Today we are very excited to share a special interview with author Kimberly Annece Henderson (Dear Yesteryear)!
Read on to learn more about her, her book, and a giveaway!
Meet the Author: Kimberly Annece Henderson
Kimberly Annece Henderson is a historical researcher and curator based in New York City. She holds a Master’s in Library and Information Sciences from Syracuse University. Her work centers genealogy and Black American lineages through photography, historical preservation, and archives. She currently facilitates digital projects for the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem. And most recently, she curated archival photographs of Black Americans for the New York Times 1619 Project Book.
Ciara LeRoy is a Cincinnati-based independent artist specializing in hand lettering, illustration, murals, and embroidery. She started Pretty Strange Design with a mission to make beautifully offbeat creations that inject imagination into everyday life.
About the Book: Dear Yesteryear
From historical curator and researcher Kimberly Annece Henderson comes this moving letter connecting Black history with the present, with archival photographs and beautiful handlettering by Ciara LeRoy
In 2020, Kimberly Annece Henderson started emaline and ‘nem, an Instagram-based archival image repository that features portraiture of everyday African Americans from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Dear Yesteryear is a beautiful and lyrical continuation of that project that addresses the past, honoring the ancestors who made the present possible and celebrating the ordinary goings on of Black Americans.
~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
My inspiration for this book comes from researching my family history! I’ve been researching my family history for many years now and I’ve found a wealth of information about my ancestors. My mother’s ancestors fought in the American Revolutionary War and settled a mixed-race community in the piedmont of North Carolina. My father’s ancestors were enslaved on plantations in South Carolina. The poignant differences in my own lineages is what sparked the photo project that ultimately created the opportunity for this book project.
YABC: Who is your favorite historical figure?
It would be so hard for me to select one historical figure as a favorite…! Because I work at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, I would be remiss to not mention the legacy of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg in preserving and archiving Black Culture, during his lifetime and his thriving legacy today.
YABC: What about this project has been the most satisfying?
The most satisfying aspect of putting this book project together was really connecting with the photography to curate the pairing with the letter I wrote –stanzas relating to specific photographs. It was a joy to curate the photographs!
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
The most important thing I’ve learned as a writer is to be authentic! Every writer has a unique voice, and I think it’s important to capture one’s authenticity in their own writing.
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
I love the fact that the design reflects the style of photographs that are featured in the book. It’s a lovely representation of the ornate style of framing that many early forms of photography utilized.
YABC: What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2023?
My own! 🙂
YABC: What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?
I just finished reading, “The Heart of Everything That Is” by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin. It’s about Red Cloud, a Native American warrior and chief… loved it!
YABC: What’s up next for you?
More books, I hope! More books and more projects based on these stunning archival photographs.
YABC: What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from this book?
I want readers to be inspired by the past. Be inspired to look into their own family history and discover new things about themselves and their families.
YABC: Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?
History is so near and dear to my heart. Preserving it, sharing it, learning from it. We often look to the future while neglecting to acknowledge, learn from, or appreciate where we’ve been…
YABC: What advice do you have for new writers?
Be true! Be uniquely you and don’t underestimate the power of your unique perspective.
Title: Dear Yesteryear
Author: Text and Photographs by Kimberly Annece Henderson; hand-lettered by Ciara LeRoy
Illustrator: Kimberly Annece Henderson; hand-lettered by Ciara LeRoy
Release Date: March 7, 2023
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers; Dial
ISBN-13: 9780593529249
Genre: Picture book
Age Range: 3-7 years
~ Giveaway Details ~
Three (3) winners will receive a copy of Dear Yesteryear (Kimberly Annece Henderson) ~US Only!
*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*
looks great
This is REAL black girl magic!
This looks really good!