Carlotta Penn

"Imagine you had to walk 600 miles to get fair treatment at school " Twelve-year-old Joyce Clemons introduces a fictional memory book documenting the little-known true story of nineteen Black mothers, thirty-seven children, and their two-year march to integrate an Ohio elementary school. Following the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, Black mothers in Hillsboro, OH, attempted to enroll their children at the all-white Webster School. However, the local school board refused the call for integration. Demanding equal education, a group of Black mothers and children marched to and from Webster daily-until Black students were admitted. In Step by Step , New York Times bestselling author Debbie Rigaud and coauthor Carlotta Penn thoughtfully capture the voice of a young activist and emphasize the power of Black mothers' leadership. Nysha Lilly's expressive illustrations, with historical primary sources interspersed throughout, immerse readers in the Lincoln School Marchers' fight. Rigaud and Penn simultaneously convey the challenges the marchers faced with the uplifting joy of a united community, encouraging readers to "keep on marching" for justice. Step by Step is a collaboration between Ohio nonprofit organization Ohio Humanities, Daydreamers Press, and a small group of Lincoln School alumni who resolved to share their story with the world.

In this charming picture book, Turtle must overcome stage fright before she can follow her dream of sharing her voice with the world.Turtle has put her own twist on a familiar song and practiced passionately for the school talent show. But on the day of the show, she faces a problem every reader will understand: the fear of messing up her big performance suddenly becomes overwhelming. In the second book in the Turtle With An Afro series, Turtle isn't sure she has what it takes to dazzle the audience. After careful reflection, she gets ready to take the stage with her family cheering her on. The playful illustrations burst with energy on every page, and the lively, rhyming text will have children hanging on to every word. Fans of the first book in the series will be delighted to see Turtle rocking her signature Afro throughout the book, along with numerous other chic hairstyles. Starring the first modern animal character whose experience and likeness represent Black culture, this uniquely inspiring story will be an impactful addition to every bookshelf. Turtle's journey will help readers broaden their own self-confidence, inspiring them to take on new challenges and to lift up their voice and sing.

This fun, beautifully illustrated story of a Turtle who loves her Afro is for all who know that curly Afros are beautiful The Turtle with an Afro is frustrated because her springy head of curls will not stay in place. But Turtle soon sees the light, and learns that her curls are DYNAMITE Children will love to read along with this celebration of curly, kinky, coily hair in all it's forms, and learn a lesson on self-love and acceptance along the way The Turtle with an Afro features an anthropomorphic character with an African American likeness, which includes thick, curly hair. However, Turtle's struggle with styling her hair is an experience that girls and women are likely to identify with, regardless of cultural background. The plot centers on her emotional journey from frustration to excitement as she styles her "fantastic, frolicking, feisty" hair. This poetic, alliterative children's book makes for an engaging read aloud with young kids at home and at school. Its playful tone and fast pace hold the attention and delight of readers. Ultimately, this is a story of self-love that acknowledges how we as humans grapple with our bodies, our image, and our desire to present our best selves to the world. Children will leave this story with confidence in the mantra: Rock your crown

Dream A Rainbow teaches children the colors of the rainbow and inspires them to believe in their dreams. On a stormy morning, Hana sees a rainbow and dreams of where it might take her. She slides into a fantastical adventure to Ethiopia, where she plays with friends and beautiful animals. When she returns home to bed, she is sure-dreams really do come true