Trailblazing Women: Author/Illustrator Vashti Harrison

Trailblazing Women: Author/Illustrator Vashti Harrison

Trailblazing Women Author/Illustrator Talk for Kids (Ages 8-13): Vashti Harrison

Spend an afternoon learning about trailblazing New York Times best-selling author Vashti Harrison as she shares about the inspiration for her work, her process in researching and writing about the trailblazing women in her books, and her intricate and playful illustrations. Vashti Harrison created both “Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History” and “Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World,” as well as “Think Big, Little One” and “Dream Big, Little One.”

Click to download the coloring page.

Her amazing books detail the lives of nearly 100 trailblazing women. During our session, we’ll focus on the lives of three trailblazing women, including Ida B. Wells. Young people will also enjoy a hands-on drawing activity. The charming, information-filled full-color spreads in these books show the Leaders and Dreamers as both accessible and aspirational so readers know they, too, can grow up to do something amazing. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet this inspiring leader!

 

Vashti Harrison’s Biography

Part author – Illustrator – filmmaker Vashti Harrison is an artist originally from Onley, Virginia. She has a background in cinematography and screenwriting and a love for storytelling. She earned her BA from the University of Virginia with a double major in Media Studies and Studio Art with concentrations in Film and Cinematography. She received her MFA in Film and Video from CalArts where she snuck into the Animation Department to learn from Disney and Dreamworks legends. There she rekindled a love for drawing and painting. Now, utilizing both skill sets, she is passionate about crafting beautiful stories in both the film and kidlit worlds. Her Experimental films and videos focus on her Caribbean Heritage and folklore. They have shown around the world at film festivals and venues including the New York Film Festival, Rotterdam International Film Festival and Edinburgh International Film Festival.

PBS Books Trailblazing Women Series

This event is part of PBS Books Trailblazing Women Series. To mark the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, PBS launched multiplatform programming focused on “Trailblazers” in order to commemorate the fight for women’s suffrage in the US and the stories of modern women, who continue to shatter the glass ceiling and transform modern history. The Trailblazers PBS theme will be anchored by a documentary entitled “The Vote.“

To complement this project, PBS Books has developed and launched their Trailblazing Women Virtual Series, which will highlight amazing stories of American women through summer-long programming. In June, July, and August, PBS Books is offering programming on Facebook Live in collaboration with libraries across American and local PBS stations.