Destiny's Gift
Destiny loves words, and her favorite place in the world is Mrs. Wade's bookstore, where words abound.
Destiny loves words, and her favorite place in the world is Mrs. Wade's bookstore, where words abound. On Saturdays, Destiny helps Mrs. Wade at the store, and at day's end they relax together, drinking tea and reading. Then one Saturday Mrs. Wade does not seem her usual self, and Destiny later learns the store may have to close.
Destiny is determined not to let this happen. As she works to help keep the store open, she also creates an imaginative gift for Mrs. Wade that captures the warmth and special magic of the store forever.
Destiny's Gift is a heartwarming celebration of friendship and creativity, and a touching tribute to a child's love for reading and the power of words.
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Become an affiliateNatasha Anastasia Tarpley became a writer because she fell in love with words as a child, just like Destiny in her story Destiny's Gift. The author of three award-winning picture books, Tarpley wrote Destiny's Gift to encourage children to celebrate their creative talents and realize their ability to make a difference in their communities and the lives of those they love. A Harvard University graduate, Tarpley has received several writing awards and fellowships, including a National Endowment for the Arts poetry fellowship. She lives in Chicago.
Adjoa J. Burrowes has illustrated many books for children, including two published by Lee & Low: My Steps, a Child magazine Best Book of the Year, and Grandma's Purple Flowers, which she also wrote, an American Bookseller "Pick of the Lists" selection. In addition, Burrowes has written and illustrated several books for Lee & Low's Bebop Books educational imprint. Burrowes received a Fine Arts degree from Howard University and currently lives with her children in Herndon, Virginia. To find out more about Adjoa Burrowes, visit her website: www.adjoaburrowes.com.
"[A] love letter - to all youngsters who embrace the world of words, and to the independent booksellers who nurture their passion." -- Publishers Weekly
"Destiny's Gift has a specially poignant message of empowerment for girls and women of color." -- Children's Bookwatch
"Tarpley wrote the book ... 'to encourage children to celebrate their creative talents and realize their ability to make a difference in their communities'. This is clearly evident in the story... Burrows' illustrations warmly convey this love of books and a sense of community in an urban multicultural setting." -- School Library Association
Paterson Prize for Books for Young People - Passaic County Community College