“What’s Your Story?” is a guest post feature on BCBA web. Authors-traditional and self-published-are invited to write about their books, writing journey, creative process, inspiration, rewards and challenges of publishing, etc. They can go in whatever direction they choose. We are excited and grateful for their willingness to share, and we hope you enjoy our guests’ stories.
The story of Me on the Page Books begins when I was the stay-at-home mom of four children. Access to engaging books with characters that looked like us was not readily available in our city. At the same time, my oldest daughter was having challenges accepting her skin color. Her experience was traumatic to me, and I set out to reverse this stigma.
Having grown up in a diverse city and attended predominantly black schools, churches, and a very diverse college, I embraced who I was and assumed my kids would too. I was raised with the healthy images found in subscriptions to Ebony, Ebony Jr., Jet, and Right On! Magazines, but they were no longer available. I begin searching far and wide and ordering what I could to fill my children’s request for good literature. At the time, Black Books Galore offered books, book fairs, and resources to help parents find African American children’s books. I treasured their resources, believing all children deserved to see themselves reflected positively on pages and resolved that I would write one day as well.
This determination to find and provide access to good literature led me to seek a Masters in Reading with a focus on Multicultural Literature and a Reading Specialist credential. The process has helped me to keenly discern the good versus the bad and authenticity versus non-authenticity in children’s literature. There are many books from many voices, but not all are authentic with good intentions. This quote from Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea by Joyce Carol Thomas sums up how selective we should be with children’s literature:
“Therefore I approach / The cup slowly / But First I ask / Who has set this table.”
In addition to being driven to find literature for my own children at home, I was met with the challenge to provide authentic literature for my first-grade classroom. I already knew first-hand the effects of children not feeling valued because the books read by the teacher either did not reflect them or negatively reflected them. As a teacher, I was determined to have literature on my shelves that would reflect each little face. If I would get one book or magazine, they would crave more.
It wasn’t until I worked with the very lowest readers in an intervention program for first graders and was required to use their culturally scant library of readers that I’d reach my tipping point. It was one thing having the freedom to use whatever books engaged my students, but when teaching under this umbrella, all books had to be standardly lock step. I also became deeply aware of how important engagement is to readers, especially striving readers.
Enters Me on the Page! We write to promote what is true, healthy, and good, and write so our children see themselves on the page. Our children need to see that they matter, can dream big, and can be important. Seeing themselves and their families as main characters who are whole in mainstream literature is extremely powerful and transforming.
The Tay Early Reader series is the first to be published and have been well received among children and families. The books are available on my website, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. I’m currently working on a series for girls and have some non-fiction titles for Tay. My greatest joy comes when I hear children say, “Hey, that’s me!” Encouraging the kids to Dream Big Dreams and Be Kind is the message I want to impart to them. I also know that Tay Readers inspire kids to write more; they all have adventures waiting to be shared.
Through the Tay series, I’ve connected with many families, teachers, organizations, and students. A grand highlight was when we were proudly selected to participate in the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference in September 2018 by Black Parent Magazine. We made great connections, but the blessing was knowing that we were a part of such a greater mission: advancing our people.
Thank you, Black Children’s Books and Authors, for the work your organization is doing to advance our children, and I am pleased to join with you.
Phelicia Lang is a Reading Specialist, Literacy Leader, and Advocate. She is a proud member of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators.
Connect with Phelicia Lang and Me on the Page:
