Tonya Duncan Ellis is the author of the picture book, They Built Me for Freedom: The Story of Juneteeth and Houston's Emancipation Park (2024) and the Sophie Washington chapter book series.
Published by HarperCollins, Balzer + Bray, They Built Me for Freedom is a moving picture book about the history of Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas—and the origins of the Juneteenth national holiday in America.
The Sophie Washington chapter book series (ages 8-12) features African American preteen Sophie Washington and her friends as they deal with common tween issues like fighting off bullies, squabbling with siblings, and getting schoolwork done—all with a Texas-twist.
In this special Q&A, Tonya shares the inspiration behind her books and recalls some of her most memorable interactions with young readers.
1. What inspired you to start writing children's books?
I'm a former journalist, and I have loved writing since I won a young author's contest in the fifth grade. But I started writing children's books after I noticed a lack of diversity in the books I'd share with my own kids at bedtime. And while my daughter and two sons didn't always relate to my childhood favorites, they loved the wacky stories I'd make up for them.
Publishing my own book had been a longtime dream, and I wanted to write a fun, relatable story that appealed to modern-day kids. That story turned into the Sophie Washington series, which has since sold over 175,000 copies.
2. What are some of the most rewarding aspects of this process?
Holding a book in my hand that I've worked months or years to create is always a thrill. I also love seeing children excited about reading as they engage with my stories.Â
3. What kind of feedback have you received from children and their families?
Children have dressed up as my Sophie Washington characters for their school Book Character Days, and I've had numerous letters and emails from parents thanking me for creating a series that encourages their reluctant readers to read.
I've also had book clubs read the books and send me photos of them doing crafts related to the stories or acting out scenes from the books, which is cool.
4. What do you want to tell readers with your books?
My recently released picture book, They Built Me for Freedom, tells the story of Juneteenth and Houston's Emancipation Park, which is the first Juneteenth celebration spot. Juneteenth is a United States national holiday commemorating the day of June 19, 1865, when 250,000 enslaved people of Texas learned they were free, thus ending slavery in the United States.
That day was memorialized with the dedication of a park in Houston, Texas, which the newly freed people built themselves. The park was called Emancipation Park, and the day it honored would come to be known as Juneteenth.
I was inspired to write the story when I noticed the historic park during drives through my community and researched its origin. I hope reading this book encourages youngsters to explore African American history and to become more curious about the history in their own back yards.Â
As for my Sophie Washington chapter books, the theme of being true to yourself runs throughout the series. That's because Sophie's main flaw is that she tries to be everyone’s best friend. She often gets into trouble trying to please others or blend in with the crowd. However, the series shows kids the value of having your own voice and standing up for what’s right.Â
Since the stories chronicle the adventures of a tween navigating friendships, sibling relationships, and middle grade angst, reading these books helps youngsters explore common problems in their own lives while also entertaining them. They read one book in the series and usually go on to read the others.Â
