![]() She explores the past, bringing to life gems of African-American history. She draws on memories - listening to spooky stories and tall tales spun by elders on the front porch. Author of more than 100 books, McKissack is as prolific and she is passionate. Her award-winning stories have helped change the face of children’s literature. That commitment to filling in the missing pieces of America’s story marks McKissack’s career as a children’s book author. She wrote that first book, Paul Laurence Dunbar: A Poet to Remember, in 1972. It taught McKissack about the discipline of revision and the importance of turning facts into a stirring read. ![]() Transforming that story into a book was more than a notion. When her search for a juvenile biography turned up empty, she made a life-changing decision: She’d write one herself. McKissack, an eighth grade teacher, wanted to share the work of Dunbar with her students. Two decades later, those magical nights would have new meaning. Words and possibility swirled in the air until bedtime called and poetry danced in McKissack’s dreams. As she listened to her mama recite the poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar, a spell wove around them. McKissack’s journey to become a children’s book author began as she sat on the front porch wrapped in her mother’s arms. ![]()
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