I AM OPRAH WINFREY There are currently over 4.6 million copies in print worldwide and the Emmy-nominated PBS KIDS animated show based on the series, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, is a huge hit.
In I AM OPRAH WINFREY, kids learn about this amazing Black woman who is a symbol of self-love and acceptance, as well as a strong businesswoman, overcoming extreme poverty.
As you know, Brad doesn’t skimp on research and this time he had help from Oprah’s Harpo Productions team. By continuing to highlight people of color and those from a wide range of ethnicities, this ground-breaking series allows all children to see the greatness in themselves and in others. There is also the recent controversy in the Central York school district in PA where they have banned (or according to them, “frozen”) many books by or about people of color and social justice, including I am Rosa Parks and I am Martin Luther King, Jr. from Brad’s series. You can hear Brad’s thoughts on this issue on Fox News and CNN, and follow his social media to see how he’s helping students to fight back against the ban!
This friendly, fun biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great ─ the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. Each book tells the story of an icon in a lively, conversational way that works well for the youngest nonfiction readers and that always includes the hero's childhood influences. At the back are an excellent timeline and photos. While each story is unique, what binds them are their focus on perseverance and hard work.
This past fall, PBS Kids debuted Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum; the series launched as one of their most successful debuts and has been streamed more than 41 million times across PBS KIDS’-owned platforms since its premiere. Done in Christopher’s iconic art style, Xavier Riddle, his sister Yadina and their friend Bad meet heroes from the past and their strengths and perseverance help the group solve problems in their own lives. The series has been nominated for an Emmy and two animation Annie Awards, including Best Writing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brad Meltzer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Heroes for My Son, Heroes for My Daughter, a dozen suspense novels like The Escape Artist, and non-fiction books like The First Conspiracy. He is also the host of the History Channel television shows Brad Meltzer's Decoded and Brad Meltzer's Lost History (which he used to help find the missing 9/11 flag). He is the co-creator of Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum – and of course, the inspiration for Brad. He lives in Florida with his wife and their three children.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Christopher Eliopoulos began his illustration career at Marvel Comics, and has worked on thousands of comics, including Cosmic Commandos, Monster Mayhem, Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius, Pet Avengers, and Cow Boy, all of which he wrote and illustrated. The Yawns Are Coming!, Christopher’s first picture book as both author and illustrator, is on-sale now. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and their identical twin sons (when the boys are home from college).
FOR MORE INFO
Photo Credit: Brad Meltzer