgeous collage-and-acrylic illustrations make the book truly memorable, with newsprint and sheet music (often from the gospel and protest songs referenced on each page) adding motion to the rich, saturated hues. Some additional sources about Rustin are included in the back matter, along with a timeline of his life; more prominent are resources on peaceful protests,
music in the civil rights movement, and documents from the day of the march.”—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“A rare tribute to a heroic figure of the civil rights movement. Distinctly underrecognized in books aimed at younger audiences (in large part because he was gay—which the authors note repeatedly), Bayard Rustin well merits the credit he gets here not only for organizing the renowned March on Washington (and speaking at it, too), but for actually introducing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to the principles of nonviolent protest after learning pacifism at his Quaker grandmother’s knee, being imprisoned as a conscientious objector during World War II, and traveling to India to learn from Gandhi’s followers. As a younger man, he also sang in a touring quartet, and that musical theme is picked up with a playlist of spirituals and civil rights songs posted throughout. Notable in the generous backmatter is an image of the march’s official program and an excerpted history of peaceful protest (post-Thoreau). McCray captures both a sense of the time’s widespread turmoil and of the march’s grand “mosaic of Americans” in collages that incorporate acrylics, scraps of newspaper, music, and decorated papers. Effectively raises the profile of an African American crusader who was stigmatized for more than his race alone.” —Kirkus Reviews

Standing in the Need of Prayer

“Beginning with images of chattel slavery and ending with spreads showing Black luminaries, the creators offer an absorbing rendition of the legendary spiritual: a legacy in song and portraiture that depicts Black Americans’ achievements across an anti-Black history. In Boston Weatherford’s four-line verses, those “standing in the need of prayer” describes “families enslaved and sold apart,” then “millions on the move in the Great Migration,” members of the civil rights movement, and “record-breaking athletes,” leading to a contemporary image of children: “It’s me, O Lord.” Morrison’s imagery brings Black history to life, portraying hundreds of years of experiences to the rhythm of a song that moves beyond the religious and into the broadly reverential. Weatherford and Morrison successfully elevate a classic song, rendering it as relevant and profound across time. ”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“In this truly elegant picture book, award-winning author Weatherford has written new stanzas for the traditional call-and-response spiritual "Standing in the Need of Prayer," highlighting various aspects of African American life and history. The accessible lyrics refer to historical events, beginning in the 1800s ("It's families enslaved and sold apart . . . It's runaways fleeing the yoke by dark") and continuing through the twentieth century ("It's freedmen seeking kin at Emancipation . . . It's millions on the move in the Great Migration") and on through the current day: "It's record-breaking athletes who are so unreal . . . It's champions-turned-warriors who, in protest, kneel." Interspersed through each line of verse is the titular refrain ("Standing in the need of prayer"), and these lines can gently swell or ebb in cadence, allowing for dramatic readalouds. As compelling as the text is, Morrison's illustrations nearly steal the show. His vibrant, dynamic paintings (created with oil and spray paint, a nod to his previous vocation as a graffiti artist) feature dignified individuals with expressive faces, often shown in contemplative attitudes. Back matter includes a detailed explanatory key for each stanza, an author's note, and a list of online resources. While the intended audience is presumably elementary, this beautiful offering with multiple applications has wide appeal for all ages.”—Booklist, Starred Review

“It’s me, it’s me, O Lord,/Standing in the need of prayer./Not my father, not my mother,/but it’s me, O Lord,/Standing in the need of prayer.” A familiar spiritual is recast as a pledge to remember history and make a better future, and the lockstep of words and art feels as if Weatherford and Morrison were in harmony from the outset. A scene of a slave in shackles and another one for sale gives way to a portrait of Nat Turner and then to one that is an homage to the Emancipation Proclamation and the Great Migration. Portraits, like stepping stones through history, well-explained and documented in the back matter, reference people or moments mentioned in ­Weatherford’s verses, from the Tuskegee Airmen, Duke Ellington and all of Black music, Ruby Bridges, Martin Luther King, Jr., Florence Griffith Joyner, Colin Kaepernick, and Black Lives Matter. The force of the words along with the glowing, sculptural lines of Morrison’s paintings will draw onlookers into the journey through time and pain, to two modern children carrying protest signs and facing readers directly, ready and hopeful for what’s next. An evocative use of prayer as old-school protest with a history lesson that is as lilting as a ballad, this spiritual demands a group setting to be fully appreciated for the uplifting answers it provides. —School Library Journal, Starred Review

“Weatherford infuses the lyrics of a traditional spiritual with pivotal events in African American history. In four-line stanzas, references to the unseen narrator (“It’s me, it’s me, O Lord”), the ancestors, and present-day children alternate with the line “Standing in the need of prayer.” From “families enslaved and sold apart,” “a band of rebels,” and “freedmen seeking kin at Emancipation” to Black students integrating all-White schools, athletes breaking records, and choirs singing of justice and freedom, African Americans from across the eras and generations are humbled before God as they face mighty obstacles with brave resistance and endurance. Readers don’t need to know the song to enjoy this book; the repeated lines have the power of an incantation, inducing a meditation on all that Black people have survived and how they have thrived. Morrison’s elegant, emotional, painterly illustrations highlight the beauty, dignity, and grace of the people throughout difficult and degrading circumstances. Rich earth tones, texture, and light invite the eye to linger on the varied, portrait-style compositions. Not just for faithful homes, this is a book that can spark conversations about Black history from a strengths-based lens, with culture and coping as the focus. Brief notes discuss the figures and topics referenced in the main text, and an author’s note explains the importance of spirituals to the culture and to Weatherford personally.  Gorgeous and enlightening, nourishing both mind and soul. ” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“This is a moving walk through African American history, via Weatherford’s expansion of the lyrics of a well-known Negro spiritual and Morrison’s powerful, imagistic art. In his distinctive illustrations, Morrison employs innovative perspectives and unusual visual compositions to encourage readers to make connections between historical events, while Weatherford’s poetry, per the author’s note, “integrat[es] historical and contemporary events that summoned courage and faith.” The book’s first, wordless double-page spread looks down on the bare back of an enslaved man emerging from the bowels of a slave ship, facing a white enslaver who holds a whip. From there, the book represents significant historical and contemporary Black heroes such as Nat Turner, Ruby Bridges, Florence Joyner, and Colin Kaepernick; it also portrays important eras such as the Harlem Renaissance, the civil rights movement, the Great Migration, and the Black Lives Matter movement. A richly illustrated, informative picture book that will leave readers humming and spark a desire to learn more.”—The Horn Book, Starred Review

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre

"This moving account sheds light on shameful events long suppressed or ignored." —School Library Journal, Starred Review

"Author Weatherford and illustrator Cooper join forces to present this important story with sensitivity and care for younger readers. Weatherford's measured prose depicts the events in a cleareyed, age-appropriate narrative. Oklahoma native Cooper's muted palette and oil-erasure style effectively portray first the achievement and then the devastation that followed. The author's and illustrator's notes provide valuable insight and context, as does the rear endpapers' photograph of the massacre's aftermath. A somber, well-executed addition to the history as the incident approaches its 100th anniversary." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"Ideal for classroom libraries and a deeper study of American history, this title is a must-have for those seeking the painful and complete truth."—Booklist, Starred Review

"Weatherford and Cooper skillfully present this history to young people." —The Horn Book, Starred Review

"By focusing not just on the attack, but also on the positive achievements of the Black business owners, lawyers, and doctors of Greenwood, the book succeeds in teaching the tragedy of the Tulsa Race Massacre and the legacy of Black Wall Street." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Unspeakable deserves to be read by every student of American history." ―BookPage, Starred Review

• Winner of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards for Author and Illustrator

• 2021 Caldecott Honor Book

• 2021 Sibert Honor Book

• Longlisted for the National Book Award

• Kirkus Prize Finalist

• Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book

• New York Times “25 Best Children’s Books of 2021”

• Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books “Blue Ribbon” 2021

• BookPage’s “10 Best Picture Books of 2021”

• NYT/NYPL “10 Best Illustrated Children’s Books”

• Booklist “Editors’ Choice Books for Youth 2021”

The Faith of Elijah Cummings

“Readers come away with many facts about and direct quotes from Cummings, but more importantly they will also glean why so many loved him. Weatherford and Freeman paint a tender picture of the leader that shows his sensitivity and concern for others, rooted in his religion, that spanned his entire life . . . Pays due honor to Elijah Cummings’ memory and his dedication to the people he served.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“Interspersing direct quotations throughout, Weatherford offers a thoughtful biography of Black civil rights advocate and congressman Elijah Cummings (1951–2019)” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Beginning with remarks from Nancy Pelosi, this picture book biography combines Freeman’s expressive artwork with Weatherford’s illuminating text to focus on the highlights of Cummings’s life and career.” —School Library Journal, Starred Review

“At eleven years old, the future congressman embarked upon his lifelong quest for justice when he helped to desegregate a city swimming pool. Each spread features a quotation from Cummings ("The librarians and books...helped me define myself as a human being"); the key point is expanded in a paragraph or two of text. Accompanied by strikingly vivid illustrations, this biography of the iconic social justice activist and political leader is sure to inspire readers of all ages.”—The Horn Book

“This stirring offering from Newbery medalist and Caldecott Honor Book author Weatherford emphasizes how Cummings was always encouraged to follow his dreams. Multiple anecdotes highlight how Cummings continually fought to improve conditions for his constituents, and how he was fixated on creating a better future. The nuanced, page-filling illustrations include supporting details and perfectly capture the uplifting tone, deftly integrating quotes from Cummings and other luminaries. Additional matter includes excerpts from eulogies delivered by Nancy Pelosi and from the National Black Caucus, a time line, and a bibliography of mostly adult-level newspaper and media sources. There's a tremendous amount of information packed into this eye-catching, attractive picture-book biography. Young readers will also find inspiration and discover a great role model.”—Booklist

Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi Calls the House to Order

“Weatherford’s picture book biography of groundbreaking stateswoman Nancy Pelosi recounts how her upbringing and family life informed her career priorities. The succinct narrative highlights Pelosi’s childhood in a religious and political Italian American family (her mother wanted her to become a nun, “but I thought I might want to be a priest”) and her rise from California Democratic Party chair to Speaker of the U.S. House, becoming “the first woman to be second in line to the presidency.” —Publishers Weekly

“This book will inspire young readers through its positive portrayal of American politics and of Pelosi as a strong woman leader.” —Booklist

“A short, admiring biography, punctuated with quotations from Pelosi and accompanied by simple, stylized art . . . The text is accessible and clever, as in its assertion that Nancy and her brothers “looked up” to portraits of past presidents and also “never looked down on those who needed a hand up.” As the text reveals her passage from youth into adulthood, it suggests that Pelosi learned about leadership from her father and from nuns at her college prep school . . . Overall, a solid choice for first-time biography readers.”                —Kirkus Reviews

Respect: Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul

"The award-winning author-illustrator team of Weatherford and Morrison have taken on the life story of the Queen of Soul, and the result is a beautiful work of art."—Booklist, Starred Review

“The interplay between the deceptively simple narrative and Morrison’s illustrations is pitch-perfect. This beautiful picture book biography packs an emotional punch that is as compelling as the timeless songs that Franklin made famous.”—School Library Journal, Starred Review

Beauty Mark

"Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe's rise from meager beginnings to stardom is chronicled in this elegiac historical fiction." —Shelf Awareness, Starred Review

"The now-legendary story of Norma Jeane Mortenson’s transformation from a child craving parental love and stability into a typecast dumb blonde sex goddess spins out in fictionalized first-person verse." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"A window into a uniquely magnificent and terrifying life." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"This verse novel tells one cohesive story of a life lived. A highly enjoyable title recommended for reluctant readers and students intrigued by fame and stardom." —School Library Journal

"This book, with its exquisite page design, meticulously incorporated research, and magnetic subject won't lack in the slightest for readers." —Booklist

Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom

". . . the book artfully expresses difficult truths while being mindful of a child audience."—Booklist

"Weatherford’s moving, poetic verse gives the story a very personal tone as the reader becomes immersed in Brown’s harrowing tale of loss and sorrow and his determination to be free."—Horn Book, Starred Review

"An artful and introspective retelling of the life of a remarkable man and a painful era in U.S. history." —School Library Journal, Starred Review

"A powerful assortment of colors, textures and artistic styles illustrate this true story of how Henry 'Box' Brown escaped enslavement in 1849 via a harrowing journey inside a sealed crate." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Heartbreaking and Legendary." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

By and By

"This beautiful volume will make an excellent addition to biography collections and broaden available resources for black history studies in elementary and middle school classrooms." —School Library Journal

"Weatherford's first-person . . . rhyming narrative includes italicized lines from Tindley's hymns. . . ." —The Horn Book

"Weatherford tells Tindley’s story in rhyming verse that captures his drive for spiritual growth, service, and musical expression." —Kirkus Reviews

"This artful introduction to one of the most influential cultural movements of the 20th-century pulses with the energy and rhythm of its subject." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"This picture book conveys that Tindley lived his life with purpose and left a lasting legacy of faith expressed through gospel music." —Booklist, Starred Review

In Your Hands

"An exceptional gift to black families, and with its important underlying messages of our times, this title should be added to most library collections. Best shared one-on-one with a loved one." —School Library Journal, Starred Review

"For all its beauty and lyricism, Weatherford’s book doesn’t equivocate. Because for children like Omari, the stakes are as high as their mothers’ love is deep. 'I add my prayers to the chorus,' she writes. 'Black lives matter. Your life matters.'" —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"This picture book will move many readers, including adults, with its lyrical yet powerful words and art." —Booklist, Starred Review

"While the book does not speak as much to young children as it does to their caregivers, the pictures of a young black boy growing to adolescence and adulthood and the power of the mother’s prayer...make it one that may well transcend early readings to become a book to return to as a child becomes a man." —The Horn Book

Dorothea Lange

"One of the leading documentary photographers of the twentieth century comes to life in Weatherford's latest historical work." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library

"A must-read for a deeper understanding of a well-connected genius who enriched the cultural road map for African-Americans and books about them." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"Lifelong bibliophile Arturo Schomburg would be pleased by Weatherford’s prose-poem biography, which praises his passion for researching and collecting books, manuscripts, and other written materials relating black heritage and history." —Booklist, Starred Review

"Schomburg’s ambitions, scholarship, and accomplishments were tremendous...and Weatherford and Velasquez more than do justice to them." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Picking up Schomburg's torch almost a century later, Weatherford and Velasquez are continuing to ensure that African history isn't lost." —Shelf Awareness

"The remarkable life and achievements of the Afro-Puerto Rican scholar, collector and curator Arturo Schomburg have ideal chroniclers in Weatherford (Freedom in Congo Square) and Velasquez (Grandma’s Gift)." —The New York Times

"Two African-American scholars have written a poetic biography of Arturo Schomburg, the immigrant who created a library in Harlem to prevent the disappearance of African voices from history." —Shelf Awareness, Starred Review

The Legendary Miss Lena Horne

"Weatherford and Zunon vibrantly capture the setbacks and triumphs of African-American performer Lena Horne, tracing her rise from a Brooklyn childhood to a singer and actress who faced persistent racism." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Inspirational.... A memorable life dedicated to music and civil rights, presented with commensurate style." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"Exceptionally handsome book." —Booklist, Starred Review