Fortunately, I was raised by parents who made it clear that not only could my sisters and my brother and I attain whatever goal we went after, it was expected that we would. When I think about starting in children’s books right out of college, I remember that every teacher I talked to told me it was impossible to break into the business. Lauded as “suspenseful and well-paced” by Horn Book, “ chillingly gothic” by the Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books, TRACE “tells a poignant story about grief, love, and the untold stories that echo across time.” In a starred review, School Library Journal declared TRACE a page-turner from beginning to end: “From its dramatic opening to its satisfying conclusion, this is an absorbing, multi-layered novel.”įriends, join me in welcoming the incomparable Pat Cummings to the Brown Bookshelf! Today, we welcome Pat Cummings to the Brown Bookshelf as we celebrate her middle grade debut, TRACE. When I finally met Pat Cummings in person, she was doing another thing she does with grace and exquisite skill - teaching and mentoring new children’s book artists and creators. (no I didn’t give my baby (delicious) candy, the Dots on top of Harvey Moon were mine, she just liked the empty box.) How can you not sing? “Please read again?” That stylish, vivacious auntie in her braids and bright colours! A Black woman world traveler in a children’s book! I’d sing the whole thing through until my toddler daughter had it memorized, and we’d sing it together:īars. That book is a joy to read aloud - the rhythm and playfulness of Pat Cummings’ language is alive, and the art.oh my goodness! So vibrant and joyful and fun.Īnd don’t get me started on MY AUNT CAME BACK - that board book was purchased many times over because it was so well-loved. Many years later, as a new mom, I introduced my six-month-old to CLEAN YOUR ROOM, HARVEY MOON, and it was an instant hit - her absolute favourite book. The children I worked with saw themselves and their aunties and mommas and cousins in Pat Cummings’ art, and so did I - and that made our time together deeper and special. JUST US WOMEN, by Jeanette Caines, and illustrated by Pat Cummings, was one of my favourites. It was a new program, which ended up meaning that we (there were four of us) had a lot of latitude and control over the books we chose to read. I was working in Harlem and Washington Heights as a summer literacy intern for my college, knocking on doors and offering to read to children and families in their homes.

At 18, I had my first job as an advocate for Black children’s books.

Trace by Pat Cummings