Everyone knows Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King, Jr., but there are many other African Americans who have contributed to the rich fabric of our country but whose names have fallen through the cracks of history.
We’ve asked some of our authors who chose to write biographies of these talented leaders why we should remember them. We’ll feature their answers throughout Black History Month.
Today, Alan Schroeder shares why he wrote about Florence Mills in Baby Flo: Florence Mills Lights Up the Stage:
While researching African-American life, I have come across the name Florence Mills time and again. She was a famous singer and dancer in the 1920s, but not much is known about her today. She is a “forgotten” celebrity. Then, a few years ago, a man named Bill Egan wrote a marvelous biography of Mills, which I happened to read. Thanks to Mr. Egan, Mills’s incredible career sprang to life, and I knew I wanted to write about her — to share her story with young readers.
Unlike Booker T. Washington or Frederick Douglass or Martin Luther King, Jr., Florence Mills is not an important figure in American or African-American life. Children do not need to know about her in the way that they should know about Douglass or King, or Cesar Chavez, or Harvey Milk. Nevertheless, her story was interesting, and her hard work and many accomplishments can, I think, serve as an inspiration to young readers. In an amazingly short time, Florence Mills rose to the very top of her profession, and I had a wonderful time researching and writing about her.
Further reading:
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Holidays Tagged:
African American history,
African American interest,
african american women,
baby flo,
black history month,
dancing,
dreams &,
florence mills,
inspiration,
performing 
Some of Laura Numeroff's most popular books are from the
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series. We actually own three of them and have even seen a theatre production of
If You Give a Pig a Pancake. But did you know that Laura Numeroff has also co-written a book about dance?
The Jellybeans and the Big Dance is the first in a new series by
Laura Numeroff (author),
Nate Evans (author), and Lynn Munsinger (illustrator). Here's how publisher
Abrams Books for Young Readers describes the book:
Emily loves to dance and can't wait to meet the other girls in her class, who are sure to be just like her. But instead she meets Nicole, a tomboy who would rather be playing soccer; Bitsy, who loves arts and crafts; and Anna, a shy bookworm who has no interest at all in dancing. Realizing they have to work together to make their dance recital a success, the girls learn to love each other's differences and strengths as they band together and name their group the Jellybeans!I would have to describe this book as sweet (not unlike jellybeans) in all respects. I love how the four characters learn to get along so well by the end of the book, despite the major differences in their personalities. On a related note, it's really cute how they come up with the name for their group:
"Jellybeans are all different flavors, but they still go well together," said Emily. "Maybe we could, too. We can be the dancing Jellybeans!"
The illustrations, too, are very sweet. Their colors blend together so nicely, and there are also lots of them...at least two to three scenes on each spread. As a writer, I have to admit that I often focus way too much on the words in picture books, even though the pictures are just as important. Having this blog is really teaching me to slow down and look closely at all the different components of a book.
I also love the sparkly title and costumes on the cover. They add a nice touch that certainly makes
me want to pick up the book. I'm sure little girls and boys won't be able to resist either. And if they like this book, they might also like the sequel, which was published in March of this year.
Whew! What a week it's been. I'm still editing the Forest (up tomorrow for sure!) and am finalizing Cybils panels. (By the way...if you wrote to me about the Cybils and did not receive an answer from me, I have to admit that one e-mail went into my spam filter and I saw the word "Cybils" before it disappeared into the abyss. Please write me again if you never got a reply from me!)
In the meantime, I thought I'd play 7-Imp's Trudy White inspired Could You? Would You? game.
How would someone find you in a crowd? Not easily, I'm afraid. I'm of average height, average weight, and average age. I have brown eyes and brown hair. Hmmm...I think I'd have to say something in order to be found.
If your house had a secret room, what would be in there? Oooh. This one is easy. I have this dream all the time. It would be an all-white room with a big white cushy chair, and there would be many green plants with no flowers. I know I have this dream because I have messy children, no chair of my own, and cats who eat plants. Someday.
Where do you like to walk from your house? I'm a walker. I'll walk anywhere. Unless it's windy. I fear the wind.
How will you change when you grow up? I already see the future here, as I'm halfway there. I'm becoming more outspoken, more confident, and less concerned with the little stuff.
What sort of animal would you like to be? Definitely a hawk.
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