NINA CREWS is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. Her work includes child centered stories like I’m Not Small, One Hot Summer Day, The Neighborhood Mother Goose, and A Girl Like Me, written by Angela Johnson. Other books like Extraordinary Magic: The Storytelling Life of Virginia Hamilton, Seeing Into Tomorrow: Haiku by Richard Wright (with poems by Richard Wright,) and Not Done Yet: Shirley Chisholm’s Fight for Change, by Tameka Fryer Brown, celebrate storytellers and changemakers.

 Nina’s work has been recognized by the ALA Notable Committee, the Black Caucus of the ALA, The Horn Book, Junior Library Guild, New York Public Library, Chicago Public Library, Bank Street College of Education, and many others. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. You can find her online at www.ninacrews.com and Instagram @crewsnina.

BIG FAMILY BEACH DAY

Maya, her cousins, aunts, uncles, grandma, and mom, are excited to share a day filled with sand, sun, splashing, sandwiches, swimming, and sunblock. 

Inspired by her own childhood and extended family reunions, Big Family Beach Day is a celebration of summertime fun, friendship, family, and love. With her rich, multimedia art and accessible, read-aloud text, Nina Crews captures the joys of a memorable summer day with family.

LIFTOFF!: HOW THE APOLLO MOON MISSIONS MADE ALMA THOMAS’S ART SOAR

In 1969, people around the world watched as the Apollo 10 astronauts sent the first-ever live color television broadcasts from space. Abstract painter Alma Thomas was among those watching, and afterward, she began a series of bright, bold paintings inspired by the Moon missions and the marvels of space exploration.

This dual narrative weaves together key moments from the Apollo 10 mission with Alma’s process creating her painting Snoopy Sees a Sunrise, giving readers a fascinating STEAM-themed perspective on an incredible scientific endeavor—and an incredible artist.