Kelly Starling Lyons

Kelly Starling Lyons is a writer and children's book author.[1] She is also one of the founding members of the blog The Brown Bookshelf, which raises awareness of Black children's book creators and features author and illustrator spotlights.

Kelly Starling Lyons
Lyons at the 2019 Texas Book Festival
BornPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
OccupationAuthor
NationalityAmerican
GenreChildren's books
Website
www.kellystarlinglyons.com

Personal

Lyons was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a high-school student, Lyons loved the works of Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison and Lorraine Hansberry and set a goal to be an author.[1]

As an adult, she read the book Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth, which was the first time she had seen an African-American girl featured on the cover of a picture book. This inspired her to start writing fiction books for children that would feature African-American lead characters.[1]

Lyons makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina.[2]

Lyons attended Syracuse University, where she earned a B.A. in African-American Studies, as well as her M.S. in Magazine Journalism. She has since worked for Ebony Magazine, The News & Observer, and the Syracuse Herald-Journal.[3]

Books

Lyons has written more than a dozen books for children that focus on aspects of African-American history and culture, including:[1]

  • A Girl Named Misty, The True Story of Misty Copeland, this book tells the story of how young Misty Copeland began to dance, eventually becoming the first African-American principal dancer in American Ballet Theater.
  • NEATE: Eddie’s Ordeal, a title in their NEATE chapter book series, tells the story of relationship between a 13-year-old African-American boy who loves to play basketball and his civil rights veteran dad.
  • One Million Men and Me was published by Just Us Books in 2007. Illustrated by Peter Ambush, it was inspired by her memories of attending the Million Man March.[4][5]
  • Hope's Gift, illustrated by Don Tate, celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.
  • Teacakes for Tosh was illustrated by E. B. Lewis.
  • Ellen’s Broom, illustrated by Daniel Minter, was inspired by a document that the author saw while researching family history in Rockingham County, NC and Henry County, VA.
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References
  1. Gillis, Stacy (February 20, 2013). "Author Kelly Starling Lyons says family struggles reflected in her books". The Fayetteville Observer.
  2. "27 Views of Raleigh". News Observer. September 1, 2013.
  3. "Kelly Starling Lyons", alibris.com.
  4. "Each One Teach One: Interview with Kelly Starling Lyons". Writer Metamorphosis. June 16, 2012.
  5. "Interview with Kelly Starling Lyons". Blogcritics.org. August 12, 2011.
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