Miranda Paul's Blog

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Miranda Paul’s books for children are available wherever books are sold in stores or online.

This February, American author Miranda Paul and Gambian activist Isatou Ceesay will join forces to inspire and empower young people across the Gambia, West Africa, in a special anniversary tour February 16-28, 2023. They will be celebrating 25 years since Isatou began picking up plastic trash and transforming it into beautiful recycled items, and forming the women’s recycling group.

One Plastic Bag has made its way to more than 50 countries, and has been translated into eight languages. But Gambian students still lack access to the book. That’s about to change! Gambian schools and kids will get the chance to meet the creators for special presentations and events and receive book donations Feb 16-28, 2023.

Please join us for the opening event, a book launch and autographing party at Timbooktoo Bookstore in Fajara, Gambia! (3 Garba Jahumpa Road; Bakau New Town, Fajara M Section.) The event will be held on Friday, February 17th from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Meet and greet with Miranda Paul, environmentalist Isatou Ceesay, and watch live recycling demonstrations with the volunteers from Women’s Initiative the Gambia. Autographed books will be available for purchase and light refreshments will be served. Join the party of the decade! We hope to see you there.

Tour Schedule
(Please note that not all events are open to the public.)

2/16 AM – Appearance on QTV, Gambia – tune into “This Morning” Show!
2/17 AM – British International School The Gambia (BISG), Kotu
2/17 PM – Timbooktoo Bookstore, Bakau New Town/Fajara OPEN TO PUBLIC (come join!)

2/18 AM – Independence Day Parade, Banjul
2/21 AM – Young Writers Association, National Museum of Gambia, Banjul
2/22 AM – Mary’s Little Lambs Daycare & Nursery School, Kololi
2/22 PM – MyFarm
2/23 AM – Future Leaders Academy of Education Excellence
2/23 PM – Bakau New Town Lower Basic
2/24 AM – Horaya Academy, Bakau New Town
2/24 AM – BAIS
2/24 PM – 4:30 p.m. The Gambia College, Brikama Campus, OPEN TO PUBLIC (come join!)
2/25 AM – Gunjur Upper Basic and Association for Needy Orphans and Widows, Gunjur
2/27 AM – Kaur Basic Cycle School, Kaur, Central River Region
2/27 PM – Njau Basic Cycle, Njau (N’jau), Central River Region
2/28 AM – Wassu Schools, Wassu, Central River Region

If you would like to support students’ education and engagement in Gambia by making a donation toward free books or tour transportation, please contact us ASAP. It costs $4 per student to make this event happen when transportation is necessary. Thank you for your support!

Supporters outside of the Gambia can host a school visit or virtual Q&A with Miranda and Isatou to help us raise funds for books, transportation, and programming for Gambian youth! Learn more here.

This tour is hosted in partnership with Women Initiative the Gambia, a charitable organization. A special thank you to Lerner Publishing Group for donating books for several villages and schools.

Miranda Paul’s newest book collaboration, Mama in Congress: Rashida Tlaib’s Journey to Washington, is now available. The nonfiction picture book chronicles the personal and political journey of Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, the first of two Muslim woman elected to Congress. The narrative is told through the voice and lens of Tlaib’s son and co-author Adam Tlaib, and centered her children’s curiosity about their Mama’s new job and the campaign process. The book idea originated from questions her kids had, such as: “Hey, is the president Mom’s boss now?”

Miranda Paul, Rashida Tlaib, Adam Tlaib, and illustrator Olivia Aserr announced that the book sets out to address questions many kids may have—from how elections and the government work to what it means to “break barriers” as a woman of color.

Booklist hailed it a “fun, informative picture-book biography” that is “This is a great addition to collections showcasing women diversifying Congress and a fun way to talk to kids about the ways anyone can make a change in the world if they set their heart to the task.” Kirkus called it “a welcome notice that our government is increasingly diversifying.”

The book is widely available for sale at:  Bookshop || HarperCollins || Barnes & Noble || Politics & Prose || Powell’s || Boswell Book Company || Amazon || 27th Letter Books || Lion’s Mouth Bookstore

Book Info:
MAMA IN CONGRESS: Rashida Tlaib’s Journey to Washington
Authors: Rashida Tlaib, Adam Tlaib, Miranda Paul
Illustrator: Olivia Aserr
Publisher:Clarion/HarperCollins
Pages: 40
Price (Hardcover): $18.99
Publication Date: September 20, 2022
ISBN (Hardcover): 978-0-358-68343-8
Section: Children’s

To contact Miranda Paul and request an interview, virtual or in-person author visit, please use the details on the contact page.

On display now at Target stores nationwide, pick up a copy of PEACE by Miranda Paul and Baptiste Paul, illustrated by Estelí Meza. Or, order PEACE or PAZ online/for store pickup! PAZ is translated by Aida Salazar. In the store, you’ll likely find the book on the Hispanic/Latine heritage month display through October.

PEACE has also been nominated for the Connecticut Charter Oak Children’s Book Award. Congratulations! During the 2021-2022 school year, students in Connecticut will read the nominee books and vote for their favorite as a winner.

PEACE is published by NorthSouth books and is available in Spanish (Paz) and German (Frieden). More information about the book is available here.

What would YOU do with $150? Start a compost pile at school? A skip-the-straw campaign? Start a garden on your apartment balcony? Replace the lightbulbs at your home or daycare?

In celebration of Miranda Paul’s forthcoming publication 101 Ways to Help the Earth with Dr. Seuss’s Lorax (On Sale 9/21/2021), Dr. Seuss Enterprises and Random House Children’s Books will fund 101 projects with $150 dollars to be used towards environmental work and activism within the winner’s communities!

Get the ideas flowing quickly because this April you may apply for one of 101 grants! Here’s a little more about this program. Don’t forget to apply before April 30th, when Earth month and the application window close for 2021!

https://www.theloraxproject.com/grant-program/

The third wonderful review for PEACE is in, and it’s a STAR from School Library Journal!

The full review will be printed in the March 1 School Library Journal issue. Here is what they had to say:

“[T]his striking picture book informs young readers of the benefits of peace and that it is attainable for each of us…Delivered in perfectly scanning rhyming couplets, this important lesson is easily understood in the words that define peace. […] A valuable, necessary lesson that beautifully defines peace for children.”

☛Paul, Miranda & Baptiste Paul. illus. by Estelí Meza. 40p. NorthSouth. Mar. 2, 2021. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9780735844490. Click here to read more about PEACE.

From KIRKUS REVIEW:

“A visually splendid primer on peace.”

“In this attractive package, lyrical, rhyming text explores various forms of peace.”

“Extra attention is paid to inclusivity...This imperative is found in the illustrations as well, in which a multiracial cast of children includes two who wear eyeglasses and one who walks with forearm crutches.”

“An authors’ note takes an extra step: Peace means humans living in harmony with one another and living in balance with nature too. During war and conflict, wildlife is also affected.”

“The Pauls offer strong, bold words, hoping they’ll land in the hearts of children everywhere.”

“The lulling text will work well to soothe young activists…[p]oignant, broad strokes invite a deep delve.”

“Read the full Kirkus Review for Peace by Baptiste Paul and Miranda Paul here.

Read more librarian and educator reviews for Peace on NetGalley.

View the book trailers for PEACE and PAZ at John Schu’s blog here.

For more information about this book, including links to purchase, visit the book page for PEACE here.

For teacher and educator guides and activity resources to accompany Miranda Paul’s books, visit the resources page here.

Looking for a Thanksgiving book to share with students? THANKU: POEMS OF GRATITUDE features diverse poems from 32 children’s poets and writers.

Get your students in the attitude of gratitude with this beautiful collection illustrated by Marlena Myles. Proceeds benefit We Need Diverse Books.

“[T]his attractive and accessible collection should be popular with browsers and useful for creative writing classes.” —Booklist

“An anthology of diverse voices united by the theme of giving thanks. Lovely lyric lessons in appreciating the ordinary.” —Kirkus Reviews

“I highly recommend Thanku: Poems of Gratitude, due out in September from Millbrook Press. It is #OwnVoices at its very best!” —Debbie Reese (Nambe Pueblo), American Indians in Children’s Literature

Now available for order here.

Educators & Writers!

Baptiste Paul and Miranda Paul have both contributed a personal essay to Melissa Stewart’s NONFICTION WRITERS DIG DEEP, which takes you behind the books and research of 50 of today’s top nonfiction authors for children and teens. Released at the 2020 NCTE conference, this educational resource can be used within a classroom or to improve one’s own writing.

Click here to read the press release, or here to order.

As schools around the world head back into the classroom virtually and in person, the National Education Association has released its 2020-2021 Read Across America titles.

SPEAK UP has been chosen as August’s Book of the Month for Empowering Student Voice! Educators and parents can find teaching materials to go along with this book here or at the NEA’s website. Curriculum topics include: Community, Diversity of American Voices, Elementary, Finding Your Voice, Kindness, Making a Difference, Picture Book, Social Action.

More educator resources for Speak Up, including:

An Activity Kit for Pre-K and Elementary Students
A Lesson Plan: “How Can I use My Voice to Make Things Better?” & First Amendment Guide
Links to additional teaching resources
An author/illustrator interview video

are available on the Teacher Resources Page.

To learn more about Speak Up, click here. To purchase a copy of Speak Up, click any of the links below or head to your favorite independent retailer.

Publisher

bookshop.org

IndieBound

Amazon

Barnes & Noble.

Happy Book Birthday, SPEAK UP!

Earlier in the summer, Today.com ran a piece about “25 Best Summer Reads for Kids” and included SPEAK UP!

Here’s what they had to say about Miranda Paul & Ebony Glenn’s newest picture book:

“This book encourages kids to speak up about injustice and bullying, but also about their own feelings. It’s a great conversation-starter for this moment, with important words of wisdom for moments to come.”—Today

And now, the book is out in the world! Ebony and Miranda celebrated the book birthday for Speak Up by releasing a video interview of the first time they met. In this behind-the-scenes video, get to know more about the creators of Speak Up.

Speak Up is now available for purchase online or in bookstores wherever fine books are sold. If you would like to purchase your copy from a black-owned independent bookstore, there is a list here. Please consider leaving a review at major retail sites if you liked the book! Reviews help teachers and parents discover the book so that they can share it with the little ones in their lives.

To learn more about Speak Up, visit the page. And don’t forget to check out the Teacher Resources webpage to download the Speak Up Activity Kit and First Amendment guide.