January 2022 - Page 7 of 14

Danny Chung Sums It Up
by Maisie Chan (Author) and Natelle Quek (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: Eleven-year-old Danny’s life is turned upside down when his Chinese grandmother comes to live with his family in England. Things get worse when Danny finds out he’ll have to share his room with her, and she took the top bunk! At first, Danny is frustrated that he can’t communicate with her because she doesn’t speak English—and because he’s on the verge of failing math and Nai Nai was actually a math champion back in the day. It just feels like he and his grandmother have nothing in common. His parents insist that Danny help out, so when he’s left to look after Nai Nai, he leaves her at the bingo hall for the day to get her off his back. But he soon discovers that not everyone there is as welcoming as he expected . . .

Snippet:

Listen to the author read an excerpt. FYI: In the UK, the title is Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths.

Pigskins to Paintbrushes: The Story of Football-Playing Artist Ernie Barnes
by Don Tate (Author / Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: Young Ernie Barnes wasn’t like other boys his age. Bullied for being shy, overweight, and uninterested in sports like boys were “supposed” to be, he instead took refuge in his sketchbook, in vibrant colors, bold brushstrokes, and flowing lines. But growing up in a poor, Black neighborhood during the 1930s, opportunities to learn about art were rare, and art museums were off-limits because of segregation laws. Discouraged and tired of being teased, Ernie joined the school football team. Although reluctant at first, he would soon become a star.

But art remained in Ernie’s heart and followed him through high school, college, and into the NFL. Ernie saw art all around him: in the dynamic energy of the game, the precision of plays, and the nimble movement of his teammates. He poured his passion into his game and his craft, and became famous as both a professional athlete and as an artist whose paintings reflected his love of the sport and celebrated Black bodies as graceful and beautiful.

Snippet:

Nonfiction Monday

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Month: January 2022

Danny Chung Sums it Up

Pigskins to Paintbrushes: The Story of Football-Playing Artist Ernie Barnes