Kelly Starling Lyons
Kelly Starling Lyons | |
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| Born | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Children's book author |
| Website | |
| www | |
Kelly Starling Lyons is a writer and children's book author.[1] She is also one of the founding members of the blog The Brown Bookshelf, which raises awareness of Black children's book creators and features author and illustrator spotlights.
Personal[]
Lyons was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a high-school student, Lyons loved the works of Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison and Lorraine Hansberry and set a goal to be an author.[1]
As an adult, she read the book Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth, which was the first time she had seen an African-American girl featured on the cover of a picture book. This inspired her to start writing fiction books for children that would feature African-American lead characters.[1]
Lyons makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina.[2]
Lyons attended Syracuse University, where she earned a B.A. in African-American Studies, as well as her M.S. in Magazine Journalism. She has since worked for Ebony Magazine, The News & Observer, and the Syracuse Herald-Journal.[3]
Books[]
Lyons has written more than a dozen books for children that focus on aspects of African-American history and culture, including:[1]
- A Girl Named Misty, The True Story of Misty Copeland, this book tells the story of how young Misty Copeland began to dance, eventually becoming the first African-American principal dancer in American Ballet Theater.
- NEATE: Eddie’s Ordeal, a title in their NEATE chapter book series, tells the story of relationship between a 13-year-old African-American boy who loves to play basketball and his civil rights veteran dad.
- One Million Men and Me was published by Just Us Books in 2007. Illustrated by , it was inspired by her memories of attending the Million Man March.[4][5]
- Hope's Gift, illustrated by Don Tate, celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.
- Tea Cakes for Tosh was illustrated by E. B. Lewis.
- Ellen’s Broom, illustrated by Daniel Minter, was inspired by a document that the author saw while researching family history in Rockingham County, NC and Henry County, VA.
References[]
- ^ a b c d Gillis, Stacy (February 20, 2013). "Author Kelly Starling Lyons says family struggles reflected in her books". The Fayetteville Observer.
- ^ "27 Views of Raleigh". News Observer. September 1, 2013.
- ^ "Kelly Starling Lyons", alibris.com.
- ^ "Each One Teach One: Interview with Kelly Starling Lyons". Writer Metamorphosis. June 16, 2012.
- ^ "Interview with Kelly Starling Lyons". Blogcritics.org. August 12, 2011.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kelly Starling Lyons. |
- African-American children's writers
- American women children's writers
- American non-fiction children's writers
- Writers from Pittsburgh
- Living people
- 21st-century African-American people
- 21st-century African-American women