The Ashe Brothers

In 1968, Arthur Ashe climbed his way to the top of the tennis world in a time filled with racial tension and segregation. But his success didn’t happen without help. Arthur’s close relationship with his younger brother, Johnnie, was key to Arthur becoming the first Black man to break the color barrier in men’s tennis. A layered story full of love, sibling rivalry, and unconditional support, The Ashe Brothers tells the little-known story behind Arthur’s Grand Slam win.

Interest level: 3-5; Reading level: 3-5

About the Author

Judy Allen Dodson is all about books—reading them as a librarian, preserving them as an archivist, and writing them as an author. Her book, Escape from . . . Hurricane Katrina, was a Junior Library Guild selection. Judy is also the winner of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) On-the-Verge Emerging Voices Award, the recipient of multiple North Carolina Arts Council grants, a Highlights Foundation Diversity Fellow in Children’s Literature, and the regional co-ambassador for The Authors Guild. Judy has a passion for celebrating diverse children’s literature and teaching young readers about history. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with her family.

About the Illustrator

David Wilkerson is a Black American illustrator who was born in Denver, Colorado, and is currently based in Maryland. He developed a love for illustration during his time at the Savannah College of Art and Design and began his career in the animation industry, where he worked as a character designer, prop designer, and background designer. David has spent the past twenty-plus years creating the most authentic version of himself and believes two main things to be true—there is healing in storytelling, and it is the job of creatives to contribute to that cause.