An Interview With Little Leaders Author Vashti Harrison
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
Hardcover $16.99
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
In Stock Online
Hardcover $16.99
Little Leaders is an illustrated collection featuring a community of black women who shaped history. Each illustrated portrait is paired with a short but moving autobiography about how each woman helped change the world.
Little Leaders is an illustrated collection featuring a community of black women who shaped history. Each illustrated portrait is paired with a short but moving autobiography about how each woman helped change the world.
The B&N Kids blog sat down with Vashti Harrison, the author and illustrator of this book of trailblazers. An artist and storyteller, Harrison talks about how the book began as a personal project and turned into this elegant collection. She also lets us peek in on her design process and shares the amazing connections she discovered in her research as well as the books that inspired her as a young reader.
What inspired you to write Little Leaders?
I began this project merely as a drawing challenge for myself: I wanted to draw one woman every day for the month of February to celebrate Black History Month. I felt inspired to highlight the stories we don’t hear too often and to celebrate contributions black women have made to American history. I didn’t expect when I started this project how deeply connected I would feel to the women, so I was inspired to dive deeper and share their stories with others in a book format.
Walk Two Moons
Paperback $9.99
Walk Two Moons
In Stock Online
Paperback $9.99
How did you select which historical figures you would include in the book?
It was a very exploratory process for me. I had a loose list of historical figures I wanted to cover, so I just began there and let those names lead me to others. I was careful to choose a diverse list of women, from different fields and backgrounds. I was interested in sharing stories that weren’t big in the mainstream, but there are a few key players I felt I could not leave off the list. There were so many people I wanted to cover, so I included a “More Little Leaders” section in the back!
How did you select which historical figures you would include in the book?
It was a very exploratory process for me. I had a loose list of historical figures I wanted to cover, so I just began there and let those names lead me to others. I was careful to choose a diverse list of women, from different fields and backgrounds. I was interested in sharing stories that weren’t big in the mainstream, but there are a few key players I felt I could not leave off the list. There were so many people I wanted to cover, so I included a “More Little Leaders” section in the back!
Can you explain your research process?
I began simply. A few great starting places for me were online resources like Biography.com and Encyclopedia Britannica. I love documentaries, so I watched a lot of PBS specials like the “American Masters” series. This helped create an overview or snapshot of who these women were in the public eye. But when I was writing the first few bios back in February 2017, I truly had an emotional connection to the stories. I was really inspired to capture that in all of them so I looked to as many autobiographies as possible to really tap into a personal connection to the women.
Black Women Scientists in the United States
Hardcover $45.00
Black Women Scientists in the United States
By Wini Warren
In Stock Online
Hardcover $45.00
While researching these bold women in African-American history, what surprised you the most?
I really loved finding connections between the women’s biographies. Dr. Mae Jemison was inspired to apply to NASA because she loved seeing Nichelle Nichols play Lieut. Uhura on “Star Trek.” Josephine Baker and Mahalia Jackson were both on the podium the day Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream Speech.” I loved seeing how the stories intertwined and overlapped. To me, it helps build this beautiful connection between these important women to see them as a community instead of just individuals.
While researching these bold women in African-American history, what surprised you the most?
I really loved finding connections between the women’s biographies. Dr. Mae Jemison was inspired to apply to NASA because she loved seeing Nichelle Nichols play Lieut. Uhura on “Star Trek.” Josephine Baker and Mahalia Jackson were both on the podium the day Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream Speech.” I loved seeing how the stories intertwined and overlapped. To me, it helps build this beautiful connection between these important women to see them as a community instead of just individuals.
Was there a particular woman whose story touched you most deeply?
I felt particularly connected to Augusta Savage’s biography. Hers is truly a love story to her craft. She loved making art so much, even when her family forbade it and even though it meant a difficult life, she persisted. She struggled with finances and racism consistently through her career, but she somehow found a way. What’s more, is that she was a natural teacher and believed that her struggles were paving a way for more and better artists and that her legacy could live on in their success. I love that. I wish I could thank her.
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
Paperback $18.99
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
In Stock Online
Paperback $18.99
Which women’s stories in African-American history impacted you as a young person?
The one I remember most clearly was Ruby Bridges because I was introduced to her story through art. She’s depicted in the painting “The Problem We All Live With” by Norman Rockwell. The image of it stands out as strong memory from my childhood. I think a lot about how a beautiful art object could help connect me to history, so I hope that the illustrations in Little Leaders gets readers interested in learning more!
Which women’s stories in African-American history impacted you as a young person?
The one I remember most clearly was Ruby Bridges because I was introduced to her story through art. She’s depicted in the painting “The Problem We All Live With” by Norman Rockwell. The image of it stands out as strong memory from my childhood. I think a lot about how a beautiful art object could help connect me to history, so I hope that the illustrations in Little Leaders gets readers interested in learning more!
How did you create your portraits of these amazing leaders?
I worked digitally in Photoshop with a specific set of brushes meant to replicate gouache, watercolor, and pencils. I kept the figure simple—just a few lines make up her face. In my mind, she is a just a little girl—an every girl—defined by her sweetness and innocence. This allowed me to put a lot of fun details in the hair and clothes. In a way, I wanted them to feel like costumes and interchangeable so that readers might be able to see themselves in any one of them.
You’ve worked in other mediums like film and animation; how does this book fit into your body of work as an artist?
Although my art takes form in different media, I think as a creator, I’ve always been interested in storytelling first and foremost. I am a firm believer that not every story needs to be told in a single medium. I’m interested in using the right tools to help translate the story most effectively. I get inspired by a lot of things and love to try out different tools. This on the outside may make it look like my work is quite disjointed, but it all comes from the same place. For me the connecting thread is my love for beautiful stories, strong structure, and elegant layouts.
Freedom's Daughters: The Unsung Heroines of the Civil Rights Movement from 1830 to 1970
Paperback $22.00
Freedom's Daughters: The Unsung Heroines of the Civil Rights Movement from 1830 to 1970
By Lynne Olson
In Stock Online
Paperback $22.00
What were your favorite books as a young reader?
In middle school, I really loved Sharon Creech’s books. I chose to do a project on Walk Two Moons and remember my summary of the book was nearly 10 pages long because I believed every bit of it was important. And it was! I definitely loved anything Meg Cabot as I got a little older, the Harry Potter series, and Ender’s Game!
What were your favorite books as a young reader?
In middle school, I really loved Sharon Creech’s books. I chose to do a project on Walk Two Moons and remember my summary of the book was nearly 10 pages long because I believed every bit of it was important. And it was! I definitely loved anything Meg Cabot as I got a little older, the Harry Potter series, and Ender’s Game!
Can you highlight some books for young readers to find if they want to learn more about these inspiring little leaders?
Here are a few great compendiums I checked out from the library when researching: Little Leaders: Black Women Scientists in the United States by Wini Warren, Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly, and Freedom’s Daughters: The Unsung Heroines of the Civil Rights Movement from 1830 to 1970 by Lynne Olson.
Little Leaders is on B&N bookshelves now.