Simone and Her Family

Meet Simone, an inquisitive and vibrant fourth grader living in Southeast Washington, DC.  She lives with her parents, her older brother Scott, and their adorable dog Sophie.  Simone is sincere and happy, and strives to do the right thing. She enjoys going to school and loves math class. Simone makes friends easily with everyone she encounters—from the bus operator to the new kid that lives down the street. Living in the city, she observes a lot of the activity going on around her and she’s glad her parents regularly chat with her to explain the things she doesn’t understand.

Simone has a lively family and she wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world.  Simone and Scott get along really well.   One thing they like to do together is discuss the strange foods their mother serves for dinner every day.   They know she wants them to try different things, she calls it “expand their palate.”   Simone and Scott agree that they’d both be happy with pizza and fries every night.   They know their parents want the best for them.   They teach them lessons about compassion, integrity, and accountability and Simone likes to learn those lessons.  

Book One:  Simone Visits the Museum

Simone Visits the Museum is a story about Simone, an inquisitive and vibrant African-American young girl growing up in a neighborhood in Southeast Washington, DC. In the first book of this new series, Simone spends an exciting day with her mother. The highlight is a visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). Throughout this story, Simone learns lessons about responsibility, paying attention to her surroundings, and the importance of family. Simone Visits the Museum contains beautiful illustrations that paint an authentic picture of Washington DC, and is ideal for readers ages 7-9.

Book Two:  Simone Joins the Soccer Team 

Simone is on a mission to discover who she is, what makes her unique, and to be proud of herself. In this second book, she has to decide if she will try out for her school’s soccer team. As she considers the possibility of playing soccer, Simone receives advice from family and friends. In the end, Simone learns what it means to know what you want and to make up your own mind. Simone Joins the Soccer Team is a beautifully illustrated children's book that will show young readers the importance of listening, making decisions, and following your heart. 

 The Author

Dr. Kelsi Bracmort is a native Washingtonian who adores DC and the rich history offered to children and young people of all ages. She was inspired to write this book with the hope that a character like Simone will inspire all children to be proud of who they are, and to explore all that DC has to offer. She earned a B.S. in Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University, and both a M.S. and Ph.D. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Purdue University. She serves as a reading mentor for Everybody Wins! DC, a program that promotes children’s literacy.

The Artist

Takeia Marie is an illustrator from New York, comic book nerd, lover of food, and self-proclaimed hip-hop enthusiast. She enjoys working with small businesses and individuals with big ideas, having worked with clients such as The Mill, Goode Stuff Publishing, Action Lab, Brooklyn College Community Partnership, and more. Her work has been published in the Glyph Pioneer Award-winning anthology, Artists Against Police Brutality, and has been featured in Black Comix Returns: African-American Comic Art & Culture. When she is not drawing she likes to write and has contributed pieces to The Hip Hop Speakeasy and BlackSciFi.com.  Website: www.takeiamarie.com