Month: November 2025

Posted on in books

Counting Blessings: 7 New Releases in 2025

Whether you’re superstitious or mathematically inclined, seven is often deemed a lucky number. As book reviewers issue their rundowns of the year’s best books, I am thanking my lucky stars for seven new releases in 2025. Yes, 7!

RAP IT UP!, co-authored with my son, Jeffery Boston Weatherford (best-known as an award-winning illustrator), was his brainchild and passion project. Our fourth collaboration, RAP IT UP!, illustrated by Ernel Martinez, is inspired by the hip hop workshops that Jeffery conducts for youth in schools and communities.

  • Notable Poetry Book of the Year–National Council of Teachers of English
  • [A] knockout. . . . [I]t celebrates the joy of creating. . . . glorifies the wonders of language. . . lays out steps for success [and] offers endless encouragement. The ultimate message—put in the work, because “The words you write are worth it”—comes through.—Booklist, starred review 

FAMILY FEAST is my sixth collaboration with illustrator Frank Morrison. The text, set during a family gathering, gives shout-outs to my late mother and her five siblings. My beagle Gigi, a relentless beggar and stealth food thief, co-stars. Listen to me and Frank on NPR Weekend Edition.

  • “The joy lingers long after dessert across this soulful tribute to legacy, love, and familial gatherings.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
  • “This celebration of food and family is a perfect addition to picture book collections.”—The Bulletin, starred review
  • “A triumphant and utterly inviting gustatory celebration.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

ANDRE’: ANDRE’ LEON TALLEY, A FABULOUSLY FASHIONABLE FAIRY TALE is my second collaboration with Rob Sanders. Inspired by my childhood dream of becoming a fashion designer, the picture book biography features art by debut children’s book illustrator–and veteran fashion illustrator–Lamont O’Neal. Like Andre’ himself, the book slays.

  • Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books
  • “Fashion king Talley is brought to tender, glorious life by the award-winning team of Weatherford and Sanders (A Song for the Unsung, 2022), who take readers into the late Vogue editor’s young life and journey to fame. Another stellar profile. . . that belongs in any picture-book biography section.” —Booklist, starred review
  • “Fashion icon André Leon Talley grew up in the Jim Crow South, where discrimination was ‘as clear-cut as the sharp pleats on a pair of men’s trousers.’ [T]his telling of his story manages to capture his exuberant joy without glossing over the serious and often painful challenges he faced.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Book, starred review

WHEN I MOVE is a bouncy bundle of joy for the littles. Illustrated by Alea Marley, the rhyming text is sure to keep them leaping, running, and dancing. A board book version is also in the works.

  • “This is a picture book tailor-made for storytime: Weatherford’s succinct first-person text makes great use of repetition, as well as end rhymes that beg for children’s voices to complete…  Celebratory and, yes, moving.”–The Horn Book

GRIND: AN ODE TO SKATEBOARDING is illustrated by Argentinian street artist Anguirria. Inspired by my days as a skateboard mom, the book captures the daring moves of one of the first extreme sports.

  • Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
  • “An exhilarating ride.”—Booklist

A HUG LIKE MICHELLE’S, A VOICE LIKE BEYONCE’S, a companion to HAIR LIKE OBAMA’S, HAND LIKE LEBRON’S, is a rhythmic rundown of Black women role models and the traits that they embody. The book is illustrated by Savanna Durr.

IF KAMALA CAN. . . YOU CAN TOO, illustrated by Adriana Pacino, highlights moments from the trailblazer’s life and career in what I term a picture book “un-biography.”

The most anticipated arrival of the year was not a book, but my granddaughter Beah. Born to my son Jeffery and his wife Bre’Anna on July 15, Beah is so precious. Our family is thankful. God is indeed good!

Posted on in Newsletter, Uncategorized

Bars & Backstory for Hip Hop History Month

Jeffery spits a few bars from RAP IT UP!, our first co-authored title.

DJ Kool Herc gave birth to the breakbeat at a 1973 back-to-school party in the Bronx. In 1980, I wrote the poem, “I’m Made of Jazz,” which would be my first professional publication credit. Influenced by poetry of the Black Arts Movement, the poem–which came to me out of the blue and fully formed–might have been rap. But I didn’t realize it then. So instead of leaning into hip hop, I set my sights on becoming an author.

Today, hip hop is the language of global youth culture. As an HBCU professor, I created the course, Hip Hop: Poetry, Politics and Pop Culture, which would become the English department’s most popular offering.

Meanwhile, my son Jeffery, not yet a published illustrator, was freestyling and performing every chance he got. Together, we created Hip Hop Tech, a youth residency on writing, producing and performing rap. Jeffery continues to lead these transformative workshops and to spread the gospel of hip hop.

All the while, I was working on my own bars–a picture book manuscript about hip hop history. Published in 2019 and illustrated by Frank Morrison, The Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip Hop, recounts hip hop’s early history and gives props to old school rappers. Download a free teacher’s guide for The Roots of Rap here.

This year saw the release of Rap It Up!, co-authored by me and Jeffery and illustrated by Ernel Martinez. Jeffery’s brainchild, the how-to-book inspires young readers to express themselves creatively and confidently. Chock full of literary terms, the book is an ELA and music teacher’s dream-come-true.

During school visits, we pair these titles in a presentation on the evolution of hip hop. Jeffery never fails to wow the students with his performance of Rap It Up! This program is great for Black History Month, National Poetry Month or even Black Music Month. Contact Carole about bookings.

Posted on in Uncategorized

Honoring Veterans

We honor veterans today with Jeffery’s rap tribute inspired by our verse novel, You Can Fly: The Tuskegee Airmen; his illustration of a member of the U.S. Colored Troops; and a poem about our forebear, Isaac Copper, U.S.C.T., from our family history, KIN: Rooted in Hope. To all veterans: Thank you for your service!