I remember playing dress-up with my cousins. We would run upstairs and raid my grandma's closet, delighted by the brocade, satin and polyester dresses we found. Each cousin had her favorite look. I loved anything with pink or red. I would slip the dress over my head, slide my feet into wobbly high heels and pretend to be grown. It was a fun and memorable time.

Thank you for helping to spread the word about Just Us Books' "Most Memorable Moment With My Father" essay contest. So many outstanding essays came in. The winners were announced this morning.

Here's the link to find out who won and read excerpts of first- and second-place essays and other wonderful submissions:

http://www.justusbooks.com/modules/content/index.php?id=87

I am so proud of what the children shared. Thanks again for helping to celebrate fathers and father-figures and their important bond with children.

Monday, I participated in a Read Across America celebration, sponsored by the Durham Association of Educators at Northgate Mall. Often, I go places and the children have never heard of the Million Man March. But this time, a young man proudly shared that it was a gathering where a million men stood as one.

Then, I asked if anyone had heard of the 1963 March on Washington. Hands shot up all around. "Dr. King was there," one girl exclaimed. Another one shouted out the title of his famous speech: "I Have a Dream." I asked if they knew that Rosa Parks, Dr. Dorothy I. Height and Rev. Jesse Jackson were not just at the March on Washington, but at the Million Man March too. Their faces showed delight and surprise.

When the children saw a slide show of images from the Million Man March, their mouths gaped as they took in the sea of men who came together that amazing day. They nudged each other and pointed at the screen. They stared in amazement and smiled wide.

I asked them to help me out with the reading of One Million Men and Me. When I said "one million black men," they roared back "one million black kings." The spirit of the March swelled their hearts with pride.

The Million Man March matters. On October 16, 1995, one million Black men came together to make a difference. Let's salute that historic event by keeping the memory of the March alive.

The entries are in. I'm so moved by the wonderful essays children wrote for the Most Memorable Moment with My Father contest (http://www.justusbooks.com/modules/content/index.php?id=87) launched to honor outstanding men and celebrate the publication of One Million Men and Me. In a couple months, Just Us Books will announce the first and second place winners in each age category. But every child who entered is a winner. So are the men.

I felt such a lift reading the essays. There were stories of dads who took kids to amusement parks and fishing, fathers who bought daughters their first bouquet of roses and danced with them at father-daughter banquets, grand-daddies and uncles who treated young people to movies, taught them family history and checked their homework.


Then, there were other stories -- children who longed for a connection with their dads. They wrote about wanting someone to pick them up and whirl them in the air, someone to make them feel safe and wrap them in fatherly love. Just as these children revealed the ache they felt when a father wasn't around, they offered thanks for having other positive men in their lives -- brothers, mentors, teachers, preachers -- who stood in the gap and gave them the affirmation they needed.


It's tough to put your life on paper. I applaud the candor and bravery of these students who opened their hearts to us. Thank you for sharing your stories! It's said that sons need fathers. Daughters do too. Children soar when good men are a part of their lives.


So cheers to all of the wonderful dads and men who put in the work every day, who are committed to being there for children. The wounds of missing a daddy run deep. So do the rewards of having a father or father-figure around. Studies have shown that kids with positive men in their lives do better in school, their self esteem and joy rises.


Part of the beauty of the Million Man March was its focus on fortifying the family and transforming lives. Men came together to make a difference. I am proud One Million Men and Me celebrates that spirit.


The writing contest gave children the chance to pay homage to the wonderful men who make their lives brighter. Here is a memory of a great man, my grand-dad Thurman Starling (pictured above), who enriched mine:


One of my most memorable moments with my grand-dad was reading him essays and stories I wrote for school. He would close his eyes as he soaked in my words. Sometimes, he'd listen in silence. Other times, he'd murmur "mm-hmm" or "that's alright." When the last word hung in the air, Grand-dad would open his eyes and grin. With one raised eyebrow, he'd offer the kicker: "Are you sure you wrote that?"

Every time, I would laugh and reply, "Yes, Grand-daddy." It was our joke and a special compliment. He would pull me close and hug me. In his arms, I felt such affirmation and love. My grand-dad was a smart, caring man who didn't get a chance to finish college but devoted his life to learning and growing. He passed that quest for knowledge onto me. Receiving praise from him was like being showered with sunshine. It kept me writing and believing I was on the right path.


Thank you, Grand-dad, for being there.

Here are some organizations, events and publications that celebrate fathers and children and help their connection thrive:

http://www.fatherhood.org/
http://www.blackstarproject.com/
http://www.coachtonypierceoutreach.org/
http://www.proudpoppa.net/
http://www.daddyuniversecity.com/

As part of The Brown Bookshelf team, I've learned so much about the many African-American authors and illustrators creating books for children. My pride swells with each story I read. Our Black History month celebration, 28 Days Later, kicked off Feb. 1 with a spotlight on Newbery Medal winner, Christopher Paul Curtis. Each day, we bring you another interview with African-American children's book authors and illustrators both vanguard and under-the-radar. Please help us celebrate their amazing work by reading their profiles at http://www.thebrownbookshelf.com/ and spreading the word. You can also download a color poster featuring all of our honorees for your school, home or library: http://www.dontate.com/BBS28Poster.pdf.

Creativity (Clarion, 1997) by John Steptoe, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

Keepers (Lee & Low, 2000) by Jeri Hanel Watts, illustrated by Felicia Marshall

Joe-Joe's First Flight (Knopf, 2003) by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

The Bat Boy and His Violin (Simon & Schuster, 1998) by Gavin Curtis, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

I Dream of Trains (Simon & Schuster, 2003) and Wind Flyers (Simon & Schuster, 2007) by Angela Johnson, illustrated by Loren Long

Wings (Scholastic, 2000) by Christopher Myers

The Jones Family Express (Lee and Low, 2003) by Javaka Steptoe

I Told You I Can Play (Just Us Books, 2006) by Brian Jordan, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu

Young Pele: Soccer’s First Star (Schwartz & Wade, 2007) by Lesa Kline-Ransome, illustrated by James Ransome

Bippity-Bop Barbershop (Little, Brown, 2002) by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

Jamal’s Busy Day (Just Us Books, 1991), by Wade Hudson, illustrated by George Ford

Uptown (Henry Holt & Co, 2000) by Bryan Collier

Little Cliff's First Day of School (Dial, 2001), by Clifton L. Taulbert, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

For more wonderful reads featuring African-American children as main characters, please visit sites like http://www.justusbooks.com/ and http://www.blackbooksgalore.com/.

Here are a few more resources for finding recommended books:

http://www.ncte.org/library/files/Programs/African_American_Readin/Booklist2-2008.pdf

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6527344.html

http://kids.nypl.org/reading/black_experience_list_2004.pdf

http://www.library.uiuc.edu/blog/esslchildlit/

http://www.readingrockets.org/articles/books/c384

http://www.nea.org/readacross/resources/afambooks.html

As we enter awards season, it’s the time to celebrate new voices, but also to pay homage to those who paved the way. So in the spirit of the new year, here’s a quiz on some African-American children’s literature trailblazers:

My first picture book, One Million Men and Me, debuted in October. What a blessing. I've attended conferences and festivals, visited schools and libraries. I am so grateful for this chance to let a new generation know about the beauty of the Million Man March. Thank you Just Us Books and illustrator Peter Ambush for making my dream come true!

Here are some of last year's highlights:

Honors and Reviews:

The Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) selected One Million Men and Me for the forthcoming edition of CCBC Choices, its annual best-of-the-year list. Choices features annotated entries of books for children and teens recommended by CCBC staff. CCBC Choices 2008 will be available in March. For more about CCBC, please visit:

http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/


Disilgold Soul Magazine's YOUNITY Guild Awards honored me with the Most Outstanding Debut Children's Book Author of the Year title.

One Million Men and Me also won good reviews. You can check them out at:

http://www.kellystarlinglyons.com/work2.htm

Best Experiences:

The end of every year brings dozens of best lists: best movies, best books, best songs. I'd like to offer another a different kind of list. Here are my best author experiences of 2007 -- moments that moved me, made me puff with pride and raise my hands in joy.

Best Goosebump Moment

My daughter and I visited a local Barnes & Noble searching a new book. We browsed the picture book section and saw five copies of my book! I turned one face out and smiled all the way home. There's nothing like that thrill.

Best Event

I've admired the Multicultural Children's Book Festival at the Kennedy Center http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/bookfestival/ since I first heard about it. I dreamed of the day I would be there too. That happened last year! I met veterans like Tonya Bolden, Christopher Myers, Jerdine Nolen, Lulu Delacre. I watched as scores of people of different cultures and backgrounds streamed around to celebrate literature reflecting children of color. I had the chance to sign copies of One Million Men and Me in the city where it happened.


Here are some more stand-out moments:


I met twin girls whose dad pushed them in a stroller around the Million Man March when they were 4-month-old infants.


A father looked at the cover with my character, Nia, on her dads's shoulders and remembered carrying his own daughter around the March that way.


Women proudly told me they took their sons to the March or cheered their husbands as they went.


Men smiled as they flipped through the pages and said it took them back to that historic event.


Two boys who won gift certificates from their school for earning good grades used them to buy copies of my book. Doesn't get much better than that :).


Best Letters


Ms. Starling Lyons,

thank you for the book. I like the part when they prayed together that might stop the fighting around here.

Thanks, Tayjah

********

I love your book, One Million Men and Me. I like it when it says: I am a Man. I am one in a million. That was my favorite part.

Kayla

********

Dear Ms. Starlings,

I love your book One Million Men and Me. It reminds me of a lot of men in my family. It's a very, very, very nice book. Thank you for coming to my school.

Your friend,
Chalayia

******** ********

Thank you for 1 Million Men and Me. I know why it is called 1 Million Men and Me, because one million men went there to make sure nothing bad happens to this country.

Sincerely, Brice

********

These are just a few of the wonderful letters students have sent me. Thanks so much to every child who wrote me about One Million Men and Me. I cherish and save every note.

Best of the Best

At bedtime, my husband and I take turns reading our daughter stories. She goes over to her bookshelf and chooses her favorite. Then, we take off on a reading adventure together. One night, she handed me my book. I smiled and asked her if she was sure she wanted me to read it to her again. She nodded her head and said: "Yes, mama, it's my favorite because you wrote it."

Now, that I've shared some of my blessings, it's off to 2008. Can you believe it's already Jan. 4, whew. I better get writing :).

My book goals for this year are to keep spreading the word about One Million Men and Me, land another picture book deal and start planning promotion for my forthcoming picture book with Penguin/GP Putnam's Sons. (I'm really excited about this story. It was inspired by researching my family tree and explores an important time in black history. Look for more details later this year.)

I also want to make more time to read. During the Christmas holiday, I read so many great stories -- The Old African by Julius Lester, 47 by Walter Mosley, the Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice Harrington. Then, I picked up a powerful middle-grade novel by Sharon Bell Mathis called Listen for the Fig Tree. I couldn't put it down. That story wove a spell around me that still lingers. I'll post a review soon.

In the meantime, I wish you and your family peace, joy and abundant blessings in 2008. Thank you for your kindness and support.

According to the Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC), less than two percent of children's books published last year were written by African American authors. Want the raw numbers? That's just 87 children's books by African-American authors out of an estimated 5,000 children's books published in 2006 overall.



When author Kyra E. Hicks shared that statistic on her blog and the African American Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (AACBWI) yahoo! listserv, I was shocked. I felt blessed to be a published, African-American children's book author, but saddened that there were still so few of us in print.



Sometimes we're faced with big issues and it feels overwhelming, like the enormity of it can just swallow us up. Other times, we search for small ways we can chip away at the problem. I found a way I could contribute when I was invited to be part of The Brown Bookshelf, a group dedicated to celebrating African-American authors writing for young readers. It will take time for children's book publishing to be more inclusive of African-American voices. But The Brown Bookshelf has embarked on a mission we can tackle right now -- letting parents, librarians, teachers and others know about wonderful black authors and books they've written.

November 1, The Brown Bookshelf officially launched. Members include founders Paula Chase and Varian Johnson, who are YA authors, illustrator/author Don Tate, author Carla Sarratt and me. That morning, we also announced our first campaign: 28 Days Later, an initiative to celebrate some of the best voices in African-American children's literature and shine a light on new African-American authors and good books that are being overlooked.

Our partners in this project are the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and AACBWI. We'd also like to count on you. We're taking recommendations of African-American authors offering the best in picture books, middle-grade and YA reads. Please nominate your favorite books and authors at this link:

http://thebrownbookshelf.com/28-days-later/

We can make a difference, one name at a time :).

Happy Reading,

Kelly

My new picture book with illustrator Peter Ambush, One Million Men and Me, has officially debuted! I'm so excited. This story has been years in the making. I am so grateful to my publisher, Just Us Books, for signing this book and bringing it into print. Thanks, too, to Peter who did a beautiful job bringing the story to life.

I belong to a wonderful yahoo! listserv called AACBWI (African American Children's Book Writers and Illustrators). Recently, moderator Karen Strong asked us to share the story of how our latest book came to be. Reflecting on that journey brought back so many memories -- joy and pride of being at the March, contentment of finally getting the story onto paper. This is a book I felt called to write.

So here's the story behind One Million Men and Me:

In 1995, I attended the Million Man March as a journalist and was transformed by what I saw. So many images touched me -- a sea of Black men spread like a quilt across the Washington Mall, brothers of all beliefs and backgrounds hugging and praying as the voices of speakers soared around them, an amazing youth addressing the masses like that was what he was born to do. Then, I saw a little girl walk past the Reflecting Pool clutching her daddy's hand. Her eyes, big as quarters, glittered like diamonds. She looked like a little princess among kings.

A decade later, I started working on the draft of One Million Men and Me, a picture book story that would show the March through the eyes of a little girl who was there with her daddy the day black men made history. I struggled at first to get my idea on paper. I tried to write it as a narrative, but it wouldn't flow that way. I believed in the story, but felt frustrated and put it aside for a while. Then, I attended a fatherhood conference in NC where I live. As I looked at the beautiful black men around me who clasped hands and worked together, I was taken back to the March. In a flash, I remembered the images that made me hold my head high and the poetry of that incredible moment in history. I went home and the draft came together in a matter of hours.

Just Us Books offered me a contract on my book later that year. It was the beginning of an exciting journey. One Million Men and Me is my first picture book, the realization of a dream. Editors pushed me to polish the story and make sure I added details that would help children really get a sense of what this historic March was about. This was important, because there is a wonderful self-published children's book on the March that came out in 1996. But as far as we know, this is the first trade book on the Million Man March.

I've gone to libraries and asked kids to tell me what they know about the Million Man March. They mention Dr. King, who was assassinated in 1968. For them, the MMM is just as distant as the March on Washington even though the MMM took place just 12 years ago. I'm proud One Million Men and Me is being published by Just Us Books, a black-owned children's book company. For me, that's in keeping with the March mission of empowering our community and supporting our businesses.

I hope children are inspired to learn more about the March. I hope teachers and parents will talk to them about the men -- and women -- who were there that day and what it meant for our people. I would love for children to start asking men in their communities what it was like to be part of the March. These men are living history.

A cool part of the publication process was getting a chance to see my words brought to life by illustrator, Peter Ambush. He created such a sweet portrait of my main character Nia and her father. Creating a picture book really is a partnership. Author and illustrator are storytellers. It was an enriching experience to be part of that collaboration. I feel such pride when I look at the book cover. When I look back, the idea for One Million Men and Me was born at the March more than a decade ago. Now, it's a reality. It's still surreal to see my book on the shelf. I feel really blessed.

To celebrate the release of One Million Men and Me, Just Us Books has launched a national essay contest that asks children in first through fifth grade to write about the most memorable moment spent with a father or father-figure. There are cash prizes. Please spread the word and encourage kids you know to enter. Here's the link:

http://www.justusbooks.com/modules/content/index.php?id=87

I went to the bookstore searching for my daughter's latest fascination, Fancy Nancy. I searched the shelves and jumped when I came across a familiar spine: Lyons/Ambush One Million Men and Me.

My book was on the shelves of a local Barnes & Noble. And in bulk. There were five copies. I turned one of them face-out and thanked the manager. It was a great visit and a sweet surprise.

I'm working on a new picture book. It's inspired by a simple, yet delightful discovery my daughter made. I feel blessed to have a chance to see the world through her eyes -- wonder at the many shades of skin, glee at learning to somersault, pride at reading a word on her own. It's the stuff of life and to her, it's magic. As I watch her eyes sparkle, I'm caught up in the spell too. But then comes the tough part: How do I turn special moments like those into story gold?

Ready, Set, Skip by Jane O'Connor and illustrated by Ann James called to me from a Barnes & Noble shelf. I connected with it right away. So did my 3-year-old daughter who had been yearning to skip but hadn't quite mastered it. After reading the book, I took a lead from the mama in the story and showed my daughter the hop, switch foot, hop that led Jane's main character to skipping victory. I cheered when my daughter did it on her own. We skipped around the house in joy.

Then, there's Mabel Dancing by Amy Hest and illustrated by Christine Davenier. I found this book a year ago and it still captivates me. Each time I read it, I become the little girl who's so entranced by the music, she dances down the stairs to her parent's party and lets her blanket cape float behind her. I dance with my daughter like Mabel's parents did with her and it's magic.

Picture books are some of the toughest stories to write. But when they're done well. They're a marvel.

Two summers ago, I attended the Writers Workshop at Chautauqua. It was incredible week full of inspiration and lessons. I learned so much from faculty members like my mentor Clay Winters and manuscript advisor, Patricia McKissack. I returned home with a notebook packed with priceless tips. But there's one pearl of wisdom I keep coming back to. Patti Lee Gauch, renowned editor and author, shared seven seven simple words that spoke straight to my heart:

Write the story only you can tell.

Have you ever had a moment when it feels like a crowded room clears and the speaker is talking right to you? That's how I felt.

I thought about growing up in working-class Pittsburgh, going on fishing trips with my grandparents to Lake Erie, admiring my single mom's courage and sacrifice. I thought of struggling to deal with the death of my grandfather, coming of age in a place where my cousins were my best friends.


Last week, I shared Patti's words with young people at a special camp. They were there to learn about the ways people in different careers integrate technology into their professsions. My workshop was on writing and publishing. I talked about my writing journey, explored where to find ideas and what makes a story and encouraged them to find their voice.

I asked the students to make idea lists. Then, their assignment was to choose one idea and do some freewriting. I told them to write quickly and without judgment. Just give their mind free reign to create. After 10 minutes, I asked if anyone wanted to share what they wrote. The students were hesitant at first, giggling a bit, looking away when we made eye contact. But one by one, many of them walked to the front of the classroom, held their paper with trembling hands and dared to bare their words:

They read passages about special parts of family reunions, experiences with dating, scary moments of nearly losing loved ones, important connections with dad. As they read, I saw writers being born.

I went to the camp to teach them, but they taught me too: I was reminded that being a writer means being brave.

Yesterday, I facilitated my girl's book club. Each month, we read two picture books by African-American authors and illustrators. My selections for July were Destiny's Gift by Nastasha Anatasia Tarpley and illustrated by Adjoa J. Burrowes and I Dream For You a World: A Covenant for Our Children by Charisse Carney-Nunes and illustrated by Ann Marie Williams.

Destiny's Gift, with its touching storyline about a girl's connection to a community bookstore, drew them right in. They loved the image of bookstore owner Mrs. Wade closing her eyes as Destiny read her stories. They felt sadness as they learned with Destiny that the bookstore might close for good. Their favorite pictures were those of celebration. One girl pointed out the balloons flying in the air and the smiling faces as the community came together to try to save the store. The final image of Mrs. Wade and Destiny hugging taught them that some situations are tough to figure out, but there's always hope .

Hope was a strong theme in our next book -- one of our group's favorites so far-- I Dream for You a World. This beautiful story poem makes the tenets of Tavis Smiley's best-seller, The Covenant with Black America, real and accessible for children. The girls eagerly discussed the way we could help bring Charisse's dream to life. Their eyes lit up as I reminded them we would speak to the author in a few minutes on speaker phone.

They proudly shared with me the questions they would ask her such as why she wrote the book, how she came up with the title and how she became an author. When we called, they kneeled around the phone, eyes wide with excitement as they listened to Charisse's answers. When she shared that she thought of being a writer in third grade, they tugged on each other's arms. Many of them are near or at that age.

Charisse's book imagines a world where all of our children have food, a good education, safe and clean communities, justice, a sense of history and freedom. It's a powerful message and it was a powerful meeting. The girls turned serious as they discussed what they want to see in our world: Clean highways. Fair trials. Democracy. Good schools for everyone.

Then, they created collages and drawings that brought their dream worlds to life.

One girl cut her construction paper into a triangle and pasted a beautiful mansion on it. Her dream was for everyone to have a house to live in, food to eat and tea parties :).

Another girl drew an earth-shaped American flag. Her mother is a lawyer. She dreamed of a world where everyone had justice.

Still another drew the world complete with named continents. She pasted smiling children all around. It expressed her desire for kids everywhere to have a safe, loving world to grow and thrive in.


What a world. What a gift Charisse's book is.

Okay, so I'm new at blogging. I've made excuses about being too busy. I've resisted it, head shaking back and forth, like a child being offered a spoonful of castor oil. But as I've read the many wonderful blogs out there (P, Don, Kyra & Librarygrl, that means you ;), I've been inspired to add my voice.

Blogging is a way to connect with a community that's working to empower and entertain children, just like I am. It's a way to go on a journey of discovery and revelation. It's a way to share some of the thoughts and ideas that swirl in my mind. So I've stood by the side long enough. I'm ready to take the leap into the world of blogs. I'll start at the beginning. Here's why I write:

I write for children because I want them to see their faces and hear their voices in stories. I write for children to help them discover parts of the world and themselves. I write for children to give back.

There's a saying: You don't know where you're going if you don't know where you've been. That has been true for many parts of my life, including my writing path. African-American children's literature has a rich history and tradition. From Langston Hughes to Christopher Paul Curtis, from Virginia Hamilton to Sharon G. Flake, authors and illustrators have celebrated Black children and explored their dreams, experiences and history.

I fell in love with children's books as an editor at Ebony magazine. My job was to write feature stories and choose books to feature in the Bookshelf column. One day, I opened a package from a publisher and my life changed. I saw a picture book called Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth. Entranced, I read page after page until I reached the end. Then, I smiled, stroked the cover and read it again. If you haven't read it, you're in for something delightful.

The story takes you on a walk with a girl searching for "something beautiful" in her city neighborhood. She visits a laundromat, fruit stand and other places and learns what others consider beautiful. Then, she decides to create beauty herself by cleaning up her community. In the end, she learns who her mother considers the most beautiful person of all.

That book, just 32 pages, sent me through so many emotions -- wonder, sadness, fear, delight and finally contentment. The story was told with such economy and grace. It reminded me of the incredible power of children's literature. For an instant, I became that dreamy girl I used to be, who would warm her feet by the radiator on cold Pittsburgh days and lose and find herself over and over in the pages of books.

I write for children because so many others paved the way . . .

So in homage to those trailblazers, I'd like to thank some of the many authors who have inspired me:

Sharon Dennis Wyeth, Eleanora E. Tate, Wade & Cheryl Hudson, Madeleine L'Engle, thank you.
Virginia Hamilton, Mildred D. Taylor, Eve Bunting, Patricia & Fredrick McKissack, thank you.
Bernette and George Ford, Sharon Bell Mathis, Katherine Paterson, Walter Dean Myers, thank you.
Jacqueline Woodson, Carole Boston Weatherford, Amy Hest, Patricia Lee Gauch, thank you.
Angela Johnson, Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, Brenda Woods, thank you.

I would not be here without you.