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Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Vanessa Brantley-Newton is a self-taught illustrator, doll maker, and crafter who studied fashion illustration at FIT and children's book illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York. She is the author and illustrator of Grandma's Purse, Just Like Me, and Becoming Vanessa, and has illustrated numerous children's books, including the New York Times bestsellers The King of Kindergarten and The Queen of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes and Sewing Stories by Barbara Herkert. Vanessa currently makes her nest in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, daughter, and a very rambunctious cat named Stripes. Learn more about Vanessa and her artwork at VanessaBrantleyNewton.com and on Facebook and Instagram.
Shake It Off!
Nesting Dolls
Roquera #1
Just Like Me
The Queen of Kindergarten
Becoming Vanessa
The King of Kindergarten
Sleepover Scientist #3
Grandma's Purse
Rock Star #1
Class Act #2
Sewing Stories: Harriet Powers' Journey from Slave to Artist
Drum City
I Can Do It!

Books

Shake It Off!
Nesting Dolls
Roquera #1
Just Like Me
The Queen of Kindergarten
Becoming Vanessa
The King of Kindergarten
Sleepover Scientist #3
Grandma's Purse
Rock Star #1
Class Act #2
Sewing Stories: Harriet Powers' Journey from Slave to Artist
Drum City
I Can Do It!

Elijah’s Easter Suit

In a story full of style, sass, and significance, a young boy goes on a quest for the perfect Easter church outfit, inspired by elders from his community. Along the way learns about the importance of Easter traditions to his family, his ancestors, and the Black church. Elijah is on a mission to find the perfect

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Salat in Secret

From the critically acclaimed author of Your Name Is a Song and the bestselling illustrator of The Proudest Blue comes a story about a Muslim boy who receives a salat (prayer) rug on his seventh birthday and becomes empowered about his faith. In this beautiful story of community, family, and acceptance, a boy named Muhammad receives a special salat

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Always Anjali

Meet Anjali! She’s the spunky star of this picture book with a timeless message about appreciating what makes us special and honoring our different identities. Anjali and her friends are excited to buy matching personalized license plates for their bikes–but Anjali can’t find a plate with her name. She is often teased about her “different”

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Queen of Kindergarten is a NYT Bestseller!

A confident little Black girl has a fantastic first day of school in this companion to the New York Times bestseller The King of Kindergarten. MJ is more than ready for her first day of kindergarten! With her hair freshly braided and her mom’s special tiara on her head, she knows she’s going to rock kindergarten. But the tiara

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