Multicultural Children's Book Day

#ReadYourWorld

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • About
    • Mission & Initiative
    • Read Your World Team
    • Outcomes
    • Press Kit
  • Annual Book Day
    • Participate by Reviewing Books
    • Participate by Donating Books
    • Big Giant Linky
  • Reading Resources
    • FREE Books for Teachers
    • Book Lists
    • Classroom Kits & Posters
    • IG Live Interview Series
    • Neurodiverse and Autism Resources
    • 2023 Big Giant Linky
    • 2022 Big Giant Linky
  • Sponsorship & Partners
    • Medallion and Author Level Sponsorships for RYW2024
    • Corporate Sponsorships
    • Fundraiser | Social Media Shout Outs!
    • 2024 Medallion Level Sponsors
    • 2024 Author Sponsors
    • Co-Hosts
    • Our Partner Organizations
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Blog
  • Donate
    • Donor Wall

Multicultural Children’s Book Day Spotlight: Lesa Cline-Ransome

January 13, 2015 by Valarie Budayr

Multicultural Children's Book Day Spotlight

Please welcome Lesa Cline-Ransome for today’s spotlight!

http://www.lesaclineransome.com/

Lesa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome are a husband-wife team who have collaborated on many award-winning picture books for children. These include Satchel Paige, which was an ALA Best Book for Children and a Booklist Top Ten Sports Book for Youth, and Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass, which received starred reviews in Booklist and School Library Journal. The Quilt Alphabet was praised as “a blue-ribbon ABC book that combines bright, folksy oil paintings and lilting riddle-poems” in a starred review in Publishers Weekly and called “a feast for the eyes” in School Library Journal.

Eric Velasquez

1. What is your favorite letter of the alphabet and why?

I’m going to have to go with the letter L.  I wish I had some lofty reason, but I like that it is smack dab in the middle of the alphabet, and that it is the start of love, lyrical, letters and Lesa. 

2. What do you want readers to know about your latest book?
Benny Goodman and Teddy Wilson is my first book written in lyrical verse and highlights the relationship of two talented musicians who were different racially, socially, culturally and geographically, yet through their love of music, they came together and gave the world amazing music.

3. As an author, how do you know when you have discovered an idea for your next book?

I have a file full of story ideas but the process differs for each book.  Sometimes an idea comes when I am researching one book and stumble upon information i’d like to include in another book.  Sometimes I search for something completely different from the previous book I wrote (Words Set me Free and Light in the Darkness). I look for ideas all around me–newspaper articles, questions I want answered, my passions, (Benny Goodman and Teddy Wilson, Quilt Alphabet, Satchel Paige)  a love of history (Before There was Mozart), the lives of my children (Whale Trails, Before and Now) even obituaries or any story that celebrates the unknown heroes among us can serve as inspiration (Major Taylor, Champion Cyclist). When I start to hear lines in my head or start thinking about the story throughout my day, I know it’s time to start writing.

4. What was the catalyst for creating your latest book?

James is a huge fan of jazz and I am the daughter of jazz lovers.  I grew up hearing many of the jazz greats.  James and I were looking for a project to incorporate music so a jazz bio was a natural choice.

5. What’s next? 

We will soon have two other projects that are jazz companion books to Benny and Teddy, one about another great Jazz musician and another about the saxophone.

More books by Lesa Cline-Ransome:

For more information, please visit her website.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.

Sign up – Find out about all of MCCBD’s author visits, event news and book giveaways!

* indicates required


Spread the love

Filed Under: Author Visits Tagged With: Lesa Cline-Ransome, Multicultural Children's Book Day Spotlight: Lesa Cline-Ransome

Make a Way Media Super Platinum Sponsor

Language Lizard Platinum Sponsor

Mia Wenjen Founders Circle

Audrey Press Founders Circle

Publisher Spotlight Gold Sponsor

Publisher Spotlight 2023

Interlink Publishing Gold Sponsor

Interlink 2023

Cardinal Rule Press Silver Sponsor

Barefoot Books Silver Sponsor

Lee & Low Books Silver Sponsor

Lee & Low 2023

Kimberly Gordon Biddle Silver Sponsor

Vivian Kirkfield Bronze Sponsor

Patrice McLaurin Bronze Sponsor

Star Bright Books Bronze Sponsor

The Quarto Group Bronze Sponsor

Carole P. Roman Bronze Sponsor

Star Bright Books Bronze Sponsor

Redfin Bronze Sponsor

Redfin Canada 2023

Redfin Canada Bronze Sponsor

Redfin Canada 2023

Rent.com Bronze Sponsor

Bay Equity Home Loans Bronze Sponsor

Title Forward Bronze Sponsor

Title Forward 2023

Brunella Costagliola Bronze Sponsor

Brunella Costagliola 2023

MCBD is included in the Top 100 Children’s Book Blogs!

Children’s Book Blogs

Copyright © 2023 · Multicultural Childrens Book Day on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Cleantalk Pixel