Illustrator & Author Profile
Frank Morrison
16 Books
Frank Morrison is an award-winning American illustrator known for his dynamic, expressive, and graffiti-inspired artistic style. He has illustrated numerous critically acclaimed children's books that highlight African American history and culture, including 'R-E-S-P-E-C-T' and 'Standing in the Need of Prayer'. While he is the primary illustrator for these titles rather than the main writer, his vibrant artwork has earned him multiple Coretta Scott King Illustrator honors.
Epic is the absolute king of the skateboard. He can do kickflips and big rail tricks that you have to see to believe. But when his family moves to a brand-new neighborhood, his awesome tricks just do not feel as fun without his old crew there to cheer him on.
Struggling to fit in with the kids in his new town, Epic actually thinks about giving up his beloved skateboard entirely. It takes some encouraging words from his dad to help him realize that the best way to make real friends is to stop trying to be someone else.
This vibrant and energetic story is all about the struggles of moving to a new place and the joy of staying true to yourself. Grab your board and discover why the coolest trick you can ever do is simply being exactly who you are!
6-8 Years
39 Pages
Visiting the busy city from her home in the suburbs, a young girl discovers something magical growing in an empty lot. With just a few packets of seeds, some helping hands, and a lot of hard work, L'il Sissy and her siblings help their Uncle John transform a patch of dirt into a beautiful, luscious garden right in the middle of a housing project!
As you watch the vegetables grow, you will learn all about the life cycle of plants and the magic of nature. L'il Sissy loves to measure, compare, and estimate how tall the plants are getting, making this a fun way to explore the science of farming.
This heartwarming true story celebrates the amazing things that happen when families work together, showing how a little love and patience can make anything grow beautifully.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul
Step into the spotlight and discover the incredible life of the Queen of Soul. Long before she became a global superstar, Aretha Franklin was a young girl singing in her father's church choir. Her voice was a gift that could move hearts and lift spirits, but her journey to fame was filled with challenges.
Follow her extraordinary rise from a gifted child to a legendary musician and passionate civil rights activist. You will see how she used her powerful voice not just to entertain the world, but to demand equality and justice for all people.
This beautifully illustrated biography captures the rhythm, soul, and determination of a true musical icon. It shows how one woman's courage and unmatched talent helped soundtrack a movement and inspire generations. Get ready to find out what it means to demand respect and change the world with a single voice.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
48 Pages
Long before he hit hundreds of home runs and became a Most Valuable Player, Alex was just a regular kid who loved baseball more than anything else in the entire world. But loving the game does not mean you never make mistakes.
Alex knows exactly what it feels like to swing wildly at a bad pitch or watch the ball bounce right between his legs during an important game. When the pressure is on for the big playoffs, he starts to get nervous. Instead of giving up, Alex decides to wake up at the crack of dawn to practice his hitting and fielding before school every single day.
Written by a real baseball superstar about his own childhood, this inspiring story shows that even the greatest players have to work hard to overcome their mistakes. Discover the true spirit of teamwork, determination, and the absolute joy of playing the game you love.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
36 Pages
Imagine being told you cannot play on the same playground, go to the same school, or even drink from the same water fountain as other kids just because of the color of your skin. In 1963, thousands of children and teenagers in Birmingham, Alabama, decided they had enough.
After hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak, these brave young people volunteered to march for their civil rights. Facing extreme danger, fear, and hatred, they stepped up to protest the unfair laws that kept Black and white people separate. Told from the perspective of a child who was actually there, this story brings you right into the heart of the Children's Crusade.
The poetic words and dramatic paintings capture the incredible bravery of kids who used their voices to demand change. It is a powerful true story that proves you are never too young to stand up for what is right and change the world.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
43 Pages
Before basketball had giant superstars soaring through the air on television, there was Elgin Baylor. In the early days of the professional leagues, Elgin was an incredible athlete who leaped higher and played more creatively than anyone had ever seen. He was like a plane taking off, inspiring everyone who watched him play.
But off the court, things were very different. Because he was Black, Elgin was often turned away from the hotels and restaurants where his white teammates were allowed to stay and eat. Finally, he decided he had enough of the unfairness and staged a quiet, powerful one-man protest that caught the attention of the entire nation and forced the league to change its rules.
This beautiful biography tells the inspiring true story of an early basketball legend who was a quiet force for change. Discover how Elgin Baylor used his courage both on and off the court to stand up for what is right.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
40 Pages
MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee
MacNolia Cox was not your average eighth grader. While other kids played outside, her idea of fun was memorizing the dictionary. In 1936, her dedication paid off when she became the first African American to win the spelling bee in Akron, Ohio. Suddenly a local celebrity, she boarded a train to Washington, DC, to compete at the prestigious National Spelling Bee. Thousands cheered her departure, but the celebration quickly turned cold when her train crossed into Maryland, where strict segregation laws ruled. You will follow MacNolia as she faces blatant prejudice at the hotel and the competition itself. Meeting injustice with extraordinary dignity, she refused to let discrimination erase her brilliance. Discover the groundbreaking story of a young girl who challenged the rules and spelled out her own success.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
43 Pages
Long before he was known around the entire world as the Greatest of All Time, Muhammad Ali was just a twelve-year-old boy named Cassius Clay. He lived in Louisville, Kentucky, and his absolute favorite thing in the world was riding his brand-new, bright red-and-white bicycle through the city streets.
But one fateful day, someone stole his prized possession. Cassius was proud, bold, and determined not to let the thief get away with it. He wanted to fight back, and that very moment led him straight to a local boxing gym. It was the exact day a true champion was born.
This exciting biography takes you back to the childhood of a legendary sports hero to see exactly how his amazing journey began. Discover the incredible hard work, persistence, and booming confidence that helped a young boy overcome his obstacles and grow up to become the most famous boxer in history.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
40 Pages
Your shoes might have holes in them but your feet are lightning fast. Alta knows she is the quickest kid in her entire town just like her hero Wilma Rudolph. Tomorrow is the big parade celebrating Wilmas three Olympic gold medals and Alta can hardly wait. But then a new girl struts into the neighborhood wearing bright shiny new sneakers and challenges Alta to a race. Suddenly being the fastest is not quite as easy as it used to be. Step onto the dusty roads of a segregated town where you will discover what it means to run with all your heart. This inspiring story shows you that true speed comes from determination and that sometimes the greatest victories happen when rivals decide to become teammates instead.
6-8 Years
41 Pages
A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual
Travel through more than four hundred years of history as you discover the milestones, struggles, and incredible triumphs of African Americans. Based on a classic spiritual song, this deeply moving book invites you to look back at pivotal moments like the arrival of enslaved people in Jamestown and the peaceful protests of the Civil Rights movement.
See how faith, strength, and resilience helped people persevere through the hardest of times. You will recognize famous heroes, musicians, and athletes who changed the world, as well as everyday people who stood up for what is right.
The gorgeous paintings and reworking of classic lyrics create an inspiring story of hope. It is a powerful reminder of yesterday and a beautiful dream for tomorrow that will leave you feeling inspired and ready to make a difference.
6-8 Years
18 Pages
16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop
A vibrant generation voicing its deepest hopes and fears successfully founded a global hip-hop nation. But where did this powerful rhythm truly begin? The rich history of rap has deep origins that echo long before the legendary turntables of DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash. You will travel back in time to discover how this dynamic art form organically evolved from early folktales, spirituals, and spoken-word poetry. Feel the explosive showmanship of James Brown, and witness the underground birth of colorful graffiti art and acrobatic breakdancing. Written in a fast-paced, lyrical rhythm that mimics the beat of a true hip-hop track, this dynamic book celebrates the pioneers of the culture. Explore the creative roots that grew into a powerful language spoken by communities around the entire world.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
47 Pages
What starts as a simple walk to the park with her mother quickly turns into an unforgettable musical adventure! A young girl begins to hear a catchy rhythm coming from the vibrant world all around her.
From the gentle flutter of butterfly wings to the sounds of street performers and the tapping of an ice cream seller, she realizes that absolutely everything has a musical beat. Before long, she is sniffing, snapping, and shaking her way right into the heart of the music. Her joyful energy is completely contagious, and soon she bursts into an impromptu street dance that gets all the other children joining in!
This bright and bouncy story perfectly captures the magic of a bustling city neighborhood. Get ready to tap your toes and feel the beat, because this delightful adventure will definitely put you in the mood to dance.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
It is a very special day in 1950s Harlem, and a young boy named C.J. is incredibly excited. A photographer from a big magazine is coming to take a picture of his Uncle Click, a famous jazz musician. There is just one huge problem: Uncle Click has lost his lucky hat!
Determined to save the photo shoot, C.J. races all over the neighborhood looking for the missing black beret. As he searches through barbershops and jazz clubs, news of the famous photographer starts to spread everywhere he goes. By the time C.J. gets back home, something completely magical has happened on his front steps!
Inspired by a famous real-life photograph, this lively story captures the booming energy of a historic neighborhood. Follow C.J. on a fast-paced adventure that shows how the joy of music can bring an entire community together in the best possible way.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
Growing up in the 1830s was not easy for George Crum. Picked on at school for the color of his skin, he spent most of his time escaping into the peaceful woods to hunt and fish. But George soon discovered he had a spectacular talent for cooking, and as a young man, he landed a job as the head chef at a fancy restaurant.
George absolutely loved his work in the kitchen, but he really disliked dealing with fussy customers who constantly complained about their meals. One extremely hot day, a customer kept sending his potatoes back to the kitchen, demanding they be sliced thinner. George's patience finally boiled over, and he decided to play a trick by slicing the potatoes as thin as paper and frying them until they were completely crisp.
Instead of being angry, the customer loved them! This spirited true story reveals how one frustrated chef accidentally invented the potato chip. Discover the tasty history and human ingenuity behind one of the most famous snack foods in the world.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
32 Pages
The Cosmic Journey of Neil deGrasse Tyson
When young Neil deGrasse Tyson first visited the planetarium in New York City, he was completely starstruck. Looking up at the theater ceiling, he simply could not believe that the crowded, glittering night sky he saw was actually real. Growing up in the bright city, he had never seen so many stars!
A trip to the country finally proved that the dazzling sky was not a trick, and that discovery became rocket fuel for Neil's imagination. His deep passion for space took him from the roof of his apartment building with a telescope all the way to a special science expedition in Africa. Eventually, his amazing journey brought him right back to become the director of the very same planetarium where his huge dreams first began.
This fascinating true story shows how one curious boy's incredible quest for knowledge transformed him into a world-famous astrophysicist. Perfect for aspiring scientists and big dreamers, it will definitely ignite your own sense of wonder about the vast universe above.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
50 Pages
By
Bill O'Reilly and James Patterson
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Pictures by
Daniel Roode, Olga Ivanov, Aleksey Ivanov, Alina Chau, Amy June Bates, John Abbott Nez, Julie Robine, Donald Wu, Jennifer Zivoin, Begona Corbalan, Ruth Galloway, Tracy Dockray, Kate Babok, Elizabet Vukovic, Ziyue Chen, Joe Sutphin, Frank Morrison, and Scott Magoon
Have you ever wondered if there is a real magic word? It turns out there is, and it is a word you can use every single day! Bestselling authors Bill O'Reilly and James Patterson have teamed up to show you just how powerful the word please can be. Whether you are trying to find a home for a lovable stray dog, looking for a friend to join you on the seesaw, hoping for one more bedtime story, or really needing a delicious chocolate chip cookie, saying please can make amazing things happen. Filled with beautiful, bright illustrations from many different artists, this charming book takes you through fun everyday situations where one little word makes a massive difference. You will see how easy it is to bring smiles to the faces of your friends and family. Get ready to discover the magic power of please!
6-8 Years
56 Pages
