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Coretta Scott King Author Honoree and Sonia O’Dell Award Medalist Lesa Cline-Ransome returns to StoryMakers to share the third book in her award-winning

Finding Langston Trilogy: BEING CLEM!

Learn about the characters and key historical events featured in these amazing stories!

About The Book

The final novel in the award-winning Finding Langston trilogy from Coretta Scott King Author Honoree and Scott O’Dell Award medalist Lesa Cline-Ransome.

Clem can make anybody, even his grumpy older sisters, smile with his jokes. But when his family receives news that his father has died in the infamous Port Chicago disaster, everything begins to fall apart. Clem’s mother is forced to work long, tough hours as a maid for a wealthy white family. Soon Clem can barely recognize his home–and himself. Can he live up to his father’s legacy?

In her award-winning trilogy, Lesa Cline-Ransome masterfully recreates mid-twentieth century America through the eyes of three boys: Langston, Lymon, and, now, Clem. Exploring the impact of the Great Migration, the Harlem Renaissance, Jim Crow laws, and much more, Lesa’s work manages at once to be both an intimate portrait of each boy and his family as well as a landscape of American history.

★★★THE REVIEWS ARE IN!★★★

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

Praise for Finding Langston, a Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book and winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction

“There aren’t any explosions in this spare story. Nor is there a happy ending. Instead, Langston discovers something more enduring: solace.”–The New York Times

* “This crisply paced book is full of historical details of the Great Migration and the role a historic branch library played in preserving African American literary culture.”–The Horn Book, Starred Review

* “This is a story that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished it.”–School Library Journal, Starred Review

Read Lesa’s TRILOGY! 

Finding Langston, Leaving Lymon, Being Clem





















WATCH Lesa Cline Ransome’s StoryMakers

ABOUT Lesa Cline-Ransome

Lesa Cline-Ransome is the writer of many picture books. Her picture book biography titles include Satchel Paige, Major Taylor, Champion Cyclist, Young Pele, Soccer’s First Star, Helen Keller, The World in Her Heart, Before There was Mozart, and Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass. Other titles are Quilt Alphabet, Quilt Counting and her newest is Light in the Darkness, A Story about How Slaves Learned in Secret. Originally from Malden, Massachusetts, Lesa has worked as a proofreader, fashion copywriter, publicist, teacher in the New York City Schools, and taught writing for adults. She has a B.F.A. in Merchandising and Management from Pratt Institute and an M.A. in Education from N.Y.U. She lives in Rhinebeck, New York with her husband and frequent collaborator, illustrator James Ransome, four children, and St. Bernard, Nola.

Sponsored by HOLIDAY HOUSE

In Arctic winter the sun stays low in the sky. Days are short and it is very, very cold. Join author Kimber Fox Morgan as she tells the story of Chipper, an Arctic fox trying to warm his friends hearts as they struggle through a particularly dismal winter.

Learn about the characters in CHIPPER MAKES MERRY, then help Rocco and Kimber think of Arctic animals to add to the story. Tell us which Arctic animal you would choose and what characteristic they might have that makes them special — for example Chipper is an Arctic Fox who is a giving friend. Now you try in the comments section below!

Don’t forget to check out the printable CHIPPER MAKES MERRY activity and coloring pages, too!

About the Book



Tip toe, tip toe, crackle, crunch!

Chipper the Fox sneaks through the forest to spread cheer to his weary friends. Will his merry making be a success? Or will a smelly fish disaster and a log pile tumble ruin his plans?

“Chipper Makes Merry” takes you on Chipper’s arctic quest filled with lessons of love, kindness and determination.

Click here to DOWNLOAD the Craft Activity featured in this episode:



DOWNLOAD Chipper Makes Merry Coloring Sheets























WATCH Kimber Fox Morgan’s StoryMakers

About Kimber Fox Morgan

Kimber Fox Morgan is a reader, writer, merry maker, coffee addict, and creator of Chipper the Fox. She lives with her husband and their three children, and has two dogs. Kimber Fox Morgan describes herself as creative and Chipper the Fox is an extension of her creativity. Chipper Makes Merry is her first children’s picture book.

Sponsored by FORWARD PUBLICITY



CONNECT with Kimber!

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Though outwardly they live very different lives, ballet is the thread that ties Emma and Julia’s stories together. Hear how as author/illustrator Barbara McClintock reads EMMA AND JULIA LOVE BALLET on this podcast episode of Read Out Loud. Don’t forget your tutu!

ABOUT THE BOOK



Emma and Julia Love Ballet

Written and illustrated by Barbara McClintock

Published by Scholastic Press

Emma is little. Julia is big. They both love ballet. Emma takes ballet lessons. So does Julia. Emma is learning to be a ballerina. Julia is a professional ballerina. They are both excited about the big performance in the theater tonight. Emma will be watching from the audience. Julia will be dancing onstage! And afterwards, Emma will go backstage to meet her ballet hero! Barbara McClintock’s richly illustrated, heartwarming story is sure to become a perennial favorite.

Watch Barbara’s Read Out Loud Episode!



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Read Out Loud

Executive Producer: Julie Gribble 

Celebrate Black History month with

KidLit RADIO and iNK Think Tank’s NONFICTION MINUTE!

Nonfiction Minute Podcasts: Compelling True Stories in the Author’s Own Voice



iNK Think Tank launches this first podcast to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month!

Jan Adkins, iNK’s Explainer General, introduces three Nonfiction Minutes by authors

Janus Adams, Cheryl Harness, and Roxie Munro.

Why Is February Black History Month?

Edmonia’s Statues

Bessie Coleman

Episode

Title:  It’s the Beginning of Black History Month

Duration: 9:55

Copyright ©2019, iNK Think Tank, Inc.

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Listen up as award-winning author, Lesa Cline-Ransome reads GAME CHANGERS: THE STORY OF VENUS AND SERENA WILLIAMS on this podcast episode of Read Out Loud. Lesa tells the greatest story in tennis — the story of two sisters from humble beginnings who devoted their lives to changing the sport forever and becoming the best players the game has ever seen — together.

Watch Lesa’s READ OUT LOUD!



ABOUT THE BOOK

GAME CHANGERS: THE STORY OF VENUS AND SERENA WILLIAMS

by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James Ransome

Venus and Serena Williams. Two peas in a pod. Best friends. Sisters.

Six days a week they awoke before the sun came up to practice their serves and returns, to learn to run faster and hit harder. They were unstoppable. At age fourteen, Venus played her first professional match. Three years later, it was Serena’s turn. It wasn’t easy. Some tennis fans cheered for these two fresh faces, while those who were unhappy to see two black girls competing in a nearly all-white sport booed and taunted them. But they didn’t let it stop them.

With vibrant mixed media art, nonfiction superstars Lesa Cline-Ransome and Coretta Scott King Honor winner James E. Ransome share the inspirational story of two tennis legends who were fierce competitors on the courts, but close sisters above all.

ABOUT Lesa Cline-Ransome

Lesa Cline-Ransome is the writer of many picture books. Her picture book biography titles include Satchel Paige, Major Taylor, Champion Cyclist, Young Pele, Soccer’s First Star, Helen Keller, The World in Her Heart, Before There was Mozart and Words Set me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass. Other titles are Quilt Alphabet, Quilt Counting and her newest is Light in the Darkness, A Story about How Slaves Learned in Secret. Originally from Malden, Massachusetts, Lesa has worked as a proofreader, fashion copywriter, publicist, teacher in the New York City Schools, and taught writing for adults. She has a B.F.A. in Merchandising and Management from Pratt Institute and an M.A. in Education from N.Y.U. She lives in Rhinebeck, New York and with her husband and frequent collaborator, illustrator James Ransome, four children and St. Bernard, Nola.

CONNECT WITH Lesa

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Executive Producer: Julie Gribble 

“More pink, more beads, more shine!” Mary is a little bit extra in all the right ways, but as every fashionista must learn, sometimes less is more. Join Vanessa Brantley Newton on this podcast episode of Read Out Loud as she reads, MARY HAD A LITTLE GLAM.

ABOUT THE BOOK



This little Mary has STYLE! In this fun take on Mother Goose, fashion-forward Mary helps some of childhood’s most beloved characters go glam. From the kid who lives in a shoe (and dons some fab footwear, too) to Jack, who breaks his crown but gets a great new one, Mary’s school friends look fantastic in their finery. But are they now too well dressed for recess? Not to worry—Mary always shows her flair for what to wear!

 

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