Angela Shelf Medearis

  • 38

    Catalog books

  • 24

    Works

  • 1992 to 2014

    Strongest span

Who This Author Is

Angela Shelf Medearis writes picture books that blend folktale rhythms, music, and family warmth. Her titles—like Little Louis and the Jazz Band and The Singing Man—bring musical history and storytelling to young readers through lively language, memorable characters, and a clear sense of celebration and community.

Medearis often draws on oral tradition and seasonal storytelling, from the tall-tale humor of Tailypo to the homey charm of Poppa's Itchy Christmas. Her work pairs playful narratives with cultural touchstones, inviting children to listen closely to story, song, and the small rituals of everyday life.

Best Place To Start

Dancing with the Indians

Holiday House • 1993 • quick commitment

It stands out because it asks for less time than many of the longer volumes on this page.

Author At A Glance

Best known for: Picture books with Southern and African American folktale roots • Rhythmic, lyrical storytelling • Childhood family relationships • Musical themes and biographies

Genres and themes: Children's picture books • Folktales and tall tales • Music and jazz • Family and holiday stories

Who this author is best for: Warm, rhythmic stories that suit read-alouds for young children and families interested in folktales, music, and gentle humor.

Start with a short, well-loved title like Big Mama and Grandma Ghana or Tailypo to get a feel for her lyrical voice and storytelling style.

Top Books To Start With

  1. Dancing with the Indians

    Holiday House • 1993 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1993 • 32 pages.

  2. Poppa's Itchy Christmas

    Holiday House • 1998 • commitment varies by edition

    It helps anchor a specific period of this author’s publishing run instead of blending into the undated shelf clutter.

  3. African-American Arts

    Twenty-First Century Books (CT) • 1997 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1997 • 80 pages.

  4. Tailypo: A Newfangled Tall Tale

    Holiday House • 1996 • commitment varies by edition

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1996.

  5. The Singing Man

    Holiday House • 1995 • commitment varies by edition

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1995.

  6. Big Mama and Grandma Ghana

    Scholastic • 1994 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1994 • 24 pages.

  7. Dare to Dream: Coretta Scott King and the Civil Rights Movement (Rainbow Biography)

    Penguin Group USA • 1994 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1994 • 60 pages.

  8. Little Louis and the Jazz Band: The Story of Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong (Rainbow Biography)

    Penguin Group USA • 1994 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1994 • 42 pages.

  9. Ideas for Entertaining from the African-American Kitchen: Recipes and Traditions for Holidays Throughout the Year

    Penguin Group USA • 1998 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1998 • 320 pages.

  10. The African-American Kitchen: Cooking from Our Heritage

    Penguin Group USA • 1997 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1997 • 272 pages.

How The Picks Compare

  • Dancing with the Indians gives you an earlier look at this author’s shelf, while Poppa's Itchy Christmas leans later in the catalog.
  • African-American Arts is also useful if you want a different publishing lane from Dancing with the Indians.

More Books By Angela Shelf Medearis

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