Joyce Carol Thomas

Zora Neale Hurston

LIES AND OTHER TALL TALES These tales are so tall they touch the sky! From Caldecott Honor artist Christopher Myers and Zora Neale Hurston. While traveling in the Gulf States in the 1930s, Zora Neale Hurston collected and recorded some real whoppers told by folks from all walks of life. Not "dog ate my homework" kind of lies, but tales so wild you didn't ever want to hear the truth. And now today's picture–book readers can enjoy these far–fetched fibs, with Caldecott Honor artist Christopher Myers's spirited adaption and bold, expressive collages.

Lies and Other Tall Tales

Fire is Warm Abyssinia Jackson grew up under a vast Oklahoma sky shaded with pecan trees and dotted by endless rows of cotton-pickers cotton. She had the gift of song, a storyteller's talent, the love of her parents, and the affection and pride of her community. Fire Can Burn Then a tornado hits and drives Abby's family apart. A deranged neighbor targets her for a campaign of vengeful terror. And a vicious physical assault all but breaks her will. Marked by Fire In a triumphant story of faith and fortitude, Abby emerges clearly as a young woman who faces pain and joy with the dignity of her heritage and the determination of spirit. Joyce Carol Thomas’s beautifully written first novel, a 1983 National Book Award winner, remains as poignant and moving today as it was 25 years ago when it was first published.

Marked By Fire

Abyssinia Jackson, born in an Oklahoma cotton field in the wake of a tornado, is the pride and joy of her family, church, and community until a series of natural disasters and personal attacks threaten to break her spirit, but Mother Barker and her lessons in folk medicine help Abby survive.

Marked by Fire

Thomas has skillfully adapted stories by acclaimed folklorist and novelist Zora Neale Hurston, who traveled the rural South and gathered tales from ordinary folk. Full color.

And Other Animal Stories

What's the Hurry, Fox?

I have heard of a land Where the imagination has no fences Where what is dreamed one night Is accomplished the next day/FONT In the late 1880s, signs went up all around America - land was free in the Oklahoma territory. And it was free to everyone: Whites, Blacks, men and women alike. All one needed to stake a claim was hope and courage, strength and perseverance. Thousands of pioneers, many of them African-Americans newly freed from slavery, headed west to carve out a new life in the Oklahoma soil. Drawing upon her own family history, National Book Award winner Joyce Carol Thomas has crafted an unforgettable anthem to these brave and determned people from America's past. Richly illustrated by Coretta Scott King Award honoree Floyd Cooper, I Have Heard of a Land is a glorious tribute to the Afrian-American pioneer spirit. 00-01 Sequoyah Children's Book Award Masterlist

I Have Heard of a Land

We are color struck The way an artist strikes His canvas with his brush of many hues Look closely at these mirrors these palettes of skin Each color is rich in its own right Black is dazzling and distinctive, like toasted wheat berry bread; snowberries in the fall; rich, red cranberries; and the bronzed last leaves of summer. In this lyrical and luminous collection, Coretta Scott King honorees Joyce Carol Thomas and Floyd Cooper celebrate these many shades of black beautifully.

The Blacker the Berry

A groundbreaking anthology of stories written for young adults of all cultures, classes, and creeds, this collection of original tales reflects America's rich and diverse heritage. Touching on themes of compassion and intolerance, love and hope, the anthology offers a refreshingly different perspective of what it is like to be young in America.

A Gathering of Flowers

This book is collection of personal reflections, stories, and poems from ten of today's most accomplished writers for children, all young people themselves at the time of the Brown v. Board of Education decision.

The Brown V. Board of Education Decision : a Collection

Linda Brown, You are Not Alone

Lemons as big as oranges, the cool Pacific Ocean, mountains that rise up beyond the outstretched bay--California beckons as one girl makes her way west on a journey filled with excitement, hope, and the promise of a place where people from all paths come together and music fills the air. This is the true story of author Joyce Carol Thomas's trip from Oklahoma to California in 1948, when she moved there as a girl. During that time, many people went west, drawn by warmth and possibility, reflected in the people of all cultures and ethnicities who started a new life there. Coretta Scott King honoree Joyce Carol Thomas and Coretta Scott King Award winner Floyd Cooper capture the anticipation of a bright adventure and a world filled with freedom and opportunity. Included in Brightly's list of recommended diverse poetry picture books for kids. I ease myself back in the window seat and breathe in as the train breathes out We're on our way! On our way to the Land of Milk and Honey

In the Land of Milk and Honey

Throughout the year, a grandmother expresses her unconditional love for her grandson. The lyrical text is paired with reassuring and warm illustrations to make this a must-have on every child's bookshelf.

Joy: Joy!

In these four acclaimed novels, National Book Award-winning author Joyce Carol Thomas evocatively captures the triumph and struggles of teens as they come of age, and break and bond with their families. BRIGHT SHADOW (1983) This Coretta Scott King Honor Book and Thomas' sophomore effort continues the moving saga she began in her debut novel Marked By Fire. Abyssinia Jackson is back home from college where she's studying to be a doctor. But she must learn to cope with tragedy when peace is shattered in her Oklahoma countryside and her boyfriend Carl Lee disappears./DIV "Just when a critic thinks he has an author tightly held, a sequel wriggles free of preconceptions and hops away. . . . Sophisticated."--The Purdue Exponent "Amazing."--Panache Post WATER GIRL (1986) In the third book of a compelling saga that began with Marked By Fire, 15-year old Amber makes a startling family discovery that shakes her to her core. "Fans of Marked By Fire will want to read this story of an adolescent search for identity." —School Library Journal "A panorama of human emotions . . . entertaining reading.—VOYA "Teens who liked the first two books won't be disappointed."--BooklistDIV THE GOLDEN PASTURE (1987) In this ALA Pick of the List, 13-year old Carl's relationship with a wild rodeo horse teaches more about connecting with his dad than about riding. "A spirited, lyrical tale with a memorable cast of characters. . . . Thomas is a weaver of words, combining just the right ones to create a loving picture of three generations." —Publishers Weekly "Thomas' love for Oklahoma and empathy for her well-delineated characters emerge . . . a delight." —School Library Journal JOURNEY (1990) 16-year old Meggie is scared. One by one, her town's teenagers are mysteriously disappearing. What Meggie doesn't know is that her childhood holds the only key to save them. "Spellbinding."—VOYA "Appealing heroine, fast pace, and SF overtones will absorb readers."—Kirkus Reviews

Joyce Carol Thomas: Collected Novels for Teens

Amber Westbrook, who is more reflective, more intense, and more emotional than the rest of her family, escapes to the river when the arrival of a letter shatters her world in order to discover the meaning of her life.

Water Girl

Thomass book of everyday prayers celebrates love, friendship, birthdays, and weddings--welcoming grace and joy into the lives of people of all ages. (Motivation)

Healer

The exquisite horse twelve-year-old Carl Lee finds on his grandfather's farm one summer helps him to understand his difficult father better.

The Golden Pasture

Despite her mean-spirited foster mother's attempts to demean her, fourteen-year-old orphan Marigold finds the song within her heart during the search for a new lead gospel singer for the Rose of Sharon Baptist Church.

When the Nightingale Sings

These tales are so tall they touch the sky! From Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor artist Christopher Myers and Zora Neale Hurston. While traveling in the Gulf States in the 1930s, Zora Neale Hurston collected and recorded some real whoppers told by folks from all walks of life. Not "dog ate my homework" kind of lies, but tales so wild you didn't ever want to hear the truth. And now today's picture book readers can enjoy these far-fetched fibs with Christopher Myers's spirited adaption and bold, expressive collages.

I ease myself back in the window seat and breathe in as the train breathes out We're on our way! On our way to the Land of Milk and Honey Lemons as big as oranges, the cool Pacific Ocean, mountains that rise up beyond the outstretched bay—California beckons as one girl makes her way west on a journey filled with excitement, hope, and the promise of a place where people from all paths come together and music fills the air. This is the true story of author Joyce Carol Thomas's trip from Oklahoma to California in 1948, when she moved there as a girl. During that time, many people went west, drawn by warmth and possibility, reflected in the people of all cultures and ethnicities who started a new life there. Coretta Scott King honoree Joyce Carol Thomas and Coretta Scott King Award winner Floyd Cooper capture the anticipation of a bright adventure and a world filled with freedom and opportunity.

The three bad witches are HUNGRY! "Let's eat these children," they say. They may have teeth that are longer than their lips and they may wear high heels, but they are NO match for two smart children, their brave grandma, three hound dogs, and a fast-running snake. The Three Witches was first published in every tongue got to confess, the third volume of folklore collected by Zora Neale Hurston while traveling in the Gulf States in the 1930s. It has been adapted for young people by National Book Award winner Joyce Carol Thomas. The vibrant paintings have been masterfully executed by internationally celebrated artist Faith Ringgold.

The Three Witches

Do you dare to cross paths with ... An enchantress who can slip in and out of her skin, A man more evil than the devil, A skull who talks back, A pair of creepy feet that can walk on their own? Spooky, chilling, and fantastical, this collection of six scary tales will send shivers up your spine! The stories in the skull talks back have been selected from Every Tongue Got To Confess, Zora Neale Hurston's third volume of folklore. Through Joyce Carol Thomas's carefully adapted text and Leonard Jenkins's arresting illustrations, the soulful, fanciful imaginations of ordinary folk will reach readers of all ages.

And Other Haunting Tales

The Skull Talks Back

Christopher Myers

While traveling in the Gulf States in the 1930s, Hurston collected and recorded some real whoppers. Young readers can enjoy these far-fetched fibs enhanced with bold, expressive collages.

Joyce Carol Thomas

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