Don Tate

A former slave and sharecropper Bill Traylor moved to the city after his wife's death. Though he stored up memories of farm life and family, Traylor only began creating art in his 80s when he was homeless. Another artist, Charles Shannon, championed Traylor's work. Traylor is now considered among the most significant of self-taught folk artists.

Effa Manley, born when jazz was new and sports were segregated, was passionate about fairness and baseball. She was to become the first woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame along with players from the Negro Baseball League. Her life is presented in stylized illustration and clear text, for an intriguing portrait of a person and a time.

Set on a Texas farm in the 1950s and told in Nikola-Lisa's distinctive and catchy style, this loving tribute to childhood, farm life, and family togetherness will resonate with readers of all backgrounds today. Sun-drenched paintings by Don Tate mirror the family’s daily activities and trace the sun as it travels across the sky from sunrise to sunset. The story also subtly introduces young readers to the subject of African American farmers. Spanish version available.