Andrea Davis Pinkney (born 1963) is the author of numerous books for children and young adults, including picture books, novels, works of historical fiction and nonfiction who writes about African-American culture. In addition to her work as an author, Pinkney has had a career as a children's book publisher and editor, including as founder of the Jump at the Sun imprint at

Hyperion Books for Children Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW), formerly known as The Disney Publishing Group and Buena Vista Publishing Group, is the publishing subsidiary of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. Its imprints inclu ...

, the Disney Book Group (now Disney Publishing Worldwide). She is vice president and editor-at-large for Scholastic Trade Books. Her books have won the Coretta Scott King Award and been a Coretta Scott King Honor book, have been ALA Notable Books five times, School Library Journal best books three times, New York Times Editor's Choice and Notable books, and more. Pinkney is a graduate of Syracuse University's

Newhouse School of Public Communications The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, commonly known as Newhouse School, is the communications and journalism school of Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY. It has programs in print and broadcast journalism; music business; graphic d ...

and is a former member of the Newhouse School's Board of Trustees. She lives in New York City with her husband, award-winning illustrator

Brian Pinkney Brian Pinkney (born August 28, 1961, Boston, Massachusetts) is an American illustrator. His father, Jerry Pinkney, was an illustrator and his mother, Gloria Jean, was an author, milliner, and silversmith. Both had studios in their home. Pinkney ...

, and their two children.

Biography

Andrea Davis was born September 25, 1963, in

Washington D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, Na ...

and was raised in Connecticut. Her parents were involved in the

civil rights movement The civil rights movement was a nonviolent social and political movement and campaign from 1954 to 1968 in the United States to abolish legalized institutional racial segregation, discrimination, and disenfranchisement throughout the Unite ...

and exposed her to the cause from early on, even taking her to the annual conference of the

National Urban League The National Urban League, formerly known as the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, is a nonpartisan historic civil rights organization based in New York City that advocates on behalf of economic and social justice for African Am ...

during many of her summer vacations. Pinkney graduated from Syracuse University in 1985 with a degree in journalism and began working as an editor at ''

Mechanix Illustrated ''Mechanix Illustrated'' was an American printed magazine that was originally published by Fawcett Publications. Its title was founded in 1928 to compete against the older ''Popular Science'' and ''Popular Mechanics''. Billed as "The How-To-Do M ...

''. She then went on to work as a senior editor at ''

Essence Essence ( la, essentia) is a polysemic term, used in philosophy and theology as a designation for the property or set of properties that make an entity or substance what it fundamentally is, and which it has by necessity, and without which it ...

'', as well as an editor for the book publishers

Simon & Schuster Simon & Schuster () is an American publishing company and a subsidiary of Paramount Global. It was founded in New York City on January 2, 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. As of 2016, Simon & Schuster was the third largest pu ...

and Scholastic. While working at one of these early editing jobs, she met

, a

Caldecott Honor The Randolph Caldecott Medal, frequently shortened to just the Caldecott, annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Service ...

-winning children's book illustrator, whom she later married. The two have collaborated on a number of books, including ''Sit In: How Four Friends Stood Up By Sitting Down'', ''Duke Ellington'', ''Seven Candles for Kwanzaa'', and ''Dear Benjamin Banneker''. She was chosen to deliver the 2014 May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture at the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public land-grant research university in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. ...

Libraries, Children's Literature Research Collections, Saturday, May 3, 2014, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (CDT). She was cited in January 2013 for "significant contributions to literature for young people provided through a body of work that brings a deeper understanding of African American heritage". She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Selected bibliography

Picture books

*''Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra'' *''Ella Fitzgerald'' – illustrated by Brian Pinkney *''Sit in: How Four Friends Stood up by Sitting Down;'' illustrated by Brian Pinkney *''Because of You John Lewis: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship;'' illustrated by Keith Henry Brown *''A Poem for Peter: The Story of Ezra Jack Keats and the Creation of The Snowy Day;'' illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher *''Sojourner Truth’s Step Stomp Stride'' - illustrated by Brian Pinkney *''Seven Candles for Kwanzaa;'' illustrated by Brian Pinkney *''Alvin Ailey;'' illustrated by Brian Pinkney *''And She Was Loved: Toni Morrison’s Life in Stories'' ; illustrated by Daniel Minter *''Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a'' ''Nation;'' illustrated by Brian Pinkney *''Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Song;'' illustrated by Brian Pinkney *''Dear Benjamin Banneker;'' illustrated by Brian Pinkney *''Bill Pickett Rodeo Ridin’ Cowboy;'' illustrated by Brian Pinkney *''Mims Christmas Jam;'' illustrated by Brian Pinkney *''Fishing Day;'' illustrated by Shane Evans *''Peggony Po;'' illustrated by Brian Pinkney *''Sleeping Cutie;'' illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Narrative nonfiction

*''Hand in Hand: 10 Black Men Who Changed America;'' illustrated by Brian Pinkney *''Let it Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters;'' illustrated by Stephen Alcorn *''Martin Rising: Requiem for a King;'' illustrated by Brian Pinkney *''Rhythm Ride: a Road Trip through the Motown Sound''

Chapter book series

*''She Persisted: Harriet Tubman'' *''She Persisted: Ella Fitzgerald'' *''Dear Mr. President: Abraham Lincoln'' *''Solo Girl'' *''Meet the Obamas'' *''Peace Warriors''

Middle grade novels

*''The Red Pencil'' *''Raven in a Dove House'' *''With the Might of Angels'' *''Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices go Tell It'' *''Bird in a Box'' *''Hold Fast to Dreams'' *''Silent Thunder''

Young adult

*''Ten9Eight: Teen Business Blasts Off''

Baby books

*''Bright Brown Baby Treasury'' *''Peek-a-You'' *''Count to Love'' *''Baby Boy, You are a Star'' *''Hello, Baby Girl'' *''Hey, Beautiful You'' *''Pretty Brown Face '' *''I Smell Honey'' *''Watch me Dance'' *''Shake, Shake, Shake'' *All baby books illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Anthologies

*''Stay True: Short Stories for Strong Girls'' *''Birthday Wishes'' *''100 Reasons to Love Reading''

Honors and awards

Coretta Scott King Coretta Scott King ( Scott; April 27, 1927 – January 30, 2006) was an American author, activist, and civil rights leader who was married to Martin Luther King Jr. from 1953 until his death. As an advocate for African-American equality, she ...

award, 2013 * The George Arents Award (Syracuse University's highest alumni honor, presented annually to alumni who have made outstanding contributions to their chosen fields) * Medgar Evers College Lifetime Achievement Award

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pinkney, Andrea Davis 1963 births American children's writers Carter G. Woodson Book Award winners Living people S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications alumni Writers from Brooklyn