Happy Book Birthday!
We’re so pleased to celebrate with author (and faculty member) Valerie Bolling and illustrator TeMika Grooms on the publication of their picture book A Flea For Justice: Marian Wright Edelman Stands Up for Change. Congratulations!
Valerie, what first inspired you to tell Marian Wright Edelman’s story in picture book form?
Marian Wright Edelman is a person whose name we should all know. Her positive contributions to our country as a champion for civil rights and children’s rights are worth celebrating. Since I wanted to introduce children, in particular, to this remarkable woman, I decided to write her story as a picture book — making it accessible to my intended audience of young readers. Moreover, the majority of my published books are picture books, so it was natural for me to tell Mrs. Edelman’s story in that form.
Valerie, how did you work to portray Marian Wright Edelman not just as a historical figure, but as a real person kids could relate to?
I tried to think about what would be of most interest to children and to provide details that they could relate to. For instance, the story of Marian drinking from the water fountain intended for white people, and then later switching the signs identifying race, is one that I think would be of interest to children. Most children have heard about the ways in which Blacks and whites were segregated in schools, bathrooms, and at water fountains, so they can connect to this. They can also see how they can fight back against injustice the way Marian did by changing the signs. I want children to feel empowered and know that they can make a difference by speaking out and standing up for what matters to them, especially if it’s about doing what’s right for humanity.
TeMika, how did you approach the balance between serious historical content and a tone that would engage young readers?
From the first image on the cover, I wanted Marian to feel like a trouble-maker for good. As she is drinking from the water fountain, she gives a sneaky side-eye because she is consciously making a societal change in that very moment – even at the young age of four-years- old. That image is fun to me because we know she is up to something good! I did several sketches to get to this one and I really hope it invites readers to open the book to learn more about Marian’s life of being a flea for justice.
TeMika, what was your research process like—were there specific images, stories, or moments that shaped your work?
Marian Wright Edelman has lived a purposeful life, and I wanted to make sure that I represented her well by doing my research and developing a visual story that moved beyond just illustrating written words. Valerie’s manuscript showed that Marian was a person called to action. I wanted my artwork to show how Marian felt about answering the call to action. Her internal spark to make change was always present and she passed it on to others throughout her life.
I had no reference photos of Marian as a child and only a few as a young adult. Research led me to photos, interviews, and a documentary video about her childhood town of Bennettsville, South Carolina. I used these resources to create Marian at a young age, engaging with people, cars and the buildings in her hometown. I created several sketches of her as an younger and older adult at many ages to extrapolate how she may have looked as a four-year-old child.
And then there are moments when I moved beyond research and into being led in the creation of art. One thought that prevailed for me was how the contribution of women in the civil rights movement is often overlooked. In the sketch phase, I chose to add an undefined female character opposite of Marian in the image that included Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bayard Rustin. I played with the woman’s sketch over and over without a reference to see what would appear for me. After completing the illustrations, I continued to do more research on Bayard Rustin and discovered just how influential Ella Baker was for the movement. Ironically, the female character bares a slight resemblance to Ella Baker in her youth. I believe this experience made that image so much more powerful and it is my favorite image in the book. Researching Marian Wright Edelman’s life taught me so much that I look forward to sharing with young readers.
Valerie, what do you hope readers take away from A Flea for Justice, especially when thinking about justice and standing up for change today?
I want to inspire children to create change because they can do powerful things. It may not be easy, but they can do things that can make a positive difference in their lives and/or in the lives of other people. I want to encourage young people to think about ways they can be activists – be fleas for justice! Check out this teacher’s guide for ideas about how to inspire children to do that and to find resources that will further enrich their knowledge and learning experience.
More About Valerie Bolling:
Valerie Bolling is an award-winning author/educator who is passionate about creating stories in which all children can see themselves and feel seen and heard, valued and validated. She is the author of eight picture books, including SCBWI Crystal Kite Award winner, LET’S DANCE!; Kirkus Prize Finalist, TOGETHER WE SWIM; and Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, I SEE COLOR. She’s also written a Scholastic Acorn early reader series, RAINBOW DAYS and a book for teachers, GOAL SETTING IN THE WRITING CLASSROOM: BUILDING STUDENT AGENCY, INDEPENDENCE, AND SUCCESS.
A graduate of Tufts University and Teachers College, Columbia University, Valerie was an educator for 30 years and currently teaches picture book classes (independently and for the Highlights Foundation and Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance) and presents at conferences. Valerie enjoys teaching both students and adults and inspiring them to write their own stories. She lives in Connecticut with her husband where they enjoy traveling, hiking, reading, going to the theater, and dancing. linktr.ee/ValerieBolling
Read more on Valerie’s website.
More About TeMika Grooms:
TeMika Grooms is a Georgia-based writer and illustrator creating stories with a belief that all children should be able to see themselves as the hero within the pages of a book. In 2021, she was selected as an Illustration Mentee in the We Need Diverse Books Program and was a member of the first cohort for the Highlights Foundation and The Brown Bookshelf Amplify Black Stories program. Since then, she has illustrated several books, including PUT YOUR SHOES ON & GET READY! and WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER: LEO’S LUNCH BOX by Raphael G. Warnock, A CENTURY FOR CAROLINE by Kaija Langley, and A FLEA FOR JUSTICE: MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN STANDS UP FOR CHANGE by Valerie Bolling.
