Kelly Starling Lyons

I still remember the book that inspired me to write for children, Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth. It was the first time I saw an African-American girl featured on the cover of a picture book. As I read the story, I was touched in a special way.

Growing up, I rarely saw kids who looked like me as the main characters of children's books. I loved books and treasured every story I read. But after reading Something Beautiful, I knew I had missed something important – reflections of myself. Right then, I decided to add my voice.

In 2004, Just Us Books published my first book, NEATE: Eddie’s Ordeal, a title in their NEATE chapter book series. That story explores the relationship between a thirteen-year-old African-American boy who loves to play basketball and his civil rights veteran dad. A plot point was inspired by the sit-in movement led by the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). SNCC was founded right here in North Carolina, on the campus of Shaw University. Here are some reviews of NEATE: Eddie's Ordeal.

My next book, One Million Men and Me (Just Us Books, 2007), emerged from memories of attending the Million Man March as a journalist. As I walked through a sea of men and interviewed teens and boys, I saw a father holding hands with his little girl. Her eyes sparkled like diamonds. She looked like a princess among kings. Nearly a decade later, I wrote One Million Men and Me, the story of a girl who was with her daddy the day black men made history. It was honored in CCBC Choices 2008, The Cooperative Children’s Book Center’s best-of-the-year list, and is an Accelerated Reader and Scholastic Reading Counts! title.

I have two forthcoming picture books with G.P. Putnam’s Sons that explore African-American history and family relationships. The first, Ellen’s Broom, will debut in 2011. It was inspired by family history research I did in Rockingham County, NC and Henry County, VA. I saw a document that opened up a new world to me.

My mission is to transform moments, memories and history into stories of discovery. I love sharing my work with children and adults at schools, libraries, museums, clubs, festivals and conferences. Find out more about my visits here. I also teach children's book workshops on topics such as mining your life for story ideas.

Along with writing stories, I work hard to promote multicultural children’s literature. In Raleigh, I lead a book club where I share literary treasures by black children’s book creators of today and the past. I continue that advocacy as a member of The Brown Bookshelf, a team of authors and illustrators dedicated to raising awareness of the many African-American voices creating books for young readers. Through children’s literature, we can bridge divides, create new understanding, empower, affirm and delight.

As a child, I rarely saw children's books featuring characters of color. I write to help make sure kids today have a different reality.