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⭐️Kirk's Review⭐️. THE WALK
BY WINSOME BINGHAM ; ILLUSTRATED BY E.B. LEWIS ‧ RELEASE DATE: SEPT. 12, 2023

This lovely introduction to an essential topic will be a new classic.

A Black child’s walk with Granny is a neighborhood event when the destination is the voting booth.

Granny is taking her grandchild on “THE WALK,” but she doesn’t say where they are going—only that “there’s a few treasured souls coming, too.” With a backpack, water, and sandwiches, the young narrator and Granny “WALK ON,” stopping at a neighbor’s house, the barber shop, and Mrs. Wong’s. At each stop, the child wonders if they’ve reached their destination, but instead, more people from the neighborhood join their walk. At last, the crowd arrives at the child’s school—but there’s no school today. Granny reveals the reason all these “treasured souls” have walked all this way: “for hope” and to “speak up.” Bingham effectively carries readers through an important yet simple event while conveying its significance as a milestone for an individual, a family, a community, and a nation. The child’s-eye view of the day, clear prose, and strong relationships between characters make this an engrossing read, while statements about injustice are communicated subtly in comments between adult characters and the length of the walk itself—layers that can be unpacked with children who are ready to learn more. Lewis’ work is at its best here; detailed watercolor paintings immerse readers in the life of a multicultural community on a bright day. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

This lovely introduction to an essential topic will be a new classic. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2023
ISBN: 9781419747724
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: today
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2023

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY #democracy #vote #childrensbooks #picturebook #EBLewis #WinsomeBingham #thewalk #strolltothepolls #AbramsBook #abramsbooksproduction #kirkusreviews #blackbookstagram #blackauthors #blackauthor #blackauthorsmatter #blackauthorsofinstagram

One of my favorite poems by @drmayaangelou.

#TheLesson

COMING SPRING 2027! 🎉🎶⁠
⁠
From two highly acclaimed creators—author Winsome Bingham (@armyvetfive) and illustrator Briana Mukodiri Uchendu (@mukodiri)—comes a big-hearted hug of a story about community care, mutual aid, and the love we show each other.⁠
⁠
Auntie's Dance will be available everywhere good books are sold this coming Spring, but you can preorder your copy now via our link in bio. 🪭🎶⁠
⁠
Cover artist: Briana Mukodiri Uchendu⁠
Cover designer: Jennifer Browne

COMING SPRING 2027! 🎉🎶⁠
⁠
From two highly acclaimed creators—author Winsome Bingham (@armyvetfive) and illustrator Briana Mukodiri Uchendu (@mukodiri)—comes a big-hearted hug of a story about community care, mutual aid, and the love we show each other.⁠
⁠
Auntie's Dance will be available everywhere good books are sold this coming Spring, but you can preorder your copy now via our link in bio. 🪭🎶⁠
⁠
Cover artist: Briana Mukodiri Uchendu⁠
Cover designer: Jennifer Browne

The first trade review is in for ON FRIDAYS, written by Winsome Bingham & illustrated by Jason Griffin, and it’s a ⭐️ from Kirkus, @kirkus_reviews.

“Bingham’s melodic first-person text elegantly captures the juxtaposition of Jamar’s highs and lows.”

“Radiant portraiture of the all-Black cast makes breathtaking use of light perspective, while looser and lavishly textured mixed-media art features, scribbles, and a recurring fuchsia tulip motif.”

“A profoundly moving child-centered perspective on grief. (Picture Book 4-8)”

ON FRIDAYS launches September 1, 2026.

@taylornorm @holidayhousepeachtree @nealporterbooks

Adia Harvey Wingfield is so smart. I always said, “Folks have no idea how publishing works. I found myself revisiting this article in the November 20, 2023 edition of @publisherswkly magazine.

I read it again this morning. Fascinating analysis of publishing from the observation of a sociologist.

I spent my Sunday reading and rereading these amazing books - FLOWERS FOR MAMA written and illustrated by Deborah Freedman (@freedmanillustrates), one of the kindest and thoughtful KidLit mamas I know; HELLO, BEAUTIFUL illustrated by Loveis Wise (@loveiswiseillu) & written by theeeeeeeee Traci N. Todd (@tracintodd), one of the most beautiful folks (in heart and spirit) I know; and BECAUSE OF DADS written by the amazing human & my friend K. E. Lewis (@kennethelewis) & illustrated by Maithili Joshi (@maithiliart). I was not disappointed at all in these gorgeously illustrated and well-written books.

I revisited all three this morning and decided to talk about how amazing all these books are. They are so different but so similar in heart and intention. Each book written for children, but still tug on the heartstrings of the adults who love and nourish their souls.

I needed to hear that I was beautiful. I needed to be reminded that dads are just grown-up children. I needed to remember that mamas deserve their flowers ALWAYS.

Make sure you add these amazing books to your shelves and read them to the folks you love.

You may find these books anywhere books are sold. Also, request them from your library so they can make sure they are added to their inventory.

#PictureBooks #mothersdays #fathersdayspecial❤️

I spent my Sunday reading and rereading these amazing books - FLOWERS FOR MAMA written and illustrated by Deborah Freedman (@freedmanillustrates), one of the kindest and thoughtful KidLit mamas I know; HELLO, BEAUTIFUL illustrated by Loveis Wise (@loveiswiseillu) & written by theeeeeeeee Traci N. Todd (@tracintodd), one of the most beautiful folks (in heart and spirit) I know; and BECAUSE OF DADS written by the amazing human & my friend K. E. Lewis (@kennethelewis) & illustrated by Maithili Joshi (@maithiliart). I was not disappointed at all in these gorgeously illustrated and well-written books.

I revisited all three this morning and decided to talk about how amazing all these books are. They are so different but so similar in heart and intention. Each book written for children, but still tug on the heartstrings of the adults who love and nourish their souls.

I needed to hear that I was beautiful. I needed to be reminded that dads are just grown-up children. I needed to remember that mamas deserve their flowers ALWAYS.

Make sure you add these amazing books to your shelves and read them to the folks you love.

You may find these books anywhere books are sold. Also, request them from your library so they can make sure they are added to their inventory.

#PictureBooks #mothersdays #fathersdayspecial❤️

I spent my Sunday reading and rereading these amazing books - FLOWERS FOR MAMA written and illustrated by Deborah Freedman (@freedmanillustrates), one of the kindest and thoughtful KidLit mamas I know; HELLO, BEAUTIFUL illustrated by Loveis Wise (@loveiswiseillu) & written by theeeeeeeee Traci N. Todd (@tracintodd), one of the most beautiful folks (in heart and spirit) I know; and BECAUSE OF DADS written by the amazing human & my friend K. E. Lewis (@kennethelewis) & illustrated by Maithili Joshi (@maithiliart). I was not disappointed at all in these gorgeously illustrated and well-written books.

I revisited all three this morning and decided to talk about how amazing all these books are. They are so different but so similar in heart and intention. Each book written for children, but still tug on the heartstrings of the adults who love and nourish their souls.

I needed to hear that I was beautiful. I needed to be reminded that dads are just grown-up children. I needed to remember that mamas deserve their flowers ALWAYS.

Make sure you add these amazing books to your shelves and read them to the folks you love.

You may find these books anywhere books are sold. Also, request them from your library so they can make sure they are added to their inventory.

#PictureBooks #mothersdays #fathersdayspecial❤️

In a few short months, the third book in the FORT GOODE series, FAREWELL FRIENDS illustrated by Colin Bootman (@colinbootmanart), will hit the shelves.

This is the toughest book I ever wrote. At that time this book was in development, I had no idea we (America) would be at war. And even though this book does not address war, it addresses the lives and livelihood of soldiers and their families.

In the third book of this installment, a new family moves into the house that was once residence to Lang’s best friends George and Carlos. With that family comes two children roughly around Lang’s age. Lang is tasked with helping them settle in and learn the ropes at Fort Goode, a job he takes very seriously.

But when an accident occurs, Lang and his family shows up to support them as needed, exemplifying that duty is not only for those in uniform, when one serves in the military, everyone in the family serves in the military. Military life is a family affair.

Follow these uniform clad Americans as they train and prepare to protect our liberties and freedom.

FORT GOODE launches in July 2026. You may preorder from anywhere books are sold and at Reycraftbooks.com.

October 20, 2026, a book I wrote, TOGETHER, illustrated by the amazing Joy Hwang Ruiz (@momisdrawing), will launch in the world.

This book is simple. It’s a book about family being together and sharing moments of love and connection. They are spending time together celebrating a moment, something we all need to be doing right now.

I was so thrilled when I was paired with @momisdrawing for this collaboration. Her palette exudes joy (which is also her name! I love that for her!)

For the last few years, I’ve been in my poetry era, revisiting telling stories and conveying narratives in simpler text. But the hero of this project is the illustration and the beauty of Joy’s hands, brushstrokes, and palette.

This book has depth and perspective. She worked hard to make sure different families are represented and seen. This resonated with me because we need to make books for ALL KIDS and families and not just one group. And it also says the illustrator can make decisions that will push a book to the next level. Joy didn’t disappoint. Please show her love!

Joy and I would love your support. We would love for you to preorder this beautiful book from your local bookstore, bookshop.org, or anywhere books are sold. We would love for you to commit to reading it aloud to friends, family, found family, neighbor, your community, and YOURSELF.

We would love for you to volunteer to read it to a class at schools, churches, community centers, hospitals, and anywhere joy is needed in the moment. We would love for you to remind folks that we can accomplish a lot by working TOGETHER.

TOGETHER is published by @abramskids and edited by Emma Ledbetter (@brdnjamforemma) while at @abramsbooks and Courtney Code (@courtneycode). I am so happy that this book will be in the world.And I cannot wait to have talks with you all about it.

Also please join me for a virtual book talk on 10.20.2026 at 7 PM right here on IG.

Thank you Joy, Emma,

In a few short months, my next book will launch in the world. It’s titled ON FRIDAYS and is illustrated by the amazing Caldecott Honoree Jason Griffin (@jason_douglas_griffin).

ON FRIDAYS follow a young boy who goes to his mother’s job ON FRIDAYS afterschool. There, he’s welcomed and mentored by a community of elder folks who have lived life to their fullest and now finds refuge in a retirement home. Each of the elders takes a personal interest and stake in the young boy whose mother reminds him that the people “are family,” and he “must treat them as such.”

The folks look forward to having the young boy visit. Miss Neely waits for him with freshly baked cookies and then they tend to the garden - planting and replanting tulips. He loves her and she loves him. but one day, something happens which forces the boys mother and the folks in the community to have a wasn’t-ready-to-have conversation with the young boy.

ON FRIDAY is about love, family, hope, and life being a garden. The building is the soil. The people inside are the seeds planted. And the camaraderie is the flowers blooming.

Jason’s art is amazing. This book was created differently from any of my other works. Normally, I’d write a manuscript and the publisher would find the illustrator. But this time, the art was sent to me and I was asked to create a story to match the art.

It was only recently that I realized how much the art has changed as Jason worked with editor Taylor Norman (@taylornorm) and designer Jennifer Browne (@brownie_girl_42) to craft the best book possible.

My brain ignored the fact that the art has changed. But under the book jacket, you can see all the pictures/art that originally inspired this book.

This book will spark conversation about relationships, found family, community; and it will answer the question, WHY it takes a village to raise a child.

This book is art in text and illustration. I’m asking you to put this book on your shelf, on the shelves of friends and families, schools and churches, and community centers.

ON FRIDAYS launches 9.1.2026. Please preorder from anywhere books are sold.

@nealporterbooks @holidayhousepeachtree

I returned to find an envelope waiting for me. Inside, a copy of FISH FRY FRIDAY, illustrated by @cgesperanza, in a @wonderbookandvideo format. I’m grateful to the team at @abramskids for spearheading this endeavor.

Children will have access to the story and they will be reading, listening, and following along as Granny and her grandchild spend a day catching and cooking fish. This book is about family, food, community, and love!

If you want to check it out, request a copy from your library. If your library doesn’t have a copy, then ask them to purchase a copy.

I just made a commitment to teach adults to read and I’m so happy that I can begin with a book I wrote. It always hurts my heart when people can’t read. The blessing to have a book and you can read and process information on your own is fulfilling. Now I get to teach others how to approach books and stories without fear. I love this for me and them!

#fishfryfriday

Another festival in the books! Such joy to fellowship with creators of children’s books. We are living in crazy and chaotic times. So being with folks who celebrate books and humanity warms my heart. @hudson_cbf