Charlotte author Alicia D. Williams burst on the children’s literature scene in 2019 with the publication of her debut novel, Genesis Begins Again. She received both a Newbery Honor and the Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Author Award for New Talent for this novel. Following the success of her first book, she stepped away from her teaching position here in Charlotte and focused her attention on her burgeoning writing career. In the years since the publication of Genesis Begins Again, Alicia has brought out a new children’s book on nearly a yearly basis. For more information about Alicia and her books, please click of the following link: https://www.aliciadwilliams.com/
Her latest book is Nani and the Lion, a picture book that was released by Atheneum in February. Illustrated by Anna Cunha, this book is set in an African village and features a young girl named Nani who loves to drum. While the villagers and most of the animals enjoy dancing to the beat of her drum, the local curmudgeonly Lion, who calls himself the “lord of the land,” does not like noisemaking of any kind. Soon Nani and the Lion come into conflict, but Nani does not cower when facing this powerful adversary. Nani and the Lion is an original story, but it has the feel of a folktale.
I recently contact Alicia and asked her about the story behind Nani and the Lion. She provided me with the following comments that she made during a recent interview that she did with Jena Benton:
In my experience as a teacher, folktales were almost always the perfect introduction for young learners. They connected with these wonderful read alouds in a different way. It is the same connection that I felt when I read Zora Neale Hurston’s work and Virginia Hamilton’s too. And the same connection my daughter had when I shared folktales with her. As I taught those lessons I thought, I wonder if I could write my own. It was then, the idea for Nani and the Lion was born.
As I wrote the tale, my mind was on arts-integrated lessons that would use puppetry, storybox theatre, chants, movement, and music too. I pictured children creating their own story endings, writing and sharing their own folktales too.
Folktales and oral storytelling have been a part of our lives for eons. We have wonderfully expanded children’s literature genres, but folktales are sometimes lost in the cracks. And with classroom teachers working hard to get students to read and engage reluctant readers, I would offer the idea of dipping back to folktales. There are many benefits to this type of storytelling. It enhances language development and listening skills, cultivates creativity and imagination, offers empathy and emotional connection, and allows children to explore their own cultural roots and those of others. Plus, there are incredibly fun to read out loud to any age group.
I simply tell stories that speak to me. I tell the story that nudges me and whispers, I’m ready. And I honor the voice in which it wants to be told even if that means being open to a genre that I’m unfamiliar with. I’m more of an intuitive writer, so I don’t plot stories or create outlines. I usually have an idea of where the story will go and that’s all. I tend to listen to the characters and trust that the tale will come even if it feels like a puzzle that I have to solve.
I congratulate Alicia on the publication of Nani and the Lion, and I am looking forward to her future contributions to the literature and lore of Storied Charlotte.