Students from Chicago’s Mayo Elementary School performed scenes from my middle grade novel, TANEESHA NEVER DISPARAGING as part of the Open Book Program December 12, 2009 culminating activity. I watched 9 schools perform live scenes from the book. Mayo Elementary chose to include videos as part of their dramatized courtroom skit in which Taneesha’s imaginary evil [...]

Okay, I sound like a used car salesperson, here. But I am truly practically giving away copies of my reference Successful Self-Publishing–From Children’s Book Author to Independent Publisher, A Simple Guide for New and Not So New Authors. Read why I’m making this book offer and what the offer is on my other blog, Fear–It’s So Yesterday. LaVora www.mlavoraperry.com [...]

This is way cool. I remember literacy organization Reading is Fundamental (RIF) from when I was  kid. Now RIF CEO Carol H. Rasco blogs about my middle grade novel about a bullied Buddhist girl, Taneesha Never Disparaging. Read the whole story on my other blog, Fear–It’s So Yesterday. LaVora www.mlavoraperry.com

Here are links to interviews of me, present and past. The newest interviews are at the first link. The following interviews are posted here on the BookCover blog. This link includes links to interviews of me and others; some of which I served as the interviewer: http://bookcover.wordpress.com/category/interviews/ This is a list of interviews of me from 2008 [...]

That’s me! Check out my interview–and those of 28 other children’s book writers of color during the Brown Book Shelf’s 28 Days Later campaign, which takes place every February. My interview is here!

As the PEACEBUILDERS publication date–March 16, 2010–grows closer, I’m launching an essay contest for grades kindergarten – 12. (Even though PEACEBUILDERS is a chapter book biography. It’s got information, inspiration, and history in it for older readers, too.) Here’s how the contest works: PRIZES First place: Autographed PEACEBUILDERS color paperback Second place: Autographed PEACEBUILDERS black and white paperback Third place: [...]

Two new reviews of my upcoming chapter book biography, PEACEBUILDERS: DAISAKU IKEDA & JOSEI TODA, BUDDHIST LEADERS (FortuneChild, March 16, 2010) came in this week: “…you can’t put it down until you’ve turned the last page…the type of book that stays with a child throughout life.” -Nathalie Mvondo, Multiculturalism Rocks! Blog “…can help promote tolerance and…global awareness.“ Reading [...]

Launches August 2010 by Abrams. Order here. LaVora www.mlavoraperry.com

I just finished a “Book Bites for Kids” radio interview about my upcoming children’s book PeaceBuilders: Daisaku Ikeda & Josei Toda, Buddhist Leaders. You can listen here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bookbitesforkids/2010/02/08/book-bites-for-kids-m-lavora-perry

Go here, to learn about The Brown Bookshelf and the author’s and books they are featuring throughout the month of February, including me and mine! LaVora wwww.mlavoraperry.com

To spread the word about our need for contributors to our upcoming book of stories of organ donation related to people of color, Forest Hill Publishing has created a Facebook page to share brief tales from those who have signed on to this project. Please pass this news on to those who have been directly or [...]

Two weeks ago, I presented one of my writing workshops to the 5th graders at my high school alma mater, Hathaway Brown school for girls.  What a terrific experience. The girls were the first live audience to watch the book trailer for my upcoming chapter book biography, PEACEBUILDERS: DAISAKU IKEDA & JOSEI TODA, BUDDHIST LEADERS. They asked [...]

A librarian recently commented that my middle grade novel about a feisty urban, Buddhist, and bullied 5th grader, Taneesha Never Disparaging, is “certainly flying under the radar”, even though it’s garnered a nice chunk of positive reviews. I knew that she meant she, and probably many other librarians, didn’t know about it. This isn’t unusual for [...]

Reviews of my juvenile biography PEACEBUILDERS: DAISAKU IKEDA & JOSEI TODA, BUDDHIST LEADERS, have started to arrive.  Here they are “Ms. Perry has reconnected the openness of childhood to the possibilities of the world.” -Roy Craft, Director, Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, Morehouse College MORE “[PeaceBuilders is a] carefully documented chapter book [that] makes Ikeda’s story [...]

Read all about it: “LEE & LOW BOOKS is proud to announce that Tiare Williams Solorzano of Citrus Heights, California, is the winner of the New Voices Award Honor for 2009. Her exuberant story, Little Fish, portrays a hard-working young Haitian girl, Lisette, who wants to participate in carnaval—a vibrant festival full of costumes, parades, and [...]

School Library Journal digs this book written by Becky  Birtha and illustrated by Nicole Tadgell: http://nicoletadgell.blogspot.com/2010/01/school-library-journal-review.html And so does Booklist! =http://nicoletadgell.blogspot.com/2010/01/lucky-beans-booklist-review.html LaVora www.mlavoraperry.com

I just joined an posted this comment in this new brand new FaceBook group, Readers Against Whitewashing… I hope that because of Bloomsbury’s continued whitewashing of covers–whether out of genuine ignorance or deliberate disrespect on the part of one or more people there–more and more people of color will start our own publishing company’s. I hope [...]

…my old stomping ground when I lived in Brooklyn… Zetta and Gebmi rap about multiculti lit… going against stereotype, and what’s available right now… Part 1 Part 2

Forest Hill Publishing will launch a new book relaying the true stories of transplant recipients and donors of color. People of color represent a disproportionately high number of people who need organ transplants–and die because the didn’t receive them–and a disproportionately low number of people who serve as organ and tissue donors. Click here to [...]

Enjoy! Now, go buy the book! LaVora www.mlavoraperry.com

Who wins the Coretta Scott King Book Awards – a look at stats from 1970 to 2010–from Kyra Hicks This year marks the 41st annual Coretta Scott King Award for outstanding books for children and young adults by an African American author. The annual illustrator award was added in 1974. Read the rest of this article on [...]

Read all about them on School Library Journal’s blog: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6715435.html?desc=topstory Newbery Winner When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Me and my middle grade novel, Taneesha Never Disparaging, will be spotlighted during The Brown Bookshelf’s “28 Days Later” campaign in February. I’ll be interviewed during the month. For details about The Brown Book Shelf and the “28 Days Later” campaign, visit their website. Meanwhile, this is from The Brown Bookshelf’s Press Release: The authors, their most current [...]

Dyahnne Alston is the founder of Sweetie’s Books/Sensations Publishing and of the Multicultural Literature Advocacy Group (MLAG). MLAG’s stated mission is “Ensuring that Minority Voices in Print are Heard.” MLAG’s first annual event takes place in Mobile Alabama Firday March 19 – Sunday, March 21. It’s an ambitious event with much to offer for both seasoned and new writers. [...]

I’m happy to say that my book trailers are up! Here’s the mini version: And here’s the extended version: LaVora www.mlavoraperry.com