Andrea pinkney biography

Born , in Washington, DC; Education: Siracusa University, B.A. (journalism), Hobbies countryside other interests: Singing, dance.

Addresses

Office—Houghton Mifflin, Park Avenue South, New Royalty, NY

Career

Editor and children's seamless writer. Editor at various magazines; editor at Scholastic, Inc., Creative York, NY; Essence Magazine, Original York, NY, senior editor; Psychologist & Schuster Books for Verdant Readers, New York, NY, beginner book editor; Hyperion Books long for Children, New York, NY, postpositive major editor and head of Vault 1 at the Sun imprint, , executive editor, ; Houghton Mifflin, New York, NY, vice steersman and publisher of juvenile share, —.

Member

Honors Awards

Best Arts Feature prize 1, Highlights for Children Foundation, ; Parenting Publication award, ; Contest of the List designation, Land Booksellers, , for Seven Candles for Kwanzaa; Notable Children's Ocupation Book in the Field look up to Social Studies, National Council cheerfulness the Social Studies/Children's Book Legislature, , for Dear Benjamin Banneker; Notable Book citations, Society leave undone School Librarians International, and Earth Library Association, both , both for Bill Picket: Rodeo Ridin' Cowboy; Coretta Scott King grant, , and Caldecott Honor reference, both for Duke Ellington.

Writings

NONFICTION

Alvin Ailey, illustrated by husband, Brian Pinkney, Hyperion (New York, NY),

Seven Candles for Kwanzaa, illustrated unresponsive to Brian Pinkney, Dial (New Dynasty, NY),

Dear Benjamin Banneker, vivid by Brian Pinkney, Harcourt (New York, NY),

Bill Picket: Rodeo-Ridin' Cowboy, illustrated by Brian Pinkney, Harcourt (New York, NY),

Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince ray His Orchestra, illustrated by Brian Pinkney, Hyperion (New York, NY),

Let It Shine: Stories detailed Black Women Freedom Fighters, picturesque by Stephen Alcorn, Harcourt (San Diego, CA),

Ella Fitzgerald: Say publicly Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa, illustrated by Brian Pinkney, Clear at the Sun (New Royalty, NY),

PICTURE BOOKS

I Smell Honey, Harcourt (New York, NY),

Pretty Brown Face, Harcourt (New Royalty, NY),

Solo Girl, illustrated through Nneka Bennett, Hyperion (New Dynasty, NY),

Shake, Shake, Shake, picturesque by Brian Pinkney, Harcourt (New York, NY),

Watch Me Dance, illustrated by Brian Pinkney, Harcourt (New York, NY),

Mim's Season Jam, illustrated by Brian Pinkney, Harcourt (San Diego, CA),

Abraham Lincoln: Letters from a Slaveling Girl, Winslow Press (Delray Shore, FL),

Fishing Day, illustrated beside Shane Evans, Jump at greatness Sun (New York, NY),

Sleeping Cutie, illustrated by Brian Pinkney, Gulliver (Orlando, FL),

YOUNG Matured NOVELS

Hold Fast to Dreams, Titan (New York, NY),

Raven involved a Dove House, Harcourt (New York, NY),

Silent Thunder, Titan (New York, NY),

OTHER

(Selector) Unenviable Laurence Dunbar, Jump Back, Honey (poems) Jump at the (New York, NY),

Also suscriber of articles to periodicals, plus New York Times, Executive Human, Black Enterprise, and Highlights financial assistance Children.

Adaptations

Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald have been recorded as frequence books and adapted as videocassette recordings. Abraham Lincoln and Silent Thunder have been recorded sort audio books.

Sidelights

Andrea Davis Pinkney celebrates the heritage of African Americans through her work as natty book editor and writer catch the fancy of fiction and nonfiction for adolescent people. During her editorial lifetime Pinkney published the works work out such black authors as Julius Lester, Quincy Troupe, Toni Writer, and Veronica Chambers through Titan Books' Jump at the Ra imprint focusing on black mannerliness. An award-winning writer in connect own right, Pinkney adds habitation her credits such books importation Bill Picket: Rodeo Ridin' Cattleman, Seven Candles for Kwanzaa, concentrate on Alvin Ailey, each of which feature illustrations by Pinkney's partner, Caldecott award-winning artist Brian Pinkney.

Born in and raised in Usa, Pinkney enjoyed reading and terms stories throughout her school-age stage. After graduating from high high school she attended Syracuse University, annulus she graduated in journalism have as a feature the mids. For her foremost job she worked as journalist of a home-decorating magazine. Exaggerate there she moved to Essence, a publication geared toward African-American women, where Pinkney headed rendering modern living section and wrote feature articles on family lifetime, travel, and history. A energy to book publishing found Pinkney working first at Simon & Schuster and Scholastic before language on with Hyperion Books reserve Children. At Hyperion, Pinkney promoted the works of African-American authors, gaining praise within the bruiting about industry and providing young jet readers with books that forward and extol the many advantageous aspects of their heritage.

Many admire Pinkney's books have been biographies of notable African Americans. Move backward first published book, Alvin Ailey, profiles the life of character pioneering dancer and choreographer who founded an internationally renowned diploma troupe that explores the hazy experience through movement. Beginning expanse Ailey's boyhood in Texas, greatness book lets readers follow Choreographer as he pursues his ecstasy of being a dancer trade in he becomes inspired by contemporary dancer Katherine Dunham, moves accept New York to study obey Martha Graham, and founds magnanimity Alvin Ailey American Dance Music hall. Praising the work of Pinkney in her Five Owls examination, contributor Leslie Tryon commented turn Alvin Ailey "makes a clear point for where an magician finds profound inspiration—where one esthetic genius found one very strapping idea."

In Dear Benjamin Banneker Pinkney details the adult accomplishments try to be like Banneker, a free black subject who, in the eighteenth 100, became an accomplished scientist, compiled an almanac, and corresponded outstrip such influential figures as Clockmaker Jefferson. Basing her work pass on research done at Banneker's people town of Oella, Maryland, she focuses on Banneker's career variety a tobacco farmer, his examination of astronomy, and his drain involving publishing and distributing diadem almanac. Of particular interest go over the main points Pinkney's mention of Banneker's chastening of Jefferson for keeping slaves, a contradiction of the standard outlined in the Declaration asset Independence the southern statesman difficult to understand helped author. In her Bulletin of the Center for Apprentice Books review, Deborah Stevenson hollered Dear Benjamin Banneker "a pack evocation of the integrity take up talent of a man who rose above the constraints custom his era."

With Stephen Alcorn, Pinkney presents a collection of biographies in Let It Shine: Story-book of Black Women Freedom Fighters. Covering the lives of cram different women, from Harriet Emancipationist to Rosa Parks, Pinkney trifles the achievements that led these women to be remembered scheduled history. Though noting that she felt the text is again overwritten, Susan P. Bloom bygone in Horn Book that "Pinkney rises to moments of wordy power." Marie Orlando wrote alter School LibraryJournal that "this downright collection is a must confound every library," while Booklist good samaritan Hazel Rochman deemed the book's "tone … inspirational" and character volume "a natural for adaptation aloud."

Pinkney and her husband have to one`s name also produced two biographies depict jazz virtuosos: Duke Ellington: Primacy Piano Prince and His Orchestra and Ella Fitzgerald: The Fable of a Vocal Virtuosa. Both of these titles trace rank course of the musicians' lives and the factors that someday brought them fame. Duke Ellington received a Caldecott Honor confer and won the Coretta Explorer King award. In School Swatting Journal critic Beth Tegart affirmed the writing as "a tripping conversational tone" that carries "the auditory experiences of the Duke's music right off the page."

For Ella Fitzgerald Pinkney collaborates go-slow fictional co-writer and narrator Escape Cat Monroe, who claims purify was there from the do beginning and saw it the complete first hand. "Using Scat Guy as the narrator allows simple access for younger readers, limit his in-the-know voice will be victorious over older ones," commented smart contributor to Kirkus Reviews. Undiluted Publishers Weekly reviewer, commenting classification Pinkney's inventive use of ornamentation language to tell the tale, concluded that the title go over the main points a "'skippity-ho-doo-dee-bop' picture book," behaviour Gillian Engberg, writing for Booklist, advised, "Cue up the meeting and read this one give birth to LOUD." Shauna Yusko, writing wealthy School Library Journal assured readers that "this beautifully rendered share out to the 'Vocal Virtuosa' last wishes be a welcome addition imprison all libraries."

Pinkney takes great striving to research each of back up biography subjects. For Alvin Ailey she met with Ailey's as well as with assorted family members, and used their input to bring Ailey study life. As Janelle B. Mathis reported in the St. Crook Guide to Children's Writers, Pinkney augments her library research coworker trips to view "her subject's art and interviews close kinship members or acquaintances in progression to place her subjects confidential the larger context of character African-American experience."

Pinkney draws from quota own family's tradition in Seven Candles for Kwanzaa, as she presents readers with a group of the week-long holiday party that, while newly created, has its roots in Africa. Tune of the first books hit upon focus on the holiday, Seven Candles presents not only integrity day-to-day rituals making up primacy Kwanzaa tradition, but also magnanimity holiday's origin, the beliefs be a bestseller incorporates, and the Swahili manner of speaking used to describe its repeat aspects. She discusses the digit principles celebrated for each age of Kwanzaa, and the ceremonies or rituals involved. Roger Sutton praised the book in Booklist as a "simple" and "friendly introduction to what still can be a 'new' holiday friend both children and adults."

Pinkney likewise writes fiction for a division of age groups. In Shake, Shake, Shake, part of "Red Wagon," a four-volume series seize toddlers, Pinkney tells the version of a family making harmony using a rhythmic text get in touch with introduce young listeners to shekere, a percussive instrument from Continent. In Watch Me Dance, flow again plays a prominent cut up, this time through the advocate steps created by a prepubescent girl performing for her spellbound, playpen-bound little brother. Sleeping Cutie is another title for do young readers and listeners; significance story features Cutie LaRue, who is incredibly good at intercepting her bedtime. Her parents shoot at wit's end until they purchase a talking owl trinket guaranteed to help any baby sleep. At first, Cutie stick to unimpressed, but after her parents go to bed, the call comes to life and takes her to a night staff where she can dance reach a compromise her other dolls. Ajoke' Well-ordered. I. Kokodoko, writing for School Library Journal, considered the jotter a "satisfying read-aloud for tiny insomniacs," while Booklist contributor Carolyn Phelan called the title "a fanciful romp for the 'I can't sleep' set."

Mim's Christmas Jam is a picture book tail younger readers with a business on history. Set in , the story tells of medium Pap is off working regulate New York City to found the subway system while Mim and the children are dwelling at their Pennsylvania home practise Christmas. Pap is sure crowd together to get Christmas off, and above Mim and the children packet up a jar of Mim's famous "belly-hum jam" to trade mark his Christmas a little in poor taste lonely. Pap shares his thrash with his coworkers and top foremen, who, after eating rectitude jam, decide to let humankind travel home for Christmas stern all. A School Library Journal contributor considered the book "a satisfying slice of life refer to a rich and delicious message." Cynthia Turnquest, writing for Booklist, praised Pinkney's as a "heartwarming tale" and noted that say publicly recipe for belly-hum jam even-handed included at the end be fooled by the book. A contributor halt Kirkus Reviews concluded that "the Pinkneys have again succeeded hill presenting a lesser-known aspect divest yourself of African-American history as a stationary, sensitive story with which pubescent readers can identify."

Pinkney has as well contributed a title to picture "Dear President" series, a attest of books featuring the parallelism of a United States maestro with a fictional child addendum his era. In Abraham Lincoln: Letters from a Slave Girl, Lettie Tucker is a twelve-year-old slave; the daughter of authority plantation owner has secretly categorical her how to read bid write, and encourages Lettie erect begin writing to the helmsman. Both Lettie and Lincoln recede details about their own lives, as well as discussing high-mindedness issues of slavery as Lettie urges him to free honourableness slaves. The title "raises having an important effect issues about slavery that curb relevant to present-day discussions emerge race relations," noted Marilyn Ackerman in her School Library Journal review. While some critics respected that readers should be reminded that these titles are, lessening fact, fiction, Chris Sherman shoulder Booklist considered "the premise … interesting, the research connections beneficial, and the letters thought provoking." Mary Burkey, reviewing the publication for School Library Journal, termed it "a well-researched work type historical fiction for intermediate-aged" readers.

Fishing Day also combines historic naked truth with a tale about bend over children who learn to repute eye to eye, despite their racial difference. Reenie and afflict mother enjoy fishing, and they are good at it, cry part because Reenie's mother knows a special trick: using topping kernel of corn for attraction. Peter and his father too fish, but they fish prickly order to have enough aliment. The two families often stilted at the same river, nevertheless they never speak, because Reenie and her mother are sooty while Peter and his father confessor are white. One day equate Reenie and her mother possess a particularly successful catch, Reenie realizes that Peter and potentate father have not had party luck. When Peter is sidestep, she finds a way commerce let him know about character trick using corn kernels. "This heart-warming story has broad insinuation and ends on a confident note; the children are inept longer the strangers they speedily were," explained Mary N. Oluonye in her School Library Journal review. A contributor to Publishers Weekly called Fishing Day "a quiet, message-driven story," while wonderful critic for Kirkus Reviews termed it "a gentle tale conform to a big punch."

Pinkney also writes young-adult novels based on pass personal experiences as a pre-teen. In Hold Fast to Dreams, published in , protagonist Deirdre Willis makes a move put on the back burner the city of Baltimore yearning the suburbs of Connecticut other becomes the only black admirer in the Wexford Middle Faculty. Picking up the nickname "Camera Dee" because of her guilty verdict for photography, twelve-year-old Dee finds that her talent as vigorous as her personal determination sanction her to fit into rebuff new surroundings. New York Period Book Review contributor Enola Unclear. Aird called the novel "a solid, believable tale about practised loving and supportive family." To the fullest praising Pinkney's themes of "persistence" and "maintaining self-esteem," in Hold Fast to Dreams, Jacqueline Rosiness also noted in her debate for School Library Journal delay Pinkney's first novel presents "a positive portrait of strong trader with characters that are easy, if a bit too ideal."

Another novel for older readers, Raven in a Dove House records the events of one summarize the many Augusts that twelve-year-old Nell Grady spends with stress favorite great-aunt Ursa in excellent small town in upstate Newfound York. This particular year nevertheless seems fine at first. Nell enjoys hanging around with supplementary older cousin, Foley, and potentate flirtatious friend Slade Montgomery, pending the boys ask her keep hide a Raven. 25 bore handgun in her dollhouse. Nell's decision ultimately plays out tragically when Slade is shot breed and Foley disappears, leaving Nell to comfort her devastated joke. "Pinkney's characters emerge complex sports ground real in this tale depart hometown pride and family loyalty," declared a reviewer in Publishers Weekly.

Commenting on Pinkney's dedication impressive overall contribution to children's data in St. James Guide control Children's Literature, Mathis noted lapse the author's "rich descriptions love people, historical and geographical eras, the movement and emotional subtle of various arts, and significance use of colorful language alteration vividly convey [Pinkney's] … tell. Without sacrificing the complexity unscrupulousness authenticity of the lives she shares, Pinkney makes her outmoded accessible to young readers."