Walter Dean Myers New York Times Article

I ran across this article through a Facebook post today and had to share.  

Author Walter Dean Myers speaks very candidly about the lack of people of color in children's books today in a New York Times article.  With so many advancements that have been made in society, our image is not represented in literature.  Is it because there are a lack of African-American writers?  Interest about the African-American community as a whole? Could it be there is a quiet effort to prevent our story from being told and preserved in print for generations to come?  You be the judge after reading this article from this prolific author.  

Where Are the People of Color in Children's Books? by Walter Dean Myers

Yes Indeed!

Check out this article from the Huffington Post entitled, 'Here Are The Most Popular Books Of 2013 From The Nation's Top-Ranked Library'.  Guess what?  A Street Literature book is among the most circulated during the 2013 calendar year throughout libraries within the Chicago Public Library system.

Who said Street Lit. wasn't a genre?  I think it's time for the critics to accept that this genre isn't going anywhere.

Harold Washington Library Center

CPS Leadership Technology Summit

On Tuesday, July 24, 2012, Chicago Public Schools principals, assistant principals, technology coordinators, and district leaders will attend the CPS Leadership Technology Summit.  This summit will take place at Whitney Young Magnet High School on Tuesday, July 24, 2012.   Conference attendees will hear internationally-known educational technology expert, Will Richardson; listen to special guest Nichole Pinkard; select from a variety of timely technology break-out sessions; hear from Connie Yowell, the Director of Education for the MacArthur Foundation.

Street Lit. and NOOKs

Yours truly will be speaking at this conference.  My presentation is:  If you are a CPS 

Using Mobile Devices

Phillips High School Nook Book Club: Book Club on an E-Reader, KC Boyd, Phillips High School Librarian

Phillips High School runs an after-school book club for its students using the Nook e-reader device.  Attend this session to learn how to acquire, set up, and manage sets of Nooks. Discuss topics such as book selection, costs, and how to leverage free eBook selections.  Learn how Nooks can help motivate extracurricular reading and foster energized book discussions.

Tu-Shonda Whitaker is Coming to Chicago!

DaBook Joint online bookstore will be hosting Street Lit. Queen Tu-Shonda Whitaker for a book signing this Saturday in Chicago.   Whitaker is one of my favorite Street Lit. authors.  My favorites are, "Flip Side of the Game" and "Game Over."  Her recent release, "Money Never Sleeps" is another page turner.   If you are not familiar with her adult titles, you may be more familiar with her teen series written under the name of NiNi Simone, check out her website devoted to teen readers - http://www.ninisimone.com/, my students just love it.  I just can't wait to get my books signed for my teens.

The event will be held at the Temple Art Gallery, 1749 South Halsted this Saturday from 4pm to 7pm.   

Please make sure that you review the above flyer and RSVP with the owner, Miss Verlean.  Come out to Da Book Joint and support an African-Author and a African-American owned bookstore.  

43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards

     Founded in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, (NAACP) is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization.  From the ballot box to the classroom, the thousands of dedicated workers, organizers, leaders and members who make up the NAACP, continue to fight for social justice for all Americans.

    
     The 43 Annual NAACP Image Awards ceremony will be held on March 4, 2012.  The Image Awards celebrate and honor outstanding people of color in film, television, music and literature.  I'm so pleased to announce that two of my colleagues/friends are being considered for this year's nomination.   I am asking all of my friends and colleagues to support the social media campaign for both of these authors.  Please keep in mind, the campaign raises the awareness of the nominee’s submission and heightens the chance for a final nomination.  The final nominations will be announced January 2012.

     
     Vanessa I. Morris book, “The Reader’s Advisory Guide to Street Literature,” published by ALA Editions, has been submitted for nomination for Outstanding Literary Work - Instructional.  Morris is the Assistant Teaching Professor at The iSCHOOL at Drexel’s University’s College of Information Science and Technology in Philadelphia.  She is the country’s foremost Street Literature Scholar and writes frequently on her blog, Street Literature.   Her work is referenced and used heavily by school, public, special and academic librarians.   The book has helped me  and my peers gain a better understanding of the genre and has served as a helpful resource when making purchases for my teen patrons.  Essentially, Morris has created a reference masterpiece for those who wish to learn more about Street Literature.  The interesting historical facts of the genre, effectiveness and current use of Street Literature is heavily discussed.  

     
    National Bestselling Author and Award-Winning author, Earl Sewell, has written nineteen novels and has had his work featured in several anthologies and magazines.   Sewell’s, “Keysha’s Drama” series published by Kimani Tru is very popular with pre-teen and teen readers.  “Maya’s Choice” has been submitted for nomination for Outstanding Literary Work - Teen/Young Adult Category.  You can read more about Sewell on his website at www.earlsewell.com.  The students that attend my high school are crazy about Sewell's teen book series.   My library currently has multiple copies of his books and they are always in circulation.  I've also had the pleasure of having him speak to my students during one of his book tours where he was received well by the teens.  I call Sewell one of those 'observant' authors that is keenly aware of the emotional and social challenges today's teens face.  He is a young adult author that has the gift of cleverly weaving a good story that teens will enjoy without preaching.

Please support both of these authors in their quest for a nomination.  Both authors are committed to producing books that help us all understand teens just a little better.  Just click on the following link for the Facebook NAACP Image Awards page, (http://www.facebook.com/naacpimageaward) then click on the ‘Like’ button and post your support on their wall, it’s just that easy.  That’s all for now!

   Vanessa I. Morris

Earl Sewell   

Breaking News...New Releases

On April 12^th, “Midnight and the Meaning of Love” by Sister Souljah will be released.  This is the much anticipated sequel to “Midnight.”    

Coe Booth, the author of “Tyrell” and “Kendra” will be releasing “Bronxwood” on September 1^st.  Readers will finally learn what happens to the character Tyrell.

Monica McKayhan, author of the Kimani Tru series ‘Indigo Summer’, will be releasing a new book series called “Premiere High.”  The novel ‘Ambitious’ is the first release slated for a September release.

If you are a fan of the Keysha’s Drama series, you’ll love this next release by author Earl Sewell.  Kimani Tru will release “Maya’s Choice” in November.

Finally, I wish the publishing houses would recognize that the fans of Dream Jordan (Hot Girls) and Dana Davidson (Played) are waiting for another book release.

Until next time, smootches!