Tonya Bolden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tonya Bolden
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Portrait of Tonya Bolden
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| Born | March 1, 1959 |
| Education | Princeton University Columbia University |
| Occupation | Author |
Tonya K. Bolden was born on March 1, 1959. She is an American writer. Tonya Bolden is famous for writing books for children. She is especially known for her nonfiction books for young readers.
Bolden has written, helped write, or edited over forty books. Hillary Clinton praised her 1998 book 33 Things Every Girl Should Know. This happened at an event in Seneca Falls, New York. It was the 150th anniversary of the first Women's Rights Convention.
Her book Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl (2005) won the James Madison Book Award. It was also honored by the American Library Association’s Coretta Scott King Author Award. M.L.K.: Journey of a King (2007) won the Orbis Pictus Award from the National Council of Teachers of English. This is a top award for children’s nonfiction. Her book George Washington Carver (2008) was also honored for the same award.
In 2016, Tonya Bolden received the Nonfiction Award. This award recognized all her books. It honored her for making nonfiction books better for children.
Contents
Tonya Bolden's Life and Career
Her Early Years
Tonya Bolden was born in New York City on March 1, 1959. Her parents, Willie J. and Georgia C. Bolden, moved to New York from North and South Carolina. Her mother went to school until sixth grade. Her father went until ninth grade.
Even so, both parents wanted Tonya and her sister Nelta to have many chances to learn. They were careful with money. But they always bought books for their daughters. Bolden remembers that her parents never said no to books she wanted from school book fairs.
Bolden says her love for writing at home led to her career. Her parents also encouraged reading. She recalls, "They encouraged me to seek to earn a living doing something I absolutely loved." She adds, "when I was a child, I was crazy about reading and writing." Bolden has also said she has "been in love with books since I learned my ABCs."
It's interesting that Bolden is known for history books today. But as a child, she didn't like history. She especially disliked history from books. She remembers, "It was usually presented in such an uninteresting way." She felt she didn't see herself or her people in history. Even when her uncle, who loved history, tried to teach her about black history in Harlem, she often didn't care.
She did enjoy the Little House on the Prairie TV show. But she thinks she liked it for the old-fashioned things in it.
Her Education
Tonya Bolden's parents were very involved in her education. Her mother researched to find the best schools for her daughter in New York. Bolden went to M.E.S. 146, a public school in East Harlem. Later, she attended the Chapin School, a private school in Manhattan. Bolden says that great teachers at both schools helped her become a writer. They also made her want to publish books.
After Chapin, Bolden went to Princeton University. In 1981, she earned a degree in Slavic Languages and Literature. She focused on Russian.
After Princeton, Bolden worked for two years. Then she went back to school at Columbia University. Bolden believes her study of Russian and her diverse childhood helped her writing. She earned her master's degree in 1985. It was also in Slavic Languages and Literatures, focusing on Russian.
Starting Her Career
After college, Bolden taught at Malcolm-King College and the College of New Rochelle. She taught English classes. She especially liked teaching "Translating Experience into Essay." She said, "Many of my students were my age or older. They were living proof that it’s never too late to learn."
Bolden planned to get a doctorate and become a professor of Russian literature. But while in graduate school, her writing started to appear in print. At first, she did freelance projects. She wrote for Black Enterprise magazine.
In 1987, Bolden started writing full-time. She recalls, "I could not be picky. I do not think I ever turned down any writing jobs no matter how small or seemingly insignificant."
Her first big book project was a young adult novel. It was based on Vy Higginsen’s musical Mama, I Want to Sing. Scholastic published it in 1992. Bolden says this chance came from her earlier small writing jobs and good luck. Her agent, Marie Brown, suggested her to Vy Higginsen and Scholastic. The experience went so well that the editor wanted her to write another book. She remembers, "writing for the young found me and I found myself loving it more and more."
What Tonya Bolden Writes About
Most of Tonya Bolden's books focus on identity. They also show how books can help shape who we are. In a 2014 essay, Bolden wrote about why books are important. She said that children need "mirrors" and "windows."
- Mirrors are books where kids see themselves.
- Windows are books where kids learn about people who are different from them.
Bolden believes that nonfiction, especially history, is key to this. She explains that "there is power in the past." Knowing history can help stop feelings of shame or confusion about who you are.
A big part of her work focuses on the black experience in history. She writes: "I write because I am the beneficiary of the prayers, hopes, and labors of generations, of people I never knew who braved water cannons, police dogs, burning crosses on lawns, so that I might have wider opportunities." "I write because my parents, born poor and into the world of Jim Crow, seeded in me a love of reading and for school and for learning and for striving for excellence."
Bolden also explains that almost all her young adult books are about black themes. She says, "Yes, all young adults can benefit from books about black history and culture." But she feels it's very important for black youth to read stories and histories about Africa and the African diaspora. She wants to create books that celebrate their history and potential.
Christianity is also a theme in some of her books. This is especially true within the Black American experience. Bolden notes that the Black Church helped her people survive and grow. She says its music and preaching styles have influenced her writing.
She mentions her 2001 book Rock of Ages: A Tribute to the Black Church. She believes people should learn about the Black Church's importance at a young age. She also took a "risk" in her 2006 book M.L.K.: Journey of a King. She emphasized the role of faith in King's life. She explains that "many people prefer a King who is not so much of a Christian."
Tonya Bolden's Books
- The Family Heirloom Cookbook (1990)
- Mama, I Want to Sing (1992) (Co-author with Vy Higginsen)
- Starting a Business from Your Home (1993)
- Conversations: Straight Talk with America's Sister President (1993) (Collaborator for Johnnetta B. Cole)
- Activity Booklet for Sweet Honey In The Rock recording I Got Shoes (1994) (Co-author with Bernice Johnson Reagon)
- Educator’s Guide for Wade in the Water: African American Sacred Music Traditions (1994) (Co-author with Bernice Johnson Reagon, et al.)
- Mail-Order and Direct Response (1994)
- Rites of Passage: Stories About Growing Up by Black Writers From Around the World (1994) (editor)
- The Book of African-American Women: 150 Crusaders, Creators, and Uplifters (1996)
- Just Family (novel; 1996)
- Through Loona's Door: A Tammy and Owen Adventure with Carter G. Woodson (1997)
- And Not Afraid to Dare: The Stories of Ten African-American Women (1998)
- 33 Things Every Girl Should Know: Stories, Songs, Poems, and Smart Talk by 33 Extraordinary Women (1998) (editor)
- Strong Men Keep Coming: The Book of African-American Men (1999)
- Forgive or Forget: Never Underestimate the Power of Forgiveness (1999) (Co-author with Mother Love)
- Rejuvenate! (It’s Never Too Late) (2001) (Co-author with Eartha Kitt)
- Rock of Ages: A Tribute to the Black Church (2001)
- Tell All the Children Our Story: Memories & Mementos of Being Young and Black in America (2001)
- 33 Things Every Girl Should Know About Women’s History (2002) (editor)
- American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert Storm (2003) (Co-author with Gail Buckley: young readers’ edition)
- Chaka! Through the Fire (2003) (Co-author with Chaka Khan)
- Portraits of African-American Heroes (2003)
- Wake Up Our Souls: A Celebration of Black American Artists (2004)
- The Champ: The Story of Muhammad Ali (2004)
- Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American Girl (2005)
- Cause: Reconstruction America, 1863-1877 (2005)
- Weddings Valentine Style (2006) (Co-author with Diann Valentine)
- Half the Mother, Twice the Love: My Journey to Better Health with Diabetes (2006) (Co-author with Mother Love)
- MLK: Journey of a King (2006)
- Take-Off: America All-Girl Bands During WWII (2007)
- George Washington Carver (2008)
- Say A Little Prayer (2008) (Co-author with Dionne Warwick and David Freeman Wooley)
- W. E. B. Du Bois: A Twentieth-Century Life (2008)
- FDR’s Alphabet Soup: New Deal America, 1932-1939 (2010)
- Finding Family (2010)
- Emancipation Proclamation: Lincoln and the Dawn of Liberty (2013)
- 12 Days of New York (2013)
- Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America (2014)
- Beautiful Moon: A Child’s Prayer (2014)
- Capital Days: Michael Shiner’s Journal and the Growth of Our Nation’s Capital (2015)
- This Kid Can Fly (2016) (Co-author with Aaron Philip)
- How to Build a Museum: Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (2016)
- Pathfinders: The Journeys of 16 Extraordinary Black Souls (2017)
- Crossing Ebenezer Creek (2017)
- Facing Frederick: The Life of Frederick Douglass, a Monumental American Man (2017)
- Inventing Victoria (2019)
Awards and Honors
In 2016, Tonya Bolden received the Nonfiction Award for her entire body of work. This award came from the Children's Book Guild of Washington, D.C.
Here are some awards for her individual books:
Mama, I Want to Sing
- New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
Just Family
- Junior Library Guild Selection
And Not Afraid to Dare: The Stories of Ten African-American Women
- New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
33 Things Every Girl Should Know: Stories, Songs, Poems, and Smart Talk by 33 Extraordinary Women
- ALA Best Book for Young Adults
Strong Men Keep Coming: The Book of African-American Men
- Black Expressions Book Club Selection
- New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
Rock of Ages: A Tribute to the Black Church
- National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) Honors Award
Tell All the Children Our Story: Memories & Mementos of Being Young and Black in America
- 2002 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
- 2002 ALA Best Book for Young Adults Nominee
- Scholastic TAB Book Club Selection
- Black Expressions Book Club Selection
Portraits of African-American Heroes
- NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
Wake Up Our Souls: A Celebration of Black American Artists
- YALSA Best Book for Young Adults
- VOYA Nonfiction Honor List
The Champ: The Story of Muhammad Ali
- Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award Selection
- Booklist Top 10 Youth Sports Book
Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American Girl
- James Madison Book Award Winner
- Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book
- YALSA Best Book for Young Adults
- ALSC 2006 Notable Children's Book
- NAPPA Gold Award Winner
- CCBC Best Book of the Year
- New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
Cause: Reconstruction America, 1863-1877
- New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
M.L.K.: Journey of a King
- 2008 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
Take-Off: America All-Girl Bands During WWII
- New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
George Washington Carver
- New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
- Finalist for the 2009 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books
- NAPPA Gold Award
- NYPL's Children's Books: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
- Booklist pick for its 2008 “Top 10 Sci-Tech Books for Youth”
- Orbis Pictus Honor Book
- International Reading Association Notable Book for a Global Society
- Booklist Top 10 Black History Book
- Jefferson Cup winner (Virginia Library Association)
- Cleveland Public Library Sugarman Award
FDR's Alphabet Soup: New Deal America, 1932-1939
- Chicago Public Library “Best of the Best for 2010”
- IRA-CBC Teachers’ Choices Reading List Pick
Finding Family
- Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Books
Emancipation Proclamation: Lincoln and the Dawn of Liberty
- Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book
- Orbis Pictus Award Recommended Book
- ALSC Notable Children's Book
- NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
- CCBC Choices, 2014
- Best Book of the Year, Children's Book Committee, Bank Street College of Education
- NCSS Carter G. Woodson Book Award, 2014
Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America
- NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Best Multicultural Children's Book, Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature
- California Reading Association Eureka! Honor Book
- Wisconsin Reading Association Recommended Book
- NCSS Carter G. Woodson Honor Award
Beautiful Moon: A Child's Prayer
- NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book
- ALSC Notable Children's Book
