Birthday of Ida B. Wells-Barnett

Who was she? Ida B. Wells-Barnett was an important and influential journalist at a time when few women had careers. She wrote articles about unfair laws and how African Americans were being hurt. She brought violence against African Americans to the attention of the American people through newspaper articles.

Written by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack, this elementary-level title is perfect for the beginning reader. This title, and the rest of the titles in the Famous African Americans series, are correlated to the Common Core College and Career Readiness Standards, and are available from your preferred vendor, enslow.com, local bookstores, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Congratulations to Patricia and the late Fredrick McKissack!

Patricia McKissack, and her late husband Fredrick, were awarded the Coretta Scott King Virginia Hamilton

Award for Lifetime Achievement. Presented to an African American author, illustrator, or author/illustrator, this award represents the winner's body of published works for children and/or young adults. The recipients of this award have also made a significant and lasting literary contribution.This award is named in memory of beloved children's author Virginia Hamilton, and is presented to the winner during the Coretta Scott King Awards Breakfast at the ALA Annual Conference.

Patricia and Fredrick McKissack have written many books for Enslow Publishers, Inc., with their last series of titles, Famous African Americans, published in the spring of 2013. This series of twelve books feature short biographies on Booker T. Washington, Carter G. Woodson, Frederick Douglass, George Washington Carver, Ida B. Wells Barnett, Jesse Owens, Louis Armstrong, Madam C.J. Walker, Marian Anderson, Martin Luther King, Jr., Mary McLeod Bethune, and Paul Robeson.

These titles are available from your preferred vendor, local independent bookstores, enslow.com, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On the 50th anniversary of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, this title for elementary readers is a

978-0-7660-4099-1 Library
978-1-4644-0203-6 Paperback
978-0-7660-5745-6 Multi-User eBook

great introduction to this man.

Written by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack, this is an easy-to-read book, describing how Dr. King brought people of all races together to fight for equality without using violence. Readers will learn about the civil rights movement and what made Dr. King so special.

Available in both library and paperback editions, as well as a multi-user eBook version, this title is available from your preferred vendor, enslow.com, your independent bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Which famous musician would have celebrated a birthday yesterday?

Louis Armstrong! If he were alive today, he would have celebrated his 112th birthday. Not only was he

known for his musical talent on the trumpet, he was also a singer. He earned his nickname, "Satchmo," after his friends noticed how big his smile was. He was initially nicknamed Satchel Mouth, which, over the years, became "Satchmo."

Part of the Famous African Americans series, Louis Armstrong is written for the upper elementary reader, and is matched to the Common Core Standards. Available in both library and paperback versions, this title is available from enslow.com, your preferred vendor, your local independent bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

For the middle school reader, Louis Armstrong, part of the African-American Biography Library series, is also matched to the Common Core Standards. This 128-page book explains how Louis overcame poverty and adversity to become a well-respected musician and singer. This library-bound title is also available from enslow.com, your preferred vendor, your independent bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

What Would Ida B. Wells-Barnett Have Done?

Recent legal decisions have brought civil rights history into increasingly sharp relief. Among those whose strong public actions helped create a climate of social and legal change was Ida B. Wells-Barnett.

Her efforts nearly a century ago to champion African-American and women's rights are prominently discussed in Enslow Publishers' new biography of the Mississippi-born Wells-Barnett. Authors Patricia McKissack and the late Fredrick McKissack accurately recap for a new generation of young readers Wells-Barnett's fascinating life and political activism. The 24-page, AR-3.5 Ida B. Wells-Barnett: Fighter for Justice, includes excellent photos and illustrations that add value to the clear, well-written text.

The book, part of Enslow's "Famous African Americans" series, is available in a library-bound edition for $15.95; that price represents a 25% school/library discount from Enslow's list price. The work is also available in paperback and in a multi-user e-book edition.

The Civil Rights Act -- 49 Years Later

It was only a half-century ago that the notion of civil rights extending equally to all American citizens was far from universally accepted in our country. Some laws, especially at the state level, effectively diminished rights and opportunities for minorities and women. In early July, 1964, Congress and President Lyndon B. Johnson began to change that dynamic with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

This legislation, a precursor to the Voting Rights Act, added federal clout to accelerate these social changes. Among those who witnessed the law's presidential signing was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His role in this movement is discussed in Patricia and Fredrick McKissack's Martin Luther King, Jr.: Civil Rights Leader.

This well-written, 24-page book, included in Enslow Publishers' "Famous African Americans" series, is available in library-bound format directly from Enslow for $15.95. That price represents a 25% school/library discount from Enslow's list price. A paperback version is sold for $6.95. A multi-user e-book version is also available.

You can also order these and other Enslow Publishers' titles from your preferred vendor, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.

Enslow Publishes McKissacks' Bio of Paul Robeson

Paul Robeson was born on this day in 1898. His life's journey is the subject of a recently published Enslow Publishers biography, Paul Robeson: A Voice for Change. This book, written by Patricia McKissack and Fredrick McKissack, offers young readers an opportunity to gain an introduction to Robeson's controversial life, his remarkable achievements, and the social and political issues in which he was immersed.

This 24-page book, suitable for readers in Grades One and Two, is correlated to national Common Core State Standards as well as individual state curricular standards. The work, included in Enslow's "Famous African Americans" series, is available in print and e-book editions. When you order directly from Enslow, the library-bound edition is $15.95; that price represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price. A paperback edition is available for $6.95. A school or library unit may purchase a multi-use e-book version directly from Enslow for the discounted price of $20.95; that price represents a 25% institutional discount from Enslow's list price.

The Robeson biography is also available from your preferred vendor, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Library ISBN: 978-0-7660-4099-1

As part of its Famous African Americans series, Enslow has recently published an elementary biography about Martin Luther King, Jr.

Even though Martin Luther King's actual birthday is January 15, his life and accomplishments are celebrated on the third Monday of January.

Library ISBN: 978-0-7660-3043-5

In another Enslow title, Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, elementary readers will learn more about this man. President Reagan signed a law in 1983 making Martin Luther King, Jr., Day a national holiday. Coretta Scott (Martin's widow) formed the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia. This center teaches visitors about nonviolence, and are able to read Dr. King's papers to see for themselves how he lived his life.

New elementary titles for Black History Month!

Looking for titles for your elementary students for Black History Month? Enslow has just published 12 titles in its Famous African Americans series. Written by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack, these easy-to-read biographies cover contemporary nineteenth and twentieth century African Americans.

Looking for a book about a great teacher? How Booker T. Washington, Mary McLeod Bethune, or Carter G. Woodson?

For a book about a fighter against slavery, look at Frederick Douglass, or Ida B. Wells-Barnett, who wrote about the injustices against African Americans.
Louis Armstrong (a jazz musician) and Marian Anderson (an opera singer) are biographies about people in the music industry.
Martin Luther King, Jr., was a civil rights leader.
George Washington Carver studied plants and farming. Read about how he helped make peanuts popular!
Jesse Owens was an Olympian athlete.
Madam C. J. Walker invented hair care products for African-American women.
Paul Robeson was an actor.

Any of these titles would be helpful in teaching children about overcoming life's challenges and making something of oneself.

Elementary students can learn about Christmas

Written by the next generation of McKissacks, Christmas—Count and Celebrate (and the rest of the titles in this series) is a useful tool for teaching children about holidays. This easy-to-read book is enhanced with color photographs to make the learning experience fun.

Interested in learning more about the series? Click here.

Happy Birthday to both Patricia and Fredrick McKissack

Yesterday (Aug. 9) was Patricia's birthday, and Aug. 12 is Fredrick's birthday.

Enslow has published a biography of these two amazing authors as part of its Authors Kids Love series. Based on a personal interview, this title was written by Michelle Parker-Rock.

Today would have been Louis Armstrong's birthday

One of the greatest trumpet-playing, jazz musicians ever, Louis Armstrong's trademark "scat" singing and natural showmanship dazzled audiences for over fifty years. Patricia and Fredrick McKissack have authored an elementary biography about Louis Armstrong while Michael A. Schuman's biography is for the middle school reader.

Today would have been Ida B. Wells-Barnett's birthday

This civil rights activist did not back down from anyone. For the elementary market, Enslow has a 32 page biography. For the middle school market, a 128 page book is available.

Today would have been Satchel Paige's 104th birthday

Satchel Paige The Best Arm in Baseball, Revised Edition
Author: Patricia McKissack, Fredrick McKissack
ISBN-13: 978-0-7660-1699-6
Publication Year: 2002
Interest Level: Grades 1-4
Page Count: 32

“You’re born with speed, but you can get the control,” said Satchel Paige. After more than twenty years pitching fast balls, Leroy “Satchel” Paige crossed the color line in baseball. As the first black pitcher in the American League, 42-year-old Paige was past the prime of most ballplayers. But the crowds still packed the stands to witness his famed shutouts and no-hitters. In an inspiring account, the McKissacks describe the hardships and hard work that created this pitching genius.

Happy Birthday Paul Robeson!

Today would have been Paul Robeson's 112th birthday!

This actor, singer, and political activist inspired a lot of people, and is still known for his unwavering stature as a champion of civil rights.

Enslow has two titles about this political activist for the elementary and middle school markets.

Birthday of Booker T. Washington

Booker T. Washington was born on this day in 1856.


Enslow has two biogaphies about Booker T. Washington. Middle school students might enjoy this title. Elementary students will have an easier time reading and understanding this title.