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Book Reviews

Hair Love ABCs (A Book Review)

Ice Cream Man: How Augustus Jackson Made a Sweet Treat Better (Book Review)

The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander (A Book Review)

Virtual Book Tour: My Pet Feet by Josh Funk, illustrated by Billy Yong

Review: American Desi by Jyoti Rajan Gopal

Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History by Schele Williams (A Book Review)

Eyes That Speak to the Stars by Joanna Jo (A Book Review)

Opal Lee and What it Means to Be Free (A Book Review)

Carla and the Christmas Cornbread: A Book Review

Notable Native People: A Book Review

Cover Reveal: Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady and Gracey Zhang

Brown Girls Reading: A Promised Land by Barack Obama A Joint Book Review with Charnaie Gordon & Nicole Blades

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[#ad] Molly Dade is a sixth grader with big problems. She has an important violin audition coming up, she’s been paired with her nemesis for a school project, and she’s struggling to hide a life-or-death family secret.

The Dade family is a quirky, charming, loving Adams-esque family that has both living and undead members. Following a freak accident, Molly’s mom is now a ghost, her twin brother Marty is a poltergeist, and her younger sister is a zombie.

Keeping her supernatural family secret hidden is quite the challenge for Molly, especially when her dead (undead?) relatives insist on joining Parent-Teacher Association meetings or attending the incredibly public and potentially mortifying school concert. Can you say embarrassing?

Things take a worrisome turn when Dad’s new cemetery assistant appears to be privy to the Dade family’s mysterious secret. Molly and Marty grow concerned about the future of their family. As Marty starts to recover his memories of the explosion that claimed his and Mom’s lives, the twins come to a chilling realization: the situation might be even more serious than they initially believed. Someone appears to be targeting the Dade family, but the question remains – who, and for what reason?

My kids enjoyed reading this not-so-scary middle grade book just in time for Halloween. While this book does mention ghosts, poltergeists, and zombies, my kids found it to be a light-hearted, page turning, and fun paranormal adventure.

Look for Grave Mistakes by Kitty Curran @dappykitty in stores now wherever books are sold. Published by @disneybooks. @authormelissadelacruz #GraveMistakes

Over the next few weeks leading up to the publication of our picture book, Etta Extraordinaire, @rodaworld and I will be sharing the inspiration for the book. In this video, we talk about how we bonded over our daughters who loved playing dress up when they were younger.

Etta Extraordinaire is available for pre-order now wherever books are sold. Look for it in a bookstore near you on October 17, 2023. Published by @harperkids @wmebooks. Illustrated by @chloeb.artistry.

Film Credits: @filmedbyerika

#ettaextraordinaire #ettamoten #ettamotenbarnett #rodaahmed #hereweeread #picturebookauthor #kidlitcommunity #kidlitwomen #kidliterature

Countdown to Christmas: Publishing October 3rd

We received this adorable board book recommended for tiny readers ages birth to 3, part of the Brown Baby Parade series of books.

It’s 10 days ’til Christmas! A little girl and her family prepare by putting up the tree, wrapping presents, baking delicious treats, and much more. Read along as they count down to Christmas Day!

Written by @nikkishannonsmith. Illustrated by Leticia Moreno. Published by @crownpublishing.

#countdowntochristmas #boardbooks #wheretheboardbooksare #boardbooksforkids #boardbook #boardbooksofinstagram

Thanks for all the love and support of my forthcoming picture book with @rodaworld illustrated by @chloeb.artistry!

With one month to go until publication with @harperkids, we’re already looking forward to seeing kids dress up like Etta for Halloween or book character day in school.

To help readers who may feel inspired by Etta’s fabulous style, I created a “Dress Like Etta Extraordinaire” list in my @amazon store for your convenience. Choose your favorite Etta fit and shop the list for Halloween, Book Character Day, or any time of the year.

Let me know in the comments which one is your favorite Etta outfit. 👇🏾

#ettaextraordinaire #dresslikeetta #dresslikeettaextraordinaire #harperkids #ettamoten #ettamotenbarnett #bookcharacter #bookcharacterday #bookcharacters #blackbookstagram #blackbookstagrammer #authorsofcolor #authorsofinsta #blackwriterscommunity

Meet ETTA EXTRAORDINAIRE! Etta may be small, but she is MIGHTY.
Etta is happy and imaginative, brimming with brightness, boldness, and big dreams. She is creative, curious, smart, stylish beyond her years, and not afraid to speak her mind.

We hope Etta inspires readers to be their extraordinary unapologetic selves and know that no dream is too small when you have a plan.

Pre-orders available NOW wherever books are sold.

Written by @rodaworld and @hereweeread. Illustrated by @chloeb.artistry. Published by @harperkids.

#ettaextraordinaire #harperkids #ettamoten #ettamotenbarnett

I’m thrilled to reveal the cover for author Lesa Cline-Ransome's @lclineransome first novel in verse: ONE BIG OPEN SKY.

Publishing March 5, 2024 with @holidayhousebks.

Cover Art by: @itskristenuroda.

Check out the book synopsis below.

Book synopsis:

The wagon journey westward will lead them to a better life—or cost them everything they have.

1879, Mississippi. Young dreamer Lettie may have her head in the stars, but her body is on a covered wagon train. Nebraska gleams with promise: a chance for Lettie’s family to claim the independence they’ve strived for over generations on their very own plot of land. But the road proves to be far more difficult—and dangerous—than they imagined.

Will Lettie’s family survive the hardships of the journey? And as her father’s desire for control overpowers his common sense, will they truly be free once they get there?

Tackling powerful themes of autonomy and Black self-emancipation, Cline-Ransome chronicles a little-known part of American history—the stories of Black homesteaders—through the voices of three unforgettable women in this expansive, intergenerational verse novel.

#onebigopensky #lesaclineransome #holidayhousebooks #coverreveal #coverreveals #blackbookstagram #blackauthorsofinstagram

In a little over a month, our children’s book, Etta Extraordinaire, will be released into the world. This is a day I’ve been dreaming of for almost two years.

Roda @rodaworld and I dreamed up the character Etta Extraordinaire after we bonded talking about our daughters. We are both mothers to joyful, creative, imaginative, and sweet, daughters who loved to play dress up, throw tea parties, and getting their glitter on when they were younger. We knew we wanted to create a memorable and fun-loving character that looked like our daughters for our children and other children to enjoy for years to come.

It is our dream for readers of all ages and cultures to welcome Etta into their literary realm with open arms. We’re so excited for Etta to be a part of the bright, beautiful, inclusive future of children’s books! Young readers, budding fashionistas, troublemakers, daydreamers, and their families will all find themselves in Etta Extraordinaire. We cannot wait to have them join us on all her glittery, glamorous adventures.

Cheers to our first book in the Etta Extraordinaire series. May this book and future books inspire young minds to dream, explore, and embrace their unique identities.

Book Publication Date: October 17, 2023
Published by: @harperkids
Illustrated by: @chloeb.artistry
Clothes by: @gabrielahearst

#ettaextraordinaire #rodaahmed #blackwritersofinstagram #womensupportingwomen #blackbookstagram #blackauthorsmatter #blackwritersmatter @gabrielahearst