Writer, Speaker, Diversity Advocate
Children’s Books Kids and Parents Love!
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 released my first picture book, THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM (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 and sees alligators on neighborhood bike rides, goes muttin’ bustin’ at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and experiences flooding and hurricanes, which makes for all kinds of exciting adventures. Books in the Sophie Washington series include Sophie Washington: Queen of the Bee, Sophie Washington: The Snitch, Sophie Washington: Things You Didn’t Know About Sophie, Sophie Washington: The Gamer, Sophie Washington: Hurricane, Sophie Washington: Mission: Costa Rica, Sophie Washington: Secret Santa, Sophie Washington: Code One, Sophie Washington: Mismatch, Sophie Washington: My BFF, Sophie Washington: Class Retreat, Sophie Washington: Lemonade Day, and Sophie Washington: Treasure Beach. Be sure to sign up for the my email list for updates about my books, new releases, and cool giveaways. Thanks again for stopping by!