Coming out in February 2018, Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School is the true story of an amazing woman. Written by Janet Halfmann and illustrated by London Ladd, Midnight Teacher tells the story of Lilly Ann Granderson, a woman living in slavery who ran a secret school to teach her fellow slaves how to read, despite the high potential for punishment.
Kirkus reviewed Midnight Teacher and gave it a starred review. They praised the importance of the story, calling it a “remarkable, true story.” They write of London’s illustrations, “[The] picture book’s detailed, realistic illustrations were created using acrylic paint and colored pencil. Ladd’s artwork shows Lilly Ann’s determination to improve lives through literacy and will also familiarize readers with the book’s historical settings.” In all, they conclude that Midnight Teacher is, “An excellent homage to an African-American woman who taught ahead of her time.”
Kirkus’s full starred review is available here. Midnight Teacher is coming out February 6th. Pre-order it here!