Donna Bowman Bratton

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About Donna Bowman Bratton
Donna Janell Bowman is the author of Step Right Up: How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World About Kindness, which earned many awards and accolades, including three starred reviews, the South Dakota Prairie Pasque Award, a Carter G. Woodson Award Honor from NCSS, an NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommendation, an ALA Notable Book designation, a JLG Selection, and nominations for eight state book awards, including the Texas Bluebonnet Award. Her 2018 release, Abraham Lincoln’s Dueling Words, was named a Junior Library Guild Selection and an NCSS Notable Book, and it was nominated for two state book awards. King of the Tightrope: When the Great Blondin Ruled Niagara, a STEAM-inspired picture book biography, released from Peachtree Publishers in 2019 and was included on Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of the Year List. Her forthcoming co-authored autobiographical picture book with Oglala Lakota Olympian Billy Mills, Wings of an Eagle: The Gold Medal Dreams of Billy Mills, will publish with Little, Brown and Company, and will be illustrated by acclaimed Native illustrator S.D. Nelson. Donna has an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and enjoys speaking at schools, mentoring writers, and uncovering hidden histories. She lives near Austin, Texas, and is represented by Erin Murphy Literary Agency.
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Titles By Donna Bowman Bratton
At the age of four, Jean-Francois Gravelet walked across his first balance beam. Later, he took to the tightrope like a spider to its web, and with his family troupe, he climbed toward stardom. Though his feats became more and more marvelous, he grew bored. That is, until he visited Niagara Falls and imagined doing something that no one else had ever accomplished.
To cross the raging river, The Great Blondin needed an engineering process, determination, and a belief that what he could imagine, he could accomplish. And in 1859, with all of his preparation complete, Blondin stepped out onto the most dangerous tightrope walk he’d ever faced.
Award-winning nonfiction author Donna Janell Bowman uses her trademark in-depth research to give readers a close look at the hard work, determination, and meticulous mathematic and scientific planning it took to cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope. Adam Gustavson’s detailed illustrations turn this book into an experience that will inspire readers of all ages. A fascinating, STEAM-filled story that will have readers holding their breath!
When Abraham Lincoln became frustrated with the actions of James Shield, a political rival, he came up with a plan. It was silly. It was clever. And it was a great big mistake! Lincoln wrote a series of fictional letters to the editor, complaining about Shields. But when Shields took offense, he challenged Lincoln to a duel. How did our future president straighten things out and save the lives and careers of both himself and his rival?
Donna Bowman's humorous voice and S. D. Schindler's expressive illustrations are the perfect match for this story of Abraham Lincoln's humor and wit. Back matter includes an author's note and bibliography.