Illustrator & Author Profile
Jesse Joshua Watson
4 Books
Jesse Joshua Watson is an author and illustrator whose lively artwork has appeared in many books for young readers. He illustrated Ghetto Cowboy, I and I Bob Marley, and titles in Sharon M. Draper’s Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs series. He also created Hope for Haiti, a picture book about children finding joy and strength through soccer after an earthquake.
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When the earth shakes and a terrifying earthquake strikes Port-au-Prince, a young boy watches his entire neighborhood disappear. Now, he and his mother are living in a crowded soccer stadium, finding shelter under tin and bedsheets while waiting in endless lines just for food and water.
With so much sorrow and devastation all around, it is hard to imagine feeling hopeful again. But then, amidst the rubble, the boy spots another child playing with a homemade soccer ball crafted entirely out of rags. Soon, other children join in, caught up in the pure magic and joy of the game. For those brief moments, the dusty stadium fades away, replaced by a world where anything feels possible.
When a truly wonderful gift arrives for the kids, it brings more than just a chance to play. It offers a powerful reminder of resilience and a deeply inspiring look at how the spirit of a community can shine even in the darkest of times.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
36 Pages
You and your best friends have built the ultimate club. As the Black Dinosaurs, you are always ready for a thrilling adventure in your hometown. But you never expected to find a major piece of history hiding right beneath your feet. When you discover that your town was a vital stop on the Underground Railroad, you cannot resist exploring the dark tunnels hidden under your school. The excitement quickly turns to fear when a heavy trapdoor slams shut, locking you entirely in the dark. With no way back, your only choice is to push forward into the crumbling, mysterious tunnels. You will feel your heart race as you navigate the eerie shadows and wonder where this historic path will lead. You must rely on teamwork, quick thinking, and true courage to find the way out. Join the club on a pulse-pounding journey where the secrets of the past come alive in the dark.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
116 Pages
Ziggy, Jerome, Rashawn, and Rico are completely certain they have what it takes to win the upcoming school talent show. They have practiced their energetic dancing, perfected their exuberant singing, and even put together some seriously glittery costumes. The best part of winning will be the amazing two-hundred-dollar first prize!
The boys already have huge plans to use the prize money to fix up their secret backyard clubhouse. With their unstoppable teamwork, it seems like nothing can stand in their way. But their confidence is shaken when they meet their fiercest competition yet: a little girl with an incredibly big voice.
Not only is she incredibly talented, but the boys soon discover that she might actually need the prize money much more than they do. Suddenly, the contest is not just about showing off their best moves. The friends will have to figure out what it truly means to be a winner, even if things do not go exactly as planned.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
101 Pages
Ziggy and his friends, the Black Dinosaurs, are thrilled to be heading out on an overnight camping trip to Caesar's Creek State Park. The park has a fascinating history, and their camp counselor loves sharing spooky, thrilling stories about the legendary Shawnee youth and the ancient spirits of the woods.
Eager to prove their own bravery, the boys decide to sneak out of their tents in the middle of the night. When they discover an old canoe hidden in the bushes, it seems like the perfect opportunity to test their courage on the dark lake. But their grand adventure quickly turns into a chilling mystery when they realize their paddles are still sitting on the shore, and they are slowly drifting into the unknown.
Lost in the dense, shadowy woods surrounded by strange and unsettling noises, the friends must rely on each other to find their way back. Are the strange sounds just wild animals roaming the night, or have the ancient spirits of Caesar's Creek returned to haunt the trails?
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
132 Pages