Books with author Charlotte Riley-Webb

The audience was completely silent the first time Billie Holiday performed a song called "Strange Fruit." In the 1930s, Billie was known as a performer of jazz and blues music, but this song wasn't either of those things. It was a song about injustice, and it would change her life forever.Discover how two outsiders—Billie Holiday, a young black woman raised in poverty, and Abel Meeropol, the son of Jewish immigrants—combined their talents to create a song that challenged racism and paved the way for the Civil Rights movement.

The audience was completely silent the first time Billie Holiday performed a song called "Strange Fruit." In the 1930s, Billie was known as a performer of jazz and blues music, but this song wasn't either of those things. It was a song about injustice, and it would change her life forever. Discover how two outsiders―Billie Holiday, a young black woman raised in poverty, and Abel Meeropol, the son of Jewish immigrants―combined their talents to create a song that challenged racism and paved the way for the Civil Rights movement.

A remarkable and much-needed collection for the youngest lovers of poetry, Entrance Place of Wonders: Poems of the Harlem Renaissance features poems from the leaders of this cultural movement (1917-1935), such as Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Claude McKay, and James Weldon Johnson, as well as many newly discovered writers. These celebratory, life-affirming works will inspire children, parents, and educators while paying homage to one of the most exciting and significant times in American history.

In a barren, gray city, Rose dreams of gardens full of red and yellow and blue flowers.Rose and her brothers mock crazy old Birdman, who sits in his wheelchair all day feeding seeds to the pigeons. Birdman says pigeons are beautiful, but Rose dreams of gardens like the ones she sees in her library books. So when Birdman fills Rose’s hands with slick, black seeds and tells her they are magic, she plants the seeds outside her window and waits. Soon, like Birdman promised, a garden appears before her eyes―a singing flurry of red and yellow and blue, drawn to Rose’s window by seed magic.Jane Buchanan’s rhythmic prose and Charlotte Riley-Webb’s vibrant and striking illustrations bring to life a story of community, connection, hope, and unexpected beauty.

A remarkable and much-needed collection for the youngest lovers of poetry, Entrance Place of Wonders: Poems of the Harlem Renaissance features poems from the leaders of this cultural movement (1917-1935), such as Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Claude McKay, and James Weldon Johnson, as well as many newly discovered writers. These celebratory, life-affirming works will inspire children, parents, and educators while paying homage to one of the most exciting and significant times in American history.

In New Orleans in the 1930's, young Sonny Comeaux has to work before school to help his mother make ends meet. When Mama loses her job, Sonny is worried. Rent day is coming soon, and if they miss paying by just one day, the landlord will put them out on the street and sell their belongings. As Sonny wanders sadly through Jackson Square after school one day, his attention is caught by the lively music of Smilin' Jack, a popular jazz musician. Soon Sonny finds himself telling Smilin' Jack his troubles. What Smilin' Jack tells Sonny then - how to raise money for the rent while having the world's best party - changes both their lives forever. Award-winning author William Miller tells his most affecting story yet, accompanied by Charlotte Riley Webb's brilliantly-colored paintings that perfectly capture the rhythms of New Orleans jazz. This powerful story of family, friendship, and the bonds that bring people together is a timely reminder of the responsibility we all share to help others in a time of need.