SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE:
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BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: www.kellystarlinglyons.com/
CITY: Raleigh
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 391
RESEARCHER NOTES:
WRITER: Ask project manager about notes for this one. The author had some notes from last volume that she would like to incorporate into this entry.
PERSONAL
Born in Pittsburgh, PA; married Patrick A. Lyons (a financial advisor); children: one son, one daughter.
EDUCATION:Syracuse University, B.A. (African American studies), M.S. (magazine journalism).
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer. Has written articles for the Syracuse Herald-Journal and Raleigh News & Observer; Ebony magazine, former associate editor; Brown Bookshelf (website), founding member. Facilitator of Black Boys Book Club, Raleigh, NC.
MEMBER:Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Authors Guild, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
AWARDS:Choices selection, Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC), 2008, for One Million Men and Me; International Reading Association/Children’s Book Council Children’s Choices selection, Storytelling World Resource Award, and Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People selection, all 2012, all for Hope’s Gift; Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People selection, National Council for the Social Studies/Children’s Book Council, and Best Books selection, Bank Street College of Education, both 2013, both for Ellen’s Broom; Phillis Wheatley Book Award, Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended selection, CCBC Choice selection, American Association of University Women Award for Juvenile Literature, and Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People selection, all 2013, all for Tea Cakes for Tosh; Caldecott Honor, 2020, for Going Down Home with Daddy; Piedmont Laureate, 2021; Giesel Honor, for Zip, Zoom.
RELIGION: African Methodist Episcopal.WRITINGS
Contributor to Chicken Soup for the African American Woman’s Soul, edited by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Lisa Nichols, Simon & Schuster, 2012. Contributor to periodicals, including Syracuse Herald-Journal, Raleigh News & Observer, Ebony, Emerge, Black Collegian, Savoy, Black Family Today, and about … time.
SIDELIGHTS
Kelly Starling Lyons explores family relationships and African American history in picture books such as One Million Men and Me and Tea Cakes for Tosh and connects these themes to older readers in Ellen’s Broom and Hope’s Gift. She is also the author of the “Jada Jones” chapter-book series. Lyons grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in a close-knit family that encouraged creativity. Her mother, who wrote plays, took Lyons and her brother Kevin to children’s theater and made up bedtime tales, teaching her the power and magic of storytelling. Although Lyons decided as a child that she wanted to be an author, her career writing for children was inspired by reading Sharon Dennis Wyeth’s picture book Something Beautiful. “Growing up, I rarely saw kids who looked like me as the main characters of children’s books,” she recalled on her home page. “I loved books and treasured every story I read. But after reading Something Beautiful, I knew I had missed something important—reflections of myself. Right then, I decided to add my voice.” In an interview with Jill Esbaum, contributor to the Picture Book Builders website, Lyons commented on the recurring themes in her books, stating: “Many of my stories focus on family and heritage. It’s important for kids to know that who they are, whose they are and where they’re from is enough. I want them to hold their heads high and know that the story they hold inside is the one that deserves to be heard.”
Lyons’s first published book, Eddie’s Ordeal, focuses on the relationship between a basketball-loving boy and his father, a civil rights lawyer. “Readers will like the family drama as well as the warmth among friends and the realistic view of failure and success,” predicted Hazel Rochman reviewing the story in Booklist.
In Tea Cakes for Tosh, a boy receives a special treat from his grandmother, Honey: a homemade cookie made using the recipe of an enslaved ancestor who smuggled out of the main house to her own children. When Honey begins to lose her memory, Tosh takes over as baker and storyteller, thereby returning this memory to the elderly woman. “The final full recipe adds to the enduring story of courage and caring,” Hazel Rochman observed in appraising Lyons’s story in Booklist. A Kirkus Reviews writer praised the illustrations in Tea Cakes for Tosh writing that E.B. Lewis’s art combines with Lyons’s “earnest, delicate prose to create a gentle yet substantive picture book,” and in School Library Journal, Lisa Egly Lehmuller praised the picture book for “showing how cross-generational relationships teach us to respect the past and plan for the future.”
Lyons’s picture book One More Dino on the Floor uses a dance party where the music genre changes every time another dinosaur gets on the dance floor. Genres range from the waltz and square-dancing to swing, disco, and hip-hop. A Kirkus Reviews writer suggested that “dinos that love to move and groove” are bound to “get children counting from one to 10—and perhaps moving to the beat.”
Family is again at the center of Lyons’s book Going Down Home with Daddy, in which Lil Alan ponders what to give his great-grandmother as a gift for the family’s annual reunion in the South. As the narrative follows him through all the joys of the land, food, family, and memories, Lil Alan comes up with a heartwarming way to commemorate it all. A Kirkus Reviews writer hailed this “celebration of myriad African American and family traditions” as “a warm, loving, necessary reminder of the power in families coming together.”
In Tiara’s Hat Parade, the title character attempts to cheer up and inspire her mother after she is forced to close her hat shop. A Kirkus Reviews writer described the book as a “touching tale of tradition and can-do spirit.” A young Black girl named Zoe learns more about her grandmother’s life while they bake bread together in My Hands Tell a Story. School Library Journal reviewer Rachel Mulligan suggested that the book presented a “sincere relationship of trust and care.” A contributor to Publishers Weekly described the volume as a “heartwarming portrait of grandparent-child love.”
Black history in America and influential Black figures are featured in some of Lyon’s book. Lyons’s picture book One Million Men and Me was published in 2007, twelve years after the famous Million Man March took place in Washington, DC. The author attended the event, which rallied black men from throughout the United States. “The tone is strongly inspirational,” Rochman remarked in her Booklist review, and “the sense of tradition is apparent in the metaphors” Lyons uses. In School Library Journal, Carole Phillips suggested that One Million Men and Me “might prove useful as an introduction to black history or to engage students’ interest in social issues.”
In Ellen’s Broom, Lyons introduces readers to important historical events as well as African American cultural tradition. The story, inspired by the author’s family history, is set after the U.S. Civil War, when freed slaves were granted legal rights that including the freedom to marry; as enslaved people would formalize commits to each other in a “jumping the broom” ceremony. A girl carries her parents’ broom on the journey to the courthouse to have their marriage legally registered in a story that “bursts with one family’s joy,” as Booklist reviewer Ann Kelley noted, the critic dubbing Ellen’s Broom a “testament to remembering the trials of the past and celebrating hard-won freedom.” A Publishers Weekly critic remarked that Lyons’s “narrative has a loving, homespun tone,” while in Kirkus Reviews a writer praised it as “a spirited story filled with the warmth of a close family.” As Wendy Lukehart noted of Ellen’s Broom in School Library Journal, the “homespun and heartfelt dialogue combines with [Daniel] Minter’s exquisite use of line, color, and composition to produce a story that radiates deep faith and strong family bonds.”
Another historical story of family and celebration is the subject of Hope’s Gift. During the U.S. Civil War a slave girl named Hope misses her father, who has escaped and now fights in the Union Army. Hope comforts herself with the swooshing sound of the conch shell he once gave her while she waits for the sound of his voice telling the family that slavery has ended. “A story of sadness, separation, and love,” according to School Library Journal critic Mary Hazleton, Hope’s Gift is also “a story of sacrifice and freedom.” “Lyons gives Hope a strong and very sympathetic voice,” a Kirkus Reviews critic observed, and the result is “a warm story about the love of a family and the jubilation of freedom.”
In Sing a Song: How “Lift Every Voice and Sing” Inspired Generations, Lyons discusses the Black National Anthem. “Readers derive a sense of the collective historical and cultural significance of the anthem, as well as the deeply personal connections that it carries,” suggested Monique Harris in Horn Book. Booklist reviewer Carolyn Phelan said that the book offered a “well-structured, original story.” Lyons highlights an influential Black creative in Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon. A critic in Kirkus Reviews asserted: “This book will inspire children who have trouble reading, like Phil, and those who aspire to have careers as artists and architects.” Lyons collaborated with Chelsea Clinton, Gillian Flint, and Alexandra Boiger on She Persisted: Coretta Scott King, a biography of the activist and wife of Martin Luther King, Jr. Jose Cruz, contributor to School Library Journal, called the volume “a brief but effective account of not-often-taught figure.”
Lyons started her “Jada Jones” chapter-book series for elementary schoolers with Rock Star. In an interview on the WRAL website, Lyons described the title protagonist as “a bright, big-hearted, African American fourth grader who loves science and her friends and family.” She added that the character was inspired by her own daughter as well as the enthusiastic children she meets in visiting schools.
With a class rock-collecting project setting the scene, Rock Star finds Jada disappointed that her best friend has moved away, but she is resolved to make new ones and figure out how to negotiate feelings and friendships at the same time. A Kirkus Reviews writer admired how Jada Jones is depicted with “warmth and a touch of sass.” The writer appreciated the book’s ease of reading, smattering of science, and message of “learning how to be who you are and rock what you’ve got.” In School Library Journal, Peggy Henderson Murphy praised Rock Star as offering a “nice balance of friendship, drama, and the much-needed representation of girls of color who revel in scientific pursuits.” Other books in the “Jada Jones” series include Dancing Queen, Sky Watcher, and Nature Lover.
Lyons is also the author of the “Ty’s Travels” series of picture books, which all star a curious and spirited Black boy named Ty. Books in the series include All Aboard!, Zip, Zoom!, Beach Day!, and Lab Magic. In the same interview with Esbaum, discussed her inspirations for this series. She stated: “I drew again from my own kids and those I know, particularly those in the Black Boys Book Club I co-facilitate in Raleigh. I wanted to celebrate their joy, big imaginations and love of family. It has been another amazing ride.” A critic in Kirkus Reviews called All Aboard! “both an excellent book for guided reading and a winning read-aloud.” In a review of Lab Magic, Booklist writer Rosie Camargo noted that it “adds some much-needed diversity to the beginning-reader shelf.”
In 2022, Lyons launched her “Miles Lewis” chapter-book series, introducing the title character in King of the Ice. In this volume, Miles learns about Black figures in ice skating sports after accepting a bet involving ice skating. Meanwhile, he worries that his grandmother, Nana, may be considering moving out of his house and into an apartment complex for seniors. A critic in Kirkus Reviews described Miles as “a thoughtful protagonist” and suggested: “Sports lovers and the athletic-averse alike will be charmed.” Miles returns in Whiz Kid, which a Kirkus Reviews contributor called “an honest, inspiring STEM-focused story starring an incredibly relatable future scientist.” This volume finds Miles working on a science fair project and dealing with conflict between members of his team. He also experiences tension in his relationship with his cousin Cameron. Miles’s family members help him work through his issues.
Lyons’s mission as a children’s book author is to transform moments, memories, and history into tales of discovery. “I write stories that are often rooted in African American history and culture, but also show the ways we are more alike than different,” she once commented on the Brown Bookshelf website. “At their core, my stories are about relationships between kids and their family members and friends.” Children often ask her to name her favorite book she has written. “They’re all special to me, so I can’t choose a favorite,” she explained, “but the one that connects most to my real life is Tea Cakes for Tosh . That story was inspired by my grandma. She and I used to make tea cakes together just like Honey and Tosh. When my grandma got older, she had a hard time remembering her recipes. Tea Cakes for Tosh is a tribute to her, our family heritage and special bond.”
Lyons once told SATA: “As a child, I was surrounded by storytelling magic. My mom made up bedtime tales starring my brother and me. She took us to Pittsburgh Playhouse, Jr. where we’d see fairy tales come to life on the stage. My grandparents shared family history that gave us a window into the past. Learning that stories could create and open worlds made me want to write.
“In third grade, I saw the book that would one day put me on the path to being a children’s book author—Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. That was my first time seeing a Black girl on the cover of a children’s book. Without even reading a page, that image spoke to me. It wasn’t until adulthood that I saw other children’s books with Black girls on the cover. Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth and Visiting Day by Jaqueline Woodson called me to write for kids. The power and lyricism of those stories showed me the kind of writer I want to be. I hope my stories center Black children and let all kids know they matter.”
BIOCRIT
BOOKS
Covington, Heather, Literary Divas: The Top 100+ Most Admired African American Women in Literature, Amber Books (Phoenix, AZ), 2006.
PERIODICALS
Booklist, February 1, 2005, Hazel Rochman, review of Eddie’s Ordeal, p. 976; October 15, 2007, Hazel Rochman, review of One Million Men and Me, p. 52; February 1, 2012, Ann Kelley, review of Ellen’s Broom, p. 84; February 1, 2013, Hazel Rochman, review of Tea Cakes for Tosh, p. 60; August 1, 2019, Carolyn Phelan, review of Sing a Song: How “Lift Every Voice and Sing” Inspired Generations, p. 72; March 1, 2022, Rosie Camargo, review of Lab Magic, p. 63.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, March, 2012, Hope Morrison, review of Ellen’s Broom, p. 362.
Horn Book, September-October, 2019, Monique Harris, review of Sing a Song, p. 62.
Kirkus Reviews, January 1, 2012, review of Ellen’s Broom; November 1, 2012, review of Tea Cakes for Tosh; December 1, 2012, review of Hope’s Gift; February 1, 2016, review of One More Dino on the Floor; June 15, 2017, review of Rock Star; February 15, 2019, review of Going Down Home with Daddy; December 1, 2019, review of Dream Builder; February 15, 2020, review of Tiara’s Hat Parade; May 15, 2020, review of All Aboard!; June 1, 2022, review of King of the Ice; July 15, 2022, review of Whiz Kid.
Publishers Weekly, October 15, 2007, review of One Million Men and Me, p. 63; November 28, 2011, review of Ellen’s Broom, p. 55; November 5, 2012, review of Tea Cakes for Tosh, p. 69; May 30, 2022, review of My Hands Tell a Story, p. 65.
School Library Journal, November, 2007, Carole Phillips, review of One Million Men and Me, p. 94; January, 2012, Wendy Lukehart, review of Ellen’s Broom, p. 81; November, 2012, Lisa Egly Lehmuller, review of Tea Cakes for Tosh, p. 79; March, 2013, Mary Hazelton, review of Hope’s Gift, p. 118; August, 2017, Peggy Henderson Murphy, review of Rock Star, p. 79; January, 2020, Erin Olsen, review of Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon, p. 92; February, 2022, Jose Cruz, review of She Persisted: Coretta Scott King, p. 91; April, 2022, Rachel Mulligan, review of My Hands Tell a Story, p. 128.
ONLINE
Authors Guild website, https://www.authorsguild.net/ (May 8, 2019), author profile.
Brown Bookshelf, http://thebrownbookshelf.com (October 20, 2011), “Why We Write Kid Lit.”
Elena Reads, https://elenareads.com/ (April 12, 2018), author interview.
From the Mixed Up Files …, https://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/ (February 22, 2017), Jacqueline Houtman, author interview.
Kelly Starling Lyons website, http://www.kellystarlinglyons.com (October 4, 2022).
Picture Book Builders, https://picturebookbuilders.com/ (August 24, 2021), Jill Esbaum, author interview.
Picture Book Month, https://picturebookmonth.com/ (November 10, 2017), Kelly Starling Lyons, “Why Picture Books Are Important.”
Piedmont Laureate website, https://piedmontlaureate.org/ (October 4, 2022), author profile and article by author.
Winged Pen, https://thewingedpen.com/ (September 19, 2017), “Meet Jada Jones! New Chapter Books by Kelly Starling Lyons.”
WRAL website, https://www.wral.com/ (September 17, 2017), Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, “New ‘Jada Jones’ Chapter Book Series for Young Readers Set in Raleigh, Launches This Week.”*
Series
Jada Jones
1. Rock Star (2017)
2. Class Act (2017)
3. Sleepover Scientist (2019)
4. Dancing Queen (2019)
5. Sky Watcher (2021)
6. Nature Lover (2022)
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American Girl: A Girl Named
A Girl Named Misty (2018)
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Miles Lewis
1. King of the Ice (2022)
2. Whiz Kid (2022)
3. Matchmaker (2022)
4. Track Star (2023)
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Series contributed to
She Persisted
Coretta Scott King (2022)
Dorothy Height (2023)
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Picture Books hide
Ellen's Broom (2012)
Hope's Gift (2012)
Tea Cakes for Tosh (2012)
One Million Men And Me (2014)
One More Dino on the Floor (2016)
Going Down Home with Daddy (2019)
Sing a Song (2019)
Dream Builder (2020) (with Laura Freeman)
Tiara's Hat Parade (2020)
Ty's Travels: All Aboard! (2020)
Ty's Travels: Zip, Zoom! (2020)
Ty's Travels: Beach Day! (2021)
Ty's Travels: Lab Magic (2022)
My Hand's Tell a Story (2022)
“I LOST AND FOUND MYSELF OVER AND OVER IN THE PAGES OF BOOKS.”
I grew up in a family that encouraged creativity. My mother, who sings, acts and writes plays, took my brother and me to productions at a children’s theater and made up bedtime tales. She inspired us to express ourselves through the arts.
My grandparents taught us old-school dances, crooned gospel tunes and showed their imagination through cooking and gardening. As if sprinkled by fairy dust, I became enchanted too and began to write. I started by penning entries in my diary. I unlocked the wooden box that safeguarded its secrets, slipped out the tattered maroon book and gave words to my feelings. Later, I wrote poems and fantasy tales. My hometown of Pittsburgh provided the backdrop for some of my earliest stories.
A canopy of trees transformed into a make-believe fortress, backyards hid treasure and tunnels to faraway lands, bridges that crossed the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers spanned distance and time. Laying on my back against the green blanket of my grandparents’ yard, I stared at the cotton-candy clouds and let my mind take me wherever it wanted. I was a child who dreamed large.
My family was my first audience. I read my stories to my mom, grandparents, aunts and uncles, whoever would listen. They cheered all of my efforts, even the ones that flopped. Their compliments boosted my confidence and motivated me to keep writing. If I wasn’t writing or hanging out with my cousins and neighbors, I was reading. My favorite spot to read was snuggled behind my bedroom door with my feet warmed by the heat from the radiator grate. I lost and found myself over and over in the pages of books.
I don’t remember the exact moment I decided I wanted to be an author. Make that had to be an author. Because one day, nothing else would do. Not being a chemist as fun with a chemistry set once had me consider or an anthropologist (think Zora Neale Hurston) – a career I thought would be adventurous and cool. I longed to join the ranks of the artists whose writing I came to love in high school — Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison and Lorraine Hansberry. That was my plan.
Funny thing about plans . . . Saying you want to be an author is easy. The hard part is being disciplined enough to put in the work, to clutch your desire with all of your mind and stick to it even when the words evade you like a child playing hide-and-go-seek.
CELEBRATING THE LAUNCH OF ONE MILLION MEN AND ME, KELLY SIGNS POSTERS AND BOOKS AT JUST US BOOKS’ BOOTH AT BOOKEXPO AMERICA. PHOTO BY STEPHAN HUDSON/2ND CHAPTER
In 2004, Just Us Books published my first book, NEATE: Eddie’s Ordeal, a title in their NEATE chapter book series. That story explores the relationship between a thirteen-year-old African-American boy who loves to play basketball and his civil rights veteran dad. A plot point was inspired by the sit-in movement led by the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). SNCC was founded in North Carolina, on the campus of Shaw University.
My next book, One Million Men and Me (Just Us Books, 2007), illustrated by Peter Ambush, emerged from memories of attending the Million Man March. As I walked through a sea of men and boys, I saw a father holding hands with his little girl. Her eyes sparkled like diamonds. She looked like a princess among kings.
My picture books with G.P. Putnam’s Sons celebrate freedom and family and explore the themes of hope, love and faith. Ellen’s Broom, illustrated by Daniel Minter, was inspired by a document I saw while researching family history in Rockingham County, NC and Henry County, VA. Tea Cakes for Tosh, illustrated by E.B. Lewis, was inspired by my relationship with my grandma. Hope’s Gift, illustrated by Don Tate, ties in with the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Since then, I’ve been blessed to create many more titles including One More Dino on the Floor, easy reader A Girl Named Misty about trailblazing ballerina Misty Copeland, the Jada Jones and Miles Lewis chapter book series, the Ty’s Travels easy reader series and picture books Going Down Home with Daddy, Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice & Sing Inspired Generations, Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon, Tiara’s Hat Parade and My Hands Tell a Story. This year, I’m celebrating my 20th anniversary as a children’s book author. I’m honored to be part of the Cynsations Survivors series that features long-time actively published children’s book creators. Read the spotlight here.
I never imagined that I would have such an interesting journey to publishing. I never knew that to come of age surrounded by people who believe in your vision, who encourage you to dream and do was rare and precious. I’m so thankful now for that beginning.
In a way, my life path has brought me back to my roots. I’ve returned to that dreamy girl I used to be who warmed her feet at the radiator behind her bedroom door and stepped through the pages of books into other lives. But this time, instead of looking at reflections created by someone else, I’m the one holding up the mirror so that children can see.
PHOTO BY MELISSA R. CAMPBELL
FAVORITE:
Foods: Jamaican, Soul, Thai. I love food with flavor.
Destinations: Bermuda and Montreal.
Heroes: My mom and my grandparents
Pastimes: Geneaology, Dancing, Catching up with friends and family
Colors: Red and pink
Movies: Sparkle, Mahogany, Dead Poet’s Society, When We Were Kings
Books: Native Son, Invisible Man, Daddy Was a Number Runner, Song of Solomon, Their Eyes Were Watching God
Children’s Book Authors: Angela Johnson, Madeleine L’Engle, Jacqueline Woodson, Virginia Hamilton, Walter Dean Myers, Eleanora E. Tate, Sharon G. Flake, Carole Boston Weatherford, Patricia & Fredrick McKissack
Poems: We Wear the Mask by Paul Laurence Dunbar, Old Lem by Sterling Brown, Mother to Son by Langston Hughes, I Am a Black Woman by Mari Evans
FUN FACTS:
Did you know?
I played synthesizer in a middle school jazz band.
As a teen, I modeled for Chic clothing store.
I was a fan of New Edition and Prince.
I dug a huge hole in my grandparents’ backyard trying to find buried treasure.
I won second-place in a city-wide spelling bee.
I wrote my first poem in elementary school.
I wrote raps in middle school.
My high school jobs included working for a movie theater concession stand and for a crystal kiosk in the mall.
I stank at sports.
I have four brothers.
My nicknames were Kelly Kel, Lady K and Encyclopedia Brown.
Kelly Starling Lyons
Author
PAL MEMBER
About
Pittsburgh native Kelly Starling Lyons is a children's book author whose mission is to center Black heroes, celebrate family, friendship and heritage and show all kids the stories they hold inside. She has written more than 30 books that span from easy readers to picture books and chapter books. Among her award-winning titles are Caldecott Honor title Going Down Home with Daddy; Geisel Honor winner Ty's Travels: Zip, Zoom; Christopher Award winner Tiara's Hat Parade; Bank Street Best book, Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice & Sing Inspired Generations and the popular, Miles Lewis and Jada Jones chapter book series and Ty's Travels easy reader series. Lyons is represented by Caryn Wiseman of Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Find out more at www.kellystarlinglyons.com.
Author Kelly Starling Lyons on Daring to Shine Like Jada Jones
by Kelly Starling Lyons
People often ask how I came up with my chapter book character, Jada Jones. The truth is I didn’t find Jada — she found me. I heard her and her friends in my children’s voices, saw them in the eyes and smiles of kids I met when visiting schools. Smart, sincere, bighearted, and brave, Jada and her friends represent the amazing children I know who deserve to be the stars of stories, too.
These characters stand for the kids who sometimes freeze when faced with public speaking, but reach deep inside and soar; for the kids who can feel unsure as they navigate friendships, but keep pushing to make connections; for the kids who love science, reading, Double Dutch, anime, sports, music, crafts, and more. They are beautifully and uniquely themselves, and they fill every classroom — we just have to look.
In a world where popularity can take center stage, we sometimes forget to remind kids of the shine they hold inside. All around, students stand out by being who they are. Jada. Miles. Lena. Mari. Jackson. Simone. Hallie. Carson. Replace my characters’ names with children you know — I bet you find they have a lot in common: bouncing back from challenges, finding humor in hard situations, growing from mistakes, celebrating what makes them special. I’m often in schools for author visits and writing residencies, and I’m always touched by the courage and character of the young leaders I meet.
I’ve watched as kids who used to stare at the floor when standing in front of the class start to stand tall as they feel the love for their stories. I’ve watched children who have trouble mastering the latest dances find their own grooves. I’ve felt my heart swell as students lift each other up when they’re low and cheer on friends when they’re riding high. They’re rock stars, class acts, sleepover scientists, and dancing queens just like Jada. My series is my testimony that I see and hear them.
Jada Jones: Rock Star
Jada Jones: Rock Star
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Jada Jones: Class Act
Jada Jones: Class Act
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Jada Jones: Sleepover Scientist
Jada Jones: Sleepover Scientist
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Jada Jones: Dancing Queen
Jada Jones: Dancing Queen
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As a writer, the greatest gift is learning something you wrote made a difference. The mother of a teacher once sent me a note that still makes me beam with pride. A group of girls was bullying a classmate. The teacher pulled one of them aside and asked what she thought Jada Jones would do. After lunch, that girl stood up against the bullying, and by the end they were all playing together and having fun. They were inspired by my series, but I doubt they know how much they inspire authors like me.
It’s tough to be brave and go against the crowd. It’s scary to be true to yourself when you feel all alone. But kids do it all the time. They stumble and pick themselves up. They feel the fear and press on. They find their way and fill the world with their light. We adults can learn a lot from kids. Here’s one lesson I try to pass on, through Jada Jones and all else: dare to shine by being who you are.
Interview With Kelly Starling Lyons (Ty’s Travels: Winter Wonderland)
October 10, 2022No Comments
Written by Cherokee Crum, Staff Reviewer
Posted in Authors, Interviews, News & Updates
Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Kelly Starling Lyons (Ty’s Travels: Winter Wonderland)!
Meet the Author: Kelly Starling Lyons
Kelly Starling Lyons is a teaching artist and founding member of The Brown Bookshelf (www.thebrownbookshelf.com). Her acclaimed picture books include Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon, Going Down Home with Daddy, Sing a Song: How “Lift Every Voice and Sing” Inspired Generations, and the Ty’s Travels series, including the Geisel Honor Book Ty’s Travels: Zip, Zoom! Visit her at www.kellystarlinglyons.com.
Website * Twitter * Instagram * Facebook
About the Book: Ty’s Travels: Winter Wonderland
Join Ty on his imaginative adventures in Ty’s Travels: Winter Wonderland, a My First I Can Read book by acclaimed author and illustrator team Kelly Starling Lyons and Nina Mata. Imagination and play are highlighted in this festive Winter story, perfect for sharing with children 3 to 6.
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~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
My main character Ty has a big imagination that takes him on fun and memorable journeys. His latest adventure, Ty’s Travels: Winter Wonderland, was inspired by the magic of the holiday season. A winter day and a snow globe get him envisioning a trek to the North Pole where he embarks on a quest to see Santa. I wanted to celebrate Ty’s joy and curiosity that shines like a string of lights.
YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?
Ty is my favorite character. I love the way he looks at the world. He was inspired by my kids, children in the boys book club I facilitate and young people around me. Their imagination, radiant spirits and sense of wonder deserve to be centered.
YABC: Which came first, the title or the book?
The book came first and then the title. I knew I wanted to explore the magic of the season. Winter Wonderland is a familiar saying, but in this case it has a special meaning. The wonderland exists in the picturesque scenery of a first snow. It comes to life in Ty’s amazing mind. I hope it fills the hearts of readers too as they take in the story.
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
I’ve learned so much on my journey. One of the lessons I hold onto is that it only takes one yes. This is an industry where rejections are common. You work hard and put your heart on the page, but it can take a long time to find the right home for your work. Rather than be deterred by setbacks, set yourself up for success by having faith and believing that your work matters. You’re going to get nos sometimes, but remember that all it takes is for one editor, one house, to give it a chance.
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
Niña Mata is an amazing artist. I love the way she brings Ty and his family to life in each book. I can’t help but smile when I look at her cover of Winter Wonderland. Ty and his dog, Brownie, look so joyful. Ty waves hi and the snowman behind him does too. You see elves and a silhouette of Santa flying on his sleigh. The cover is full of love and intention.
YABC: What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?
I saw Hold Them Close: A Love Letter to Black Children, written by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and illustrated by Patrick Dougher, at the American Library Association conference. I was blown away. Full of affirmation and power, the book celebrates the beauty of Black children. The art and words are brilliant.
YABC: Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?
The Brown Bookshelf (www.thebrownbookshelf.com) is close to my heart. I’ve been part of the team for more than 15 years. I’m proud of our commitment to raise awareness of Black children’s book creators. Just Us Books (http://justusbooks.com), founded by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson, The African American Children’s Book Project (http://theafricanamericanchildrensbookproject.org), founded by Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati, and Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Conference, created by Laura Pegram, are important to me too.
YABC: What advice do you have for new writers?
I received great advice early in my children’s book journey. At the Highlights’ Writers Workshop at Chautauqua, editor and author Patti Gauch encouraged us to “write the story only you can tell.” Her words resonated with me deeply then and continue to guide me now. I often share that advice with emerging writers. I want them to know that who they are, whose they are and where they’re from is not just enough, it’s everything. The best stories come from your heart.
YABC: Is there anything that you would like to add?
Thanks so much for inviting me to share. I’m honored.
Title: Ty’s Travels: Winter Wonderland
Author/Illustrator: Written by Kelly Starling Lyons, Illustrated by Niña Mata
Release Date: 9/13/22
Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s
ISBN-10: 0063083622
ISBN-13: 9780063083622
Genre: Early Reader
Guest Post with Kelly Starling Lyons (Miles Lewis: Track Star), Plus Giveaway! ~ US ONLY
September 7, 20233 Comments
Written by Connie Reid, Site Manager
Posted in Giveaways, Interviews, News & Updates
Today we are excited to share a special chat from author Kelly Starling Lyons who interviewed Miles Lewis!
Read on for more about Kelly Starling Lyons, her book, and a giveaway for Miles Lewis: Track Star!
Meet the Author: Kelly Starling Lyons
Kelly Starling Lyons (she/her) is the award-winning author of the Jada Jones and Ty’s Travels series and picture books including Sing a Song: How “Lift Every Voice & Sing” Inspired Generations and Hope’s Gift. She lives in North Carolina. Find out more at www.kellystarlinglyons.com
About the Book: Miles Lewis: Track Star
From the award-winning author of the Jada Jones chapter books comes an illustrated spinoff series perfect for STEM fans! The annual Fun Run is coming up at Brookside Elementary! The students will all run laps around the carpool lane, and Miles Lewis wants to be one of the top five runners. Even though he zooms through sprints, he runs out of gas for long distance, so he creates a nutrition and exercise regimen to boost his endurance. But on the big day, he witnesses one kid struggling to keep going. Should Miles keep pressing for his personal best, or should he lend support to help a friend? In the end, Miles must decide what winning really means to him.
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Surprise Connection
By Kelly Starling Lyons
One of the most meaningful parts of being an author is the connections you make. I love connecting with young readers. They’re the reason why I write. I love meeting educators, parents and librarians. I appreciate the essential role they play in getting books into young people’s hands and hearts. And sometimes, like a few months before the Miles Lewis series debuted, I make a surprise connection that makes me marvel at what books can do.
Last December, I was scrolling through my emails and stopped when I saw a familiar name. Was I seeing right? I had an email from . . . Miles Lewis? I eagerly opened the note and thought how cool that the person writing me had the same name as a character I created. But the similarities didn’t end there. Miles Lewis told me that he competed for Puerto Rico at the world championship level in Track & Field. A friend named Kelly (so many connections) had told him about my book, Miles Lewis: Track Star. He wanted me to know that there was a Miles Lewis running in the real world. I couldn’t believe it: He was a real life track star!
Miles and I have since become friends. I cheered for him while watching him race on TV. I’d love to see one of his competitions in person one day. In the meantime, I thought it would be fun for you to meet my buddy Miles – and discover more things he has in common with my chapter book character. Check out his profile on World Athletics: https://worldathletics.org/athletes/puerto-rico/miles-lewis-14366207. Cool, right! Here Miles, a champion in track and life, talks about his passion for running, his inspiration and offers advice for young people like you:
I love that you and my character share a name. So cool that you’re a real life track star. What’s your earliest memory of running?
So cool to me. Thanks Kelly! My first memory of running fast goes as far back as 2nd grade for me. After a class activity involving short sprints, I will always remember my teacher, Mrs. Smith commenting on my speed.
How did you get interested in track?
I joined the middle school track team in my 8th grade year after being challenged to a race by classmates. I really enjoyed middle school track but wouldn’t find a love for running until my junior year of high school.
In Miles Lewis: Track Star, he’s inspired by his grandma and parents to work hard. Who inspires you?
My mom has always been my biggest inspiration. I’ve also been fortunate enough to be surrounded by some magical human beings who’ve inspired me to go beyond what I thought my limitations may have been. Thank you, Brian, Pat, Kelly, and Lisa.
What has your track journey been like? Talk about the high and low moments.
Running at the professional level has been a phenomenal experience. As an athlete training in NY without access to a track or indoor facilities through most of the year, I have created a speed program catered to athletes who train in cold weather locations with minimal access to training resources. To have taken this program to the professional and world level has been a surreal experience. It can still be difficult and even frustrating at times, as I do not have support at the professional level that the average pro affiliated with a team would expect. Nonetheless, I have friends, family, and the community behind me, so I feel unstoppable regardless of what I do or do not have access to.
What does it take to persevere on the track and in life?
Unending determination and good friends. You get back up every time you fall and believe with your entire being that your story will either impact your own life or that of another for the better. Who you surround yourself with is equally if not more important.
How do you train for your competitions?
My training revolves around a healthy diet, rest, and high intensity repetitions in the gym and during my runs. I am basically a pescatarian during the season and I do a lot of uphill sprinting throughout the year.
In Miles Lewis: Track Star, Miles not only trains, he also uses a mantra and visualization to help him do his best. Do you have special techniques to get you in the zone?
Miles and I have some things in common. If I’m fortunate enough to have ample time to prepare for an event, I begin visualizing the race I want to run 2 weeks to a month before competing. The moment I feel my nerves beginning to get the best of me before getting to the line on race day I remind myself that there is nothing to fear here. “I have no fear” is the last thing I say to myself before every race.
How does it feel when you run?
Like freedom
What does winning mean to you?
The time and preparation that goes into just 6 or 10 seconds of running at any given time is unbelievable. So, to walk away with a gold or 1st place finish at this level of competition gives me a great sense of accomplishment. I also see the time and effort put into preparing for these races as tests of determination and wins in themselves as well.
What’s your favorite track memory?
I compete for Team Puerto Rico. My family has roots in Aguadilla. Last year I broke the Puerto Rican 60-meter dash national record in the last round of 3 races on the last day of the qualification window for the 2022 World Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. Breaking that record, qualifying for the world championships, and doing it in front of family and friends was the experience of a lifetime.
Who’s your track hero?
Although I write my own training program, my track heroes are the coaches and mentors in my community that I can turn to at any time. Thank you, Brian, Pat, Coach Zanot, Zakia and the like.
What advice would you pass on to young readers and runners?
Don’t rush your dreams or goals. I didn’t run a world championship level event until after my 30th birthday. Along the way, be patient, be kind and do your best to treat yourself just as you would your very best friend. And to the runners, keep at it like Miles!
Kelly Starling Lyons is the award-winning author of the Jada Jones and Miles Lewis chapter book series, Ty’s Travels easy reader series and numerous picture books. Her mission is to center Black heroes, celebrate family, friendship and heritage and show all kids the stories they hold inside. Learn more about Kelly and her books at www.kellystarlinglyons.com.
Book’s Title: Miles Lewis: Track Star
Author: Kelly Starling Lyons
Illustrator: Wayne Spencer
Release Date: 8/29/2023
Publisher: Penguin Workshop, Penguin Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9780593383582
Genre: Chapter Book
Age Range: 6-8 Years
Lyons, Kelly Starling WINTER WONDERLAND Harper/HarperCollins (Children's None) $4.99 9, 13 ISBN: 978-0-06-308362-2
Ty and Momma explore a Christmassy winter wonderland.
This installment of the Ty's Travels early-reader series focuses on the magic of the holiday season. Ty notices that his North Pole snow globe resembles the freshly fallen snow in his own neighborhood. He and Momma head out with pup Brownie past a snowpal, a group of singing polar bears, and dancing dolls and toy soldiers, all straight out of Ty's imagination. After sledding, Ty's big wish to meet Santa comes true. Lyons tells a simple story that leans on Mata's illustrations to bring it to life. Ty's expressive face conveys his initial disappointment at not seeing Santa and his eventual surprise and joy. Mata's crayonlike images, which look as though they were created by Ty himself, depict Ty's imaginings, while the illustrations of real life are more saturated, conveying movement and texture. There are big sprays of snow as the children sled gleefully as well as patterned scarves and the springy curls of Ty's hair. Though the storyline is a basic "day in the life," the illustrations will delight readers. Ty and his family are Black, Santa is brown-skinned, and the elves and children at Santa's workshop are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A cozy, snowy Christmastime read. (Early reader. 4-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Lyons, Kelly Starling: WINTER WONDERLAND." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A715353110/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d0da8a8b. Accessed 5 May 2024.
LYONS, Kelly Starling. Miles Lewis: Matchmaker. illus. by Wayne Spencer. 96p. (Miles Lewis: Bk. 3). Penguin Workshop. Dec. 2022. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9780593383568.
Gr 2-5--In this installment of the "Miles Lewis" series, the fourth grader learns about caring for others and having fun, along with cool science facts. Miles, who is Black, is not too excited about Valentine's Day; he thinks it's all too mushy. Then, his teacher comes up with a themed STEM activity--the children will use three different liquids, such as soda, warm water, and vinegar, to see if heart-shaped candies will sink or float. The students are also tasked with writing about things they love. Miles includes items like his love of bike-riding and his family's weekly trips to the farmers' market. Nana and his parents share with him that not everyone has access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and Miles's father emphasizes the importance of giving back to communities in need while educating him on George Washington Carver and his many peanut creations. Miles brings this knowledge to school, suggesting he and his classmates start a community garden so fruits and vegetables are more accessible. There is also a humorous subplot wherein Miles and his friend Jada try to matchmake their grandparents. Back matter includes an epilogue of facts about George Washington Carver. VERDICT Another great addition to this heartwarming series that introduces young readers to STEM activities along with a lesson about giving back to one's community.--Annmarie Braithwaite
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Braithwaite, Annmarie. "LYONS, Kelly Starling. Miles Lewis: Matchmaker." School Library Journal, vol. 68, no. 10, Oct. 2022, p. 77. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A720065705/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d2a538d5. Accessed 5 May 2024.
LYONS, Kelly Starling. Ty's Travels; Showtime! illus. by Nina Mata. 32p. (My First I Can Read). HarperCollins. Feb. 2024. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780063083691; pap. $5.99. ISBN 9780063083684.
PreS-Gr 3--Ty loves his class. He loves everything about it, from creating art to baking to dancing with his friends. Ty especially loves to make music. When it's playtime, Ty sees a drum set waiting to be played and starts to rap-a-tap-tap a groovy beat. Ty imagines he's on stage, and the spotlight shines on him as he entertains the crowd, playing drums and guitar and piano. But Ty can't play all the instruments at the same time, so he enlists his friends. Soon all of the students are dancing to the beat of the classroom band. This is the latest installment of the "Ty's Travels" series, sweet, simple stories about Ty and his adventures. Easy readers, especially "My First: I Can Read" books, are designed to look and read a lot like picture books, so as to be easy to read aloud or independently, and this no exception. Each page is filled with detailed, colorful illustrations and limited written text. With an African American boy at the center of the story and a diverse classroom, this title about play is quick, positive, and fun with very light conflict. VERDICT A welcome addition to the world of beginner reader books.--Jennifer Miskec
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Miskec, Jennifer. "LYONS, Kelly Starling. Ty's Travels; Showtime!" School Library Journal, vol. 69, no. 12, Dec. 2023, p. 83. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A779118667/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c4f1ea91. Accessed 5 May 2024.