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Tonya Bolden

Growing up, Tonya Bolden thought one day she would be a teacher. Today, as an award-winning author of more than 40 books for young people and adults, she is just that. Her classroom has no walls. Instead, you just need to pick up one her acclaimed books on topics such as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., George Washington Carver or Reconstruction to step into the world she creates. History, she has said, is her passion. She passes that rich knowledge of the past on to people around the world.

Along with being a talented researcher, Bolden is known as a gifted storyteller who turns facts into something more — transcendent stories that move, challenge and inspire. (from The Brown Bookshelf)
​

For more information about Tonya, visit tonyaboldenbooks.com
Tonya Bolden

Tonya's Process

Listen to Tonya explain how she researched and wrote Maritcha. In particular, she addresses:
  • Filling in "the gaps" of history
  • Using a variety of sources
  • Overcoming challenges
  • Knowing what details to include
  • Working with an editor
  • Writing by the "seat of her pants"​​
Editor Letter, magazine article, and drafts of Maritcha
Editor Letter, magazine article, and drafts of Maritcha

Tonya's Books

Changing the Equation

Other Interviews and Resources about Tonya

See all videos in this interview at Reading Rockets
  • The Brown Bookshelf Interview (2008) 
  • Talking with Tonya Bolden (2009)
  • ​Library of Congress Interview by students (2015)
  • New York Historical Society Interview (2019)
  • "Tonya Bolden: Capturing History's Rhymes," SLJ (2020)




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  • Home
  • About Our Work
    • Principles & Framework
  • Picture books
    • Above the Rim
    • Building Zaha
    • Classified
    • Eleanor Makes Her Mark
    • Make Meatballs Sing
    • Otis and Will Discover the Deep
    • Queen of Physics
    • Sharuko
    • Soldier for Equality
    • The Cat Man of Aleppo
    • Voice of Freedom
    • What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?
    • William Still and His Freedom Stories
  • Chapter Books
    • Almost Astronauts
    • Maritcha
    • She Persisted: Claudette Colvin
  • Authors/Illustrators
    • Chris Barton
    • Tonya Bolden
    • Carole Boston Weatherford
    • Monica Brown
    • Jen Bryant
    • Matthew Burgess
    • Lesa Cline-Ransome
    • Natasha Donovan
    • Edwin Fotheringham
    • Rebecca Huang
    • Barbar Kerley
    • Irene Latham
    • Teresa Robeson
    • Barb Rosenstock
    • Katherine Roy
    • Traci Sorell
    • Tanya Lee Stone
    • Victoria Tentler-Krylov
    • Duncan Tonatiuh
    • Don Tate
  • Stories from the Classroom
    • Teacher Contributors
  • Additional Resources
  • About Us
  • Contact Us