Vanessa Brantley Newton

Notes from Vanessa Brantley-Newton’s Zoom talk to the Guild, October 16, 2025

Mayonn began the meeting by discussing the upcoming November event with booksellers at Busboys and Poets. She also mentioned the new edition of the Guild newsletter.

Joan introduced Vanessa Brantley-Newton, saying that she was born during the Civil Rights era and grew up in Newark, NJ. The Snowy Day was the first book in which she saw herself, and she wants all children to recognize themselves in her own work. Joan showed two of Vanessa’s books, Grandma’s Purse and Just Like Me, and mentioned that she illustrated We Shall Overcome by Debbie Levy. She noted that Vanessa’s sister, Coy, would be helping with tech during the talk.