Tonya Engel – illustratör

This addition to the acclaimed Big Words biography series celebrates Barack Obama: a tireless organizer, a brilliant orator, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, and the first Black president of the United States of America.Before he became the president, Barack Obama was a little boy called Barry. Amid a happy childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia, he also yearned for a better understanding of Black history and culture, and a better sense of his own identity as a Black American. Spurred by conversations around race, injustice, and inequality, he became a community organizer, practiced civil rights law, and was elected to the US Senate. "Yes we can!" became a rallying cry for his message of hope and change throughout the 2008 presidential election-which resulted in Barack Obama becoming the first Black president of the United States.This addition to the highly acclaimed Big Words series celebrates one of the most inspiring American leaders of our time. With evocative illustrations by award-winning artist Tonya Engel, Doreen Rappaport's richly detailed narrative employs rousing quotes from Obama himself and encourages young readers to investigate who they are and who they might one day become.Don't miss these other titles in the Big Words series!Ellen Takes Flight: The Life of Astronaut Ellen OchoaRuth Objects: The Life of Ruth Bader GinsburgHelen's Big World: The Life of Helen KellerAbe's Honest Words: The Life of Abraham LincolnMartin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

From NYT bestselling author Tracey Baptiste comes a singular picture book that is both a biography about Claudette Colvin, the teen whose activism launched the Montgomery bus boycott, and a celebration of collective action.When fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin boarded a segregated bus on March 2, 1955, she had no idea she was about to make history. At school she was learning about abolitionists like Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth, which helped inspire her decision to refuse to give up her seat to a white woman, which led to her arrest, which began a crucial chain of events: Rosa Park's sit-in nine months later, the organization of the Montgomery bus boycott by activists like Professor Jo Ann Robinson and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the Supreme Court decision that Alabama's bus segregation was unconstitutional—a major triumph for the civil rights movement. Because of Claudette's brave stand against injustice, history was transformed. Now it's time for young readers to learn about this living legend, her pivotal role in the civil rights movement, and the power of one person reaching out to another in the fight for change.

An intergenerational story about a nonbinary child who learns the tradition of well digging in this picture book about community, hope, and protecting the Earth’s water.As soon as Kit’s old enough to ride in Grandpa's truck, they begin joining him to dig wells for their community. Grandpa is magic. He can feel the weather in his bones, and he’s able to dance with water. With just a tree branch in his hand, Grandpa sways and spins over the land until he finds a spot to dig a hole into the waiting earth. When the water springs up, Grandpa and Kit jump for joy.As new hotels and factories pop up across town, clean water becomes harder to find. Sometimes, no water flows at all. Kit is sad for Grandpa—and for Earth. But one day, Grandpa senses that Kit is ready to dance with water too. Grandpa reminds Kit that the energy and strength of their people flows through the water. As they wait and watch for fresh, clear water to flow up from the ground again, Kit recognizes the power shared between themself and Earth.

A proud, empowering introduction to African American history that celebrates and honors enslaved ancestorsYour story begins in Africa. Your African ancestors defied the odds and survived 400 years of slavery in America and passed down an extraordinary legacy to you. Beginning in Africa before 1619, Your Legacy presents an unprecedentedly accessible, empowering, and proud introduction to African American history for children. While your ancestors’ freedom was taken from them, their spirit was not; this book celebrates their accomplishments, acknowledges their sacrifices, and defines how they are remembered—and how their stories should be taught.

Start your child’s journey with words that inspire confidence and connection.From the moment little ones begin to speak, every word shapes how they see themselves and the world. Your Legacy Begins is a beautifully illustrated keepsake that introduces empowering first words—like “love,” “kind,” and “brave”—to nurture self‑esteem and emotional growth from day one.Perfect for baby showers, birthdays, and everyday reading, this book blends vibrant art with affirmations that spark curiosity and compassion.Whether you’re building a bedtime ritual or sharing a treasured gift, these pages help families plant seeds of positivity that last a lifetime.This uplifting board book is adapted from author Schele Williams and illustrator Tonya Engel’s award-winning picture book Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History that celebrates African American children’s heritage and the legacy of their ancestors.Now reimagined for a younger audience, this board book speaks directly to children, introducing empowering vocabulary while inspiring little ones to walk tall and do great things.With a joyous feel and vibrant art, Your Legacy Begins: First Words to Empower reminds little ones that their ancestors passed down the best of themselves—gifts like determination, courage, dignity, and love. That is your legacy!

A unique perspective on the Great Migration, when more than six million Black American families left the South to escape Jim Crow laws and racial violenceClickety-clack! Don’t look back!Jane and her parents sit in the segregated train car, traveling from Birmingham, Alabama, to Chicago, Illinois, where her father has found a new job. At the start of the journey, they are forced to sit at the back while white passengers ride at the front.But when the train crosses the Mason-Dixon line, the conductor announces that passengers may change seats—and for the first time, Jane sees Black and white families sitting side by side.Based on the author’s family history, The Northbound Train offers a powerful child’s-eye view of the Great Migration and captures what it means to leave home behind in search of something better. Includes recommendations for additional reading and an author’s note about this pivotal moment in American history.

A young girl undertakes an impossible trip to the moon, makes friends with the stars, and brings back something priceless in this gentle and lyrically told picture book about family, history, and memory.Grana used to tell the best stories, and Mabel used to long to soar through the heavens. Nowadays, Grana mostly lies in bed and Mabel stays close to home. But one day, Grana asks, “If we can touch the moon, then what is impossible?” So Mabel decides to do just that, embarking on a journey through the stars where The Seven Sistahs, The Big Dipper, and other constellations help her on her quest and teach her about African mythology and African American history. With the support of her new companions, Mabel reaches for her biggest dream yet: to make her sick grandma well again.

In this comprehensive picture-book biography geared towards older readers, Bethany Hegedus traces Maya Angelous's life from her early days in Stamps, Arkansas, through her work as a freedom fighter to her triumphant rise as a poet of the people.

A much-needed poem of hope and love for children facing adversity due to bigotry, bullying, violence, or other causes. This moving picture book from Black creators Wade Hudson and Tonya Engel empowers children ages 4-8 to face life’s challenges with courage and confidence.“What shall we tell you / when our world / sometimes seems / dark and uninviting?”What do we say to children when they encounter exclusion, hatred, or cruelty? In this poem, Wade Hudson uses a series of questions and answers to reassure children that despite the very real problems we sometimes face, “love, like cream in milk, / will rise to the top.”Accompanied by Tonya Engel’s lush illustrations, Hudson sensitively delivers his message of hope, love, and inclusivity. He affirms that every child belongs, can be themselves, and is strengthened by kindness.

Meet Alice Dunnigan, a pioneering Black journalist, who spoke truth to power—and earned the respect of President Harry S. Truman. This inspiring nonfiction picture book for kids ages 7–10 is from award-winning author and illustrator Peggy Thomas and Tonya Engel.Alice Dunnigan knew all about injustice—she was the daughter of poor Black sharecroppers in Kentucky. But Alice also knew the key to fighting injustice was to speak out.At 13 years old, she wrote to a Black newspaper asking for a job—and got it! It was only the beginning. After many years of hard work as a teacher, a cleaner, a typist, and a journalist, Alice became the first Black woman in the Capitol Press Corp. But one person was still beyond her grasp, a person who needed to be held accountable: President Truman. Would he keep his promise to support civil rights for Black Americans? By scrimping and saving for a ticket on the president’s cross-country train tour, Alice was able to meet the president and win him over to her cause: justice.Alice Dunnigan used her words as a moving force, writing America toward justice, a journey beautifully captured by author Peggy Thomas and illustrator Tonya Engel.

Celebrate We Gullah Geechee invites the reader along on a dynamic exploration of Gullah culture. With rhythm and repetition to engage children, five narrators take turns highlighting what they notice in their world, each focusing on one of the five senses. We are there with them: A girl sees a “haint blue door at Grandma’s house / Rocking chairs waiting on the porch.” On special days, we hear the marching band play—ba-da-dum-bum. Our hands explore the prickly bark of Palmetto tree trunks. Through these sensory experiences, readers will honor and learn about the culture and traditions of coastal North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. With love that shines through every line, Celebrate We Gullah Geechee:Uplifts Gullah Geechee history and contemporary cultureSpotlights the importance of family, community, and placeEngages children with rhythmic writing and lots of onomatopoeiaIncludes a section for adults with additional background informationWritten by award-winning poet Yvette R. Murray, this book invites children to explore their own worlds— whether near or far from the Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor—through sense and celebration.