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Tonya Duncan Ellis

Tonya Duncan Ellis Author Page

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 May 2024, I released 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…

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New Release

*Publishers Weekly Starred Review
*School Library Journal Starred Review

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.  

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Praise for Tonya Duncan Ellis Books

Starred Review

... moving tribute to Houston’s Emancipation Park, narrated in the park’s voice.

Publishers Weekly

Tonya Duncan Ellis
2019-09-11T01:35:00+00:00

Publishers Weekly

... moving tribute to Houston’s Emancipation Park, narrated in the park’s voice.

A satisfying read

A satisfying read, full of real-life lessons and good-hearted characters.

Kirkus Reviews

Tonya Duncan Ellis
2019-09-11T01:50:51+00:00

Kirkus Reviews

A satisfying read, full of real-life lessons and good-hearted characters.

It’s a fun little book

It's a fun little book that I really enjoyed reading as an adult, and I know that it will be a book children love.

Amazon Review

Tonya Duncan Ellis
2019-09-11T01:56:54+00:00

Amazon Review

It's a fun little book that I really enjoyed reading as an adult, and I know that it will be a book children love.

An uplifting disaster story

An uplifting disaster story that touches on kids' real concerns.

Kirkus Reviews

Tonya Duncan Ellis
2019-09-11T01:57:32+00:00

Kirkus Reviews

An uplifting disaster story that touches on kids' real concerns.

Starred Review

A moving portrayal of community and appreciation for the past, this book is a fine addition to all collections.

School Library Journal

Tonya Duncan Ellis
2019-09-11T01:58:10+00:00

School Library Journal

A moving portrayal of community and appreciation for the past, this book is a fine addition to all collections.

Sophie stands up and does the right thing

Lovely first-person accounting of what it's like to be bullied. The book's young heroine struggles with very real perceptions that most ten-year-olds would worry about. How to fit in. How to keep from being seen as a tattletale. No young person wants to be a snitch. Yet, when it comes down to helping a friend, Sophie stands up and does the right thing.

Amazon Review

Tonya Duncan Ellis
2019-09-11T01:59:22+00:00

Amazon Review

Lovely first-person accounting of what it's like to be bullied. The book's young heroine struggles with very real perceptions that most ten-year-olds would worry about. How to fit in. How to keep from being seen as a tattletale. No young person wants to be a snitch. Yet, when it comes down to helping a friend, Sophie stands up and does the right thing.

A great lesson for children

This book is a great lesson for children and will teach them that having a goal and working toward it will bring many rewards. It's a well written, fun book, perfect for kids of all ages.

Amazon Review

Tonya Duncan Ellis
2019-09-11T02:00:01+00:00

Amazon Review

This book is a great lesson for children and will teach them that having a goal and working toward it will bring many rewards. It's a well written, fun book, perfect for kids of all ages.

A fun mix of healthy messages and appealing tween characters

A fun mix of healthy messages and appealing tween characters in relatable situations.

Kirkus Reviews

Tonya Duncan Ellis
2019-09-11T02:01:51+00:00

Kirkus Reviews

A fun mix of healthy messages and appealing tween characters in relatable situations.

A happy book

A happy book that shows young readers how public spaces can be created and saved to serve their communities.

Booklist

Tonya Duncan Ellis
2019-09-11T02:02:47+00:00

Booklist

A happy book that shows young readers how public spaces can be created and saved to serve their communities.

My daughter loved the first four books!

My daughter loved the first four books! She can't wait to read the next one!

Sarah Peck-Dunn

Tonya Duncan Ellis
2019-09-11T02:03:25+00:00

Sarah Peck-Dunn

My daughter loved the first four books! She can't wait to read the next one!

A beautifully layered story

A beautifully layered story just as rich as the history it represents.

Kirkus Reviews

Tonya Duncan Ellis
2019-09-11T02:04:04+00:00

Kirkus Reviews

A beautifully layered story just as rich as the history it represents.

A fun read for youngsters

A fun read for youngsters that will teach them something along the way.

Kirkus Reviews

Tonya Duncan Ellis
2019-09-11T02:04:41+00:00

Kirkus Reviews

A fun read for youngsters that will teach them something along the way.

A satisfying read

A satisfying read, full of real-life lessons and good-hearted characters.

Kirkus Reviews

Tonya Duncan Ellis
2019-09-11T02:05:24+00:00

Kirkus Reviews

A satisfying read, full of real-life lessons and good-hearted characters.
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