For Immediate Release
October 1, 2014
Contact:
Matthew Caston
matthewc@speakloudly.com
or
Patrick Oliver
patrickoliver@speakloudly.com
(501) 952-6169
(Little Rock, AR) The National Black Children's Book Fair Tour, organized to bring books and the authors and illustrators who create them to various cities around the country, will have its launch in Little Rock, AR, November 6th through November 8, 2014. The tour was conceived by a group of established authors/illustrators of color concerned about the lack of diversity in children and young adult literature and the need to get those books that are published to book buyers.
Patrick M. Oliver, a native of Little Rock, AR, has been tapped to serve as executive director of the Tour. A program manager and literary consultant for educational institutions and organizations around the country, Oliver is also founder of Say It Loud! Readers and Writers, a literary arts organization dedicated to promoting literature as a tool of empowerment.
“We are planning to bring the tour to different cities around the country,” Oliver said. “There is such a need to bring quality literature to our young people, literature that draws from the culture and experiences of those who comprise our diverse nation.”
“We certainly need more books published that reflect who we are as a nation and world. But we also need to make sure that those books that are being published are made available in our various communities.”
Dr. Terrence Roberts, one of the Little Rock Nine, a group of African-American students who, in 1957, were the first black students to integrate classes at Little Rock Central High School, will be a special guest at the bookfair. He is head of the management-consulting firm, Terrence Roberts Consulting and is author of Lessons from Little Rock and Simple Not Easy: Reflections on Community Social Responsibility and Tolerance (Our National Conversation).
Dr. Roberts will be joined by a number of outstanding authors, educators and illustrators, including Jabari Asim, Derrick Barnes, Floyd Cooper, Sharon G. Flake, Dr. Stephanie Helms-Pickett, Cheryl Willis Hudson, Wade Hudson and Delfeayo Marsalis.
At a press conference on October 2, 2014, announcing the launch of the book fair tour, Little Rock School District board member Joy Springer expressed her excitement about the event.
“I’m happy that the children in the district will have the opportunity to meet authors of this caliber,” she commented. She pledged her full support for book fair.
The two days of activities will include a tour of Little Rock Central High School and a reception at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center from 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM on Friday, November 7, and on Saturday, November 8, the book fair at Winthrop Rockefeller Elementary, which will offer books for sale that can be signed by the authors and illustrators, panel discussions, seminars and activities for youngsters.
The National Black Children's Book Fair Tour in Little Rock is being hosted by Say It Loud! Readers and Writers. Co-sponsors include the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Little Rock Central High National Historic Site, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation Arkansas Campaign for Grade Level Reading, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Center for Diversity Affairs, Hicks Law Office, Carpenter's Produce, P.M.O. Enterprises and others.
For further information contact Patrick Oliver at (501) 952-6169 or by email at patrickoliver@speakloudly.com.
Jabari Asim is an associate professor of creative writing at Emerson College and executive editor of the NAACP’s Crisis magazine. His books for children include The Road To Freedom, Whose Toes Are Those, Whose Knees Are These, Girl Of Mine, Boy Of Mine, Daddy Goes To Work and Fifty Cents And A Dream: Young Booker T. Washington.
Derrick D. Barnes is also the author of the ultra-popular series entitled Ruby and the Booker Boys and the middle grade novel We Could Be Brothers. Derrick was the first African-American male staff writer for Hallmark.
Floyd Cooper, born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, received his BFA from the University of Oklahoma. After a stint at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, MO Cooper moved to New York to pursue career in illustration. He has illustrated nearly 100 picture books garnering many awards including three Coretta Scott King Honors and the Coretta Scott King Award for illustration.
Sharon G. Flake breakout novel The Skin I'm In, established her reputation as a must read author among middle and high school students, as well as teachers, parents and librarians. She has earned numerous awards and recognitions including several Coretta Scott King Honor awards. Flake’s new book is a historical mystery novel Unstoppable Octobia May.
Dr. Stephanie Helms-Pickett is Director of Assessment & Professional Development Programs in the Division of Student Affairs at Duke University and Visiting Professor in the Program in Education and Director of the Duke Women’s Center. Author of Her Name is She.
Cheryl Willis Hudson has written nearly 30 books for children, including the popular Bright Eyes, Brown Skin and My Friend Maya Loves to Dance. In 1988, along with her husband Wade, she founded Just Us Books, Inc. an independent company that publishes books for children about Black experiences. Cheryl serves and vice-president and editorial director of Just Us Books.
Wade Hudson is an award-winning author of more than 30 books for children and young adults, including Powerful Words, Two Years of Outstanding Writing by African Americans and Jamal’s Busy Day. He serves as President of Just Us Books, which he established with his wife Cheryl. Just Us Books is a leading publisher of books for children and young adults that focus on Black and multicultural characters and experiences.
Delfeayo Marsalis, Grammy award-winning producer and musician and author of the new book No Cell Phone Day. Delfeayo and the Marsalis family (father Ellis and brothers Branford, Wynton and Jason) earned the nation’s highest jazz honor – a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters
Patrick Oliver is a program manager and literary consultant for educational institutions and organizations throughout the United States. He is the recipient of numerous community service awards, contracts and grants for literary projects and literacy programs. Editor of the Essence Magazine best-selling anthology Turn the Page and You Don’t Stop: Sharing Successful Chapters in Our Lives with Youth.
Dr. Terrence James Roberts was one of the Little Rock Nine, a group of African-American students who, in 1957, were the first black students ever to attend classes at Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is currently principal of the management-consulting firm, Terrence Roberts Consulting. Author of two books Lessons from Little Rock and Simple Not Easy: Reflections on community social responsibility and tolerance (Our National Conversation).
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Noon – 1:00 p.m. Literary Nation Talk Radio
Interviews with authors, sponsors and supporters on KABF FM 88.3 and on-line
www.kabf.og
Friday, November 7, 2014
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm Tour Little Rock Central High
Guided tour and meet with Little Rock Central High educators Special guest
authors tour Central High with Little Rock Nine Member Dr. Terrence Roberts
and current educators and students Little Rock
Central High National Historic Site,
2120 W Daisy L Gatson Bates Drive,
Little Rock, AR 72202
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm Meet and Greet the Authors
Reception
Author presentations and book signings.
Mosaic Templars Cultural Center
501 W 9th St,
Little Rock, AR 72201
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Winthrop Rockefeller Elementary
700 West 17th Street
Little Rock, AR 72206
Mini-sessions (20 minutes) will be held in classrooms throughout the day facilitated by special guest authors, educators and literacy advocacy organizations.