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Tonya K. Bolden

トーニャ・ボールデン

Tonya Bolden

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1959-03-01 （New York City, New York, USA）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Religion
Christianity
Residence History
New York City (East Harlem; Upper East Side)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Children's book author, Editor
Active Years
1987-
Influenced By
Rudine Sims Bishop (concepts of 'mirrors' and 'windows' in children's literature), Traditions of the Black Church and Black worship music
Influenced
Writers of children's nonfiction and multicultural children's literature

Education

Princeton University
Faculty of Arts / Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures (concentration in Russian)
Degree: B.A.
Period: 1977-1981
Year of Graduation: 1981
Country: United States
Undergraduate degree in Slavic Languages and Literature, emphasis on Russian
Columbia University
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences / Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures (concentration in Russian)
Degree: M.A.
Period: 1983-1985
Year of Graduation: 1985
Country: United States
Graduate studies in Slavic Languages and Literatures with concentration in Russian

Awards

Children's Book Guild Nonfiction Award (Body of Work)
2016
Work: For her entire body of nonfiction work
Organization: Children’s Book Guild of Washington, D.C.
Result: Winner
James Madison Book Award
2005
Work: Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl
Organization: James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
Result: Winner
Coretta Scott King Author Honor
2005
Work: Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: Honor
Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
2008
Work: M.L.K.: Journey of a King
Organization: National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
Result: Winner
Orbis Pictus Award Honor
2009
Work: George Washington Carver
Organization: National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
Result: Honor

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl

2005 Children's biography / historical nonfiction

A children's biography of Maritcha Rémond Lyons that explores her life and the experiences of African-American women in the nineteenth century, emphasizing education, family, and resilience.

African-American historyEducationWomen's empowerment

M.L.K.: Journey of a King

2006 Children's nonfiction / biography

A children's biography of Martin Luther King Jr. that highlights his faith, commitment to nonviolence, and leadership, presented accessibly for young readers.

Civil rights movementFaith and the spiritual dimensionLeadership

George Washington Carver

2008 Children's biography / history of science

A children's biography introducing George Washington Carver's achievements and his contributions to science, including his overcoming of racial barriers.

Science and inventionRace and social barriersEducation and ingenuity

This Kid Can Fly

2016 Children's inspirational nonfiction (co-authored memoir)

A co-authored memoir-style children's book telling the story of Aaron Philip, focusing on overcoming challenges and building self-esteem.

Disability and inclusionSelf-affirmationCourage

Bibliography

  • The Family Heirloom Cookbook (1990)
  • Mama, I Want to Sing (1992)
  • 33 Things Every Girl Should Know (1998)
  • Rock of Ages: A Tribute to the Black Church (2001)
  • Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl (2005)
  • M.L.K.: Journey of a King (2006)
  • George Washington Carver (2008)
  • W. E. B. Du Bois: A Twentieth-Century Life (2008)
  • FDR’s Alphabet Soup: New Deal America, 1932-1939 (2010)
  • Emancipation Proclamation: Lincoln and the Dawn of Liberty (2013)
  • Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America (2014)
  • This Kid Can Fly (2016, co-authored)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Clear, didactic prose tailored to young readers, presenting historical facts accessibly while incorporating narrative elements.Influenced by the rhythms and tones of Black Church music and preaching.
Recurring Motifs
Formation of identityAfrican-American history and experienceEducation and self-realizationFaith and community

Legacy

Tonya Bolden is recognized for her contributions to children's nonfiction and biography, communicating African-American history and identity to young readers. She has received multiple awards and honors and is regarded as having significantly enhanced the quality of nonfiction for children.

Archives

  • Kerlan Collection, University of Minnesota (holds a box of Tonya Bolden's papers)

Quotes

  • I have been in love with books since I learned my ABCs.
    Source: Interview (Trussell, 2002) (2002)
  • All the children need books that are 'mirrors' and 'windows'.
    Source: Essay 'All the Children Need All the Books' (2014) (2014)

Trivia

  • Hillary Rodham Clinton praised Bolden's 1998 book '33 Things Every Girl Should Know' in a 1998 speech.
  • Has authored, co-authored, collaborated on, or edited more than forty books.
  • A box of Bolden's papers is held in the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota.