Meet best-selling children's book author Kelly Starling Lyons!
The Regulator welcomes children’s book author Kelly Starling Lyons for a reading and book signing. Meet the bestselling author of the Jada Jones series, Tea Cakes for Tosh, A Girl Named Misty, and One Millon Men and Me! This event is co-sponsored by Morehead Montessori Magnet Elementary School. All are welcome to attend.
Kelly Starling Lyons grew up in Pittsburgh. A life-long writer, she was inspired to write for children when she first saw the book Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth. It was the very first picture book she had seen with an African-American girl featured on the cover.
Lyons has written six books for children that focus on aspects of African American history and culture. Her books include NEATE: Eddie’s Ordeal and One Million Men and Me, both from Just Us Books; Ellen’s Broom, Tea Cakes for Tosh, and Hope’s Gift, from G. P. Putnam’s and Sons; as well as One More Dino on the Floor, easy reader A Girl Named Misty about trailblazing ballerina Misty Copeland and the Jada Jones chapter book series. Her new picture book, Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon will be available early next year.
Lyons earned a B.A. in African-American Studies and an M.S. in Magazine Journalism at Syracuse University. She has since worked for Ebony Magazine, The News & Observer, and the Syracuse Herald-Journal. Lyons is one of the founding members of the blog The Brown Bookshelf, that is aimed at young African-American readers and features book reviews and author and illustrator interviews. Kelly Starling Lyons and her family make their home in Raleigh.