TONYA DUNCAN ELLIS, CHILDREN’S AUTHOR
Writer, Speaker, Diversity Advocate
Welcome to the Tonya Duncan Ellis official website! I hope you’ll stick around awhile to learn all about my children’s books.
In 2024, I’m releasing my first picture book, THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM: The Story of Juneteenth and Houston’s Emancipation Park (HarperCollins, Balzer+Bray), which tells the history of Houston’s Emancipation Park, site of the first Juneteenth celebration.
There are 13 books in the SOPHIE WASHINGTON chapter series geared toward kids ages 8 to 12. African American preteen Sophie Washington and her friends deal with common tween issues like fighting off bullies, squabbling with siblings, managing social media and video games, getting schoolwork done, fitting in, and puppy love, with a Texas-twist. Sophie lives in the suburbs of Houston, Texas…
Upcoming Release
A moving picture book about the history of Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas—and the origins of Juneteenth.
When people visit me, they are free—to run, play, gather, and rejoice.
They built me to remember.
On June 19, 1865, the 250,000 enslaved people of Texas learned they were free, ending slavery in the United States. This day was soon to be memorialized with the dedication of a park in Houston. The park was called Emancipation Park, and the day it honored would come to be known as Juneteenth.
Praise for Tonya Duncan Ellis Books
Recent Posts
- Tips for Participating on an Author Panel
- A Starred Review for THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM!
- Kirkus Review: They Built Me for Freedom
- Save the Date: They Built Me for Freedom Book Launch
- Cover Reveal – THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM: The Story of Juneteenth and Houston’s Emancipation Park
- Sneak Peek- Illustrations from THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM: The Story of Juneteenth and Houston’s Emancipation Park
- 160 Sophie Washington Books Donated to Houston’s S.H.A.P.E. Community Center