Bea Breaks Barriers!

Caitlin DeLems enjoys playing piano and violin, and she loves the magic of symphony concert halls. Caitlin has carved out a niche writing history picture books about unknown but determined female musicians and composers. Her debut title Pitch Perfect and Persistent! earned a Kirkus Reviews starred review.Tonya Engel is an award-winning artist and Illustrator of more than 30 children’s books, many of which feature Black women in history. Her titles include Because Claudette by Tracey Baptiste, Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly, Rise! From Cages Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou by Bethany Hegedus, A Voice Named Aretha by Katheryn Russell-Brown, Ida B. Wells, Voice of Truth by Michelle Duster, and many others. In addition to children’s books, Tonya’s art can be found on prints, greeting cards, and textiles.

A Bank Street Best Book 20252025 Kansas NEA Reading Circle List“A tribute to the perseverance of an underrecognized Black composer…Bea Price’s contributions to the musical world surely warrant a biography, and this one makes a strong case for her impressive body of music. Relying on a pastel palette and precise period details, Engel’s delicate illustrations bring both warmth and energy to the narrative. A much-needed account.” – Kirkus Reviews“Readers enticed by this remembrance to seek out [Price’s] music won’t be disappointed.” –Booklist“The book celebrates Price’s awe-inspiring determination and talent, offering a compelling look at a woman who broke barriers in classical music. VERDICT This is an engaging introduction to an important, often overlooked figure in Black history and a great choice for children’s music education or Women’s or Black History Month.” – School Library Journal"Through snappy sentences and sonorous diction, DeLems imbues this text with musicality, while Engel’s acrylic and oil paintings emphasize movement and light in a biography that zooms in on the figure’s career triumphs." —Publishers Weekly