MEMORIAL BRICK at the CHAPEL HILL PUBLIC LIBRARY, Chapel Hill, NC

In 2012, my daughter ‘s Jennifer and her family purchased a memorial brick in honor of my books in support of the new Chapel Hill Public Library. On my recent visit to North Carolina we visited the library, a beautiful spacious building, and paid a visit to the patio which is made of all the memorial bricks. (The letters on the bricks are still there but a bit weather worn.) 

Inside the library I left a copy of my new book SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL as a donation to the library collection to be considered for acquisition. We also stopped for a nice chat with the children’s librarians in the large children’s room. The library has 33 of my books in their collection! I was happy to see how busy the library was on the Sunday morning of our visit. As the librarian scrolled through the list of my books on the computer she commented how my book GIANT SHARK was one of the children’s favorites. I'm pleased to know that kids are still enjoying it nearly 25 years after it was first published!

Update January 2025: SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL is now on the shelf at the Chapel Hill Public library and ready to check out!

REMEMBERING EDITOR DINAH STEVENS0N (1942-2024): A Champion of Children’s Literature

Dinah Stevenson, 2017

I was sad to learn of the passing of Dinah Stevenson, long time editor at Clarion Books, where so many of my books have been published, the first Pets Without Homes (1983) and the most recent Global Warming and the Dinosaurs (2010).  Although Dinah was not my editor at Clarion, I knew her from attending Clarion events at conferences, visits to the Clarion office in New York, and other occasions. The last time I saw her was in Los Angeles in January 2017, when she came to accept the FOCAL award for Russell Freedman, an author she had worked with for many years.

Her obituary, highlighting her history and many achievements is in Publishers Weekly (Feb 1, 2024). Dinah was one of the great children's book editors. She will be greatly missed.

REMEMBERING FLOYD COOPER, JR, 1956-2021, Author/Illustrator

Author/Illustrator Floyd Cooper, Jr.

Floyd Cooper, Jr., 1956-2021, whose paintings and stories transformed people's lives, was remembered by family, friends, editors, librarians, fellow authors, and others that knew him in a virtual celebration of his life and legacy on Friday, January 7. Although I had never personally met Floyd Cooper, I had heard him speak at a children's book festival and was impressed by his art and ability to connect with children through his stories. As one speaker said of him: he encouraged young children to become change agents.
The memorial program, sponsored by the Highlights Foundation in partnership with The Brown Bookshelf, included video and audio clips of Floyd and his work, special guest tributes, and celebrations of his art and legacy.  
Floyd was the award-winning illustrator and author/illustrator of nearly 100 books for children.  His real and beautiful depiction of the Black experience, his signature “subtractive process,” and his genuine spirit of kindness and mentorship will forever be an important part of the children’s publishing industry. He will be sorely missed.

Click HERE to see the VIDEO of the memorial program and learn more about Floyd Cooper's legacy.