Kelly J. Baptist – författare

A coming-of-age tale about a boy who discovers a love of poetry after finding his late father''s journal. Adapted from a story that first appeared in Flying Lessons & Other Stories and perfect for fans of The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson. Isaiah is now the big man of the house. But it''s a lot harder than his dad made it look. His little sister, Charlie, asks too many questions, and Mama''s gone totally silent. Good thing Isaiah can count on his best friend, Sneaky, who always has a scheme for getting around the rules. Plus, his classmate Angel has a few good ideas of her own--once she stops hassling Isaiah. And when things get really tough, there''s Daddy''s journal, filled with stories about the amazing Isaiah Dunn, a superhero who gets his powers from beans and rice. Isaiah wishes his dad''s tales were real. He could use those powers right about now!Kelly J. Baptist''s debut novel explores the indomitable spirit of a ten-year-old boy and the superhero strength it takes to grow up.

Whether it is basketball dreams, family fiascos, first crushes, or new neighborhoods, this bold anthology—written by the best children’s authors—celebrates the uniqueness and universality in all of us.   In a partnership with We Need Diverse Books, industry giants Kwame Alexander, Soman Chainani, Matt de la Peña, Tim Federle, Grace Lin, Meg Medina, Walter Dean Myers, Tim Tingle, and Jacqueline Woodson join newcomer Kelly J. Baptist in a story collection that is as humorous as it is heartfelt. This impressive group of authors has earned among them every major award in children’s publishing and popularity as New York Times bestsellers.   From these distinguished authors come ten distinct and vibrant stories."There''s plenty of magic in this collection to go around." -Booklist, Starred"A natural for middle school classrooms and libraries, this strong collection should find eager readers" -Kirkus, Starred"Inclusive, authentic, and eminently readable, this collection of short stories is an excellent addition for libraries and classrooms.”-School Library Journal, Starred"Thought provoking and wide-ranging, this first anthology from WNDB should not be missed." -Publishers Weekly, Starred 

In this rollicking, rhyming picture book, a pair of siblings who are supposed to be in bed discover a jazz band playing in their basementAfter hearing Daddy’s band practicing in the basement, a brother and sister can’t resist sneaking out of bed to watch them play. Careful, careful, can’t be caught. Tiptoe past the squeaky spot!They long to join in the fun, but can’t be seen out of bed—until the discovery of a surprise band member turns the jam session into a family affair.With an energetic, lyrical text from award-winning author Kelly J. Baptist and exuberant illustrations from Jenin Mohammed, The Band in Our Basement will have readers feeling the beat—right before settling back down for bedtime.The sounds downstairs are funkyand we start to wiggle toes.We flip-flop and we gigglewith sheets up to the nose. The rhythm’s steady, the trumpet’s sweet.Before too long, we’re on our feet!