New nonfiction for library lovers, book lovers and U.S. history fans

My first career was as a newspaper reporter. There, I learned that — to quote former Washington Post journalist Maxine Chesire: “With a roll of quarters and a phone, you can find out anything.” (Side note: If you want a great look at how Maxine overcame sexism and racisim to cover the 1965-1981 Washington, D.C., political landscape when she was supposed to “only” be a society reporter, read her autobiography, MAXINE CHESIRE, REPORTER. It’s fascinating.)

With my reporting roots, it might be a bit surprising that when I ventured into the world of picture books I stayed firmly on the fiction side of things. But, I did.

That changed when I saw U.S. Representative and Civil Rights icon John Lewis win the National Book Award in 2016 for the last book in his MARCH graphic novel series.

In his acceptance speech, Rep. Lewis told how in 1956, when he was 16, he visited his local public library in Troy, Alabama, and asked for a library card, knowing that he’d be told “no” because the library was only for white people.

He also shared how his teachers — in the segregated schools he attended — encouraged him to read and how happy he was that he went on to create his own books. (Side note: Rep. Lewis also was instrumental in eventually getting Civil Rights legislation passed so Black people in the United States could vote, eat in any restaurant, visit any movie theater, sit wherenever they liked on buses and … get library cards.)

Here are highlights of his speech if you’d like to see them.

Wow, I thought. That’s amazing.

Then, I saw a picture that the School Library Journal shared of a note that staff at the Fairfax County Public Library in Fairfax, Virginia, sent Rep. Lewis congratulating him on his award. They enclosed a library card and invited him to visit them anytime. A little research showed that other libraries had also given Rep. Lewis cards during his decades of public service, including his hometown library that told him “no” when he was 16.

As a library lover, I thought this was outstanding. So, I dug in and started researching. And, I found out a lot! (Side note: With the advent of the intranet and cell phones, I didn’t even need a roll of quarters.)

I quickly learned that books, libraries and learning were constants in Rep. Lewis’ life. And, when I found out he married a librarian, I knew I had enough info for a picture book.

So, I started writing. Only to discover a universal truth about picture book biographies. Their subjects have nearly always led lives full of cool, interesting activities, achievements and events. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have books written about them. But … that means there’s no way all those events will fit into one 32- or 40-page picture book.

So, I had to pick and choose. I had to ask: “Which story am I telling?” And, then: “Which anecdotes and events from this person’s life best illustrate that story?”

That led to UNSTOPPABLE JOHN: HOW JOHN LEWIS GOT HIS LIBRARY CARD AND HELPED CHANGE HISTORY, written by me, illustrated by Jerry Jordan and released by Viking Books on Jan. 7. It’s one of several picture books that look at different parts of Rep. Lewis’ life. Here’s a video I made book-talking some of them.

While it’s tempting to think that the issue described in this book was successfully resolved because libraries are open to everyone these days, the fight for access to books is ongoing. With the increase in book challenges and bans, people may not be able to find the books they want or need in their library. And, not everyone has the resources or means to purchase those books themselves.

I hope readers of my book will appreciate how far we’ve come and understand how important it is to continue to provide access to libraries, books and other educational materials to everyone, everywhere, so we all have the information we need learn and grow and make a difference in the world.

Just like John Lewis did.