a gift from greensboro

Roadtrips & Reviews

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Our first two books are still feeling the love with two great reviews recently. Check them out:

The Pirate Tree's Lyn Miller-Lachmann writes in "Remembering the Struggles of the Elders: A Review of A Gift from Greensboro," "This brief but powerful book, by the young small press Penny Candy Books, is truly a gift – a gorgeous poem and a story for readers young and old to ponder."

On her blog, Much Ado About Adoption, Merrisa writes, "This sweet book does a wonderful job of breaking down adoption after infertility into an easy-to-tell story. My kudos and gratitude to author Tracey Zeeck and Penny Candy Books for bringing to life a highly relatable, important story that adoptive parents like me can use in this wonderful, challenging journey of adoption."

And, finally, Quraysh Ali Lansana found himself (with yours truly) in Yulee, Florida, last week, where he read and discussed A Gift from Greensboro with 300 third through fifth graders through the Authors in Schools program sponsored by the Amelia Island Book Festival. This was an amazingly attentive and insightful group of kids! Here's a photo of Q signing some books in the school library after the talk: 

Quraysh signing books

Cheers,

Alexis

Meet Quraysh Ali Lansana

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Another addition to our series! We've been asking the authors and illustrators of our current and upcoming titles about their favorite childhood books . . . and as a bonus we asked for photos of them as kids! Reacquaint yourself with Quraysh, then and now (with his best friend, Russ, in a 6th grade photo):

Quraysh has taught in elementary schools, high schools, and universities in Chicago, where he lives, and across the country. Known by many as Q, he has written eight poetry books, three textbooks, three children's books, and has co-written a book designed to help teachers teach poetry. Q has also edited eight anthologies of literature, most recently The Breakbeat Poets: New American Poetry in the Age of Hip Hop (2015). He has several books forthcoming, two of which center around the poet Gwendolyn Brooks, who was his mentor. Check out a more in-depth profile at https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poets/detail/quraysh-ali-lansana.

About his favorite childhood books, Q writes, “I am the youngest of six, with 12 years between my oldest sibling and me, and four years separating the sibling closest in age. I spent much time in aloneness, a silence only tainted by television, the low hum of domestic violence, or Mama calling from work to check on me. I read a great deal of books.

The Enid Public Library was refuge and dream space.

My best friend Russ Hutchison and I spent every Saturday in the library for six years. All day, from opening to closing time. We loved The Great Brain series by John Dennis Fitzgerald. The escapades of T.D., the conniving and brilliant middle brother in the Fitzgerald family, always set our minds on fire. We likely even tried a 'Great Brain' trick or two on my unsuspecting younger cousins.”

Skip Hill discusses his favorite passage!

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You've seen a snippet from A GIFT FROM GREENSBORO author, Quraysh Ali Lansana. Now take a look at some video from illustrator, Skip Hill as he discusses his favorite passage.

If you're in Oklahoma City check this out from Sept 29 - Oct 22:

This Thursday! Skip Hill, illustrator of the forthcoming kids' book A Gift from Greensboro, which has been praised by Newbery Medal and National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson as "an elegant, important story—lovingly and beautifully told," will be opening an exhibit of his illustrations for AGFG at Artspace at Untitled in downtown OKC. The exhibit will run through October 22. The book's release date is Oct. 8, and on Oct 20 there will be a panel discussion at the gallery with the illustrator Skip Hill, the author Quraysh Ali Lansana, and the publisher Penny Candy Books (represented by Chad Reynolds). Stop by Thursday for a sneak peek at Skip's art for the book, as well as the finished book itself.

Books Before Bandaids Reviews A Gift from Greensboro

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Take a look at this great review we just got from blogger Sarah at Books Before Bandaids! Click here for full review.

Here's an excerpt:

 
"These layered images, allow for many conversations about Civil Rights and current events. Throughout the passionate book doves fly from page to page, bringing the idea of peace and hope full circle. This is a moving book that I would recommend to anyone, a must read in light of current events. Lansana and Hill bring history alive and make it modern and real for readers struggling to understand the what and the why of current events."

The Catalog of Catalogs

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If you were to take a catalog of our catalogs, the first entry you'd see is this catalog, our first one ever. We hope when the catalogers of catalogs come cataloging, they will find many PCB catalogs in our catalog. But until then, let the record show that this was the catalogus primus and therefore the catalogus supremus. Enjoy! 

Click image for pdf.

Click image for pdf.

Here we go!

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Alexis and Chad at Full Circle Bookstore, Oklahoma City, photo courtesy of Penny Candy author, Tracey Zeeck.

Alexis and Chad at Full Circle Bookstore, Oklahoma City, photo courtesy of Penny Candy author, Tracey Zeeck.

Well, it's official. Penny Candy Books is real. What a journey the last few months have been. Chad and I have made good work of being business partners in two different states. Thank heavens we live in places with nearby airports. We truly believe in our mission: to bring books into the world by diverse authors and illustrators for diverse audiences. We know that diversity has become a buzzword these days, and yet we still find ourselves using it because, well, it's still necessary. And when we say diversity we mean it in its most inclusive sense. In fact, maybe we should think about using the word inclusivity instead! In our planning sessions, we talk a lot about disrupting the narrative; we believe that our dominant culture has defined a narrative that doesn't resonate with a huge portion of our actual human population. Our books seek to add to a new narrative. We are not afraid to ruffle feathers--and no doubt we will on occasion, as with The Hunt, now available for preorder, a brilliant wordless picture book from France's Margaux Othats that takes a stand against violence, particularly gun violence, though it's a metaphor for all sorts of destruction that attempts to crush our spirits. Our books are for kids, yes, but they are also for the adults who want to see their values reflected in works appropriate for their children. They're also, simply put, beautiful objects, if we do say so ourselves. 

Here's the lowdown: we have three books under contract and almost ready for the world! The Hunt, we mentioned above. Check out Margaux Othats' page to find out more about her. Our next book is called A Gift from Greensboro, and follows a friendship against the backdrop of post-Civil Rights lunch counter sit-ins. A Gift from Greensboro is a poem written by Quraysh Ali Lansana and illustrated by Skip Hill. Both men are brilliant artists who are collaborating on a powerful story. Finally, Tracey Zeeck and David Bizarro have teamed up to bring us The Not In Here Story, an adventure that explores adoption through the lens of a couple seeking a child to love. 

Join us in celebrating the birth of Penny Candy Books. Pre-order The Hunt now! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow the blog. Subscribe to our newsletter. Join us in our mission to disrupt the narrative and promote diversity and inclusivity in kid lit.