Dancin' in the Streets and Photo Tribute to Legendary Civil Rights Workers

Yes, I am. Dancing. Not in the street, exactly, but around the house. While I'm cooking. While I'm taking far too long in the shower.  While I'm out in the garden, getting the rich, wet, rained-upon dirt turned over and ready for spring planting. All while I should be writing.

Marching for Freedom is a finalist for the Los Angeles Book Prize (scroll down to Young Adult Literature). I am in such great company. And most astonishing of all -- three of the five books are non-fiction. A majority. This is so amazing. My deep thanks to the judges, and my congratulations to my gang of five finalists.

Meanwhile, heating up over at School Library Journal, the second Battle of the Books has been announced. Elizabeth Bird has kicked off the contest with this hysterically funny (and informative!) video. Marching is up for contention!



And you know how crazy I am about the photos of Plaxton. Unbelievably beautiful, revealing portraits. Check out these images in the New Yorker of  the civil rights leaders of the sixties.  Thanks to librarian Nanette Bulebosh for the link.

Lynda Blackmon Lowery, full of grace

Putting together Marching for Freedom, I interviewed five or six of the people who were teenagers during the protest. Their courage was awe-inspiring to me. Since then, I've become friends with Lynda Lowery, the youngest person to march all the way from Selma to Montgomery in 1965. After living in NYC for years, she moved back to Selma. She's one of the most open-hearted, generous people I've ever known. She also has incredible energy and is always giving to the community. I don't know that she would even call it "giving back," she just is always available, with helpful hands and heart. Here she is at Mount Oliver Missionary Baptist Church last week.

I love these kids with their bright faces and festive tie-dye shirts. The one girl in front with her purple leggings and her warm boots! This photo makes me optimistic and hopeful.  I'm also struck once again how important it is to keep on working to make the world a better place for our kids.

A couple weeks ago while I was in NYC I taped an interview with Joe Donahue at WAMC radio. Joe will interview Lynda on Monday and we'll air soon -- I'll keep you posted. Lynda telling her story in her own words is not to be missed!

Old and New California

I had a great time at the Mechanics Institute. I was awed by the other speakers -- Elaine Elinson and Stan Yogi, authors of Wherever There's a Fight, had me totally excited about the history of civil rights in California Did you know in the 1860's an African American woman sued when she was forced off a bus in San Francisco and the case went all the way to the California Supreme Court?

Carl Anthony was incredible, speaking about the Urban Habitat Program, the oldest environmental justice program in the country, and his newest book, Breakthrough Communities.

And the stairs at the Institute are gorgeous.....

United Nations International School visit, lovely shout-outs for Marching

I had a blast at the United Nations International School last week, invited by librarian Lisa Moore. Jim Hoover, the Viking designer I've done three books with, appeared with me and we tag-teamed the kids. For the K-2 group I talked about putting together a book, read one of my picture books, then with enthusiastic participation by the kids we wrote a story all together. Jim drew the pictures: fast, furious, and full of character. So much fun. Here are Jim's quick sketches:

Then Jim and I talked to third through fifth graders about putting together Marching for Freedom. We were in the library, with a great book display of my books. That's Lisa Moore in the upper left corner. Isn't that the most book-rich library you've seen in awhile? And in the middle of the kids coming and going and working at tables, Lisa is a calm center at her desk.

I explained how Martin Luther King and President Johnson worked together behind the scenes and got this question: "Was that president black or white?" The student was too young to have been dancing in the streets with the rest of us just over a year ago. Change does happen, in unexpected ways.

The third group, sixth through eight graders, were incredibly savvy. It was wonderful to talk to an international group of kids.

Good news: Marching for Freedom was featured in several book round-ups for Black History Month: USA Today, and The Washington Post. In addition to being on  Best Books for Young Adults and Notable Children's Books lists, Marching made the  International Reading Association 2010 Notable Books for a Global Society. Mitalia Perkins is also on the list for her new book, Secret Keepers, and has an excellent blog post on the award and the twenty-five books which got a shout-out. I'm honored to be in such great company!