“Engaging… An informative portrait of an activist and advocate whose accomplishments are still evident today.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Informative…guardians seeking a woman activist’s framework, with actionable steps that resonate today, will find this picture book attractive.” —Publishers Weekly

“The lively text presents Perkins’ life and times, while emphasizing her significant contributions to society. Created using pleasant, subdued colors, the well-composed digital illustrations bring past eras into focus and show Perkins’ determined work on behalf of others. An informative picture-book biography of a notable American.” —Booklist

“An informative picture book profiling an influential woman in the labor rights movement.” —School Library Journal

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People—NCSS/CBC, 2021

Deborah Hopkinson is the award-winning author of numerous critically acclaimed picture and chapter books, including Keep On!; Sweet Land of Liberty; Under the Quilt of Night; and Shutting Out the Sky: Life in the Tenements of New York 1880-1924. She lives in Oregon. You can visit her website here.

Kristy Caldwell received an MFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts. She lives in New York. You can visit her website here.

“Hopkinson skillfully shapes Carter’s childhood, family history and formative experiences into a cohesive story.…the inclusion of notable figures from black history reinforces the theme (a key is in the backmatter). An important and inspiring tale well told.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Young readers will be caught up in his story…. Quotes are seamlessly woven into the narrative, and a time line, list of sources, and bibliography add research appeal. Of special note are the illustrations, which include more than 40 portraits of black leaders… Their images and one-line biographies will pique further interest, making this a valuable resource for school and public libraries.” ―Booklist

“Thorough back matter… A charmingly illustrated picture book biography for elementary schoolers.” —School Library Journal

“Conversational… Delicately textured mixed-media illustrations…offer spare, stylized images…” —Publishers Weekly

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“Fascinating… Expressive artwork…” —Foreword Reviews

“This will be a go-to title for Black History Month, but a more meaningful tribute to the celebration’s founder will be a catalyst for further African-American studies throughout the year.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Exemplary… This inspiring picture book combines a rich but focused text with clear, expressive mixed-media illustrations. It sheds light on an important, inspiring, but little-known subject, and the supplemental back matter gives weight to the exceedingly important takeaways that history must include all people, and that anyone can change history.” —Shelf Awareness

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Carter G. Woodson Book Award (Honor Book, Elementary)―National Council for the Social Studies, 2020

Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award Silver Honor ―California Reading Association, 2019

Social Justice Literature Award ―Literacy and Social Justice Special Interest Group, International Literacy Association, 2020

Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award ―Parents’ Choice Foundation, 2019

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People ―NCSS/CBC, 2020

Notable Children’s Books―ALSC, 2020

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Northern Lights Book Award (Biography) ―Northern Dawn Awards, 2019

Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book ―Chicago Public Library, 2019

Top 10 Books for Kids ―New York Public Library, 2019

Eloise Jarvis McGraw Award for Children’s Literature (Finalist) ―Literary Arts, 2020

Best Children’s Books of the Year (Starred) ―Bank Street College of Education, 2020

Children’s Crown Award (Nominee) ―National Christian School Association, 2020-2021

Delaware Diamonds (Nominee, 3-5) ―Diamond State Reading Association, 2020-2021

Great Kids Can Read Award  (Nominee) ―Greater Kansas City Assoc of School Librarians, 2021-2022

Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (Intermediate) ―Kansas National Education Association, 2020

Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award (Nominee, Grades 3-5) ―State Library of Louisiana and Louisiana Center for the Book, 2021-2022

Oregon Spirit Book Award  (Honor, Nonfiction) ―Oregon Council of Teachers of English, 2019

Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards (Nominee, Grades K-3) ―Pennsylvania School Librarians Association, 2021-2022

Paterson Prize for Books for Young People (Honor Book) ―The Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College, 2020

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Deborah Hopkinson is the award-winning author of numerous critically acclaimed picture and chapter books, including Keep On!; Sweet Land of Liberty; Under the Quilt of Night; and Shutting Out the Sky: Life in the Tenements of New York 1880-1924. She lives in Oregon. You can visit her website here.

Don Tate is the illustrator of numerous critically acclaimed books for children. In 2013, he earned an Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor Award for his first picture book text, It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw. You can visit  his website here.

“Jenkins’s mixed-media illustrations are freighted with emotion, unnatural colors and skewed angles underlining the tumult of feelings surrounding the events, scribbles of colored chalk making the connection between Chapman the impassioned schoolboy and Chapman the righteous man…it brings deserved attention to Chapman and underscores the very worthwhile message that one does not need to be a star to make a difference.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Jenkins’ powerful, bright, mixed-media collages show and tell the connections, past, present, and future, as the politician remembers his childhood experience and his works for civil rights.” ―Booklist

“Hopkinson’s (Sky Boys) accessible, conversational narrative relays the little-known story of Oscar Chapman… Featuring bright swirling pastel patterns against deep blues and browns, Jenkins’s (Langston’s Train Ride) collage-like mixed-media illustrations deftly dramatize this illuminating and inspirational behind-the-scenes look at a triumphant moment in the civil rights movement.” ―Publishers Weekly

Best Children’s Books of the Year (Starred) –Bank Street College of Education, 2008

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People –National Council for the Social Studies, Children’s Book Council, 2008

Teachers’ Choices (Intermediate) –International Reading Association, 2008

Society of School Librarians International Book Awards (Honor Book, Social Studies, Grades K-6) –Society of School Librarians International, 2007

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Children’s Books:  100 Titles for Reading and Sharing –New York Public Library, 2007

Macy’s Multicultural Collection of Children’s Literature –Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), 2008

Outstanding Book Award (Honorable Mention) –The Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights, 2007

Children’s Crown Award (Nominee) –National Christian School Association, 2009-2010

Read Alouds too Good to Miss (Intermediate) –AIME, 2009

Storytelling World Resource Awards (Winner, Stories for Adolescent Listeners) –Storytelling World, 2008

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Deborah Hopkinson is the award-winning author of numerous critically acclaimed picture and chapter books, including Keep On!; Sweet Land of Liberty; Under the Quilt of Night; and Shutting Out the Sky: Life in the Tenements of New York 1880-1924. She lives in Oregon. You can visit her website here.

Leonard Jenkins has illustrated many books, including Sweet Land of Liberty, Champions on the Bench: The Cannon Street YMCA All-Stars; The Best Beekeeper of Lalibela; and Langston’s Train Ride. He lives in New York.

“Sturdy prose…stylized illustrations range from images of classic Americana to organic figures in motion…” ―Publishers Weekly

“Henson’s story is dramatic, although the narrative voice is soft as velvet, while Stephen Alcorn’s artwork appears both washed in bitter cold and defrosted by its hand-tinted quality.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Large in scale and often handsome…” ―Booklist

“Strikingly illustrated…articulate and straightforward prose…” ―School Library Journal

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“Verselike blocks of text…Alcorn’s illustration capture his awe…” ―News and Observer

“Beautiful and informative picture book…” ―The Carroll News

“There is plenty of action in Keep On! for young readers.” ―The San Francisco Chronicle

“One of the most heart-warming stories I’ve read in a long time…Hopkinson stimulates the reader’s imagination with her unique writing style, using Henson’s own words as text, then following them up with her own lively narrative, making for a very interesting read…I usually pass along the books I review, but this one is going into my special collection.” ―Picture Book Depot

“Fascinating and beautifully written…” ―Through the Looking Glass

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Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People ―National Council for the Social Studies, Children’s Book Council, 2010

Oregon Book Awards (Winner, Children’s Picture Book) ―Literary Arts, 2009

Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (Intermediate) ―Kansas National Education Association, 2010

Land of Enchantment Book Awards (Picture Narrative Master List) ―New Mexico Library Association, New Mexico Council of IRA, 2012-2013

Deborah Hopkinson is the award-winning author of numerous critically acclaimed picture and chapter books, including Keep On!; Sweet Land of Liberty; Under the Quilt of Night; and Shutting Out the Sky: Life in the Tenements of New York 1880-1924. She lives in Oregon. You can visit her website here.

Stephen Alcorn has illustrated numerous books for young people, including Keep On! and Yours for Justice, Ida B. Wells. He lives in Virginia. You can visit  his website here.