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by R. J. Owens (Author), Charnelle Pinkney Barlow (Illustrator)
A young Black equestrian realizes her dream of riding in her community's parade, inspired by Oakland's annual Black Cowboy Parade, in this picture book filled with heart and pride
A cowgirl jumps over the moon, in my dreams.On Garbo, my pretty palomino pony.
But clip clops on blacktop make my eyes pop open. Today is the Black Cowboy Parade. A little girl and her pony are nervous for their very first Black Cowboy Parade--but just like her papa and papa's papa before her, she'll saddle up and hold her head high as she rides through the streets she knows by heart. With captivating, collage-style illustrations by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow and a stirring text by author R. J. Owens, this picture book celebrates both the long tradition and lineage of Black equestrians. It also pays respect to the peaceful protests led by community activist Brianna Noble, who gained fame while riding her Appaloosa magnificently through Oakland, California, during Black Lives Matter marches.
A call to action as well as a call for children everywhere to reach for their dreams, Cowgirl Dreaming is inspiring and powerful.
Author Biography
R. J. Owens is a serious dreamer, a big fan of parades, and an admirer of the strength, beauty, and intelligence of horses. His parade of books includes A Song So Black, So Proud and several other picture books that will be coming out soon. Owens is a member of the Society of Children's Book Illustrators and Writers, and he lives and writes by the bay, in Oakland, California. Charnelle Pinkney Barlow is an illustrator and expert tea drinker. Born and raised in Poughkeepsie, New York, she was surrounded by art daily. Her passion for illustration grew after being introduced to the wonderful world of watercolor. This led her to combine the joy she found in books with her love of drawing and painting. Her debut children's book, Just Like a Mama by Alice Faye Duncan, was nominated for Children's Outstanding Literary Work at the 52nd NAACP Image Awards. She received her BFA in illustration from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2010 and her MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts in New York, New York, in 2012. Barlow currently lives in central Illinois with her husband. When she's not drawing, she is baking, sewing, or reading with a cup of tea by her side.
