Cara Reese’s debut children’s book, Black Artists Rock!: The Cool Kids’ Guide A-Z, celebrates the accomplishments of Black artists throughout history. Reese’s lyrical, rhythmic prose intertwines with her bright, vivid drawings and pays homage to Black artists across various disciplines. She highlights both household names and lesser-known figures, from Maya Angelou and Ella Fitzgerald to James Vanderzee and Zora Neale Hurston, whose contributions shaped the arts as they are today.

Kirkus calls Black Artists Rock! “a dynamic celebration with all-ages appeal.” We spoke with Reese on the phone about the power of children’s stories and the importance of Black history within schools; the conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

I read that you studied children’s lit at Columbia University. What draws you toward the children’s genre?

My background is hybrid. I studied humanities for my Bachelor’s at the University of Texas at Austin. I was interested in the evolution of beauty and its history. My Master’s was in developmental psychology, and I was interested in children’s racial attitude development. I ended up teaching in the classroom and felt really fulfilled. Once I started teaching, I realized that all of these factors connect—the idea that representation matters, that children’s understanding of race is affected by what they see, and the power of a children’s book specifically to teach history. I kind of got hooked in graduate school.

Why did now feel like the best time for you to share your children’s story?

I had been a closet collector of African American picture books. Back in the ’90s there were two books called I Love My Hair and Happy To Be Nappy that impacted me. I realized that you can teach children these complex issues about identity in an inviting and immersive way, and so Black Artists Rock! was a Covid-era project. I was teaching, and when Covid hit I had the time to reflect. I challenged myself to write five children’s books—five is my magic number—and address the gap that I felt existed in the representation of African Americans in children’s literature, specifically around biographies and African American history.

I noticed your poetry background shines through in the lyrical nature of each artist’s profile. How did you formulate this specific rhythm?

I think it was really intuitive. I always felt very much like a creative Black girl who had eclectic tastes in music and art. This is a love letter to myself but also to children who aspire to be creative. I made a list of the artists whom I really, really love. These are artists that I felt children should know and artists that aren’t always represented. In a public school they have a really important but very limited list of African American historical figures that they want children to know about. I was thinking, I am obsessed with Alice Coltrane, and I wish children knew about these people, too. I researched each of these individuals, pulled the most important facts about them, and then put them into poetry, really thinking about how to create a rhythm.

Is there a specific Black artist that played a large role in your childhood?

I would say my parents’ record collection. I would listen to Stevie Wonder on vinyl in the house, Aretha Franklin, and these are artists I love so much and think everyone should know about. I was also surrounded by books. My mother’s library had James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, and Dr. King. The staples of any Black American household at that time were magazines like Ebony. I wanted this book to feel as authentic as possible, and I picked people whom I love, and this is my offering to children of this generation.

How did being immersed in various forms of art at a young age shape you?

It widened my understanding of the Black experience. It’s really important to teach topics that are challenging, like slavery—this is not just history book information, this is what my family lived—but I also want to lean into the joy of the Black experience and show that Black people do everything—going to museums, listening to music, reading books. I wanted to remind people and show children that Black people have always created. We’ve always traveled. We do things like surfing and designing. All to really expand the understanding of what the Black experience is.

Any words of advice for young readers?

I’m in Panama right now with my students, and there’s a motto from the school: “All of life’s a journey, therefore pack lightly and travel broadly.” I just love that idea of not being so burdened with expectations and limitations but to treat yourself and lean into everything—that’s love.

Costa B. Pappas is an editorial intern.