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ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://www.angeladalton.com
CITY: Oakland
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: son.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author and video game producer.
MEMBER:Bay Area #Ownvoices Book Creators, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, 12Y12 Picture Book Challenge.
AWARDS:Gold IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award, Best New Voice: Children’s/Young Adult, Independent Book Publishers Association, 2018, for If You Look Up to the Sky.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, April 1, 2021, Tiffany Flowers, review of Ruby’s Reunion Day Dinner, p. 68; December 15, 2021, Stephanie Cohen, review of Show the World!, p. 101; December 1, 2022, Carolyn Phelan, review of To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights, p. 120.
Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2018, review of If You Look Up to the Sky; May 1, 2021, review of Ruby’s Reunion Day Dinner; January 1, 2022, review of Show the World!; December 1, 2022, review of To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights.
Publishers Weekly, March 12, 2018, review of If You Look Up to the Sky, p. 57.
ONLINE
12×12, https://www.12x12challenge.com (March 1, 2022), author blog.
Angela Dalton website, https://www.angeladalton.com (May 31, 2023), author website.
Children’s Writer’s Guild, https://www.childrenswritersguild.com (January 14, 2018), Kristen Heimerl, author interview.
Kirkus Reviews, https://www.kirkusreviews.com (May 21, 2019), Rhett Morgan, “Angela Dalton: The Self-Publisher’s Picture Book Tells a Deeply Personal Story,” author interview.
Angela Dalton was once a producer of video games and other cool things. She likes to think that she chose writing but, the truth is, writing chose her. She lives in Oakland, California, where she spends her time looking up to the sky and writing the stories the universe inspires her to share. If You Look Up to the Sky is her first children's book.
Angela Dalton was once a producer of online kids’ games and other cool, nerdy things. She grew up in the Midwest reading lots of book, watching Star Trek on repeat, and guzzling red Kool-Aid. Now an adult, two of these three things have inspired her to write her own stories, and the third is a once-a-year treat (can you guess which one?).
Author of books for young minds, she has three forthcoming picture books: Ruby’s Reunion Day Dinner (2021), Show the World! (2022), and To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Civil Rights (2023).
A member of the Bay Area #Ownvoices Book Creators, SCBWI and the 12×12 Picture Book Challenge, she now lives in Oakland, California with her husband, son, and way too many “to be read” books on her bedside table.
Angela is represented by Mary Cummings, agent and founder of Great River Literary.
ngela Dalton:
The self-publisher’s picture book tells a deeply personal story
BY RHETT MORGAN • MAY 21, 2019
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Angela Dalton
After a career working as a producer, content strategist, and marketer, Angela Dalton moved with her husband to the Bay Area and was freaking out about what to do next. One night, while looking at a full moon, a piece of advice from her great-grandmother came back to her: “Angela, if you feel lost, just look up to the sky; and, if you see the moon peeking through the clouds, know you’re in the place you’re meant to be.” Dalton sat down and turned the soothing words into the children’s book If You Look Up to the Sky. Illustrated by Margarita Sikorskaia and released by Dalton, Sky has become a critical darling for its depiction of a young girl of color learning all the ways the universe will provide her with love, guidance, and protection.
What do you hope children take away from the book?
At its core, the story is about the interconnectedness of family and how the simple act of looking to the sky can serve as a reminder that we are loved. I hope that any children reading will find comfort in this notion. I also hope that every child will be inspired by the main character, who is a girl of color. It was very important to show her being strong in any situation because, ultimately, she knows someone loves her. I want children, especially girls of color, to feel this way too.
Do you find that there is still a lack of representation in children’s books today?
Over the last few years, there have been many individuals and organizations leading the charge in changing the representation landscape in children’s literature. And while this has made a substantial difference, it seems there’s still a lack in representing marginalized authors and author/illustrators. When I’m asked to do school author visits, educators are constantly telling me how excited they are to have their kids meet an author who looks like them. Representation goes far beyond just seeing a character on a page.
How did you find the experience of self-publishing?
I loved the experience. But it was a lot of work. My background in production and marketing helped immensely. And I’m forever grateful for all the support I received from friends and family. If You Look Up to the Sky was a deeply personal story so, for me, self-publishing made sense. It was a lot of work, but I really enjoyed the journey and all the learning experiences it brought.
Dalton coverDo you think that self-publishing opens the door for more diverse writers?
Yes and no. Yes, because it offers authors from marginalized groups the ability to share stories that would otherwise go untold. I say no because there are many people who still apply a stigma to self-publishing. I was once at an SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) event and someone said, “Oh, you’re one of those,” when I told them I had self-published. Said it to my actual face. People like that aren’t aware that so many great and prolific authors began their careers self-publishing because they couldn’t get their foot in the door due to many factors, including implicit bias and outright racism.
What can readers look forward to next?
I have new stories that I’m excited to share and have been debating next steps. The traditional publishing route is definitely under consideration. There are many great agents out there, and a few are displaying a genuine commitment to representing diverse stories and #ownvoices authors. I would definitely welcome the opportunity to partner with someone who values and champions the need for more diversity and inclusivity within the industry.
Rhett Morgan is a writer and translator based in Paris.
Hello You! with Kristen: An Interview with Author Angela Dalton
January 14, 2018
Kristen Heimerl
Every once and while a book—and its author—come into your world and make an indelible mark. Such is the case with first-time author Angela Dalton and her exquisite picture book If You Look Up to the Sky.
Inspired by Dalton’s own life and experiences, the story is about a young black girl whose grandmother teaches her that the sky and universe will always offer her love, protection, and guidance should she ever need it.
The words are words that every child deserves to hear:
“If you look up to the sky
and see a star streak across the darkness
know that you are special and, like the star
there will never be another you.”
Author Angela Dalton
But Dalton’s voice is intended for the young girls of color—to lift them up and remind them of their singular beauty in the face of challenge, discrimination, and hardship.
The right book in the right child’s hand has the power to transform that child forever. I imagine, in time, If You Look Up to the Sky by Angela Dalton will transform thousands, if not millions of children’s lives. This is a book for all to love, but it is especially a book for girls of color to love.
I think Angela’s pretty special. And I know she’s got a lot more to share with us in the months and years ahead. I had the opportunity to interview her recently. Our conversation follows.
You can purchase If You Look Up to the Sky online and at bookstores across the nation.
An Interview with Angela Dalton
Kristen You learned from your great-grandmother that looking up to the sky had power. What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
Angela Most people of color learn at a very young age that people will use words as weapons against you—to hurt or belittle your existence. There’s always that one infamous word that every black person I know, including myself, has had hurled at them. As a child, in the instance that it happens, you have locked into your memory the day you suddenly saw all the ugliness that is in the world surrounding you. You feel exposed and unsafe. I think it’s the exposure to this word that destroys the fun and wonder of childhood.
It’s demoralizing to learn that one word can hold that much power over you; however, as you grow, you become stronger and more resistant to it. In my own experience, it forced me to find my own voice and strength against it—and that has served me well in my adult life.
Kristen Words have different meaning to different people based on our cultural upbringing. I’ve said things I’ve thought were totally innocuous (from my frame of white privilege) but realized instead they were hot buttons, triggering feelings of anger or sadness in others I cared deeply about who had different life experiences from my own. There was no intentional malice on my part—just total cluelessness, stupidity. What can clueless adventurers like me do to more accurately see the systemic issues, understand our part in it, and importantly, act to drive change? And I’m not talking about asking folks to step up and lead grand marches in Washington; I’m talking about little things we can do to stop the death by a thousand tiny cuts we inflict on our fellow humans every day who are different from us.
Angela I’ve been asked this question a lot and am still struggling to find an answer that doesn’t make people immediately become defensive and shut down.
The first thing I ask people of non-color to do is shelve any emotions of fear or guilt. I think it’s important to understand that acknowledging the history that people of color have with this country is the first step to having honest conversations and making progress. If you’re not willing to do this because it makes you feel uncomfortable, you’re not willing to put in the work to change anything.
Exposing yourself to other voices—whether it’s through books or other forms of media – is equally as important. Everyone has a tendency to insulate themselves in the familiar to validate their own personal representation. However, this makes it too easy to discount those who are marginalized because their voice or struggle doesn’t fit within your own paradigm.
Illustrations by Margarita Sikorskaia.
Kristen When you say that there’s a lack of diverse books out there, I know you mean something deeper and more complex than just picture books with images of ethnically diverse children. As a young girl, what did you want to see but didn’t see in books?
Angela
When I was growing up, there was always this tendency to equate the “black experience” with an “Inner-city experience.” My childhood experiences spanned everything from the city to Bible Belt country to upper-class neighborhoods of white America. With If You Look Up to the Sky, it was important to show representation not just with skin color but place in the world. People of color live and make contributions everywhere. I want girls to see themselves in places that they either can identify with or inspire them to see themselves in.
There’s a big world out there, and I want them to know they deserve a place in it.
Kristen Do you think it’s possible for others to deliver this to children based on empathy alone? Or do you believe experience—actual life experience—is the only way to deliver what’s missing?
Angela I think this depends on the story a writer is trying to tell and their intention for wanting to tell it. There are questions that should be asked and answered honestly because you are making money on someone else’s experience that is not your own.
You’re also taking on the massive responsibility of potentially putting certain ideas or perpetuating stereotypes in the world without knowing you’re doing so. No matter how sincere our intentions or skilled at the craft we may be, there are just some stories that aren’t ours to tell.
At the very least, I would hope that if a writer or creator decides to take on a story that’s not their own they’ll collaborate with or seek guidance from someone in the culture or community they are writing about. By doing so, you can answer the most important question: Should I really be telling this story?
Kristen Which books did you fall in love with as a child? Which spoke to you and why?
Angela Oh, wow. This is difficult to answer because the library was my second home as a kid. I loved books then like I love shoes—and books—now.
Two that come to mind:
Liza Lou and the Yeller Belly Swamp by Mercer Mayer was the first book I remember reading that featured a strong, smart black girl as the protagonist.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown is a book I remember reading that always left me feeling safe.
Exposing yourself to other voices—whether it’s through books or other forms of media – is equally as important. Everyone has a tendency to insulate themselves in the familiar to validate their own personal representation.”
Kristen If you could tell your younger writer self anything, what would it be?
Angela I like to think this is why children’s book writers fall in love with the genre. We write stories, whether consciously or not, that serve as a message-in-a-bottle to our younger selves.
Throughout most of the book, you’ll see that the main character is alone. This was intentional. I wanted the reader to understand that there’s an undeniable strength and power being able to stand alone and you will be forced to do it many times throughout your life. That’s one of many things I would tell my younger self.
Kristen You’ve always been a writer—with your book, you’re applying your skills in new ways. What did your background as an expert in content marketing, video-game development, and social media bring to the book writing and creation process?
Angela I once worked for someone whose motto was, “Good ideas come from anywhere and anyone.” It’s one of the best things I’ve ever learned.
It’s easy to compartmentalize someone based on their title or role, and it leaves little room for effective collaboration. Going into this, I knew I had to keep myself open to other people’s feedback or interpretation. I didn’t always agree or move forward with it—but there were some great ideas I would have missed.
Kristen You’ve said that ideas are everywhere; the hard part (and the fun part) is figuring out how to turn those ideas into a story. What’s your trick for turning an idea into a story?
Angela It’s mostly trying stuff until something works. Let’s say your idea is a man slipping on a banana peel. To make it into a story, you need a point of view (The man? An observer? A sentient banana?), character histories, an event sequence, a conclusion, and so forth. It can be treated as a puzzle. Some people are more intuitive and are able to arrive at a satisfying assemblage quickly. Others need to try dozens or hundreds of approaches. I’m somewhere in between. I try lots of things that don’t work. You have to be willing to fail.
Kristen You did not just write If You Look Up to the Sky, you published it—and assumed all the various business and creative tasks that involves. Would you ever consider publishing a book through a big publisher—i.e., limiting your role to that of writer alone?
Angela Before I made the decision to self-publish, I interviewed ten authors; five had self-published and five had gone the traditional publishing route. Both had their pros and cons, and I received many warnings about the stigma of self-publishing.
I chose self-publishing for a few reasons.
This story was extremely personal. I know myself, and because I had an unshakable intent for why I wrote it, I knew I couldn’t release it completely for someone else’s creative interpretation. There’s too much of myself invested in it.
I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it—and learn the process of publishing along the way. Understanding how and why something works has always motivated me, even in my corporate career. I’m happier rolling up my sleeves and getting deep into the mix of things.
It would be remiss of me if I left out that I didn’t accomplish publishing this alone. I couldn’t have asked for a more brilliant and supportive editor than Lily Coyle at Beaver’s Pond Press in Minneapolis, MN. She knew when to listen, when to gently push, and when to tell me I was just wrong. She and her team were also great teachers and mentors, and always willing to share their knowledge of publishing with me.
Now that I’ve had this experience, I’m excited to try the traditional publishing route. Not only do I still have more to learn, but I have valuable experience that I can bring to the table. I also have many, many more stories to share!
Kristen Margarita Sikorskaia’s illustrations are magical. Did you discover her talents and select her for your book? If so, what process did you use? Did you gain any insights or encounter any surprises?
Angela Margarita and I found each other through Beaver’s Pond Press. She has been a freelance illustrator for them for many years. They had a lot of talented illustrators to work with, but her artistic style and eye were exactly what I wanted.
Ironically, Margarita and I had actually met 15 years prior at a mutual friend’s party, so it felt a little like kismet to be working with each other.
People have asked if I sought out an illustrator of color to work on the book, which I did during my search. It didn’t work out for many reasons. In hindsight, I believe everything happened as it was supposed to, and I feel fortunate that Margarita wanted to work together.
Because of our racial and cultural differences, and trust with each other, we had many conversations about culture and race that I don’t think would have happened in a different situation. An example of this, was a discussion we had about the opening illustration of the girl sitting on her grandmother’s lap on the front porch. Margarita’s questions as an artist allowed for us to talk about the importance of the front porch in the black community—it’s where and how the community has traditionally come together.
I learned a lot about Margarita growing up in Russia and her life in America, which was fascinating to me. I love hearing about other people’s life experiences. At the end of it all, Margarita isn’t just the illustrator who worked on my book, she also became a great friend.
Kristen Your book is a gift to people everywhere. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
Angela I know this will sound cliché, but the best gift I have ever received is my son, Jakob. His presence didn’t just change my life but, in many ways, saved it. He is a very calm, peaceful, and wise soul —and so incredibly crazy-fun to be around. He’s a gift I appreciate every day.
Kristen You’ve made significant changes in your life, shifting away from a corporate career to that of an independent writer. What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve learned during the transition? What did you take with you on your journey? What did you leave behind?
Angela I honestly feel like everything I’ve done so far has happened to get me to this point. I’ve been fortunate to have learned a lot about cartoon animation and storytelling, business and digital marketing, and how to create solid, meaningful relationships with people.
I’m working on not worrying about what other people think of me, which is hard to do with social media and all the trolls out there. It seems as though everyone is facing this challenge these days.
Kristen We all have a special gift—something we do better than anyone else in the world. What’s yours?
Angela As I mentioned before, I’m very curious about other people’s life experiences. Everyone has a unique story to tell, and I’m interested in hearing them. I like to think that I have the ability to make people feel comfortable sharing without the fear of judgment.
Kristen What trajectory are you hoping to push yourself onto? Where do you want to head?
Angela For the moment, I’m trying to be present with the book now that it’s finally out in the world. I have received so many lovely emails and social posts from people sharing how impactful the message has been in their family’s lives. It feels incredible to know people are finding meaning in the message.
I will continue writing and publishing children’s books. I have a few first drafts waiting for attention. I also have an idea that I’ve been working on that may be better told as a YA novel. That will be a new and welcomed writing challenge.
Kristen What haven’t I asked you that you wish I would?
Angela All of the questions you’ve asked have been deep and thoughtful. I appreciate that.
One question I would like to pose: Is diversifying children’s literature solely for the benefit of children of color or does it benefit all children?
It seems that when there are discussions about diversity and inclusivity, certain people automatically interpret this to mean replacing something; that somehow someone has to lose in order for someone else to win. This just isn’t the case. There’s room for everyone.
Exposing all children to diverse stories and characters allows them to see the world for what it is and what it could be. It helps them recognize similarities and value differences. It’s important and it’s everyone’s responsibility to make this possible.
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Angela!
Angela Dalton – 12 x 12 Featured Author March 2022
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March 1, 2022
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Recently, I took my first solo road trip since the pandemic. Before Covid, being on the road by myself was one of my joys in life. I loved being able to put both the car and my brain on cruise control for a few hours and let both coast along; it’s where some of my best writing ideas have come from. However, on this trip I found myself lost on a strange back road in a part of California that had been a virus hot spot, the sun was setting, and my anxiety was bubbling over.
Everything felt off-the-rails. And just as I was about to reach total meltdown, I saw it. The button on my GPS cradling a calming affirmation, Re-center. I hit that button so fast I almost cracked my phone screen. Soon, I was back on the main highway headed for home.
Back in the safety of my office, I thought about this trip, and the many times I’ve felt this sense of lost control with my writing. The times when routines, and pomodoros, and all the other tricks weren’t working and how I was failing to motivate myself. I had to find new ways to re-center. Before the pandemic, my go-to was, in retrospect, a bit abusive. Forcing myself to sit in my chair until I wrote a number of words or pages, for example. Or withholding things I enjoyed until I hit my goal. Effective, yes. But I realize if someone told me they were doing these things to someone they loved I would take issue with it. So why was I doing them to myself?
If there is one thing that I’m grateful for after these last few years, is having found other ways, kinder ways, to re-center when my writing just isn’t doing what I want it to do. My favorite of which is to sit in my favorite cozy space with a cup of tea and write a letter to my work. This one-part love letter and one-part gentle critique speaks openly and honestly about what I love about it, what’s working and why I feel like it’s working, how the story or characters make me feel, and why I believe its message is of value to the world. And then I’ll address the things that aren’t working, again, with kindness. Instead of making pleas and demands, I’ll ask questions without expecting answers in that moment. Usually, the answers will come. I’ve learned how to treat my work like a friend, and the breakthroughs have been incredible.
Another thing that has helped when I’ve needed re-centering has been connecting with other picture book authors. By now, hopefully, you’ve also witnessed just how open and accessible the writers in this group are; it’s one of the many wonderful aspects I boast about 12×12 to anyone who will listen. So, I thought it only appropriate that I reach out to a few author friends whose work and wisdom I value to ask how they re-center when it feels like everything is off-the-rails. Here are the ways they re-center themselves with kindness and self-care.
Daria Peoples, author of I GOT NEXT; AMERICA, MY LOVE, AMERICA, MY HEART; and (full disclosure) illustrator of our book SHOW THE WORLD! releasing April 5th.
Show the World by Angela DaltonIn the morning, the first thing I turn to is prayer and meditation. Sometimes that looks like journaling or writing poetry when I don’t have many words. However, re-centering requires stillness, which is often hard for me to achieve without physical activity. Learning to honor each breath is a necessary practice for me. It reminds me of how fragile life is and why my wholeness should always be a priority. I practice hot yoga and pilates, and I love to take long, exhausting walks. I usually leave those classes and end those walks with a new way to approach my work. During the pandemic, I began establishing rituals before I began working, which also re-centers me, like lighting a candle and reciting the same prayer before I begin or even after I get stuck. I also try to find new ways to add joy to my work, like sipping on a sweet, warm drink while I write or taking a hot bath while I read research, and my favorite—painting or drawing in nature. Whenever calmness and joy become one, I am re-centered, and my creativity flows much more freely.
Leah Henderson, author of A DAY FOR REMEMBERIN’ and DADDY SPEAKS LOVE
Right now, finding balance and re-centering myself feels like a moment-to-moment challenge. Any given second, something can come into my space to derail me—an email, a thought, a glimpse of the news, someone’s callous words, or characters just not acting right. But the main thing I try to remember and focus on is what I can personally control in those moments, or in any moments really. I think about the reasons why I came to a particular story, or why a certain idea or spark of inspiration filled my head and heart. Then I almost try and uncork it again or tap back into it to right myself. I use it as my compass and guide to find my way back to center.
Nadia Salomon, author of GOODNIGHT GANESHA
How do I re–center when everything feels off-the-rails? When Angela asked me this question, it couldn’t have arrived at a better time. I’m under deadline. I’m behind on homework for a class I’m taking, and a host of other things that have left me off-the-rails.
It’s as if the universe channeled this question and is now awaiting a response. So, here it is…
I had to think about what re-center meant? According to the Webster Dictionary, it means “to cause (oneself or one’s thoughts or emotions) to become centered again.”
When I think of the word re-center, I think it means ‘focus’ – I liken it to the lens of a camera. When my camera blurs or goes out of focus, I adjust the lens to become clear and sharp to take a photograph. Also, I feel re-centering means to stop listening to all the noise, stop looking at all the clutter, stop chasing after ‘everything’, and just focus on one thing that makes me happy – even if it’s just for a moment.
It could be sitting out in the yard and watching nature. Or indulging in a slice of tiramisu with my golden owl mug filled with a warm drink and a favorite track on repeat. That track had been, Cut My Lip by Twenty-one Pilots, but I just switched it out for Phantogram’s Black Out Days.
It’s moments like these that help me find my center, so that I can sharpen my focus and get back on track.
Nyasha Williams, author of I AFFIRM ME: THE ABCs OF INSPIRATION FOR BLACK KIDS
Being a transracial adoptee raised by two humanitarians, I have always been shown that there is always work to be done in terms of making our world a more equitable and loving space. In my work as an activist, creator and author, I operate deeply in that work using my projects, creations and voice to aid in the decolonizing, indigenizing and liberating of our communities and society. As a Black woman I understand that re-centering myself has to be part of my everyday practice, while we continue to operate and live in systems (systemic racism, capitalism, the patriarchy and colonization), that have and continue to cause harm to everyone and were implemented with comfort and luxury not planned to be accessible to all. Recentering involves me remembering my anchor, my reminder of my soul mission and what my light working looks like down here on our planet. My anchor grounds my decision making and is the seed in any project I undertake. My anchor is rooted in assuring that future generations are better off than the generations before them. That their world’s systems are more equitable, regenerative, antiracist, and sustainable. I keep myself available to continually do this work by not giving to others when my cup is full but giving from the overflow. While living in the rough and heavy, I create towards building the world I dream of and believe in.
Rubys Reunion Day Dinner by Angela Dalton
Angela Dalton, currently in her third year of 12×12 Picture Book Challenge, is the author of IF YOU LOOK UP TO THE SKY and RUBY’S REUNION DAY DINNER (which is a 12×12 Picture Book!). She has two forthcoming books including SHOW THE WORLD! out April 5th, 2022, and TO BOLDLY GO: HOW NICHELLE NICHOLS AND STAR TREK ADVANCED CIVIL RIGHTS out 2023.
Angela is offering a copy of Ruby’s Reunion Day Dinner at the March check-in! Go write those drafts and work those revisions!
Dalton, Angela TO BOLDLY GO Harper/HarperCollins (Children's None) $18.99 1, 17 ISBN: 978-0-06-307321-0
A tribute to Star Trek's Uhura and the powerful woman who created the iconic role.
The story, as the gifted and recently deceased Nichols often told it, takes her from early triumphs on stage and in films to the interstellar gig--which she was on the verge of quitting after disrespectful treatment and cut scenes until a pep talk from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. convinced her that she had become both a role model for Black children and also a revealing example to "people who don't look like us." Dalton retells the episode in the voice of a child representing the Black viewing audience, exclaiming that "we burst with pride seeing someone who looked like us standing as an equal" and freeing fans for the next half-century to "dream about the places and spaces they dare to envision themselves in." Nearly all of the figures in Semmer's stylized, screen print-style scenes are people of color, depicted in period (or Federation) dress and hairstyles and a range of skin tones. Nichols' later and real rather than fictive role in recruiting "women and minoritized astronaut candidates" for NASA is relegated to a smaller-type afterword, though it seems more directly related to the titular achievement. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Well-deserved notice. (author's note) (Picture-book biography. 7-9)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Dalton, Angela: TO BOLDLY GO." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A729072542/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1a6b7fa5. Accessed 15 May 2023.
To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights. By Angela Dalton. Illus. by Lauren Semmer. Jan. 2023.40p. Harper, $18.99 (9780063073210). Gr. 1-3. 323
This picture-book biography opens with the author as a child watching Star Trek reruns, proud to see "someone who looked like us standing as an equal to make the future better for everyone." That someone was Nichelle Nichols, the actress who played Lieutenant Uhura, a Black character she helped to create. During the turbulent 1960s, watching Uhura provided hope for many, but at one point, Nichols quit the show. The next evening, Martin Luther King Jr. asked her to continue her work on Star Trek because she was a role model for children, including his own, and for other viewers watching Uhura's coworkers treat her as an equal. Nichols returned to Star Trek. Whether Dalton is writing about her childhood memories or Nichols' career, the text takes a straightforward approach and has an appealing tone. Semmer's pleasingly simplified digital illustrations are richly colorful. The back matter may surprise readers with its account of Nichols' role in recruiting thousands of women and minority applicants, including Mae Jemison, Sally Ride, and Ronald McNair, for NASA's astronaut training program.--Carolyn Phelan
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
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MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Phelan, Carolyn. "To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights." Booklist, vol. 119, no. 7-8, 1 Dec. 2022, p. 120. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A731042725/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=33b361c5. Accessed 15 May 2023.
Show the World!
By Angela Dalton. Illus. by Daria Peoples.
Jan. 2022.32p. Viking, $17.99 (9780593351390).
Gr. 1-3.
Dalton's latest is a love letter to self-expression and learning to have pride in one's interests and identity, emphasizing the importance of finding a safe haven to cultivate inspiration and growth. From music creation to mural painting to urban photography and spoken-word poetry, Dalton's encouraging prose and Peoples' vivid illustrations will inspire young readers to explore various modes of self-expression and find an outlet to help them be themselves and also learn more about their community and the world. There's no shortage of interests depicted here, from activism to cooking to modern dance, and many will see themselves reflected in the pages as the people they are--or the people they would like to become--through a range of diverse characters represented among multimedia collages. Readers of all ages will find comfort in this book, with its motivating message that it's never too late to pursue your dreams and share the person you want to be with the world.--Stephanie Cohen
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 American Library Association
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Cohen, Stephanie. "Show the World!" Booklist, vol. 118, no. 8, 15 Dec. 2021, p. 101. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A698156151/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=25cb8397. Accessed 15 May 2023.
Dalton, Angela SHOW THE WORLD! Viking (Children's None) $15.99 1, 18 ISBN: 978-0-593-35139-0
An empowering picture book encourages children to develop their own voice, style, and personality in order to make an impact in the world.
A young Black girl invites young readers to "look around" at the world and reflect on what they will "do.../ or say.../ or make... / to express who you are." With a camera in hand, she visits various places in her neighborhood--an art gallery, a sewing studio, and a planetarium, to name a few--and observes the many ways in which kids in her community are expressing themselves. Readers see another girl painting a mural, a boy with dreadlocks spinning music at a turntable, a marching band practicing, a choir singing, a spoken word artist performing, dancers and hula-hoopers in the park, and more. "Maybe your creative space is blank... / patiently waiting for you to fill it with powerful text" reads a double-page spread showing kids making signs for--and then participating in--a street protest. Another double-page spread shows kids getting their hair styled in a salon, and the text asks "Are youthe canvas?" A current of lyricism runs through Dalton's narrative, which is thoughtful and inquisitory ("Is there a place where you shine? A space you / fill with all the things that inspire you?"), reminding kids to take their time and reflect carefully as they figure out who they are and what they want to share with the world. Peoples' artwork, rendered using oil on paper and illustration board, is reminiscent of child art and fittingly draws attention to itself as a created work through the use of painterly textures. All characters are Black.
Show kids the world is their oyster by giving them this thought-provoking book. (Picture book. 4-8)
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"Dalton, Angela: SHOW THE WORLD!" Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A688199803/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f4b10bda. Accessed 15 May 2023.
Ruby's Reunion Day Dinner. By Angela Dalton. Illus. by Jestenia Southerland. May 2021. 32p. Harper, $17.99 (9780063015746). K-Gr. 3.
Ruby is determined to assist with the family reunion dinner at Grammy and Pop-Pop's, where everyone is busy fixing their signature soul food dish, like macaroni and cheese and sweet candied yams. Ruby, her hair adorably tied into two round bunches with pink ribbon to match her pink dress, tries to help different family members, but each time she is gently turned away after being told she's too small to handle mixers and knives. Disappointed, she leaves the kitchen to sit outside, where a lemon tree gives her the perfect idea for her dinner contribution: lemonade! Children will adore this story's inviting language and colorful digital illustrations. Love and joyfulness exude from Ruby's family, who are shown with a variety of body types and brown skin tones, and it's with a real sense of pride that Ruby agrees to their requests to make her lemonade again next year. This pairs perfectly with other texts about family gatherings and cooking, such as Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore's Cora Cooks Pancit (2009) and Kevin Noble Maillard's Fry Bread (2019).--Tiffany Flowers
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 American Library Association
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Flowers, Tiffany. "Ruby's Reunion Day Dinner." Booklist, vol. 117, no. 15, 1 Apr. 2021, p. 68. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A660111352/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=02b6c657. Accessed 15 May 2023.
Dalton, Angela RUBY'S REUNION DAY DINNER Harper/HarperCollins (Children's None) $17.99 5, 18 ISBN: 978-0-06-301574-6
Will this be the year Ruby gets to make and share a dish at the annual family reunion?
Once a year, Ruby’s African American family gets together for a reunion and soul food dinner. Every year her relatives prepare their signature dishes, and this year Ruby wants to make one, too. Affectionately nicknamed “Lil’ Bit” by relatives, Ruby doesn’t know what to make, and when Auntie Billie questions if she’s big enough to help in the kitchen, Ruby begins to have doubts, too. Nevertheless, fueled by her mother’s confidence that she will find her special something to make, Ruby approaches her family members in hopes that they will allow her to help them, but there’s no use, Ruby is just too small. Readers will feel Ruby’s discouragement even as their mouths begin to water at the meal her family is assembling. Finally, she ventures outside, where she notices a stand of lemon trees and she gets the bright idea to make a refreshing pitcher of lemonade—which is just what they all needed. This is a charming book that works well as a read-aloud, especially as a lap read with children who are gaining independence and want to do more than they are able. Ruby’s well-drawn expressions support the use of this book as a picture walk with very young readers. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
When life gave her lemons, Ruby made lemonade. A sweet read—and lesson—for young readers. (Picture book. 4-6)
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"Dalton, Angela: RUBY'S REUNION DAY DINNER." Kirkus Reviews, 1 May 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A659924801/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6bd256c5. Accessed 15 May 2023.
If You Look Up to the Sky
Angela Dalton, illus. by Margarita Sikorskaia. Beaver's Pond, $17.95 (24p) ISBN 978-159298-828-0
In a gentle story about family, memory, and interconnectedness, a narrator recalls the words spoken to her by her grandmother when she was a child, urging her to seek perspective and assurance by looking at the sky. Sikorskaia's luminous, milky paintings depict a brown-skinned child on a beach, watching an approaching storm and holding glowing, fireflylike constellations within her hands. She grows older and is seen sitting in a rowboat in a bay, pointing up at the shapes made by clouds: "If you look up to the sky and see big, billowing clouds, find as many shapes as you can. It's the universe's way of helping you create new dreams." She also gazes out over an expanse of rocky canyons set against "a sea of blue." Finally, the child is fully grown, with her own son; the two look up at the moon to see the kind face of her grandmother, watching over them from above: "Know that you will always find me in the brightness of the full moon." Writing with tenderness and warmth, Dalton emphasizes that that there is comfort to be found in both the memories of lost loved ones and in the great expanse of the universe. Ages 4-8. (BookLife)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
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"If You Look Up to the Sky." Publishers Weekly, vol. 265, no. 11, 12 Mar. 2018, p. 57. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A531285159/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3ebe2b5a. Accessed 15 May 2023.
Dalton, Angela IF YOU LOOK UP TO THE SKY Beaver's Pond Press (Indie) $17.95 10, 17 ISBN: 978-1-59298-828-0
In this stunning picture book debut from Dalton, strikingly painted by veteran illustrator Sikorskaia (Big Cat, Little Fox, 2018, etc.), a girl sees the wisdom in her grandmother's words across a multitude of beautiful skyscapes.
A little girl and her grandmother, both dark-skinned, look into the sky together. The grandmother tells the child that if she's feeling lost but can see the moon through the clouds, she will "know you're in the place you are meant to be." If there is no moon, that is a moment to learn patience. If there are stars, they glow with the child's accomplishments. Each skyscape represents something: A shooting star is the girl's uniqueness; a storm shows that even bad moments can be exciting--and will pass; clouds are dreams waiting to be dreamed; and a cloudless sky shows anything is possible. Sikorskaia's vibrant color choices stretch across double-page spreads, each with the girl showing a different aspect of her own personality that reflects the grandmother's wisdom: She is in turn a ballet dancer, a hiker, a canoe paddler, a dreamer, and--at the end--a mother with a son of her own, sharing what her grandmother told her. The rhythm and cadence of Dalton's prose are beautifully lyrical, and the tone is at once forward-looking and nostalgic: The world is full of possibility, and those we love are with us always.
Fosters familial connection and resilience; told in luxurious prose with illustrations worth framing.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Dalton, Angela: IF YOU LOOK UP TO THE SKY." Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2018. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A546323106/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6315a520. Accessed 15 May 2023.