Publication Day!

Today is publication day for my new picture book, We Shall Overcome: The Story of a Song, published by Disney-Jump at the Sun.Publishers Weekly says the book is "enlightening and inspiring."  Here's some more from the advance reviews:"The power of a song to bolster courage, combat bigotry, and effect change courses through this dramatization of the civil rights movement."  --Publishers Weekly"This powerful book uses the evolution of the titular protest song to trace the history of slavery, segregation, and the civil rights movement in the U.S.--and beyond. . . . An innovative capturing of history through the lens of a song and a passionate affirmation of human rights."  --Booklist"This handsome book will be highly useful for classroom and family discussions."  --School Library JournalWith expressive illustrations by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, the final book is so pleasing to me as I hold it and turn the pages of Vanessa's collage-inspired art.  To give you an idea of why I'm enamored of the illustrations, here are two of the spreads--without the text--that Vanessa put up on her website:

 

 I'm very happy to have this book out in the world.  I'm also delighted that sharing this book's birthday today are two new picture books by authors whose work I admire greatly, also published by Disney-Hyperion:  To Dare Mighty Things: The Life of Theodore Roosevelt, by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by C.F. Payne, and Rutherford B., Who Was He? Poems About Our Presidents, by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by John Hendrix.  Check them out!  I'm proud of my publisher for bringing this trio of nonfiction books to readers.