Interview with Joe-Joe's First Flight author Natasha Tarpley
CelebratingChildren.com publisher Stacey Montgomery discusses Joe-Joe with Natasha Tarpley

CelebratingChildren.com. Joe-Joe as well as Bippity Bop Barbershop and I Love My Hair! seem to be fond reminiscences of moments in your childhood. Indeed moments in your childhood are very representative of moments in the childhoods of many African American children. This helps create a bridge between the past and the present. Was this a goal of yours?

Natasha Tarpley. Yes, definitely. I am always searching through my work to connect the past and the present, because we have so much to learn from the experiences of those who came before us, and vice versa. Also, I’ve found that, at least in my family, older adults don’t like to talk about the past. I often find myself wishing that there was some kind of ritual or ceremony built-in to African American culture that would provide a means of passing on stories from one generation to the next. However, I think books do do this in many ways. They not only create a continuum of information, but they are also catalysts for conversation. In the reading of a story, a natural space opens up for dialogue and exchange-between storyteller and listener, reader and author, etc. Good books allow people to see themselves reflected among the pages, but also push them forward, encouraging them to explore the richness of their lives and the world around them, and, hopefully, to share what they’ve learned.

What influenced you to write Joe-Joe?

Joe-Joe started off as a long poem about a group of African American men, The All Original Flying Men, who yearned to fly airplanes during a the time in our history when African Americans were not allowed to learn to fly. The metaphor of flight was especially important. For me flight is all about transcendence, a way of physically and/or psychologically lifting yourself and moving from one point to the next. In the poem version of Joe-Joe's First Flight, the men refuse to accept the limitations of their circumstances and teach themselves to fly. I thought that this was a great message for kids, and re-wrote the story as a children’s book, featuring a child protagonist so that young readers could more immediately identify with the character.

Your description of Joe-Joe flying the plane is fairly vivid. What research did you do to understand exactly what it was like to fly a 1920s-era plane?

I read several books about aviation technology during the 1920s. In addition, I spoke with several pilots who were very helpful in giving me a sense of the nuts and bolts of flight, as well as what it felt like to fly a plane. I also found out that a little boy of Joe-Joe's age (around eight or nine) could have actually flown a 1920s plane, even though Joe-Joe does so only in his dreams.

What do you want young children to learn from reading Joe-Joe?

I want kids to learn something about African American history and experience. But most importantly, I want kids to believe in their dreams; to not be afraid to try and achieve them even when other people say that they can’t.

What role did books play in your childhood?

I was a huge bookworm as a kid. I loved to read! I carried a book just about everywhere I went-I still do. I started writing because I read so much. As soon as I opened a book, ideas would start bouncing around, like firecrackers being set off in my brain, and I felt compelled to write them down. These ideas eventually turned into stories and poems of my own. Also, I was a shy kid. Books were like friends to me. They allowed me access to places and experiences outside of my day to day life. I could imagine being the popular girl, or the rich kid or the princess with the magic powers. Writing especially helped me to build up my confidence, because I knew I was good at it, and my teachers and parents acknowledged that and encouraged me to keep going.

What were some of your favorite books as a child?

I especially liked Ezra Jack Keats’ picture books, Judy Blume, the Little House on the Prairie series, and hundreds of others I can’t recall right now. I loved just about every book I could get my hands on, at least a little bit.

What dreams did you have as a child?

Believe it or not, even though I loved to write and wrote all the time as a kid, I never dreamed of becoming a writer. When I was really little, I wanted to have magic powers. I didn’t know what I would do with them, I just wanted to have them. In elementary and high school, I dreamed of becoming a rock star in England, even though I had no musical talent whatsoever. I’d spend hours practicing signing my name for the autographs I would give to my future fans. I was just remembering this recently at a booksigning. I guess all that practice paid off! That’s the wonderful thing about dreams-often times they come true in ways you never would have imagined, but in the best way possible. I feel so fortunate to be able to have a career doing something that I love.

What do your books offer African American children?

Growing up, I didn’t see very many images of people who looked like me or the people in my family and community in the books that I read. Though I was still able to enjoy and learn from these books, there was always a part of me that wondered why this was so. In my own books, it is my hope to write stories that capture the diversity and richness of African American life, and to create spaces where African American children can see themselves and their experiences reflected and celebrated. But my goal is to do this in a way that is not heavy-handed or didactic. I just want to spark creativity and curiosity, and encourage kids to simply enjoy being a kid.

What is the title of your next children's book and what is it about? When will it be released?

My next children’s book is entitled, Destiny’s Gift, and it is forthcoming from Lee & Low in 2004. Destiny’s Gift is the story of eight-year-old, Destiny, who loves to write. Destiny is good friends with Mrs. Wade, the owner of Destiny’s favorite bookstore. Mrs. Wade is a mentor to Destiny, encouraging her writing, and ushering her into the world of books. But when Mrs. Wade might have to close her bookstore, because her landlord is raising the rent, Destiny learns just how valuable her gift as a writer really is. She writes a story about Mrs. Wade’s bookstore, so that everyone will always remember how special it is, whether it has to close or not.

In reading this story, I want kids to think about how their words can have an impact beyond their own lives; to realize the great significance of their opinions and experiences. I’d also like to encourage young people to get involved with the people and institutions in their own communities; to speak up about the things that are wrong and to find ways to make a difference. Get active. Also, I wanted to raise awareness of the fact that our independent bookstores are disappearing, and to encourage people to support these neighborhood stores.

Do you have a book tour scheduled for Joe-Joe?

There is no official book tour, however, I visit schools, libraries, and bookstores around the country by invitation. Just this summer, I visited 30 branches of the Chicago Public Library as a featured author, and completed a Children’s Writer in Residence Fellowship at the James Thurber House in Columbus, Ohio. If you would like more information on my author visits, or to schedule a visit, I can be reached via email at Natarana@aol.com

Photo credit: James Richards.