Andrea Davis Pinkney

Inspiring All Readers

Andrea Davis Pinkney

Life Events

• Born September 25, 1963 in Washington, DC

• Mother a teacher, father a storyteller • Parents involved in the Civil Rights Movement

“I have a dream!”

• Grew up in Connecticut

CT DC

Education

Attended Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY

• Majored in Journalism • Graduated in 1985

Family

• Married Brian Pinkney, a children’s book illustrator, in 1991.

• Two children • Currently lives in Brooklyn, NY

The Brooklyn Bridge Connects Brooklyn to what Island?

Career in Publishing

• Began career as a magazine editor • Editor of –

Mechanics Illustrated

–

Essence

– Simon & Schuster and Scholastic book publishers

• Previously, Vice President and Publisher at Houghton Mifflin’s Children’s Division • Today, Vice President and Editor at Large for Scholastic Trade

Helped in the creation of …

•

The Cheetah Girls

•

The Shanna Show

Her Life as a Writer

• Her husband suggested she begin writing books • They collaborated on Dear Benjamin Banneker, Seven Candles for Kwanzaa, and Duke Ellington

• Alvin Ailey was her first solo book – Based on the famous African American dancer and choreographer

Alvin Ailey

Important Ideas

• Written over 20 books • Extensive research on people and places • Uses colorful and descriptive language

Influences

• Her parents’ work during the Civil Rights Movement influenced her to write – on the African American community – Strong characters overcoming obstacles

Images of the Civil Rights Movement

Accomplishments

• Carter G. Woodson Award for Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters • Caldecott Honor Award and Coretta Scott King for Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra

• Syracuse University awarded her the

2008 George Arents Pioneer Award for Excellence in the Field of Publishing

Some Nonfiction Titles

Seven Candles for Kwanzaa Dear Benjamin Banneker Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa

Other Fiction Titles

Hold Fast to Dreams Shake,Shake, Shake Abraham Lincoln: Letters from a Slave Girl

Latest News

• Newest book

Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Saved a Nation

Writing is “so much fun! I can't believe people call it work. . . . I write every single day because I love it so much.”

Andrea Davis Pinkney

References

“Andrea Davis Pinkney.”

Answers.com

. 2006. Answers Corporation. 21 January 2009 < http://www.answers.com/topic/andrea-davis-pinkney >.

“Andrea Davis Pinkney Biography.” Scholastic.com. 2009 1996. Scholastic Inc. 21 January 2009 < http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=2 861&print=2 >.

“Civil Rights Movement.” 2009. Google: Images. 13 Feb. 2009 < http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&sa=3&q=civil+rig hts+movement >.

“Events: Andrea Davis Pinkney.” Center for Digital Literacy. Syracuse University. 29 January 2009 < http://cdl.informationliteracy.org/page/view/13 >.

Ferron, Bonnie. “Kite Tales Articles: Presenting Editor Andrea Pinkney.” SCBWI Kite Tales. 2000-2007. SCBWI Tri-Regions of Southern California. 21 January 2009 < www.scbwisocal.org/htmls/pinkney.htm

>. Jesberger, Kara, Renee Schecter, and Lori Siebenaller. “Andrea Davis Pinkney.” VG: Voices from the Gaps. 5 May 2001. Regents of the University of Minnesota. 21 January 2009 < http://voices.cla.umn.edu/vg/Bios/entries/pinkney_andre a_davis.html

>.

Johnson, Virginia. “In Step with Andrea Davis Pinkney.” Kidspoint. The Central Rappahannock Regional Library. 21 January 2009 < http://www.kidspoint.org/columns2.asp?column_id=823 &column_type=author >.

“Martin Luther King, Jr.” American Rhetoric: Top 100 Speeches. 13 February 2009 < http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihavead ream.htm

>.