Literary Programs Year-Round / November 16-17 Festival
Join us for the 10th annual Texas Teen Book Festival on October 6 at St. Edwards University!
Head to the #TTBF website for full details of when and where to be. Be sure to sign up for the #TTBF enewsletter while you’re there to stay up to the minute with #TTBF news as it hits.
Want to keep up with #TTBF YA love every day? Follow the Texas Teen Book Festival on Facebook, Twitter andInstagram.
Join us in celebrating Black History Month! For the month of February, Texas Book Festival is working to recognize Black History Month by highlighting black Texas authors, readers, and notable contributors to the literary community in a series of blog posts. So far, we’ve had contributions from TBF Community Ambassador Peggy Terry who shared a fantastic list of books coming out in 2018, award-winning children’s author and illustrator Don Tate who took the time to answer some questions, and Dr. Rosalind Oliphant Jones, the founder of the Austin African American Book Festival and the Folktales Black Women’s Literary Society.
Today, we’re excited to present wisdom from new Austin Public Library director Roosevelt Weeks, who comes to APL from the Houston Public Library system (where he was the much-beloved Deputy Director of Administration) and started in his new position last September. Weeks, a veteran of several Texas libraries, is a brilliant addition to our Austin literary community and we look forward to working alongside him in his exciting new role!
Also, we highly recommend checking out the Celebration of Diverse Literary Voices of Texas at the new Central Library (Living Room, 6th floor) on February 24, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., presented by the Austin Public Library and KAZI Book Review for the second year running.
Join notable Texas authors (including several previous Texas Book Festival authors) for “author readings as well as panel discussions on cultural diversity, African American education, Mexican American literature and social justice in literature.”
We’ll see you there!
What drew you to pursue a career in libraries?
I was volunteering at the Pasadena Public Library providing computer training to customers. A customer told me she needed help learning Microsoft Word so she could get a promotion on her job. I worked with her for about 3 weeks and she came in the library one day and told me she got the job! At this point, I realize the importance of libraries and what they mean to the community.
What’s your favorite part of working in the library system? What are some of the most important roles libraries play in Austin (and Texas at large) today?
Meeting people with different background and culture. I love getting out into the community and talking about the importance of reading and the impact libraries how on communities.
What are you most looking forward to in your position here at APL?
Working with the various community and community leaders in identifying needed programs and services. Every community is different and I don’t believe in providing cookie-cutter programs and services. Programs and services should be meaningful and life changing.
What advice would you give to young black people considering a library degree and career?
If you want to make a difference in your community, a library career is for you. The pay will not make you rich, but it will give you a decent living. There are not enough librarians of color and we need more of them. Libraries and library workers should represent the community they serve. It makes a difference when you walk into a library and you see people that look like you and understand some of the challenges you face.
Is there anything you wish more people knew about APL (or even about libraries in general)? What programs/ events do you want to highlight/ make sure Austinites don’t miss?
Libraries are open and free to everybody from all walks of life. If you are looking for ways to start a business, we can help. If you are looking to develop a new skill, we can provide with the resources. If you are looking for entertainment, we have movies and programs from many genres and cultures. If you are looking for a good book, we have millions waiting for you! All of our library locations are safe and welcoming for you to come in to have meetings or just to relax. Finally, all Austinites must come visit our New Central Library. It is six floors of pure delight and excitement, but describing the Central Library makes it hard to do it justice. You must come visit to really appreciate it.
What are you reading right now? What are some of the books coming out in 2018 you’re most looking forward to?
I am currently reading We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled by Wendy Pearlman and Thursday Night Lights by Michael Hurd (a 2017 Texas Book Festival author). I am looking forward to reading The President Is Missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton, and Down the River Unto the Sea by Walter Mosely.
Join us in celebrating Black History Month! For the month of February, Texas Book Festival is recognizing Black History Month by highlighting black Texas authors, readers, and notable contributors to the literary community in a series of blog posts. So far, we’ve had contributions from TBF Community Ambassador Peggy Terry, who shared a fantastic list of books coming out in 2018, and award-winning children’s author and illustrator Don Tate who took the time to answer some questions.
Today, we’re excited to say we got to ask some questions of Austin legend Dr. Rosalind Oliphant Jones, the founder of the Austin African American Book Festival and the Folktales Black Women’s Literary Society, which grew out of her fantastic independent bookstore Folktales (which closed in 1999). Oliphant Jones has brought countless award-winning and best-selling black authors to Austin both through her bookstore and the AABF, from Pulitzer Prize-winning Poet Gwendolyn Brooks to YA author sensation Angie Thomas, whose debut novel spent more than 40 weeks at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list. Oliphant Jones has done immeasurable work for our community.
The 12th annual Austin African American Book Festival (AABF) will take place June 23, 2018 at the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural, and Genealogy Center. Don’t miss this vibrant, one-of-a-kind event!
The African American Book Festival Committee (L to R): Peggy Terry, Carol Wright, AABF Founder and Director Rosalind Oliphant Jones, and Anne Boyd
Texas Book Festival: What inspired you to start the Austin African American Book Festival?
Rosalind Oliphant Jones: When, in December 1999, it made good business sense to close the doors to Folktales, the Black themed bookstore I launched in the Austin area, I was left both devastated and relieved. I had given so much of myself to this venture, but even though I was exhausted and broke, none of that tarnished my love of books.
Longtime supporters constantly asked if I planned to reopen or if I was ever going to do any more author events. While I had no plans to reopen a full service operation I was organizing a few things here and there: The Folktales Black Women’s Literary Society was going strong, I organized the Afrocentric Book Club at the high school where I was then teaching, and I also hosted a few author signings and book events around town.
From there, I saw the pioneering Harlem Book Fair, which has been held annually for the past 2 decades, as the creative impetus to start something similar and just as meaningful and influential here.
TBF: How has your experience opening and running Folktales, a successful community bookstore, informed your experience co-founding and running the AABF?
ROJ: Last year marked my 25th year as a bookseller! One thing I realize about great booksellers is they don’t just sell books; they also sell and cultivate a wonderfully multifaceted literary experience.
What we have been able to do with the festival is appeal to a reader’s desire to connect with authors both beloved and newly discovered and to share a kinship with readers in search of that same connection. There is so much excitement in meeting authors and hearing them discuss their work, and with Folktales and the Austin African American Book Festival, we have facilitated space for hundreds of authors to engage with readers in this community. I am really proud of that.
TBF: What’s your favorite part of interacting with authors and readers (through Folktales, the Austin African American Book Festival, Folktales Black Women’s Literary Society, and in any other ways)?
ROJ: I am absolutely fascinated by the work writers do. I am curious to know what their inspirations are, their favorite books, other authors they know, and more!
Back in 1994, Austin Community College brought the Pulitzer Prize winning poet Gwendolyn Brooks to town. Folktales hosted a book signing for her and there was also a private dinner in her honor. I asked so many questions, all of which she graciously answered! At one point, in the midst of our conversation, which included lots of laughing, she looks at me and says something like, “You ask questions like that of a writer.” It was a goldenmoment for sure! This is just one unforgettable moment I have experienced while doing this very rewarding work. There are so many other wonderful stories I could relay about my interactions with writers and readers.
TBF: What do you look for when inviting authors and speakers to the AABF?
ROJ: It’s hard for me to put into words what we look for when putting together our festival. With a circle of very smart, charismatic friends who read across genres, we gather for tea or coffee or lunch to discuss books, brainstorm ideas, and create what has, for the last 11 years, culminated into something we believe has been very special and worthwhile for the community.
TBF: You’re someone who’s been a major community leader in promoting and supporting black literature and media for some time. Have you seen a shift the ways major publishing houses (and Hollywood) produce or respond to black stories?
ROJ: The world is constantly shifting and publishing houses are no different. When Folktales opened in 1992, it was the “Age of Terry McMillan.” Her first two novels Mama and Disappearing Acts were popular, but then came Waiting to Exhale and the success of that book jolted the publishing industry. Suddenly, the masses realized what many of us already knew: Black people buy books! As a result, we saw this wonderful proliferation of more Black authors getting publishing deals. We saw Black centered products like greeting cards, gift wrap, novelty items, T-shirts—it was thrilling to behold! Unfortunately, by the year 2000, things started slowly winding down. We saw more bookstores closing and some publishers began shifting their focus from a more varied landscape of black literature to a narrower emphasis on urban fiction.
There is talk that we are about to witness another renaissance! The excitement surrounding the Black Panther movie has certainly been contagious! And the fact that it has its origins in comic books and graphic novels counts it as a definite plus for the literary world as well.
TBF: Could you share an anecdote or two about the AABF?
ROJ: A powerful moment for me was the year historian Dr. Arnold Rampersad was our keynote speaker. Dr. Rampersad is celebrated for his acclaimed biographies on Langston Hughes, Jackie Robinson, and Ralph Ellison. He was extremely complimentary of the festival and in his opening remarks had created this beautiful tapestry connecting all the authors on program. Later, when we were walking through the museum, he asked me, “Where are the children, where are the youth?”
It revealed a troubling omission, as we had planned that particular festival with little attention to youth programming. It was an oversight we have worked very hard not to repeat.
TBF: What are you reading right now? What book or two (or more are you most looking forward to this year?
ROJ: I hope to complete the Old Testament by mid-year. I am in the book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 18. I just finished Priscilla Shirer’s devotional Awaken: 90 Days with the God Who Speaks, which was uplifting.
I am also loving and learning from the fabulous never before published photographs and interesting backstories in Unseen: Unpublished Black History from the New York Times Photo Archives.
I just picked up Ta-Nehisi Coates’ We Were Eight Years in Power, which I am looking forward to reading it as well as all the books I am told I will be inspired to read as I make my way through it!
I expanded the health section in my library after I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2016. I am all about being a healthy and informed survivor! I just re-read The Immoral Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, which provided far too many lessons to recount here. I am also making plenty of highlights and notes in the margins of my copies of The Metabolic Approach to Cancer by Dr. Natasha Winters and Jess Higgins Kelley and The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee.
I cannot wait to be among the first to read Zora Neale Hurston’s book Barracoon: The Story of the Last Slave, which is due out in May, and I am also looking forward to Angie Thomas’ sophomore release, On the Come Up, in June.
The Texas Book Festival Celebrates Black Literature! For the month of February, the Texas Book Festival is celebrating Black History Month by highlighting black Texas authors, readers, and notable contributors to the literary community in a series of blog posts. Last week, TBF Community Ambassador Peggy Terry shared a fantastic list of books coming out in 2018 that she recommends reading, and today, award-winning children’s author and illustrator Don Tate has taken the time to answer some questions we had for him. In addition to being an award-winning author and the illustrator of numerous critically acclaimed books for children, Austinite Don Tate is an outspoken advocate for diversity in publishing, a founding host of The Brown Bookshelf, a Texas Book Festival author, and a long-time TBF supporter and volunteer.
When you’re finished reading here, we recommend you check out the fantastic kid lit blog The Brown Bookshelf, “a blog designed to push awareness of the myriad of African American voices writing for young readers, with book reviews, author and illustrator interviews.” The Brown Bookshelf’s “28 Days Later” series for Black History Month features interviews with large number of amazing black authors and illustrators of children’s, middle grade, and young adult literature.
Happy reading!
Texas Book Festival: What draws you to Children’s literature? Was writing for kids a conscious choice or more the age group you felt inspired to speak to?
Don Tate: Early in my career, I worked at an educational publishing company. My job was to design and illustrate children’s basal books and teaching proucts. The job required some travel to library and literacy conferences. I was inspired by teachers and librarians, who were passionate about children’s literacy. I wanted in on that! Eventually, I illustrated a book for that publishing house called Retold African Myths, written by Eleanora E. Tate. That was thirty-something years ago, and I’ve never looked back. I love using my art to tell stories for young people. Writing came much later, though—like twenty years later!
TBF: I know you’ve written about how, as a kid, you were drawn more to art and drawing than to reading (largely because of the terrible lack of black representation in literature when you were growing up). But how did you first get into art and illustration?
DT: I’ve been an artist as long as I’ve been on this earth. There wasn’t a moment when I accidentally discovered that I liked art. As a child, my hands were always busy drawing and making stuff. I made things like choo-choo trains and cars from empty toilet paper rolls. I created elaborate puppets from socks or from patterns I created. I created macramé wall hangings from twine and beads. I always had some kind of project in the works. Thankfully, my mom supported my artistic endeavors, even when it meant tearing the house apart and putting it back together. I attended a vocational-technical high school. My core area of study was commercial and advertising art. While there, I became less interested in creating art for art’s sake, though. I liked creating art for a specific purpose: a magazine layout, a t-shirt design, a story! I liked commercial art, or narrative art.
TBF: What’s your illustration process look like? How does that compare to your writing process?
DT: My illustration and writing process are similar. When I visit schools, I tell kids that writing is similar to painting a picture. With a picture, I use a paintbrush, a pencil, or some other drawing tool. When I write, I paint with words. I create worlds using very visual word choices.
With my illustrations, I begin with a rough draft. Same with a written manuscript. The first draft of an illustration or a manuscript is messy. But that’s okay, that draft is like a lump of clay that I can then mold into a story. Because my books focus on history, writing and illustrating both require a lot of research. And before any of that reaches my editor’s eyes, I revise my words and illustrations many times.
TBF: What sort of stories do you look for in your writing and/or illustrating? What are some of the elements that you were drawn to in past books you’ve written and illustrated?
DT: I like stories about little-known people who’ve done great things in the face of adversity. These stories inspire me. In my book, It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw (Lee & Low), which I wrote, a homeless man and former slave with no art training becomes one of the most important outsider artists in the country. In Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton (Peachtree), which I wrote and illustrated, an enslaved poet becomes the first African American in the south to get a book published, at a time when it was against the law to teach a black man to read. With Strong as Sandow: How Eugen Sandow Became the Strongest Man on Earth (Charlesbridge), which I also wrote and illustrated, a weak and sickly child grows up to become known as the Father of Bodybuilding and “The Strongest Man on Earth.” These men overcame great obstacles to achieve success. These stories inspire kids to work hard and never give up.
TBF: Tell us about your work on the kid lit blog, The Brown Bookshelf:
DT: The Brown Bookshelf was started by YA authors Varian Johnson and Paula Chase-Hyman. They wanted to start an online initiative to support African American children’s book creators, whose works often fly under the radar of the publishing industry. I was invited to join a whole team of writers and illustrators to contribute to the blog. Together, we work to shine a light on the myriad of diverse voices creating books for young people. February is when we host our “28 Days Later” campaign, where we highlight an African American book creator each day of the month with interviews and guest post. Be sure to check out our 2018 campaign!
TBF: I know you do a lot of school visits and events with kids: what’s it like getting to meet your audience like that? What’s one of the best stories that’s come out of interacting with your young readers?
DT: I love meeting my young readers. While they are excited about meeting me, I am equally as excited to meeting them. I’m thankful to school librarians for bringing us all together—authors and illustrators and readers. I’ve had a lot funny and interesting experiences while visiting schools, however one of the most memorable moments happened this past October at the Texas Book Festival. Students at Brushy Creek Elementary School in Round Rock sang a tribute to me and my book Strong as Sandow:
The kids sang a song about me and my books! And look at that librarian in the front! Don’t tell me librarians don’t matter—yes, yes they do! pic.twitter.com/e3dfFldqWr
— Don Tate (@Devas_T) November 6, 2017
TBF: What advice would you give to young authors and illustrators of color? What encouragement?
DT: Polish your craft. Writers: Read and write a lot. And stop worrying about having to find an illustrator, that’s what publishers do. Illustrators: Draw a lot, practice. There is more of an emphasis on diversity in publishing lately, so opportunities are broadening. I’m seeing more faces of color on the covers of children’s books, lately. Most times, however, the creators of those books are not People of Color. Everyone is answering that call for more diversity, so we’re easily marginalized. So, Author or Illustrator of Color—get to creating, your voice is needed. While it’s important for a Black child to see Black people represented in the books they read, it’s equally important that they know Black people write and illustrate the books they read. They know this by opening that book jacket flap and seeing a book creator that looks like them.
TBF: What, at least to you, is the best part of writing for kids?
DT: Supporting literacy. Knowledge is power, and therefore books are powerful.
TBF: What are you working on now?
DT: I have several books on the publication horizon that I illustrated:
Par-tay! Dance of the Veggies (and Their Friends)
Written by the legendary Eloise Greenfield and published by Alazar in April, 2018.
Stalebread Charlie and the Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band
This book, written by Michael Mahin and published by Clarion in July, 2018, is the fictionalized account of the true story seven homeless street kids who helped inspire a new genre of music called spasm.
No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in Kansas
Written by Tonya Bolden and published by Knopf in October, 2018.
So that’s it for me this year—dancing kids, dancing veggies, and potatoes galore!
It’s finally time for Reading Rock Stars Dallas-Fort Worth!
We’re so excited to return to Thomas Tolbert Elementary in Dallas on February 8, and also thrilled to announce we will be visiting Rosemont Elementary in Fort Worth on February 9 for the first time!
Whenever we bring a new school into the Reading Rock Stars family, we look for schools which are passionate about reading and ready for the exciting challenge of hosting three author visits in one day. Schools apply for the program, highlighting how their team plans to get their students excited to meet authors, and how they want to use Reading Rock Stars to start new reading initiatives.
In conjunction with Reading Rock Stars, Rosemont Elementary is launching their “Celebrity Readers” program. Members of the community will visit classrooms to read their favorite books and speak to students about why they love to read. The team at Texas Book Festival is happy to provide the very first celebrity readers (and Rock Stars): Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Roda Ahmed, and John August! Vanessa Brantley-Newton and Roda Ahmed will also visit Thomas Tolbert Elementary with veteran Reading Rock Stars author Mac Barnett, who will visit with 4th and 5th grade.
Learn more about our Reading Rock Stars authors and check out their books below!
Born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, John August earned a degree in journalism from Drake University and an MFA in film from USC. As a screenwriter, his credits include Big Fish, Charlie’s Angels, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, and Frankenweenie. His books include Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire.In addition to his film career, he hosts a popular weekly podcast, Scriptnotes, with Craig Mazin. He also created the Writer Emergency Pack, an educational storytelling tool that was distributed to over 2,000 classrooms in partnership with nonprofit literacy groups like 826LA and NaNoWriMo. John and his family live in Los Angeles.
John’s book: Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire
Roda Ahmed is a Norwegian author and columnist born in Hargeisa, Somalia. Roda is the bestselling author of Forberedelsen (The Preparations). Mae Among the Stars is her first children’s book. She speaks five languages: Somali, Arabic, Norwegian, English, and French. Roda lives in LA with her husband and two children.
Roda’s book: Mae Among the Stars
Vanessa Brantley-Newton is a self-taught illustrator, doll maker, and crafter who studied fashion illustration at FIT and children’s book illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York. She is the author and illustrator of Let Freedom Sing and Don’t Let Auntie Mabel Bless the Table and has illustrated numerous children’s books including Mary Had A Little Glam by Tammi Sauer, One Love and Vanessa currently makes her nest in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband, daughter, and cat.
Vanessa’s book: Grandma’s Purse
Mac Barnett is a New York Times-bestselling author whose books for children have sold more than one million copies in the United States and have been translated into over 30 languages. His picture books include two Caldecott-Honor-winning collaborations with Jon Klassen: Sam & Dave Dig a Hole, which also won the E.B White Read-Aloud Award, and Extra Yarn, which won both the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award. Leo: A Ghost Story, illustrated by Christian Robinson, and The Skunk, illustrated by Patrick McDonnell, were named two of the Ten Best Illustrated Books of 2015 by The New York Times. Mac’s novels include the Brixton Brothers mysteries and The Terrible Two series. He lives in Oakland, California.
Mac’s book: The Terrible Two Go Wild
As we continue adding to our 2018 TBR lists (and wondering feverishly when we’ll ever sleep again), friends and fellow readers keep giving us more forthcoming titles to add. This fantastic list of recommended titles being published in 2018 comes from Peggy Terry, an Austinite, long-time avid reader, and one of the Texas Book Festival’s Community Ambassadors.
In addition to her work in human resources, Terry is an integral part of many community organizations: she’s been a Texas Book Festival volunteer since 2014 and has been active with the Austin African American Book Festival since its start in 2007. She is also a founding member of Folktales’ Black Women’s Literary Society in 1993 and has been the co-chair “for over a decade (or two).”
Happy reading, y’all!
Above: Peggy Terry (center, wearing grey) with the Folktales Black Women’s Literary Society in November, 2017
Returning authors:
Down the River Unto the Sea – Walter Mosley 2/20/18.
Mosley introduces a new character – Joe King Oliver. Oliver has been forced off the New York police force. Now he works as a private detective. He receives a card in the mail with information about the case that framed him.
American Histories: Stories – John Edgar Wideman 3/20/18
In this singular collection, John Edgar Wideman, the acclaimed author of Writing to Save a Life, blends the personal, historical, and political to invent complex, charged stories about love, death, struggle, and what we owe each other. With characters ranging from everyday Americans to Jean-Michel Basquiat to Nat Turner, American Histories is a journey through time, experience, and the soul of our country.
Barracoon: The Story of the Last Slave – Zora Neale Hurston 5/8/18
Hurston’s previously unpublished work. Compiled in 1931, Ms. Hurston records Cudjo’s story providing a first hand account of memories from his childhood in Africa, the horrors of being captured and held in a barracoon for selection by American slavers, the harrowing experience of the Middle Passage packed with more than 100 other souls aboard the Clotilda, and the years he spent in slavery until the end of the Civil War.
A View of the Empire at Sunset – Caryl Phillips 5/22/18.
A biographical novel of the life of Jean Rhys, the author of Wide Sargasso Sea.
Raisins in Milk – David Covin 6/1/18
This is a coming of age novel of a Black girl, Ruth-Ann Weathering, born in Mandarin Florida in 1900. It traces events from 1913 – 1920.
On the Come Up – Angie Thomas 6/5/18
Follow up novel to The Hate U Give. Ms. Thomas returns to the world of Garden Heights for a story about an aspiring teen rapper and what happens when you get everything you thought you wanted.
Praise Song for the Butterflies – Bernice McFadden 7/3/18
A contemporary story that offers an educational, eye-opening account of the practice of ritual servitude in West Africa.
Chariot on the Mountain – Jack Ford 7/31/18
Story based on little-known true events. Slaves set free but are dragged back a gang of slave catchers. Kitty, the emancipated slave, goes to court charging her cousin (the slave owner’s nephew and leader of the slave catchers) with kidnapping and assault.
Survival Math: Notes of an All American Family – Mitchell Jackson 8/14/18
Combination of an autobiographical tale mixed with an examination of cultural forces. Jackson presents a microcosm of struggle and survival in contemporary urban America.
Black Leopard, Red Wolf – Marlon James, Fall, 2018
This will be the first of three fantasy novels and James calls it an African GAME OF THRONES.
Re-releases:
These re-releases of previously published books give us a great opportunity to re-read works of a bygone time.
Not Without Laughter – Langston Hughes (originally published 1930) 1/16/18
Our greatest African American poet’s award-winning first novel, about a black boy’s coming-of-age in a largely white Kansas town
Black No More – George Schuyler (originally published 1931) 1/16/18
The landmark comic satire that asks, “What would happen if all black people in America turned white?”
The Blacker the Berry – Wallace Thurman (originally published 1929) 1/16/18
The Blacker the Berry was the first novel to openly address color prejudice among black Americans when released in 1929.
Dessa Rose – Sherley Williams (originally published 1986) 1/16/18
In 1829, in Kentucky, a pregnant black woman helped lead an uprising of a group of slaves headed to the market for sale. She was sentenced to death, but her hanging was delayed until after the birth of her baby. In North Carolina in1830, a white woman living on an isolated farm was reported to have given sanctuary to runaway slaves. In Dessa Rose, Sherley A. Williams asks the question: “What if these two women met?”
The Darkest Child – Delores Philips (originally published 2004) 1/30/18
Tangy Mae is the 6th of 10 fatherless children. She is the darkest–and in her mother’s eye, the ugliest. Her mother pulls each one from school to earn money to support her. But Tangy is smart and has been chosen to help integrate the local high school.
Iola Leroy, or, Shadows Uplifted – Frances Harper (originally published 1892) 2/28/18.
Iola lived a life of comfort until the death of her father when she learns that she is of mixed race and is sold into slavery. With the end of the Civil War, Ms. Leroy devotes her life to the uplift of the Black race.
Wild Card – other books I am most looking forward to:
May We Forever Stand: A History of the Black National Anthem – Imani Perry 2/19/18
Imani Perry tells the story of the Black National Anthem as it traveled from South to North, from civil rights to black power, and from countless family reunions to Carnegie Hall and the Oval Office.
A Perilous Path: Talking Race, Inequality, and the Law — herrilyn Ifill, Loretta Lynch, Bryan Stevenson, Anthony C. Thompson
Ifill is the head of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Lynch was President Barack Obama’s Attorney General. Stevenson is a best selling author (Just Mercy), MacArthur Fellow and death penalty lawyer. This book is short, but it should be a fun read.
The President is Missing – Bill Clinton & James Patterson 6/4/18
The White House is the home of the President of the United States, the most guarded, monitored, closely watched person in the world. So how could a U.S. President vanish without a trace? And why would he choose to do so?
Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower – Brittney Cooper 2/20/18.
This book argues that ultimately feminism, friendship, and faith in one’s own superpowers are all we really need to turn things right side up again.
Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen – Sarah Bird 9/4/18
Previously a slave, Cathy Williams rejected the life of servitude she would have had as a woman at the end of the Civil War, disguised herself as a man, and enlisted with the legendary Buffalo Soldiers.
Monday’s Not Coming – Tiffany D. Jackson 6/5/18
The mystery of one teenage girl’s disappearance and the traumatic effects of the truth.
Martin Luther King Jr. Related:
Martin Rising: A Requiem for a King – Andrea Davis Pinkney, Author, Brian Pinkney, Illustrator. 1/2/18
Pinkney covers the final months of Martin Luther King’s life—and of his assassination—through metaphor, spirituality, and multilayered meaning.
A More Beautiful and Terrible History: The Uses and Misuses of Civil Rights History – Jeanne Theoharis 1/30/18
Explodes the fables that have been created about the civil rights movement.
The Heavens Might Crack: The Death of Martin Luther King Jr. – Jason Sokol 3/20/18
A vivid portrait of how Americans grappled with King’s death and legacy in the days, weeks, and months after his assassination
Redemption: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Last 31 Hours – Joseph Rosenblum 3/27/18
An “immersive, humanizing, and demystifying” (Charles Blow, New York Times) look at the final hours of Dr. King’s life as he seeks to revive the non-violent civil rights movement and push to end poverty in America.
The Seminarian: Martin Luther King Jr. Comes of Age – Patrick Parr 4/1/18
This work is the first definitive, full-length account of King’s years as a divinity student at Crozer Theological Seminary.
To the Promised Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Fight for Economic Justice – Michael Honey 4/3/18
This work challenges us to think about what it would mean to truly fulfill King’s legacy and move toward his vision of “the Promised Land” in our own time
Breaking White Supremacy: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Social Gospel – Gary Dorrien 1/9/18
Dorrien’s work centers around King and the mid-twentieth-century Black church leaders who embraced the progressive, justice-oriented, internationalist social gospel from the beginning of their careers and fulfilled it, inspiring and leading America’s greatest liberation movement.
Teen/Children:
Black Panther: The Young Prince – Ronald K. Smith 1/2/18
T’Challa has been sent from Wakanda by his father to the South Side Middle School in Chicago. When strange things begin happening around the school, T’Challa starts down the path to becoming the Black Panther.
Marley Dias Gets It Done (and So Can You!) – Marley Dias 1/30/18
Marley Dias explores activism, social justice, volunteerism, equity and inclusion, and using social media for good.
Strange Fruit, Volume II: More Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History – Joel Christian Gill 2/1/18
A collection of stories from early African American history that represent the oddity of success in the face of great adversity.
Children of Blood and Bone – Tomi Adeyemi 3/6/18
Adeyemi conjures a stunning world of dark magic and danger in her West African-inspired fantasy debut novel.
Tyler Johnson Was Here – Jay Coles 3/20/18
This debut novel tells the story of twin brothers who go to a party that ends with one of them dead at the hands of a police officer. The surviving twin must cope with the death, help his mother, and learn what justice really means.
The Parker Inheritance – Varian Johnson 3/27/18
A mystery is explored when the granddaughter finds a letter to her grandmother who left town in shame. A boy from across the street helps in deciphering the story.
Little Man, Little Man: A Story of Childhood – James Baldwin 8/24/18
This re-released picture book is James Baldwin’s only children’s book, depicting the environment and daily life of two boys coming of age in Harlem.
After the Shot Drops – Randy Ribay 3/6/18.
A powerful novel about friendship, basketball, and one teen’s mission to create a better life for his family
The Beauty That Remains – Ashley Woodfolk 3/6/18
Told from three diverse points of view, this debut novel tells a story of life and love after loss.
For our final TBF 2018 Book Picks preview, our resident #KidLit nerds Lea and Lydia are looking at some of the amazing picture books coming out this year! The majority of these books are spring and summer catalogs, and there are so many more exciting picture books coming out this year. Lea’s already hustling to bring many of these authors to Texas elementary schools for Reading Rock Stars visits, and we can’t wait to see these books on the shelves and in the hands of young readers.
And don’t forget: you can check out the rest of our 2018 Book Preview posts here.
Happy reading, y’all!
Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia Burrington; January 9
We’re so excited to have Roda as one of our Reading Rock Stars authors in Dallas and Fort Worth this year! It’s easy to fall and in love with and be inspired by Dr. Mae Jemison’s story. The book is the perfect way to start to talk to children about their dreams and how they can achieve them.
Junot Díaz, illustrated by Leo Espinosa; March 13
One of the most anticipated picture book releases of the year! Junot Díaz’s first picture book started with a promise to his goddaughters “two decades ago, when they asked him to write a book that featured characters like them, Dominican girls living in the Bronx.” With Díaz’s brilliant storytelling touching on the themes he does best—immigration and traditional culture, family and memories, and finding where you belong—along with bright, fluid illustrations from Leo Espinosa, this book is sure to be one you read over and over again.
Don’t miss Junot Díaz speaking and signing copies of Islandborn at Bookpeople, April 4 at 6:30pm
Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Loren Long; January 9
I LOVE Matt de la Peña! Just in time for Valentine’s Day, this book shows children all the different ways love can be expressed. Share it with the child in your life to start a conversation about all the different ways you love them and that they can love others. An inspiring and heartwarming story, you definitely need this on your shelf!
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and The Rainbow Flag
Rob Sanders, illustrated by Steven Salerno; April 10
I have become such a fan of non-fiction picture books and I cannot wait to see this one! The Rainbow flag feels like it’s been a symbol of queer pride forever, but that’s not the case! This picture book brings the story of the flag and will teach children about the inspiring Harvey Milk. It’s a great primer on activism and I’m saving a spot on my shelf for it!
Juana Martinez-Neal; April 10
When read this book, I couldn’t help but say “awwwww” this entire time! A veteran Reading Rock Stars author/illustrator, Juana Martinez-Neal takes you through sweet Alma’s name and her family history. It’s a wonderful way to talk to your children about family, their history and why it’s important to feel pride in your story and your uniqueness. Beautifully illustrated, I am looking forward to sharing this with students as soon as I can!
Jillian Tamaki; March 13
Jillian Tamaki has been one of my favorite graphic artists since I first read Skim, the YA graphic novel she co-wrote with her cousin Mariko Tamaki, and her following books This One Summer and Super Mutant Magic Academy have only cemented her place on my best bookshelf. Her first picture book, which follows a young girl exploring the colors of the world around her, is a gorgeous, wonder-filled ode to the beauty of nature and perspective.
The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra
Marc Tyler Nobleman, illustrated by Ana Aranda; March 7
I laughed out loud the entire time I read this adorable book. While it has been out awhile, I am looking forward to having its illustrator, Ana Aranda, join us for Reading Rock Stars in the Rio Grande Valley. It’s such a silly feel good book! The illustrations are so fun and you and your child will be sure to laugh and wonder how the goats will escape the mighty chupacabra!
Elizabeth Suneby, illustrated by Rebecca Green; May 1
Rebecca Green is one of my favorite illustrators, and this story by Elizabeth Suneby about a resourceful, science-loving boy who devises a sustainable way to make the monsoon season in Bangladesh safer for his mother is a sweet, inspiring story about sustainable technology and family love.
Books we haven’t read yet but can’t wait to get our hands on:
Happy 2018, y’all! I started off the New Year making a list of all the books I desperately cannot wait to read this year, and even though I’ve gotten a good start, the list keeps growing.
Part 1 was my preview of young adult books I can’t wait to read, and this part 2 is a list of many (but of course, not all) of the middle grade books (books aimed for ages 10 and up) coming out this year that I’m excited to read and share with other readers. There’s stories of magic, family ties, first love, first grief, growing up, or in some tragic stories, not being able to grow up because life was taken away. I’m especially drawn to authentic coming-of-age stories told by #OwnVoices authors about children and lives we don’t see too often in books and media. Add some magic, mystery, and maybe a witch or two, and I’m not leaving my couch until the book is done. Happy reading!
Don’t forget: check out Julie’s 2018 adult fiction and non-fiction picks and Lydia’s 2018 YA picks too!
Books I’ve read and loved (and will re-read and re-read):
Love, Sugar, Magic: A Dash of Trouble
Anna Meriano; January 2
I have been holding my breath waiting for this book for almost a year, ever since Houston author Anna Meriano told me about her story of the youngest sister in a family of Mexican-American pastry brujas, and all the anticipation only made it that much sweeter (sorry, I had to).
Set in small-town Texas, youngest sister Leo finds out more than she ever expected when she sneaks into her family’s pastry shop the day before Día de los Muertos (when she’s supposed to be at school) and witnesses a magical coming-of-age ceremony for her older twin sisters. The following adventure mixes all my favorite ingredients of family love (and rivalry), friendship, good intentions gone awry, and even features real recipes you can try yourself (the magic is optional). I’m already waiting for the next in the series.
Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring
March 27: Angela Cervantes
Have you always wished you could run away and secretly live in a museum, bathing in a fountain and uncovering the secret of an ancient statue, just like in The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler? Did you love Under the Egg and Chasing Vermeer as much as me? Well good news: 2018 is THE YEAR of the Art History Mystery (yes, that’s a genre, I just made it up), and we’re off to a great start with this gem by Angela Cervantes.
Paloma wanted to spend the summer reading Lulu Pennywhistle mystery books by the pool, but instead she’s visiting Mexico with her mother. She isn’t looking forward to being away from her friends and taking summer Spanish-language classes, though she is hoping to find out more about her late father, who grew up in Mexico. Immediately after arriving, however, Paloma makes new friends and is drawn into the mystery of Frida Kahlo’s missing peacock ring. she sets off to solve a few mysteries of her own.
Jewell Parker Rhodes; April 17
This new book by the award-winning author of Towers Falling, Ninth Ward, and many other celebrated books broke my heart—as it should. The titular ghost boys are spirits of the many, many young black American boys murdered in racial violence. One of these is the main character, Jerome, a timid twelve-year old boy gunned down by a racist police officer while playing in the lot next to his house, and readers follow his confused, frightened ghost as he wanders the city, stuck, wishing he could either go back to his life or move on to what comes next. He’s joined and comforted by the ghost of Emmett Till, who helps him understand why he was murdered, why the police officer is claiming he did the correct thing, and why there are so many ghost boys like him and Emmett. Jerome ends up becoming friends with the only living person who can see him: Sarah, the daughter of the police officer who murdered him, a white girl his own age, and she joins him on his search for understanding and change.
This story hurts. Rhodes doesn’t offer any easy answers, and while her prose is beautiful and there are moments of sweetness and even triumph, it is not an easy read. However, I recommend it as one of the most important books coming out this year.
Lisa Jenn Bigelow; June 26
Growing up is hard, and even harder when several big changes come at the same time. Quiet Melly dreads her summer music camp, even though her best friend is going with her, because she’s already homesick: not just for her house, but the home she has with both her parents, who have just decided to split up. It’s even harder when her best friend ditches her at camp, she starts to worry she’s not good at playing the drums, even though she loves it, and she starts to develop a crush on another girl, Adeline.
Anyone who’s ever felt overlooked, “like a mouse,” and felt too scared to even talk to the person they like will love cheering Melly on as she finds her inner rockstar and drums up the courage (pun lovingly intended) to share her feelings with the girl she likes. I’m recommending this sweet, authentic story to everyone this year.
Currently Reading:
J.A. White; July 3
Neil Gaiman famously misquoted G.K. Chesterton in his epigraph for one of my all-time favorite novels, Coraline. The original Chesterton quote went something like: “Fairy tales do not give the child his first idea of bogey. What fairy tales give the child is his first clear idea of the possible defeat of bogey.” I whip that quote out whenever I hear someone say a piece of media might be “too dark” or “too scary” for the age group it was intended for—usually for books like Coraline, and, I expect, Nightbooks.
Yes, this book is scary, but it’s clever and fresh and stars the sort of tentative, anxious underdog I love to root for. The idea of a vicious witch luring children into her Brooklyn apartment and imprisoning them in the library is not an impossible stretch of the imagination for a kid (nor is her booming side business of selling magic-infused essential oils to hipsters), and the frightening here is balanced with Alex’s creativity, bravery, and refusal to give up.
Books I haven’t read yet, but CANNOT WAIT to get my hands on:
Cynthia Kadohata; February 6
Kim Tomsic; February 13
Shannon Hitchcock; February 27
Tiffany Parks; March 6
Veera Hiranandani; March 6
Maggie & Abby’s Neverending Pillow Fort
Will Taylor; March 14
Kheryn Callender; March 27 – Recommended to me by the fantastic Kelly Starling Lyons!
Roshani Chokshi; March 27
Blue Balliett; March 27
Varian Johnson; March 27 – Johnson is a local Texas author!
Diana McCauley; April 3
Erin Entrada Kelly; April 10
Vera Brosgol; April 24
Hope Larson; May 1
Aisha Saeed; May 8
Kate Beasley; June 5
Flor and Miranda Steal the Show
Jennifer Torres; June 12
The Girl with the Ghost Machine
Lauren DeStefano; July 3
Cindy Baldwin; July 3
Kali Wallace; July 3
Abby Cooper; July 17
Barbara Binns; July 31
Happy 2018! I never make official New Year’s resolutions, but every January I tell myself, “Okay, this is definitely the year I’m going to read at least 150 books and keep track of every book I read in this handy reading tracker app/ spreadsheet/ Goodreads/ fancy journal,” and then somehow every December I find myself racking my brain, trying to remember all the amazing books I read and re-read that year. I read a lot, I’m just not very organized about it.
But for real! 2018 is my year, and it is already off to an amazing start for literature as a whole, but especially in young adult and middle grade books. 2018 is so promising, in fact, that I’m splitting my “2018 books I’m excited about” lists into two parts, for YA and middle grade.
This first part, a collection of YA books I’ve read and love or am greatly looking forward to, is a subjective puddle of unbridled and disorganized enthusiasm, with titles listed in order of publication date.
Obviously, this list is based both on my own taste and on the limited publishing catalogs available for 2018 (you’ll see it’s very front-loaded). There are certain things I’m predisposed to like in a book: if there’s a murder at a boarding school, preferable a boarding school that has the potential to be blanketed in a suffocating layer of beautiful, deadly snow, I’m there in a heartbeat. Is the story an inventive take on existing legends, folklore, or religion, such as the Robin Hood tale or West African folklore? I need it. If the premise just sounds banana-pants crazy and amazingly hilarious—say, a high schooler leading a gang of resurrected teenage girls, or a teen journalist getting kidnapped by reclusive Siberian hermits—I want to have read it yesterday. My biggest soft spot is for real world/slice of life stories of complicated families, positive/realistic portrayals of queer life and love, and books that tackle all-too-real issues in today’s turbulent social climate (which are even better with a side of triumph and indefatigable humor).
Also, if you’re looking for some stellar “adult” fiction and nonfiction recommendations, our Literary Director Julie Wernersbach has a great list of 2018 books to check out.
Happy reading, y’all!
Read It, Loved It, Super-Duper Recommend:
Truly Devious Maureen Johnson; January 16
From the moment I opened this book, I knew it was for me. The dedication reads: “For everyone who has ever dreamed of finding a body in the library.” How does she know, I whispered, and turned the page.
Johnson’s new book is a clever mystery about an 80-year-old unsolved murder at a progressive self-guided boarding school in remote Vermont, but it’s also a coming-of-age story starring Stevie, an observant true-crime aficionado dealing with imposter syndrome, great ambition, an anxiety disorder, and a modern-day copycat murderer. With the current resurgence in true crime media and interest in criminology, Stevie’s struggle to solve these mysteries—while learning where the line between investigation and invasion is—will resonate with a lot of readers.
The Prince and The Dressmaker Jen Wang; February 13
Confession: I’ve read this perfect gem of a graphic novel twice and I will re-read it so many more times in the future. This friendship-turned-love-story between an ambitious, brilliant dressmaker and a delightful, sensitive prince who plays with gender expression is sweet, unique, and perfect for Valentine’s day. Wang’s art is fluid and lively and gorgeous, and her deft storytelling enchants as well as avoids the expected. I’m buying another copy the moment this book is published so I can loan it to everyone I know. Happy Valentine’s day, y’all.
Children of Blood and Bone: The Orisha Legacy Tomi Adeyemi; March 6
Let’s be real: it’s impossible not to judge this book by its gorgeous cover. I’ve had this book on my GIVE IT TO ME list ever since the cover reveal, but even with my expectations set that high, I was not once disappointed. This smartly paced, brilliant fantasy built on West African culture and folklore features immersive world-building and my favorite sort of slow-burn, conflicted romance. Children of Blood and Bone has been collecting rave reviews and deserves every word.
Inkmistress Audrey Coulthurst; March 6
I adored Coulthurst’s debut last year, Of Fire and Stars, and was so happy to get my hands on her second book, whose story follows Asra, a troubled demi-god and healer fighting to save Ina, the girl she loves, after a risky spell goes horribly awry and Ina sets out to seek revenge against the king. Coulthurst’s second novel is a darker, deadly return to the fantasy world we first saw in her debut and offers the same intricate plotting, fantastic world-building, and original, genuine queer relationships I loved in her first book.
The Astonishing Color of After Emily X. R. Pan; March 20
This was another book I’d been watching for advance copies of ever since I heard of it, and I’m so glad I read it this early in the year, since I’m definitely going to read it again. Emily X. R. Pan’s lyrical debut is a heartfelt portrait of grief and the haunting magical realism that grows out of loss. Leigh’s story of discovering herself through art, family, and navigating different cultures will stay with you for a long time.
Emergency Contact Mary H.K. Choi; March 27
This delightfully snarky and unexpectedly soft-hearted modern-day romance has some local excitement for us Texans. Penny is a freshman starting at University of Texas and dealing with all those freshman woes—finding her groove, missing (and not missing) her mom, getting used to her new roommate, and getting involved with her new roommate’s super-cool friend (who the new roommate has made her promise to not date). Choi’s writing is thoughtful and witty, and you can’t help but fall in love with Penny and Sam as the two slowly, carefully unwrap their own hearts over text and try not to wonder what might—or can’t—come next.
Dread Nation Justina Ireland; April 3
Buckle up, y’all, this is one wild ride from start to finish, and I cannot think of two characters I’d rather accompany on a zombie-infested trek through post-Civil War America than Jane and Katherine, two outstanding students at the prestigious Ms. Preston’s School of Combat for ladies. This fantastical take on the years following the Civil War was partially inspired by Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but takes a fun premise and turns it into powerful allegory for the black American experience through history and the way black lives have been (and still are) valued in American society.
Currently Reading:
People Like Us Dana Mele; February 27
We’re not yet a month into 2018 and I’m already reading my second Boarding School Murder Mystery novel (and I’m not even sorry). So far, this story has a promising cast of characters, including a bi/pansexual main character, a cyber-puzzle with deadly consequences, the usual backstabbing and toxic gossip, and of course, murder most foul. 2018 is looking like a promising year if we’re already blessed with two stellar, unique examples of this quite specific flavor of book.
The “I’ve never hit pre-order so fast” list (e.g., authors I already adore whose forthcoming books I am desperate to get my hands on):
The Belles Dhonielle Clayton; February 6
Co-founder of Cake Literary, co-author of the Tiny Pretty Things series, COO of We Need Diverse Books, take no nonsense writer, lauded sensitivity reader, and all around rockstar-with-great-shoes Dhonielle Clayton brings us the opulent WOC-led fantasy of our dreams.
Leah On the Offbeat Becky Albertalli; April 24
This third installment comes from the author of Simon VS. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and The Upside of Unrequited, and gives us more of the cool, cynical, rockstar we loved in Simon. I can’t waaaaait.
On the Come Up Angie Thomas; May 1 (no cover art yet)
I read The Hate U Give twice last year, and gave a copy of it to all of my friends. Getting to see Angie Thomas at Austin’s African American Book Festival was one of the highlights of my year, and I can’t wait to read what she’s recently called “the book of my heart”.
Ship It Britta Lundin; May 1
I’ve followed Britta Lundin on Twitter for a while now so I’m already familiar with how hilarious and nerdy she is, and have been loving her work on this little show called Riverdale (maybe you know it?) Now she’s written a coming of age novel about fandom and the queer teens learning about themselves through fanfiction and fanart and, of course, shipping fan pairings. I wish I could go back in time and hand this book to my teen self, but I’m happy to read it as a grown-up too.
Puddin’ Julie Murphy; May 8
Julie Murphy is back with another wickedly funny and super sweet story featuring hilarious, stereotype defying characters you spend the whole book cheering for. We were so lucky to have her at the Texas Book Festival and now we’re even luckier she has another book coming out already! If you liked you Dumplin’ and Ramona Blue (and who didn’t!), hit that pre-order button now.
From Twinkle, With Love Sandhya Menon; May 22
Did you love When Dimple Met Rishi as much as I did? Did you fangirl over Sandya Menon at the Texas Teen Book Festival as hard as I did? Are you as ready for Twinkle and her equally-instagrammable cover as I am? *fans self in anticipation*
A Thousand Beginnings and Endings Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman (editors); June 26
This anthology of 15 stories re-imagining folklore and mythology from East and South Asia features some of my favorite authors and is edited by two brilliant people whose taste and authority I trust implicitly. I don’t read enough short stories, and I’m so looking forward to diving into this collection.
Finding Yvonne Brandy Colbert; August 7
We were so lucky to get to host the inimitable Brandy Colbert at the 2017 Texas Book Festival for her dazzling book Little & Lion, and I can’t wait to dive into what promises to be another heartfelt story of beauty and hurt and the sort of honest, complicated truths we learn from real life. Colbert doesn’t give her readers any easy answers and I’m here for it.
Uhhh, That Sounds Awesome (or, books by authors I haven’t read yet but the premise has me hooked):
Love, Hate, and Other Filters Samira Ahmed; January 16
Let’s Talk About Love Claire Kann; January 23
The Dangerous Art of Blending In Angelo Surmelis; January 30
The Hazel Wood Melissa Albert; Jan 30
This Is Not A Love Letter Kim Purcell; Jan 30
Winterfolk Janel Kolby; February 6
After the Shot Drops Randy Ribay; March 6
Tyler Johnson Was Here Jay Coles; March 20
Picture Us in the Light Kelly Loy Gilbert; April 10
The Way You Make Me Feel Madeline Goo; May 8
Undead Girl Gang Lily Anderson; May 8
Love and Other Carnivorous Plants Florence Gonsalves; May 15
Anger Is a Gift Mark Oshiro May 22
Mariam Sharma Hits the Road Sheba Karim; June 5
The Bird and the Blade Megan Bannen; June 5
Dear Rachel Maddow Adrienne Kisner; June 5
Monday’s Not Coming Tiffany D. Jackson; June 5
Sometime After Midnight L. Phillips; June 12
Not The Girls You’re Looking For Amina Mae Safi; June 19
Notes from My Captivity Kathy Parks; July 10
I’m Not Missing Carrie Fountain; July 10
Wrong in All The Right Ways Tiffany Brownlee; July 17
Heretics Anonymous Katie Henry; August 7
The Forest Queen Betsy Cornwell; August 7
Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish Pablo Cartaya; August 21
In Another Time Caroline Leech; August 28
The Texas Book Festival is proud to announce its 2017 Festival Weekend was the most successful on record, with 50,000 attendees coming together on November 4 and 5 in the largest celebration of books and literacy in the Festival’s history. The Texas Book Festival will return for its 23rd year on October 27 and 28, 2018, and will once again be held in and around the Texas State Capitol in downtown Austin.
The 2017 Festival Weekend featured more than 300 authors, including Tom Hanks, Dan Rather, Gail Simmons, Attica Locke, Min Jin Lee, Mark Bittman, Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush, and more. Held November 3 at the Four Seasons Hotel, the annual First Edition Literary Gala raised more than $630,000 for the nonprofit organization and its literacy programs. Additionally, the TBF gave more than $100,000 in grants to Texas public libraries in 2017 and, through its Reading Rock Stars literacy program, provided more than 9,300 books to students in Title I schools this year. The Texas Teen Book Festival, held on October 7, also drew thousands with its all-star lineup of YA authors including Jason Reynolds, Marie Lu and many others, as well as an interactive iTent space, writing workshops, panels, and more.
“2017 was an epic year in so many ways, from standout literary talent across so many genres to incredible attendee turnout. We are as starstruck as anyone about the big marquee names at the Festival, but our true stars are the children, schools, and libraries we are able to impact across Texas, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and supporters,” says Lois Kim, executive director. “We’re setting our sights even higher in 2018 for our outreach programming and an amazing Festival Weekend.”
Book lovers can expect to see more of what 2017 offered during next year’s Festival Weekend – a great author lineup, book signings, food trucks, cooking demonstrations, author sessions and panels, live music, a Saturday night Lit Crawl, and more. Submissions to participate in the Festival will open on Monday, January 11. For book submission guidelines, please visit our submissions page.
Drum Roll, Please
Nightbooks